-- Severe Weather:
| |
Severe Thunderstorm Warning |
| |
Special Weather Statement |
-- Flooding:
-- Coastal:
-- Tropical:
| |
Tropical Storm Watch/Warning |
| |
Storm Surge Watch/Warning |
-- Heat:
| |
Excessive Heat Watch/Warning |
-- Wind:
| |
High Wind Watch/Warning for Lake Moultrie |
-- Fog / Smoke:
-- Air Quality:
|
-- Winter Storm:
| |
Winter Storm Watch/Warning |
-- Freezing Rain:
-- Blizzard:
-- Cold Weather:
| |
Extreme Cold Watch/Warning |
-- Fire Weather:
| |
Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch |
-- Frost/Freeze:
-- Marine Severe Weather:
-- Marine Winds:
| |
Hurricane Wind Watch/Warning |
| |
Hurricane-Force Wind Watch/Warning |
| |
Tropical Storm Watch/Warning |
-- Marine Fog / Smoke:
-- Tsunami:
|
NWS Charleston, SC
Mouse over on the product on the left
side to see the criteria for issuance
Tornado Warning
Criteria:
| |
Tornado Warning:
Radar indication and/or reliable reports of a tornado or developing tornado |
| |
Tornado Emergency:
In exceedingly rare situations, when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a tornado is imminent or ongoing. |
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Criteria:
| |
Radar or satellite indication and/or reliable reports of wind gusts equal to or in excess of 50 knots (58 mph) and/or hail size of one inch in diameter or larger. |
Special Weather Statement
Criteria:
| |
Used to highlight sub-severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts of 45-57 mph and/or hail smaller than one inch in diameter but larger than half an inch in diameter. The SPS is also used for other types of significant weather that is expected to remain below warning or advisory criteria. |
Flash Flood Warning
Criteria:
| |
Flash Flood Warning:
Dangerous flooding is imminent or already occurring
and it is expected to pose a risk to life and property
Also, used if a reliable report of a dam break is received. |
| |
Flash Flood Emergency:
In exceedingly rare situations when imminent or ongoing flash flooding is expected to produce an extreme threat to human life and catastrophic damage. |
| |
Charleston, SC Specific Criteria:
- Must be at least 6 inches of water inside structures along Market Street in Downtown Charleston
- All primary access points to the Charleston Peninsula closed to incoming traffic by law enforcement officials due to widespread flooding
|
Flood Warning (Areal)
Criteria:
| |
Minor flooding is ongoing, typically to account for residual flood waters that have yet to recede following flash flooding. |
Flood Warning (River)
Criteria:
Flood Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Minor flooding is observed or expected to begin soon. This includes flooding of roadways and small creeks or streams rising out of their banks. The flooding is not expected to be damaging or life threatening. |
Flood Watch
Criteria:
| |
Issued in advance of a widespread heavy rainfall event when there is increased risk of flash flooding across a widespread area. Can also be used when there is a potential risk for a dam or levee failure that could threaten lives and/or property. |
Coastal Flood Warning
Criteria:
| |
SC Coastal Zones: 8.0 feet MLLW or greater on the Charleston Harbor tide gage (9.0 feet for Tidal Berkeley)
...or...
GA Coastal Zones: 10.5 feet MLLW or greater on the Ft. Pulaski tide gage |
Coastal Flood Advisory
Criteria:
| |
SC Coastal Zones: 7.0 feet to 7.9 feet MLLW at the Charleston Harbor tide gage (8.0 - 8.9 feet for Tidal Berkeley)
...or...
GA Coastal Zones: 9.5 feet to 10.4 Feet MLLW at the Ft. Pulaski tide gage |
Coastal Flood Watch
Criteria:
| |
SC Coastal Zones: 8.0 feet MLLW or greater on the Charleston Harbor tide gage (9.0 feet for Tidal Berkeley)
...or...
GA Coastal Zones: 10.5 feet MLLW or greater on the Ft. Pulaski tide gage |
Coastal Flood Statement
Criteria:
| |
During events that do not require the issuance of a Coastal Flood Watch, Coastal Flood Warning, Coastal Flood Advisory, or High Surf Advisory, the forecaster can issue a Coastal Flood Statement (CF.S). This product should highlight any potential sub-advisory hazards. |
High Surf Advisory
Criteria:
| |
5 ft or larger breakers in the surf zone. |
Hurricane Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Hurricane force (74 mph or greater) winds across
non-coastal land zones. |
Tropical Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Tropical Storm force (39-73 mph) winds across
non-coastal land zones. |
Storm Surge Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
The danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area, generally within 36 hours (48 hours for Storm Surge Watch), in association with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclones, a subtropical cyclone or a post-tropical cyclone. The warning may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical-storm-force winds are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas. |
Extreme Wind Warning
Criteria:
| |
Category 3 or greater hurricane and winds greater than or equal to 100 knots (115 mph) that are already occurring or expected to occur within 1 hour. |
Excessive Heat Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Heat Index of 113ºF or greater |
Heat Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Heat Index of 108ºF to 112ºF |
High Wind Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Wind gusts of 58 MPH or greater
...or...
Sustained winds of 40 MPH or greater for one hour |
| |
Issued during non-convective weather |
Wind Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Wind gusts of 40 MPH to 57 MPH
...or...
Sustained winds of 30 MPH to 39 MPH for one hour |
| |
Issued during non-convective weather |
High Wind Watch/Warning for Lake Moultrie
Criteria:
| |
Sustained non-convective winds of 40 mph (35 kt) or greater for 1 hour or more and/or gusts of 58 mph (50 kt) or greater for any duration over Lake Moultrie. |
Lake Wind Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Sustained winds of 20-34 kt for 1 hour or more and/or gusts of 25-49 kt for any duration over Lake Moultrie. |
Dense Fog Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Visibility reduced to 1/4 mile or less |
Freezing Fog Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Widespread dense fog with temperatures at or below freezing. |
Dense Smoke Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Issued for reduced visibilities due to smoke and/or potential impacts for large or small scale events. |
Freeze Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Minimum temperature of 32ºF or less...
...during the growing season (Mar 1-Nov 30) |
Frost Advisory
Criteria:
| |
March 1-November 30: Widespread frost during the growing season.
May 1-August 30: Patchy frost. |
Red Flag Warning / Fire Wx Watch
Criteria:
| |
Critical Fuel levels as deemed by Fire Weather Partners
...and...
Relative humidity of 25% or less
...and...
Wind Speed of 20 MPH or greater AND/OR wind gusts of 30 mph or greater |
Winter Storm Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Event total snow/sleet accumulation of 2 inches or greater
...or...
Ice accumulation of 1/4 inch or more |
Winter Weather Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Event total snow/sleet accumulation of 1 inch to less than 2.0 inches.
...may combine with...
Ice accumulation under 1/4 inch
...or...
Other winter weather conditions that are expected to impact travel |
Snow Squall Warning
Criteria:
| |
Snow Squall Warnings are issued for intense but limited duration periods of moderate to heavy snowfall accompanied by gusty surface winds and resulting in greatly reduced visibilities and whiteout conditions. |
Ice Storm Warning
Criteria:
| |
Event total ice accumulation of 1/4 inch or greater |
Blizzard Warning
Criteria:
| |
Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater
...and...
falling and/or blowing snow
...and...
visibility reduced to 1/4 mile or less for at least 3 hours |
Extreme Cold Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Temperature or wind chill of 10°F (-12°C) or colder. No minimum wind speed is required. |
Cold Weather Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Temperature or wind chill is expected to fall between 20°F to 11°F (-7°C to -11°C). No minimum wind speed is required. |
Special Marine Warning
Criteria:
| |
Wind gusts of 34 kt or greater
...or...
Hail of 0.75 inch in diameter or greater
...or...
Waterspouts (observed or indicated by radar) |
Marine Weather Statement
Criteria:
| |
Wind gusts around 30 kt
...or...
Hail <0.75 inch in diameter |
| |
The Marine Weather Statement (MWS) is also used for other types of significant weather, usually when falling below product criteria. |
Hurricane Wind Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. |
Hurricane-Force Wind Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 64 kt or greater (not associated with a tropical system) for two straight hours or more. |
Tropical Storm Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
An announcement that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours (48 hours for Tropical Storm Watch) in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. |
Storm Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 48-63 kt (not associated with a tropical system) for two straight hours or more. |
Gale Watch/Warning
Criteria:
| |
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 34-47 kt (not associated with a tropical system) for two straight hours or more. |
Tsunami Warning
Criteria:
| |
Issued when a tsunami with the potential for widespread inundation is imminent, expected or occurring. Warnings alert the public that dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents is possible and may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave. |
Tsunami Watch
Criteria:
| |
Issued to alert emergency officials and the public of an event which may later impact the watch area. Normally issued based on seismic information without confirmation that a destructive tsunami is underway. |
Tsunami Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is imminent, expected or occurring. The threat may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave. |
Air Quality Alert
Criteria:
| |
Air Quality Alerts will be issued for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties whenever DHEC forecasts a Code Orange, Code Red or Code Purple air quality index. |
Small Craft Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Coastal Waters: Sustained wind or frequent gusts of 25-33 kt and/or seas of 6 feet or greater for two straight hours or more.
Charleston Harbor: Sustained winds 20-33 kt or frequent gusts 25-33 kt for two straight hours or more. |
Dense Fog/Smoke Advisory
Criteria:
| |
Visibility reduced to 1/2 nautical mile or less |
|
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