Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 3, 2025Anderson County, Greenville County, Pickens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2025, 9:37 PM EDT for Anderson County, Greenville County, Pickens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 52 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: May 3, 2025, 9:37 PM EDT (01:37 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2025, 10:29 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Anderson County, SC, Greenville County, SC, Pickens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:41 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 236 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 425 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 837 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 153 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.2
Supercell composite: 2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 3, 7:31 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 7:31 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 3:42 PM EDT, 5 hours 55 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
342 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-041945-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander-
Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-
Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-
Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-
McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-
Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood-Oconee Mountains-
Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-
Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-Southern Greenville-
Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg-
342 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, Piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms now through tonight with the main threats
of damaging wind gusts and large hail. A few locations could see
multiple rounds of storms. Some localized flash flooding is also
possible, particularly in areas that experience more than one round
of heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 8:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 3, 8:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
830 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

GAZ010-017-018-SCZ101-104-040115-
Rabun GA-Stephens GA-Habersham GA-Greater Oconee SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
830 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT STEPHENS...HABERSHAM...
SOUTHWESTERN RABUN AND WEST CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 915 PM
EDT...

At 830 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 11 miles southwest of Clayton to 9 miles
southwest of Clarkesville to near Gainesville. Movement was east at
35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Demorest, Lake Rabun, Long Creek, Raoul, Tallulah Falls, Batesville,
Baldwin, Turnerville, Toccoa, and Tiger.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3482 8365 3484 8366 3486 8320 3447 8326
      3446 8340 3448 8347 3449 8354 3443 8362
      3450 8366 3454 8362 3460 8365 3462 8364
      3465 8366 3468 8364 3471 8364 3473 8362
      3477 8363 3480 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 0030Z 266DEG 32KT 3481 8359 3451 8363 3427 8382

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

TW

Local storm report, May 3, 8:59 PM EDT, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
859 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0232 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Waterloo           34.33N 82.08W
05/03/2025                   Laurens            SC   Public

            Home along Lake Greenwood near Waterloo
            sustained damage to siding, patio furniture,
            bent flag poles and multiple tree limbs
            down.

&&

TW

Special weather statement, May 3, 9:07 PM EDT, 30 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
907 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

GAZ018-026-028-SCZ010-104-040145-
Hart GA-Franklin GA-Stephens GA-Greater Oconee SC-Anderson SC-
907 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN FRANKLIN...SOUTHEASTERN
STEPHENS...NORTHERN HART...WEST CENTRAL ANDERSON AND SOUTHERN OCONEE
COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM EDT...

At 907 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of Toccoa, or over Avalon, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Townville, Reed Creek, Tugaloo State Park, Avalon, Gumlog, Martin,
Lavonia, Oakway, Fair Play, and Eastanolee.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3437 8334 3465 8323 3466 8284 3465 8284
      3465 8283 3464 8283 3463 8285 3462 8285
      3465 8281 3437 8278
TIME...MOT...LOC 0107Z 264DEG 37KT 3451 8319

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TW

Special weather statement, May 3, 9:20 PM EDT, 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
920 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

SCZ010-104>107-040200-
Greater Oconee SC-Central Greenville SC-Anderson SC-
Greater Pickens SC-Southern Greenville SC-
920 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL GREENVILLE...
NORTHEASTERN ANDERSON...PICKENS AND EAST CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTIES
THROUGH 1000 PM EDT...

At 920 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles north of Seneca, or near Lake Keowee, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Easley, Central, Liberty, Pickens, Powdersville, Clemson, Six Mile,
Salem, Berea, and Norris.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3465 8306 3488 8303 3490 8300 3492 8293
      3496 8241 3468 8239
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 264DEG 46KT 3481 8291

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TW

Special weather statement, May 3, 9:23 PM EDT, 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
923 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

SCZ012-013-040215-
Laurens SC-Union SC-
923 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL LAURENS AND CENTRAL
UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 PM EDT...

At 922 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southwest of Union, or 7 miles west of Rose Hill State Park,
moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cross Keys, Rose Hill State Park, Sedalia, Monarch Mill, Santuc,
Buffalo, and Union.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3460 8190 3459 8189 3460 8188 3458 8186
      3460 8185 3465 8184 3467 8183 3481 8165
      3465 8148 3449 8183
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 233DEG 27KT 3458 8179

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

TW

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 10:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Polk	31 min
May 3, 11:03 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Mecklenburg	27 min
May 3, 11:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Mecklenburg	26 min
May 4, 12:25 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg	35 min
May 4, 12:47 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Cabarrus, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Union	28 min
May 4, 1:00 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union	45 min
May 4, 1:05 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cabarrus, Davie, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan	40 min
May 3, 9:20 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Pickens	40 min
May 3, 9:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Union	52 min
May 3, 9:42 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Union	33 min
May 3, 9:50 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Pickens	25 min
May 3, 10:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Union	45 min
May 3, 10:18 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville, Spartanburg	42 min
May 3, 10:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Laurens	41 min
May 3, 10:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	York	30 min
May 3, 10:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Spartanburg	38 min
May 3, 11:47 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Chester, York	28 min
May 4, 12:17 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	York	13 min
May 3, 8:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Habersham, Stephens	45 min
May 3, 9:07 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Franklin	38 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2025 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

Sources

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