Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 88, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 29, 2003Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 29, 2003, 7:10 PM EDT for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It was in force for 110 min. 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, 7:10 PM EDT (23:10 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 2003, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
110 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

County Mecklenburg County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:12 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, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 125 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 292312
FFWGSP
NCC119-300100-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  MECKLENBURG COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 710 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
  THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL OVER THE INTERSTATE 77
  CORRIDOR IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY. RADAR INDICATES RAINFALL RATES IN
  EXCESS OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR. ADDITIONAL MODERATE RAINFALL WILL
  CONTINUE AS THE LINE MOVES EAST OF THE AREA THROUGH 8 PM.

* FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ACROSS THE
  COUNTY...WITH SEVERE URBAN FLOODING DEVELOPING IN POOR DRAINAGE
  AREAS. THE FLOODING MAY BE SEVERE FROM CHARLOTTE SOUTHWARD TO
  PINEVILLE. ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING WILL BE THE SUGAR
  CREEK...LITTLE SUGAR CREEK...AND CROOKED CREEK STREAM BASINS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. 
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER 
GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD 
TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT 
ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH 
BY FOOT OR BY AUTOMOBILE. EVEN MODERN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES CANNOT 
BE SAFELY DRIVEN THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

$$
HG
1 follow-up statement
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 300014
FFSGSP
NCC119-300100-

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

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR MECKLENBURG
COUNTY...

AT 810 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF 
MODERATE RAIN COVERING MUCH OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THIS AREA OF RAIN 
IS MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH...AND SHOULD DIMINISH BY 9 PM.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS HAS REPORTED URBAN FLOODING 
PROBLEMS AROUND THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE. STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE ALSO 
RUNNING NEAR BANKFULL ACROSS THE COUNTY...AND SOME STREAM FLOODING 
COULD STILL DEVELOP.

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

$$
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, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 29, 6:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 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, 14 hours 12 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

Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 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, 1 hour 17 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, 55 minutes 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
Local storm report, Jul 29, 6:29 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
629 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

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

610 PM     BELMONT                   NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   GASTON                         TREES DOWN...INCLUDING
                                          ONE THAT DAMAGED A POOL
                                          AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

MCAVOY
Local storm report, Jul 29, 7:01 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
701 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

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

645 PM     NEEDMORE                  NC   FLASH FLOOD
07/29/03   ROWAN                          COUNTY 911 REPORTED WOMAN
                                          RESCUED FROM FLOODED
                                          HOUSE NEAR CREEK. NO
                                          INJURIES. ALSO...MT
                                          VERNON RD BRIDGE OVER
                                          FOURTH CREEK FLOODED WITH
                                          WATER OVER BRIDGE RAILS.

LAMB
Local storm report, Jul 29, 7:05 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
705 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2003

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

630 PM     CHINA GROVE               NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/29/03   ROWAN                          2 FRUIT TREES BLOWN DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY  HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

MCAVOY

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, 6:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPDavie, Rowan3 hr
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, 7:11 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.