3/4/2008 Now: GA/FL/SC/NC/VA

[Gerard Jebaily]

Im sitting here in my hometown of Florence, SC. We have had a few small, breif but heavy showers come through. Conditions are mostly cloudy T=70 Td=69 Winds out of the south at 5-10 mph. Low level moisture is certainly not a problem. I am probabbly going to head west around 2pm. Im hoping cellular development will begin around then ahead of the main shower t-stm line. My main concerns are terrain (as you go further west and north in SC it becomes more rugged), lack of daytime heating due to cloud cover, and having to chase through the Columbia Metro. At this time my target area is North East of Columbia in Camden, SC. From Columbia Eastward, the terrain flattens out into the coastal plane where the only obstructions are some trees. The question Im still struggling with is "where will the chaseable activity begin?"

 

[Melissa Moon]

Right now I'm at work in Asheville keeping an eye on the situation. I don't really have a lot of money to spend on gas for chasing, but if it looks like it might be good this afternoon in the northern part of SC I may head down to the I-85 corridor in or near Spartanburg. Still too early to tell, as the first line hasn't completely moved in yet. Speaking of which, there is an embedded storm in the first line that spawned a tornado warning in Polk County (near the NC/SC border about 30 miles SE of here). Still no word as to if that actually produced anything yet.

 

[Gerard Jebaily]

I will be ajusting a little further west to Newberry, SC. While topo isnt that great in that area, it would prob put me in better position for storm intercept. NW SC is clearing out and I should be able to chase back to the east as this progresses.

 

[Kevin Statler2]

Things are definitely taking their time getting theirselves together in a tornadic way..

 

[Mike Johnston]

Things are definitely taking their time getting theirselves together in a tornadic way..

Yes, even though severe parameters are actually shaping up over the southern portion of the moderate risk area, can't help but think the wide precip shield that has refused to tighten up/go more cellular this afternoon has spread a considerable wet blanket.

FWIW, note the tornado warning for Franklin Co., Henry Co. and City of Martinsville, VA - probably based on a rather modest velocity couplet. A jursidictional feature that is unique to Virginia is that counties and class A cities are completely separate political jurisdictions. In other words, the city of Martinsville does not lie in Henry Co.; it is a separate entity. Therefore, when you see warnings in Virginia, sometimes cities are actually separate warned areas, not just "in the path of" as is the case elsewhere.

 

[Gerard Jebaily]

Still rather concerned whether or not any convection will occur ahead of the line before dark. Im sitting here just south of Newberry, SC waiting to see if the convection to my south west turns into something. The thickness of cloud cover has definately reduced however it still remains overcast. I would think I have about another hour at most of good daylight before this turns into a night chase I think i
I'm in the best spot possible as far as conditions and terrain go. Please, someone give me good news.

 

[Tyler Yarnell]

I`m in prosperity,sc probably will hang around another hr to see if this gets its act together, but i have my doubts.