Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2005

Flash Flood Warning 15, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

June 18, 2005Macon County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jun 18, 2005, 4:28 PM EDT for Macon 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jun 18, 2005, 4:28 PM EDT (20:28 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 2005, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Macon County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:31 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 228 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2005-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2005-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1983 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS52 KGSP 182033
FFWGSP
NCC113-182330-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
428 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  MACON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT

* AT 428 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  NEARLY STATIONARY AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST SOUTH OF
  FRANKLIN TO NEAR HIGHLANDS...PRODUCING RAINFALL AT RATES IN EXCESS
  OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR. RAINFALL RATES OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL LIKELY
  PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED
  TO...RAINBOW SPRINGS...OTTO...SCALY AND HIGHLANDS.

FLOODING IS ESPECIALLY LIKELY IN THE HIGHLANDS AREA ALONG THE 
CULLASAJA RIVER AND BIG CREEK. HIKERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD EXPECT 
RAPIDLY RISING WATER LEVELS ON LOCAL STREAMS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.  
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE 
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS 
FLOODED ROADWAYS. VEHICLES CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN THROUGH FLOOD 
WATERS. THE HEAVY RAINFALL COULD ALSO TRIGGER ROCK AND MUDSLIDES IN 
STEEP TERRAIN.

LAT...LON 3526 8332 3521 8327 3522 8326 3520 8323
      3516 8323 3508 8315 3506 8317 3504 8350
      3517 8366

$$
HG
2 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 182201
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

NCC113-182330-
MACON NC-
559 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR MACON 
COUNTY...

AT 554 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE 
SOUTHERN PORTION OF MACON COUNTY...NEAR THE GEORGIA BORDER.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL RUN OFF SATURATED SOIL...CAUSING STREAMS 
AND CREEKS TO RISE.

REMEMBER THAT MOST FLOOD FATALITIES ARE THE RESULT OF DRIVING INTO
FLOODED STREETS...ROADS...OR STREAMS...OR OCCUR WHEN CHILDREN PLAY IN
OR NEAR STORM DRAINS OR STREAMS.

LAT...LON 3526 8332 3521 8327 3522 8326 3520 8323
      3516 8323 3508 8315 3506 8317 3504 8350
      3517 8366

$$
07
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 182333
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
731 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

NCC113-182341-
MACON NC-
731 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR MACON COUNTY EXPIRED AT 730 PM EDT...

AT 731 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED ONLY 
LINGERING LIGHT RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF MACON COUNTY. COUNTY OFFICIALS 
REPORT SOME STANDING WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS...BUT NO SIGNIFICANT 
FLOODING HAS DEVELOPED. THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS THUS BEEN 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3526 8332 3521 8327 3522 8326 3520 8323
      3516 8323 3508 8315 3506 8317 3504 8350
      3517 8366

$$
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 Jun 18, 3:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 3:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
318 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)...
DEEP CONVECTION OVER THE MTNS SHOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE
MTNS THROUGH THIS EVENING...STORM MOTIONS E AROUND 10 KTS. LAPS
INDICATES THAT CAPES RANGE FROM 300-500 OVER THE MTNS AND EASTERN
PIEDMONT TO 1000-1500 J/KG OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND SAVANNAH RIVER
VALLEY. STORMS MOVING OFF THE MTNS SHOULD THRIVE IN THE RICHER AIR
OVER THE FOOTHILLS. WITH ADDITIONAL HEATING AND GENERATION OF
OUTFLOWS...COVERAGE SHOULD INCREASE THROUGH THE MID EVENING. EXPECT
THE ORDER OF COVERAGE TO FOLLOW HIGH TERRAIN...FOOTHILLS...SAVANNAH
RIVER VALLEY...WITH CONVECTION PINCHING NE ACROSS THE PIEDMONT THIS
EVENING. HAYWOOD SVR STORM HAD 45-50 DBZ AROUND 30K FT AND A VIL OF
42 FROM KGSP.

STEADY EAST FLOW CIRCULATING FROM SRN GA LOW WILL BUILD MOISTURE
OVER THE CWA TONIGHT. EXPECTING MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY BY LATE TONIGHT IN
THE FORM OF MID STRATUS. SH/TS SHOULD CONTINUE IN LESSER VALUES AS
DECENT VORT MAX PASSES WITH SHARP TROUGH. WILL CONTINUE SCT SH/TS
TONIGHT AND SUN. SIMILAR PATTERN FOR SUN WITH THE ADDITION OF A
NOSING SFC HIGH FROM THE NE. WILL COOL TEMPS TO MET GUIDANCE AND
ADVERTISE A LIGHT NE WIND.

UPPER LEVEL LOW REMAINS OVER THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. DEEP
MOISTURE...BUT LITTLE DEEP LIFT SEEN. THERE WILL BE SOME LIFT...SO
WITH MOISTURE AND UPPER LOW HANGING AROUND WILL KEEP CHC POP. LOW
FINALLY OPENS UP MONDAY NIGHT...THEN REMNANT TROF MAKES A SLOW ELY
PROGRESS ON TUE. KEPT A LINGERING SLIGHT CHC POP MONDAY NITE...BUT
HAVE A DRY FCST TUE AS WE WILL BE BETWEEN SYSTEMS.

HIGHS REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL MONDAY WITH CLOUDS...NELY FLOW AND
LOW THICKNESSES. HIGHS RISE TO NEAR OR A LITTLE ABOVE NORMAL TUE DUE
TO SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THICKNESSES AS UPPER LOW MOVES OUT. SHOULD
ALSO SEE SOME SUNSHINE. LOWS A LITTLE BELOW NORMAL SUNDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHTS.
&&

.LONG TERM (TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...
PERIOD STARTS WITH UPPER LEVEL TROF OVER THE EAST COAST. A WEAK
SHORT WAVE MOVES THRU THE TROF WED INTO OUR AREA PUSHING A BACKDOOR
COLD FRONT THRU. BEST MOISTURE AND LIFT SPLIT AND PASS EAST AND WEST
OF OUR AREA...SO HAVE A DRY FCST FOR NOW. AREA REMAINS IN NWLY FLOW
UNTIL SAT WHEN RIDGING BEGINS TO MOVE IN. A COUPLE OF WEAK SHORT
WAVES MOVE THRU THE NWLY FLOW FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. COOLER HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS IN ON THU THEN HOLDS ACROSS THE AREA THRU SATURDAY
AND MODERATES. ENOUGH MOISTURE AND LIFT FOR SLIGHT CHC AFT/EVE POP
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS AHEAD OF THE FNT ON
WED...THEN SEASONAL VALUES THU. BACK TO ABOVE NORMAL FRI AND
SATURDAY.
&&

.AVIATION...
CONVECTION HAS INITIATED OVER THE MTNS AND IS MOVING ENE ATTM.
SATELLITE SHOWS THAT CU HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE CWA...WITH TCU OVER
THE UPPER SAVANNAH VALLEY ALONG WITH THE MTNS. WILL TEMPO IN PERIODS
OF TS/SH FOR ALL TERMINALS MINUS KCLT. THE CONVECTIVE THREAT SHOULD
CONTINUE UNTIL 6Z...ATMOS BECOMES MORE STABLE AFTER 6Z. NAM DEPICTS
THAT THE SFC LOW WILL REMAIN OVER SRN GA TONIGHT...KEEPING THE FA
UNDER DEEP EAST FLOW. UPSLOPE FLOW COMBINED WITH A PASSING VORT MAX
SHOULD SUPPORT WIDESPREAD MID CLOUDS. ALSO...FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW
AMPLE BL MOISTURE BUILDS BY SUNRISE...POSSIBLY LEADING TO MVFR FOG
OVER AREAS THAT SEE RAIN TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SUN...NE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN SOMEWHAT BY MID MORNING.
WILL CONTINUE VFR CEILING THROUGH 18Z WITH MENTION OF SH/TS.
&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...NED/RWH
LONG TERM...RWH
AVIATION...NED
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 18, 3:51 AM EDT, 12 hours 37 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
351 AM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-
SCZ001>014-019-190800-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-CALDWELL-
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
BUNCOMBE-MCDOWELL-BURKE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-
MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-POLK-RUTHERFORD-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
351 AM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...SOME STORMS MAY BECOME QUITE STRONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS
AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY...THEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY...SOME
STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG...WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RB

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 18, 2:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
249 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0237 PM     HAIL             CANTON                  35.55N 82.84W
06/18/2005  0.75 INCH        HAYWOOD            NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            CANTON FIRE DEPT REPORTED

&&

JONES
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 3:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
304 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-182200-
ABBEVILLE-ALEXANDER-ANDERSON-AVERY-BUNCOMBE-BURKE NC-CABARRUS-
CALDWELL-CATAWBA-CHEROKEE SC-CHESTER-CLEVELAND-DAVIE-ELBERT-
FRANKLIN GA-GASTON-GRAHAM-GREATER GREENVILLE-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREENWOOD-HABERSHAM-HART-
HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-IREDELL-LAURENS SC-LINCOLN NC-MACON NC-MADISON NC-
MCDOWELL-MECKLENBURG-MITCHELL NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-POLK NC-RABUN-ROWAN-RUTHERFORD-
SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SPARTANBURG-STEPHENS-SWAIN-TRANSYLVANIA-UNION NC-
UNION SC-YANCEY-YORK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ABBEVILLE...ANDERSON...ASHEVILLE...
BREVARD...CHARLOTTE...CHEROKEE...CHESTER...CLARKESVILLE...CLAYTON...
CONCORD...ELBERTON...FRANKLIN...GAFFNEY...GASTONIA...GREENVILLE...
GREENWOOD...HARTWELL...HENDERSONVILLE...HICKORY...LAURENS...
LINCOLNTON...MARION...MOCKSVILLE...MONROE...MORGANTON...NEWLAND...
ROCK HILL...RUTHERFORDTON...SALISBURY...SHELBY...SPARTANBURG...
SPRUCE PINE...STATESVILLE...SYLVA...TOCCOA...TRYON...UNION...
WAYNESVILLE
304 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED ACROSS PARTS OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON.  A SEVERE STORM AROUND
CANTON CAUSED LARGE HAIL THERE. AROUND CULLOWHEE IN JACKSON COUNTY...
SMALL HAIL HAS COVERED THE GROUND TO AN INCH OR MORE DEPTH IN SOME
PLACES...AND THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE LIGHTNING AND HEAVY
RAINFALL.  WATER WAS REPORTED PONDING AROUND THAT AREA.

THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS...WITH HAIL MOST LIKELY IN THE MOUNTAINS FOR A
WHILE...WITH THE THREAT INCREASING A BIT LATER ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS
AND PIEDMONT.

STORMS WILL AFFECT THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON...AND THEN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS
EXPECTED ACROSS THE REST OF THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY OF
NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND ACROSS UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.  COVERAGE OF
STORMS WILL BE GREATEST ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...WITH
SCATTERED COVERAGE ACROSS MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA.  THE
CHARLOTTE AREA OF THE PIEDMONT COULD BE AFFECTED BY SOME STORMS BY
LATER IN THE EVENING.

JONES
Local storm report, Jun 18, 3:50 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
350 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0329 PM     HAIL             2 E WAYNESVILLE         35.48N 82.96W
06/18/2005  1.00 INCH        HAYWOOD            NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            QUARTER TO NICKEL HAIL REPORTED BY SHERRIF DEPUTY ON
            WAYNESVILLE MTN. RECEIVED FROM COUNTY COMMS.

0332 PM     HAIL             WAYNESVILLE             35.48N 83.00W
06/18/2005  0.88 INCH        HAYWOOD            NC   NEWSPAPER

            NICKEL HAIL REPORTED BY WMXI RADIO. GROUND BECOMING
            COVERED.

&&

RWH
Local storm report, Jun 18, 4:06 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
406 PM EDT SAT JUN 18 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0402 PM     HAIL             HIGHLANDS               35.05N 83.20W
06/18/2005  0.50 INCH        MACON              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MACON 911 RELAYED REPORT FROM HIGHLANDS PD THAT HAIL HAD
            REACHED 1/2 INCH DIAMETER AND FALLING HEAVILY...COVERING
            GROUND. THE PRECIP WAS ALMOST ALL HAIL...AND WAS RIPPING
            LEAVES OFF OF THE TREES.

&&

JONES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHaywood23 min
Jun 18, 3:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHaywood67 min
Jun 18, 3:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe49 min
Jun 18, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHaywood65 min
Jun 18, 6:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPRutherford55 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2005Every flash flood warning in 2005

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.