Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 50, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

August 17, 2021Abbeville County, Greenwood County, Laurens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Aug 17, 2021, 5:11 PM EDT for Abbeville County, Greenwood County, Laurens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 49 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 2021, 5:11 PM EDT (21:11 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 2021, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Abbeville County, SC, Greenwood County, SC, Laurens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:14 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 17, 5:45 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 Wnw Hickory Tavern, SCFIRE COORDINATOR OBSERVED FUNNEL CLOUD W/ NO TOUCHDOWN

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 17, 10:42 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 228 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 259 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
259 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
461 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
197 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

458 
WFUS52 KGSP 172111
TORGSP
SCC001-047-059-172200-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0050.210817T2111Z-210817T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
511 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Laurens County in Upstate South Carolina...
  Southeastern Abbeville County in Upstate South Carolina...
  Western Greenwood County in Upstate South Carolina...

* Until 600 PM EDT.
    
* At 511 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 11 miles southeast of Abbeville, or near Troy, moving
  north at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Greenwood and Hodges around 540 PM EDT.
  Cokesbury around 550 PM EDT.
  Waterloo and Ware Shoals around 600 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include
Coronaca, Bradley, Hickory Tavern and Promised Land.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National
Weather Service by calling toll free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, or by
posting on our Facebook page, or Tweet it using hashtag nwsgsp. Your
message should describe the event and the specific location where it
occurred.

&&

LAT...LON 3406 8233 3406 8238 3453 8225 3454 8224
      3456 8224 3448 8193 3397 8218 3399 8221
      3401 8223 3402 8225 3397 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 199DEG 26KT 3404 8228 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

RWH
2 follow-up statements
395 
WWUS52 KGSP 172124
SVSGSP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
524 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

SCC001-047-059-172200-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-210817T2200Z/
Laurens SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
524 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LAURENS...EAST CENTRAL ABBEVILLE AND WESTERN GREENWOOD
COUNTIES...
    
At 524 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles southwest of Greenwood, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Greenwood and Hodges around 540 PM EDT.
  Cokesbury around 550 PM EDT.
  Waterloo and Ware Shoals around 600 PM EDT.
  Laurens around 610 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Coronaca, Hickory Tavern and Promised Land.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3411 8232 3414 8236 3453 8225 3454 8224
      3456 8224 3448 8193 3406 8214 3406 8222
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 199DEG 26KT 3413 8224 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

RWH
025 
WWUS52 KGSP 172153
SVSGSP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
553 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

SCC001-172203-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-210817T2200Z/
Abbeville SC-
553 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ABBEVILLE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for Upstate South
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3422 8218 3425 8227 3428 8231 3430 8231
      3438 8229 3441 8225 3444 8228 3453 8225
      3454 8224 3456 8223 3448 8193 3420 8208
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 199DEG 26KT 3433 8216 

$$

SCC047-059-172200-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-210817T2200Z/
Laurens SC-Greenwood SC-
553 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LAURENS AND NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES...
    
At 553 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles north of Greenwood, or near Cokesbury, moving
north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Waterloo around 600 PM EDT.
  Laurens around 620 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Coronaca and Hickory Tavern.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3422 8218 3425 8227 3428 8231 3430 8231
      3438 8229 3441 8225 3444 8228 3453 8225
      3454 8224 3456 8223 3448 8193 3420 8208
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 199DEG 26KT 3433 8216 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

CAC

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 11:47 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPOconee13 min
Aug 17, 12:30 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPOconee5 hr
Aug 17, 12:30 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPOconee, Pickens23 min
Aug 17, 12:59 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAnderson, Pickens23 min
Aug 17, 1:20 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPPickens25 min
Aug 17, 2:03 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPGreenville, Pickens5 hr
Aug 17, 2:14 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenwood, Laurens33 min
Aug 17, 2:52 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenville26 min
Aug 17, 3:01 PM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedGSPGreenville18 min
Aug 17, 3:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSpartanburg35 min
Aug 17, 3:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPOconee34 min
Aug 17, 4:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAbbeville, Anderson, Pickens26 min
Aug 17, 5:08 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAnderson, Greenville, Pickens52 min
Aug 17, 5:10 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAbbeville, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens50 min
Aug 17, 5:33 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAnderson, Greenville, Spartanburg42 min
Aug 17, 5:37 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPChester, York38 min
Aug 17, 5:57 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenville, Laurens, Spartanburg48 min
Aug 17, 5:58 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenwood, Laurens47 min
Aug 17, 6:15 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPLaurens, Spartanburg, Union45 min
Aug 17, 6:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPGreenville, Pickens, Spartanburg3 hr
Aug 17, 6:42 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPSpartanburg48 min
Aug 17, 6:46 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPCherokee, Spartanburg44 min
Aug 17, 6:51 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPLaurens, Spartanburg, Union39 min
Aug 17, 7:59 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPCherokee, Spartanburg46 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.