Tornadoes strike my region tonight (May 6th, 2003)

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Stormsfury
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Tornadoes strike my region tonight (May 6th, 2003)

#1 Postby Stormsfury » Tue May 06, 2003 7:36 pm

Tonight near the vicinity of Charleston, SC ... in Ladson, a tornado has struck just a mile from my location ... I was on my way home from work in Charleston, when these storms blew through. Unbelievably pitch darkness in this storm, with a funnel cloud passing almost directly overhead. The storm had already produced a tornado just upstream and other tornadoes srtuck locally as well, one in Summerville - with reports of heavy damage in parts of that area.

Very serious weather occurred as well ... with winds over 60 mph during the height of the actual parent storms, and hail as large as Golf-balls further upstream (1.75") in Moncks Corner covering the ground.

Severe weather occurs on occasion, but tornadoes are generally quite rare in this area, but can and do occur. After all the data is sorted through with the reports coming across throughout the Lowcountry, I'll post back and/or create a page for the severe weather outbreak on my website.

SF
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#2 Postby mf_dolphin » Tue May 06, 2003 7:43 pm

Keep us posted and stay safe!
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ColdFront77

#3 Postby ColdFront77 » Tue May 06, 2003 7:44 pm

Close call, glad you were safe. Thanks Mike. :)
Last edited by ColdFront77 on Tue May 06, 2003 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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#4 Postby bfez1 » Tue May 06, 2003 7:45 pm

Stay safe and take care
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#5 Postby breeze » Tue May 06, 2003 7:49 pm

Good to see you're ok, Mike! Keep your head low and your
eyes upward!
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#6 Postby Stormsfury » Tue May 06, 2003 7:59 pm

The Charleston WFO (National Weather Service) just called me and asked me for any more information that I had to help in the surveys that will take place tomorrow...

Thanks for your concern guys and gals...
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#7 Postby Stephanie » Tue May 06, 2003 8:44 pm

Stormsfury wrote:The Charleston WFO (National Weather Service) just called me and asked me for any more information that I had to help in the surveys that will take place tomorrow...

Thanks for your concern guys and gals...


I'm happy to hear that you are able to provide these guys with additional information! I'm glad you're safe. What an experience! :o
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#8 Postby MScoast » Tue May 06, 2003 8:57 pm

WOW, Mike! Glad to hear that you are okay!!!
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#9 Postby pojo » Tue May 06, 2003 9:03 pm

That's what you call a close call!! I'm glad you are ok
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#10 Postby Stormsfury » Tue May 06, 2003 9:22 pm

Thanks, I'll be posting often ... I have an incredible satellite loop of the thunderstorms explosive development in South Carolina and also in Missouri tonight, very dramatic loop ... I tried to save the radar loop from tonight's storms as well, however, all I could save was a still image about 15 minutes later.
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#11 Postby Stormsfury » Tue May 06, 2003 10:08 pm

The damage at the industrial plant was shown earlier on the news ... The roof was ripped off and 3,000 pound steel coils were thrown around in the air ... (some of these coils will be going into the new Cooper River Bridges)
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#12 Postby isobar » Tue May 06, 2003 11:14 pm

Incredible!
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This is my climatic summary for May 6th, 2003

#13 Postby Stormsfury » Tue May 06, 2003 11:27 pm

May 6th, 2003

High - 88º
Low - 67° (Low set during thunderstorms 7:41 pm)
Average - 77°
Rainfall: 0.59"(0.61")
IP/ZR: 0.0" (0.0")
Snowfall: 0.0" (0.0")
Rainfall(Year): 18.62"
ZR/IP: (Year): Trace
Snowfall(Year): 0.5"

Significant Weather
Low this morning was only 74º
Tornadoes in vicinity of the area
Funnel Cloud
Severe Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms
Heavy Rain
Rain
Light Rain
Morning clouds and light rain showers gave way to sunshine and clouds which destabilized the atmosphere quite rapidly today. As an impulse (s/w) approached the area, a tornado watch went up at 2:30 pm this afternoon. Very strong and severe thunderstorms exploded in South Carolina which a supercell developed right over the Ladson area around 6:30 pm tonight, and prompted the tornado warning for the area. A funnel cloud moved nearly overhead at the convenience store I stopped off at this afternoon to get a soda, and by that time, after the funnel cloud passed on to the east, torrential rains, and very high winds set in. Some gusts I estimated at 60 mph.

The big story today though are the tornadoes which struck much too close for comfort today.
Heavy damage in the Summerville, Jedburg, and Ladson areas in isolated spots ... In Summerville, an industrial plant was hit by what the Summerville Police Dept. is confirming as a tornado ... the roof was lifted and blown off and 3,000 pound wire coils were tossed in the air like paper-weights off of Deming Way.

More damage in Jedburg as the Clemson Terrace subdivision apparently took a direct hit of a comparably weak tornado (still strong enough to produce moderate damage).

Other reports include possible funnel cloud/tornado at the intersection of Dorchester Rd and Ashley Phosphate Rd in North Charleston.

1" diameter hail in North Charleston - the intersections of Dunlap and Ashley Phosphate Rds.
1.75" diameter hail (Golf-Ball) in Goose Creek reported by an off-duty NWS employee.
1.75" diameter hail covering the ground in Moncks Corner
1.00" diameter hail in the Sangaree Subdivision in Summerville.

I will be posting an incredible satellite loop and a radar image and daily loop later on my website in the coming days with more details.
I'm currently working with the Charleston WFO with coordinations of my spotter reports and their reports to compile stats on May 6th, 2003 severe weather outbreak.

What an incredible day. Potential for more severe weather tomorrow.
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ColdFront77

#14 Postby ColdFront77 » Tue May 06, 2003 11:31 pm

Thank you for the details, Mike. I await your incredible satellite loop and radar image and daily loop.
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#15 Postby vbhoutex » Tue May 06, 2003 11:58 pm

Yikes Mike!!! Seems like our Storm2k family i sbeing targeted by severe weather!!! Glad all is well. I've been through a very close call with a twister before and IT WAN'T ANY FUN!!! :o :o :o
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#16 Postby JQ Public » Wed May 07, 2003 12:29 am

just glad you made it through! Hey you're now a celebrity down in the SC weather circle aren't ya ?!
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#17 Postby weatherlover427 » Wed May 07, 2003 2:19 am

Amazing report there. Stay safe OK, WxBud?? :)
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#18 Postby Rainband » Wed May 07, 2003 8:35 am

Glad your ok!!!!! Keep the info coming :wink:
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#19 Postby isobar » Wed May 07, 2003 9:30 am

Glad you're safe, and glad it wasn't dark yet or you likely wouldn't have spotted the funnel. Good job SF!
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#20 Postby Stormsfury » Wed May 07, 2003 7:24 pm

isobar wrote:Glad you're safe, and glad it wasn't dark yet or you likely wouldn't have spotted the funnel. Good job SF!


It wasn't quite dark but let me tell you that parent supercell was absolutely one of the darkest plumes I've EVER seen in my life - it was almost pitch black with plenty of time before sundown.

The cloud top of that storm was 60,000 FEET! according to the NWS.
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