Daniel Prince
Upstate at a level 2 risk for storms with damaging winds and possible tornadoes
There is a possibility of severe weather for our area later this afternoon. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has put the Upstate of South Carolina at a slight risk of severe weather. That is level two of their five levels of risk. According to the National Weather Service’s hazardous weather outlook, a strong cold front is expected to move into the mountains this afternoon and track east across the area from the late afternoon through the mid-evening. It says conditions will be sufficient for development of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds will be the main threat, with a secondary threat of tornadoes, which they say would most likely be short-lived if they develop. A wind advisory will be in effect this afternoon from 1 p.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday. Southwest winds of 20-30 mph are expected, with gusts possible up to 40 and 50 mph at times. They note to use extra caution while driving, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle, and to secure outdoor objects.
According to the local forecast, thunderstorms are possible from 6-8 p.m., with the best chance of rain from 6-8:30. The strongest wind gusts are forecast from 4-11 p.m., with gusts peaking at around 38 mph outside of strong thunderstorms and staying consistently strong through the evening. Not much rain is expected except for those areas that get under a thunderstorm.
Frank Strait, Severe Weather Liaison with the SC State Climate Office says the Upstate will see the most widespread thunderstorms due to an unstable atmosphere, strong winds aloft, and directional shear, which means winds that change direction the higher you go up. He said we expect southerly winds toward the surface and southwesterly to westerly winds once you reach 4000-8000 feet. In addition, winds are strong within a couple of thousand feet of the surface, making it easier for thunderstorms to push those winds down and causing damaging straight-line winds and possible isolated tornadoes where rotation occurs within the storms. WBCU will follow the storms this afternoon, and if severe weather coverage is needed, we will break into our normal programming to provide it.
The Union County School District sent out a message on Facebook that they are monitoring the weather, as conditions could possibly cause interruptions to dismissal and after-school activities. However, today will be a regular school day. They say if conditions change that require modifications to normal school operations, they will put out word through every possible means, including WBCU, social media, the district website, and by phone.
The games scheduled for today have been cancelled.
1. The Sims MS Softball tournament has been cancelled and will not be made up.
2. The JV Baseball tournament in Spartanburg has been moved to tomorrow
3. The UC softball tournament at Byrnes has been cancelled