Charleston, SC

Weather Forecast Office

Implementation of Impact-based Special Weather Statements for Non-severe Thunderstorms Effective March 1, 2016

Public Information Statement

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
113 PM EST TUE FEB 2 2016

TO:       SUBSCRIBERS:
          -FAMILY OF SERVICES
          -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
          -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
          -NOAAPORT
          OTHER NWS PARTNERS AND EMPLOYEES

FROM:     RON MORALES
          WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
          NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC

SUBJECT:  IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPACT-BASED SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS
          FOR SUB-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...EFFECTIVE MARCH 1 2016

UPDATE SUMMARY:   CHANGED 40-55 MPH CRITERIA TO 45-55 MPH.
                  REMOVED HEAVY RAIN CRITERIA.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN CHARLESTON SC WILL
IMPLEMENT IMPACT-BASED SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS FOR SUB-SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ON MARCH 1 2016. THIS CHANGE IS PART OF AN ONGOING
EFFORT TO MODIFY LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCTS TO CONTAIN
MORE SPECIFIC IMPACT-BASED WEATHER INFORMATION.

IMPACT BASED SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS WILL ONLY BE ISSUED FOR SUB-
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA...

+ WINDS OF 45-55 MPH.
+ PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
+ EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

IN ADDITION...ENHANCED HEADLINES FOR MARINERS TO SEEK SAFE HARBOR ON
LAKE MOULTRIE AND EASTERN LAKE MARION IN BERKELEY COUNTY...SOUTH
CAROLINA WILL BE INCLUDED AS APPROPRIATE.

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CHANGE...PLEASE CONTACT...

  RON MORALES
  WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
  843-744-0211
  RON.MORALES@NOAA.GOV

  OR

  MICHAEL EMLAW
  METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
  843-744-0211
  MICHAEL.EMLAW@NOAA.GOV

SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF HAZARD-BASED SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS FOR
SUB-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING URL
/IN ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS/...

 HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CHS/SPS

$$

SPS Example #1

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
812 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

GAZ088-SCZ040-280145-
SCREVEN GA-ALLENDALE SC-
812 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN AND ALLENDALE
COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM EST...

AT 812 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MILLHAVEN...OR 17 MILES SOUTH OF SAVANNAH
RIVER SITE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...GUSTY WINDS 45 TO 55 MPH AND UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL.

IMPACT...EXPECT MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF
           LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS. MINOR HAIL DAMAGE TO
           PLANTS...TREES AND CROPS IS POSSIBLE. DAMAGE TO
           WINDSHIELDS IS UNLIKELY.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
HILTONIA...ULMER...SEIGLING...MARTIN...MILLHAVEN...MILLETT AND
APPLETON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT DAMAGE DIRECTLY TO THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT
1-888-383-2024 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR
REPORT TO NWS.CHARLESTONSC@NOAA.GOV.

&&

LAT...LON 3311 8137 3311 8129 3312 8124 3312 8120
      3309 8116 3288 8165 3295 8170 3304 8156
      3307 8160 3309 8160 3308 8161 3310 8161
      3316 8154
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 240DEG 49KT 3300 8164

$$

SPS Example #2

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
813 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

SCZ045-280145-
INLAND BERKELEY SC-
813 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BERKELEY COUNTY UNTIL
845 PM EST...
...MARINERS ON LAKE MOULTRIE AND EASTERN LAKE MARION SHOULD SEEK SAFE
HARBOR...

AT 813 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GOURDIN...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF KINGSTREE...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...STRONG WINDS 45 TO 55 MPH AND UP TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL.

IMPACT...EXPECT MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF
           LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS. MINOR HAIL DAMAGE TO
           PLANTS...TREES AND CROPS IS POSSIBLE. DAMAGE TO
           WINDSHIELDS IS UNLIKELY.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
MONCKS CORNER...ST. STEPHEN...BONNEAU...PINOPOLIS...BONNEAU BEACH...
SAINT STEPHEN...EASTERN LAKE MARION AND NORTHERN LAKE MOULTRIE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BOATERS ON LAKE MOULTRIE AND EASTERN LAKE MARION SHOULD SEEK SAFE
HARBOR IMMEDIATELY. IF CAUGHT ON THE OPEN WATER...STAY AS LOW AS
POSSIBLE AND WEAR A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER YOU ARE AT RISK FOR BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3349 7995 3343 7987 3343 7988 3340 7985
      3337 7980 3338 7979 3333 7974 3332 7974
      3313 8013 3328 8028 3330 8025 3345 8022
      3345 8014 3348 8015 3350 8012 3350 8009
      3351 8008
TIME...MOT...LOC 0113Z 240DEG 49KT 3345 7982

$$

SPS Example #3

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
815 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

GAZ101-116>119-138-SCZ047-048-051-280145-
COASTAL CHATHAM GA-INLAND CHATHAM GA-INLAND BRYAN GA-
INLAND LIBERTY GA-EFFINGHAM GA-COASTAL BRYAN GA-BEAUFORT SC-
COASTAL JASPER SC-INLAND JASPER SC-
815 PM EST FRI NOV 27 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF LIBERTY...BRYAN...
CHATHAM...EFFINGHAM...BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM
EST...

AT 815 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR
EBENEZER TO FORT MCALLISTER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...STRONG WINDS 45 TO 55 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING.

IMPACT...EXPECT MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF
           LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS. ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD
           CEASE. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN
           AN EMERGENCY.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE
SAVANNAH...HILTON HEAD ISLAND...POOLER...BLUFFTON...BEAUFORT...PORT
ROYAL...RIDGELAND AND FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3241 8114 3268 8068 3265 8068 3264 8066
      3260 8065 3259 8058 3255 8056 3256 8056
      3256 8055 3225 8063 3229 8066 3223 8063
      3214 8075 3211 8082 3212 8084 3205 8091
      3200 8084 3187 8098 3176 8128
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 240DEG 47KT 3237 8109 3186 8120

$$