Reporting Severe Weather and Watch/Warning/Advisory Criteria

News Headlines

Please fill out the NOAA Weather Radio user survey to assist with NWS modernization activities!

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Criteria for Non-Precipitation Watches/Warnings/Advisories
Hazard Type	Watch/Warning Name Criteria	Advisory Name Criteria
Cold Weather
Heat	Excessive Heat Watch/Warning Heat Index 110 or greater	Heat Advisory Heat Index 105 or greater but less than 110
Wind (Non-Thunderstorm)	High Wind Watch/Warning Sustained winds higher than 40 mph and/or frequent gusts greater than 57 mph	Wind Advisory Sustained Winds of 31-40 mph, and/or frequent gusts of 46-57 mph
Frost Freeze	Freeze Watch/Warning Low temperature of 32 degrees or less during the Growing Season*	Frost Advisory Scattered to widespread frost is forecast during the Growing Season*
Fog	N/A	Dense Fog Advisory Fog causing widespread visibility of 1/4 mile or less

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Criteria for Winter Weather Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Snow and Sleet
Winter Storm Event Warning Accumulation Criteria	Winter Weather Advisory Event Accumulation Criteria

Ice/Freezing Rain
Ice Storm Warning Criteria 1/4" or Greater Ice Accretion	Winter Weather Advisory Criteria Trace Amounts to Less Than 1/4" Ice Accretion

Are you in the right place? These instructions are only intended for reporting weather in the western Carolinas and extreme northeast Georgia. If this isn’t where you are, please find your local forecast office.

Your reports can be a vital component of our decision to issue warnings.

To Report Severe Weather to the National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg:

By phone: 1-800-267-8101. Leave a message describing your report.

***Online Form***

X @NWSGSP Facebook

Please include the following info with your report:

Location:
- Latitude & Longitude (most preferred)
- Road/street and city or zip code
- Distance/direction from nearest city
The type of weather you are reporting
Approximate time and duration
Your phone number (in case more details are needed)

The following weather events meet reporting criteria:

Tornado or Funnel Cloud

Hail Size Per the Following
(Severe Thunderstorm Warning Criteria: Quarter Size or Larger)

Diameter (inches)	Size Description
3/4	Dime or Penny
7/8	Nickel
1.0	Quarter
1.25	Half Dollar
1.5	Ping Pong Ball
1.75	Golf Ball
2.5	Tennis Ball
2.75	Baseball
4	Softball
4.5	Grapefruit

Wind Damage (structural damage or trees/power lines down)

Unusually strong Wind Gusts Per the Following

Visual Clues and Damage Impacts	Speed (mph)	Description
Twigs and small branches breaking off trees, impedes walking	39-46	Gale
Minor structural damage, many twigs on ground	47-54	Strong Gale
Minor to moderate structural damage. Trees blown down. Severe Thunderstorm Warning criteria: 58 mph and greater	55-63	Whole Gale
Widespread minor to moderate structural damage. Many large trees down.	64-75	Storm Force
Severe and extensive damage. Roofs peeled off, mobile homes overturned.	>75	Hurricane Force

Flooding / High Water Conditions
- Water approaching structures
- Water flowing over roads
- Roads impassable due to poor drainage
- Streams at bankfull