Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 86, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 29, 2003Davie County, Rowan County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 29, 2003, 6:16 PM EDT for Davie County, Rowan County, North Carolina. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 29, 2003, 6:16 PM EDT (22:16 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 2003, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Davie County, NC, Rowan County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:15 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 66 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 681 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -3 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
681 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1045 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WGUS52 KGSP 292216
FFWGSP
NCC059-159-300100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
616 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  DAVIE COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHERN ROWAN COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 602 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED CLUSTERS
  OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN DAVIE...AND NORTHERN
  ROWAN COUNTIES. RADAR ESTIMATED BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES OF RAIN
  HAD FALLEN BETWEEN DAVIE ACADEMY CORNERS...AND NEEDMORE. THE HEAVY
  RAIN WAS SHIFTING TOWARD THE WOODLEAF AREA. IN ADDITION...A LINE 
  OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE 
  WEST. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL IN LOCATIONS 
  THAT HAVE ALREADY SEEN HEAVY RAINFALL...AND IT IS LIKELY THAT 
  EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL SPREAD TO ALL OF DAVIE COUNTY...AND MOST 
  OF NORTHERN ROWAN COUNTY THROUGH 9 PM.

* FLASH FLOODING OF SHALLOW STREAMS AND CREEKS IS LIKELY...ESPECIALLY
  HUNTING AND LITTLE CREEKS IN DAVIE COUNTY...AND                    
  FOURTH...BEAVERDAM...THIRD AND SECOND CREEKS IN ROWAN COUNTY. 
  EVENTUALLY...WATER FROM MOST OF THESE WATERWAYS WILL CONVERGE IN   
  THE SOUTH YADKIN RIVER...AND HIGH WATER COULD AFFECT COOLEEMEE     
  LATER TONIGHT.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE 
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS 
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. 
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. EVEN MODERN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES CANNOT BE 
SAFELY DRIVEN THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

TO REPORT FLOODING HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY YOUR
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG.
$$
BURRUS
2 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 292316
FFSGSP
NCC059-159-300100-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
715 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR DAVIE AND 
NORTHERN ROWAN COUNTIES...

AT 710 PM...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL 
OF THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. RAINFALL CONTINUES AT 
THE RATE OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. SOME LOCATIONS BETWEEN NEEDMORE 
AND WOODLEAF IN NORTHERN ROWAN COUNTY HAVE RECEIVED AS MUCH AS 4 
INCHES OF RAIN THIS AFTERNOON. THE HEAVY RAINFALL HAD SPREAD 
SOUTH...TOWARD SALISBURY...AND KANNAPOLIS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF 
2 TO 3 INCHES COULD AFFECT DAVIE AND ROWAN COUNTIES THROUGH 9 PM. 

STREAMS AND CREEKS WERE RISING RAPIDLY IN SOUTHERN DAVIE AND 
NORTHERN ROWAN COUNTIES. ONE EVACUATION HAD ALREADY OCCURRED AT A 
HOME NEAR FOURTH CREEK IN NORTHWEST ROWAN COUNTY. IN ADDITION...A 
BRIDGE WAS CLOSED ON MOUNT VERNON ROAD DUE TO WATER FROM FOURTH 
CREEK OVERTOPPING THE BRIDGE. FLOODING IS ALSO LIKELY ALONG SECOND 
CREEK...AND COULD DEVELOP ON THIRD CREEK. TO THE SOUTH...URBAN 
FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED IN SALISBURY...AND KANNAPOLIS...AND IT IS 
POSSIBLE STREAMS AND CREEKS COULD BEGIN FLOODING ROADS IN SOUTHERN 
ROWAN COUNTY.

IN DAVIE COUNTY...NO FLOODING HAD YET BEEN REPORTED BUT MANY ROADS 
WERE BEGINNING TO ACCRUE STANDING WATER. PART OF JUNCTION ROAD WAS 
BLOCKED DUE TO STANDING WATER...WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT CREWS FROM 
COOLEEMEE ON THE SCENE. TO THE NORTH...FLOODING WILL LIKELY DEVELOP 
IN AND AROUND MOCKSVILLE. STREAM FLOODING MAY ALSO DEVELOP ALONG 
CARTER AND BAILEY CREEKS NEAR THE YADKIN RIVER. ABUNDANT STANDING 
WATER CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED IN LOW SPOTS ON ROADWAYS AROUND THE 
COUNTY.

DO NOT BECOME A FATALITY DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS...THE ROAD COULD
BE WASHED OUT FROM THE FLOW OF THE WATER...AND YOUR CAR COULD BE
SWEPT AWAY BY THE SWIFTLY MOVING WATER.

$$
BURRUS
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 300104
FFSGSP
NCC059-159-300200-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
900 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR DAVIE AND ROWAN
COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED AS OF 900 PM EDT...

AT 9 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING THE EARLIER TORRENTIAL RAINFALL HAD MOVED 
EAST OF THE AREA. IN ADDITION...THE LIGHT RAIN COVERING THE REGION 
WAS STEADILY DIMINISHING FROM THE WEST.

COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED THAT THE EARLIER FLOOD PROBLEMS HAD 
IMPROVED. SOME ROADWAYS...HOWEVER...MAY STILL BE COVERED WITH WATER. 
MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. THE ROAD COULD 
BE WASHED OUT FROM THE FLOW OF THE WATER...OR YOUR CAR COULD BE 
SWEPT AWAY.
$$
HG

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 29, 6:08 PM EDT, 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 29, 6:08 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
608 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

AFTER COORDINATION WITH SPC...WILL UPDATE TO CLEAR THE NORTH
CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND THE WESTERN UPSTATE...INCLUDING GREENVILLE
AND SPARTANBURG FROM THE CURRENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. LAPS
ANALYSIS SHOWS LITTLE RESIDUAL INSTABILITY IN WORKED OVER AIRMASS
AND VAD WIND PROFILE SHOWS LITTLE SHEAR REMAINING WITH 15 KT
WESTERLY FLOW UP THE COLUMN.

FCSTID =   33

.GSP...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

HG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 29, 4:58 AM EDT, 13 hours 18 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-291100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
458 AM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
EXTENDED PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED ATT HIS TIME.

RB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 29, 4:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
NCZ065-292115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
438 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

...HENDERSON COUNTY HAS BEEN CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NUMBER 812...

AT 438 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS HAD MOVED EAST OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS. WHILE A
FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS MAY PERSIST ACROSS HENDERSON COUNTY
THIS EVENING...NO ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED. THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF THE
WATCH AREA.

GERAPETRITIS
Local storm report, Jul 29, 4:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
441 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

434 PM     VALDESE                   NC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/29/03   BURKE                          HAM REPORTED DIME SIZED
                                          HAIL.

441 PM     3 E BETHLEHEM             NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   ALEXANDER                      SPOTTER REPORTED 4-5
                                          LIMBS BLOWING OFF TREES
                                          AND PEA SIZE HAIL.

LAMB
Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:22 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
522 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

500 PM     SPARTANBURG               SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   SPARTANBURG                    COUNTY 911 REPORTED TREES
                                          AND POWERLINES DOWN AT
                                          INTSCN OF CANNONS
                                          CAMPGROUND RD AND
                                          CONVERSE RD.

520 PM     0.5 S FALLSTON            NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   CLEVELAND                      HAM REPORTED 2 ROOFS
                                          BLOWN OFF MOBILE HOMES
                                          NEAR JIM CLINE RD AND HWY
                                          18.

LAMB
Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:46 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
546 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

522 PM     WOODLEAF                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/29/03   ROWAN                          WOODLEAF F.D. REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY
                                          WIND.

LAMB
Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:53 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
553 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

520 PM     FALLSTON                  NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   CLEVELAND                      UPDATE TO PREVOUS LSR.
                                          NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED
                                          OR SNAPPED OFF HALFWAYUP.
                                          OUTBUILDINGS BLOWN INTO
                                          THE HIGHWAY. ONE MOBILE
                                          HOME LOST ROOF WHILE MAN
                                          WAS INSIDE. NO INJURIES.
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY 911
                                          CENTER.

LAMB
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 6:15 PM EDT, 1 minute before
NCZ034-054-055-066-067-SCZ002-003-005>007-010>012-019-292245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
615 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND THE WESTERN UPSTATE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH # 812.
THIS CLEARANCE AFFECTS THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA...

CALDWELL...BURKE...MCDOWELL...RUTHERFORD...AND POLK.

AND THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA...

PICKENS...GREENVILLE...SPARTANBURG...LAURENS...ANDERSON...ABBEVILLE.
...AND GREENWOOD.

THE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS MOVED EAST OF THE
AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY STILL DEVELOP ACROSS
THE REGION THIS EVENING...BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW
SEVERE LEVELS.

HG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 29, 2:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPMecklenburg, Union53 min
Jul 29, 2:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPMecklenburg119 min
Jul 29, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Catawba64 min
Jul 29, 5:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPLincoln65 min
Jul 29, 5:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPIredell47 min
Jul 29, 5:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGaston54 min
Jul 29, 6:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPMecklenburg56 min
Jul 29, 6:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPRowan58 min
Jul 29, 6:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPIredell2 hr
Jul 29, 7:10 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPMecklenburg110 min
Jul 29, 7:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus49 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2003Every flash flood warning in 2003

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.