Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 16, 2009Avery County, Caldwell County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at May 16, 2009, 7:19 PM EDT for Avery County, Caldwell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 6 hr. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 2009, 7:19 PM EDT (23:19 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 2009, 1:15 AM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Avery County, NC, Caldwell County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:23 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 16, 7:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOODKings Creek, SCCOUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED MAJOR FLOODING ON HWY 18 IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF KINGS CREEK AND ON GRANDON RD.
May 16, 8:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Nnw Patterson, NCCOUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE REPORTS A MUDSLIDE OCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 321 AND KIRBY MOUNTAIN ROAD SOMETIME TOWARD MID EVENING AS FLOODING CONTINUED ACROSS A LARGE PART OF NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY. THE MUDSLIDE CAME ACROSS THE ROADWAY AND ONLY HINDER
May 16, 9:15 PM EDTFLASH FLOODKings Creek, NCBLUE CREEK ROAD FLOODED
May 16, 10:40 PM EDTFLASH FLOODElk Park, NCCRANBERRY CREEK IS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING IN THE ELK PARK COMMUNITY.
May 16, 10:40 PM EDTFLASH FLOODNewland, NCCOUNTY REPORTS SEVERAL STREAMS AND CREEKS ESCAPING THEIR BANKS AROUND THE COUNTY. THE WORST FLOODING IS NEAR ELK PARK.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 26 minutes after it went out.

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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 170 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 2009-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 179 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 2009-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -21 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
179 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
649 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-30 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 162319
FFWGSP
NCC011-027-170515-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0010.090516T2319Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
719 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  AVERY COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  CALDWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 115 AM EDT SUNDAY

* AT 714 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SERIES OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG A LINE FROM NEWLAND 
TO EDGEMONT TO KINGS CREEK. RADAR INDICATES RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 
INCHES PER HOUR FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS...AND THESE RATES WILL 
LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS TO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
  NEWLAND...CROSSNORE...UPTON...SUGAR MOUNTAIN...
  MINNEAPOLIS...GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN AND ELK PARK.

FLOODING WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ALONG CRANBERRY CREEK AND CURTIS CREEK 
IN AVERY COUNTY...AS WELL AS JOHNS RIVER AND COLD WATER CREEK IN 
CALDWELL COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. EVEN MODERN SPORT
UTILITY VEHICLES CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

TO REPORT HIGH WATER...FLOODING...MUDSLIDES...LANDSLIDES OR OTHER
SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL
FREE NUMBER...1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
      3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
      3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
      3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
      3613 8202 3628 8193

$$

HG
4 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 170008
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
808 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
808 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...

AT 803 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE WIDESPREAD HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 
STRETCHING ACROSS AVERY AND CALDWELL COUNTIES...PRODUCING SERIOUS 
FLASH FLOODING.

RADAR INDICATED RAINFALL RATES OF 3 TO 4 INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS IN 
CALDWELL COUNTY OVER THE PAST HOUR...AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AT THE 
RATE OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM. 
THIS WILL LEAD TO VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING FROM KINGS CREEK TO 
PATTERSON...WESTWARD TO GLOBE AND UPTON. PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SHOULD 
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY IF IN A FLOOD PRONE LOCATION. 
FLOODING WILL BE MOST LIKELY ALONG KINGS CREEK...GINGER 
CREEK...MULBERRY CREEK...AND FRANKUM CREEK.

ADDITIONAL FLOODING WILL DEVELOP ACROSS AVERY COUNTY IN THE NEXT 
HOUR...WITH FLOODING MOST LIKELY ALONG LOST COVE CREEK...WILSON 
CREEK...AND CRANBERRY CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
      3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
      3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
      3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
      3613 8202 3628 8193

$$

HG
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 170116
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
916 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
916 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...

AT 910 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE 
WARNING AREA...AND MOVING SLOWLY EAST AT 15 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS 
WERE PRODUCING RAINFALL AT RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. RAINFALL 
OVER THE PAST THREE HOURS HAS ALREADY REACHED 2 TO 4 INCHES ACROSS 
AVERY COUNTY...WITH 3 TO 5 INCH TOTALS IN PARTS OF CALDWELL COUNTY. 
SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE...WITH NEW FLOODING LIKELY 
DEVELOPING THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

THE YADKIN RIVER AT PATTERSON HAS RISEN SHARPLY IN THE PAST 
HOUR...REACHING A STAGE OF 3.4 FEET. CHEEKS CROSS ROAD JUST BELOW 
THE DAM WILL BE FLOODED IF THE STAGE REACHES 5 FEET. THE WATER WILL 
THEN GET INTO THE BACKYARDS OF HOMES ALONG THE RIVER.

FLOODING WILL LIKELY DEVELOP OR WORSEN ALONG KINGS CREEK IN CALDWELL 
COUNTY AND HORSE CREEK AND WILSON CREEK IN AVERY COUNTY THROUGH 
MIDNIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
      3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
      3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
      3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
      3613 8202 3628 8193

$$

HG
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 170338
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1138 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
1138 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...

AT 1135 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN CONTINUING TO FALL ACROSS THE AREA. THIS 
ADDITIONAL RAIN IS AFFECTING LOCATIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED FROM 4 TO 
6 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST FOUR HOURS. SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD 
FLOODING HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS AVERY AND CALDWELL COUNTIES THIS 
EVENING. ADDITIONAL STREAM AND CREEK FLOODING MAY DEVELOP THROUGH 1 
AM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN THE WARNED AREA. MUD AND ROCK SLIDES ARE 
POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD AND SERIOUS FLOODING THIS EVENING...DO NOT 
TRAVEL UNLESS IT IS AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY. ROADS AND BRIDGES COULD 
HAVE BEEN WASHED OUT BY THE FLOODWATERS...AND FLOODED ROADS MAY BE 
VERY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY IN THE DARK.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
      3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
      3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
      3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
      3613 8202 3628 8193

$$

HG
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 170455
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1255 AM EDT SUN MAY 17 2009

NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
1255 AM EDT SUN MAY 17 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...

AT 1246 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
WIDESPREAD MODERATE SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA AND AN ADDITIONAL
ONE HALF TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF RAIN IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

RECENT CALLS TO COUNTY COMMUNICATION CENTERS INDICATED THAT HIGH 
WATER AND FLOOD CONDITIONS ARE CONTINUING TO RECEDE...AND THAT 
CURRENT RAINFALL WAS NOT EXASPERATING LINGERING HIGH WATER 
CONDITIONS.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO BE WARY OF UNREPORTED HIGH WATER AND/OR
FLOOD CONDITIONS ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...AND ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR DEBRIS IN THE ROAD FROM MUD AND ROCK SLIDES.

GIVEN THE UNLIKELIHOOD THAT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE ANY
NEW FLOODING...THIS WARNING WILL EXPIRE ON SCHEDULE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
      3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
      3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
      3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
      3613 8202 3628 8193

$$

CSH

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 May 16, 2:54 PM EDT, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 2:54 PM EDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
254 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST FROM THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TOWARDS THE
CAROLINAS TONIGHT. THIS FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY
SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTH SUNDAY NIGHT AND
REMAIN OVER THE AREA INTO MID WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SHOWERS HAVE BECOME NUMEROUS ACROSS THE PIEDMONT THIS AFTERNOON...
BUT COVERAGE REMAINS RATHER SPARSE OVER THE MTNS/FHILLS. THE
INTERESTING FALLOUT FROM THIS IS THAT THE AIRMASS HAS BECOME QUITE
UNSTABLE ACROSS THE MTNS...WITH SPC MESOANALYSIS INDICATING CAPE IN
EXCESS OF 2000 J/KG AS OF 18Z. WITH THIS DEGREE OF DESTABILIZATION
AND PWATS IN EXCESS OF 150 PERCENT OF NORMAL...EXPECT COVERAGE TO
INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS THE MTNS THIS AFTERNOON. AS A COLD
FRONT DROPS INTO THE REGION FROM THE TENN VALLEY THIS EVENING...
COVERAGE OF CONVECTION SHOULD EXPAND TO CATEGORICAL ACROSS MUCH OF
THE AREA. WE STILL HAVE LINGERING CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR
FLASH FLOODING TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE MTNS. HOWEVER...
CONSIDERING THE ABSENCE OF GOOD COVERAGE ATTM...AND THE FACT THAT
RAINFALL TONIGHT WILL BE AN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY CONVECTIVE PHENOMENA
(DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR)...WE
STILL BELIEVE THAT ANY FLOODING WILL BE LOCALIZED IN NATURE...AND DO
NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH ATTM.

THE FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTH OF THE AREA EARLY SUNDAY...WITH PLENTY OF
MOISTURE LINGERING JUST NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY. THEREFORE...HIGH POPS
WILL BE MAINTAINED ACROSS ROUGHLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA.
WITH CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE REGION...AND LINGERING
LOW CLOUDS AND PRECIP...MAX TEMPS SUNDAY AFTERNOON ARE EXPECTED TO
BE MUCH BELOW NORMAL.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM SATURDAY...MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON MOISTURE AND
PRECIP RAPIDLY MOVING SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA SUN NITE. KEEP FAIRLY
HIGH POP ACROSS THE SRN CWFA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...THEN QUICKLY DROP
PRECIP. EXPECT CLOUDS TO TAKE A SIMILAR TREND WITH STRONG DRYING
MOVING IN. LOWS WILL BE QUITE COOL SUN NITE AS MUCH COLDER AIR MASS
MOVES IN...AROUND 15 DEGREES COOLER THAN THE PREV NITE AND 10 TO 15
DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. WINDS DO BECOME LIGHT ACROSS THE MTNS WITH
FALLING DEW POINTS. WILL HAVE TO WATCH FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF FROST.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN TO THE NORTH WITH DRY COOL AIR MASS
REMAINING. EXPECT A BREEZY DAY MONDAY WITH A DECENT PRESSURE
GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA. HIGHS 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.
EXPECT A BETTER RADIATIONAL NIGHT MON NITE WITH LITTLE WIND. HOWEVER
AIR MASS WILL HAVE MODERATED. LOOKS LIKE A GOOD CASE FOR NEGATIVE
LAPSE RATE OVER THE MTNS...MAKING RIDGES WARMER THAN VALLEYS.
THEREFORE...WILL HAVE TO WATCH FOR FROST IN THE VALLEYS THEN. LOWS
NEARLY STEADY TO SLIGHTLY WARMER IN THE THERMAL BELT AREAS AND
RIDGES. DRY AND MODERATING HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS RIDGED INTO THE
AREA TUESDAY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 DEGREES WARMER...BUT STILL BELOW NORMAL.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 210 PM SATURDAY...MODELS REMAIN INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR
PLACEMENT OF FEATURES DURING THE MEDIUM RANGE. THEY AGREE TO SOME
AMOUNT OF RIDGING BOUNDED BY A NRN STREAM SYSTEM AND SRN CLOSED LOW.
THE GFS CONTINUES TO KEEP THE RIDGING CENTERED NEAR THE OH VALLEY
AND CENTRAL APLCNS...WHILE THE ECMWF HAS THE RIDGING OVER THE TN
VALLEY AND SRN APLCNS. THIS MEANS THE GFS BEGINS WITH THE CLOSED
UPPER LOW AND SFC DEVELOPMENT MUCH FARTHER NORTH IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO...WHILE THE ECMWF STARTS OFF FARTHER SOUTH. BOTH MODELS MOVE
THE LOW...AND ITS ASSOCIATED MOISTURE...NORTH TO THE COAST.
HOWEVER..THE GFS IS AS MUCH AS 36 HRS FASTER. NATURALLY THERE IS
QUITE A BIT OF SPREAD IN THE ENSEMBLES. THE GFS HAS SOME SUPPORT
FROM THE UKMET AND CANADIAN GLOBAL MODELS. HOWEVER...THE ECMWF HAS
BEEN THE BETTER PERFORMER WITH TROPICAL TYPE LOWS THE PAST TWO
YEARS. THEREFORE...WILL TREND TOWARD THE ECMWF SOLN FOR NOW. THIS
MEANS A DRY FCST WITH A WARMING TREND UNTIL FRI. INTRODUCED SLIGHT
CHC POP FOR NOW FOR FRI AND SAT...WITH NEARLY STEADY TEMPS.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SOMEWHAT COMPLEX AVIATION FORECAST THIS PERIOD...AS COMBINATION OF
SEMI-TROPICAL AIRMASS AND APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL RESULT IN
NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS THROUGH MUCH OF THE
PERIOD. TEMPOS FOR CONVECTION WILL BE CARRIED AT MOST TERMINALS THIS
AFTERNOON. IN FACT...AS OF 1730Z...ALL TERMINALS EXCEPT KHKY HAVE A
SHOWER OR TS IN THE VCNY. ALTHOUGH COVERAGE OF TS IS QUITE LIMITED
ATTM...EXPECT THUNDER TO BECOME MORE COMMON LATER THIS AFTERNOON...
AS THE LOWER ATM CONTINUES TO WARM/DESTABILIZE. MVFR CIGS/VISBY WILL
ACCOMPANY MOST SHOWER ACTIVITY...WHILE IFR VISBY WILL BE LIKELY WITH
HEAVIER BURSTS OF RAINFALL. WE EXPECT COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS
TO INCREASE OVERNIGHT...AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE TENN
VALLEY. THEREFORE...CATEGORICAL SHRA WILL BE CARRIED AT ALL
TERMINALS BEGINNING LATE IN THE EVENING. OTHERWISE...IFR/LOW MVFR
CIGS SHOULD BECOME WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT OR SO.

THE COLD FRONT SAGS SOUTH OF THE AREA ON SUNDAY...TURNING THE WINDS
AROUND TO THE NORTH/NORTHEAST. HOWEVER...LINGERING MOISTURE NORTH OF
THE FRONT WILL ALLOW SHOWER CHANCES TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF
THE PERIOD...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-85 CORRIDOR.

OUTLOOK...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN SUNDAY NIGHT AND FOR
SEVERAL DAYS THEREAFTER...THOUGH MOISTURE MAY NOT BE TOO FAR OFF TO
OUR SOUTHEAST ALONG THE STALLING FRONT.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...RWH
NEAR TERM...JDL
SHORT TERM...RWH
LONG TERM...RWH
AVIATION...JDL
Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 3:55 PM EDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
355 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509-
SCZ001>003-172000-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-
GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
355 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS OVER
THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA
THROUGH THE EVENING. ISOLATED AREAS OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL
BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD THROUGH THE EVENING AS WELL. STORMS WILL
BE SLOW MOVING AND A FEW INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING ARE
POSSIBLE...MAINLY THIS EVENING. AN ISOLATED MICROBURST OR LARGE HAIL
REPORT IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

TEMPERATURES SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BECOME COLD ENOUGH FOR FROST
OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...WHILE TEMPERATURES COLD ENOUGH FOR
FROST WILL OCCUR IN THE VALLEYS ON MONDAY NIGHT. RIGHT NOW IT IS
STILL TO EARLY TO TELL IF WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT ENOUGH FOR
SIGNIFICANT FROST DEVELOPMENT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-
510-SCZ004>014-019-172000-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
EASTERN POLK-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-
SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-
CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
355 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST
GEORGIA THROUGH THE EVENING. AREAS OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL
OCCUR. STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND A FEW INSTANCES OF FLASH
FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE. THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT MAY ACTUALLY
INCREASE THIS EVENING. AN ISOLATED MICROBURST OR LARGE HAIL
REPORT IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 4:13 PM EDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
413 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCZ033-501-502-162115-
AVERY-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-
413 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL TO AFFECT EASTERN
AVERY AND NORTHWESTERN CALDWELL COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM EDT...

AT 409 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EASTWARD TOWARD
THE BORDER BETWEEN AVERY AND CALDWELL COUNTIES. THIS THUNDERSTORM
WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF NEWLAND...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM IS FOLLOWING THE TRACK OF SEVERAL PREVIOUS STORMS
THAT PRODUCED RAINFALL TOTALS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES ACROSS THE
AREA IN THE PAST HOUR. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED FROM SUGAR
MOUNTAIN TO UPTON THROUGH 5 PM. RAPID RISES ON AREA STREAMS AND
CREEKS CAN BE EXPECTED...AS WELL AS DEEP STANDING WATER DEVELOPING
IN LOW SPOTS IN ROADWAYS.

HG
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:32 PM EDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
432 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

SCZ012-019-162100-
GREENWOOD-LAURENS-
432 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT GREENWOOD AND SOUTHWESTERN
LAURENS COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 430 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WARE SHOALS TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF ABBEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT THE COKESBURY AND GREENWOOD AREAS THROUGH 5
PM. PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

HG
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
511 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCZ065-162145-
HENDERSON-
511 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT HENDERSON COUNTY THROUGH 545 PM
EDT...

AT 510 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF ETOWAH...OR 4 MILES WEST OF
HENDERSONVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LOCATIONS FROM HENDERSONVILLE TO DANA
THROUGH 545 PM. PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...AND
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

HG
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
555 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCZ051-052-162245-
HAYWOOD-SWAIN-
555 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN SWAIN AND
NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM EDT...

AT 554 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES EAST OF GATLINBURG...MOVING EAST AT 5
MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT TENNESSEE BORDER LOCATIONS FROM
NEWFOUND GAP TO WATERVILLE THROUGH 645 PM.  PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND
GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

MOVE INDOORS BEFORE THIS THUNDERSTORM REACHES YOUR LOCATION.

HG
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
606 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCZ065-162300-
HENDERSON-
606 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL IN HENDERSON
COUNTY THROUGH 700 PM EDT...

AT 603 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNTAIN HOME...OR 4 MILES WEST
OF HENDERSONVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL
AFFECT THE AREA FROM MOUNTAIN HOME TO HENDERSONVILLE TO DANA THROUGH
630 PM. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING TO THE WEST NEAR
ETOWAH...AND THESE WILL LIKELY TRACK OVER THIS SAME AREA THROUGH 5
PM.

RADAR ESTIMATES RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE PAST
HOUR...AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED THROUGH 7 PM. DEEP
PONDING OF WATER WILL LIKELY DEVELOP IN LOW AREAS...AND MANY STREAMS
AND CREEKS WILL RISE RAPIDLY IN THE AREA.

HG
Special weather statement, May 16, 6:37 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
637 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

NCZ035-502-162300-
ALEXANDER-GREATER CALDWELL-
637 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN CALDWELL AND
NORTHWESTERN ALEXANDER COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EDT...

AT 635 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR KINGS CREEK...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
LENOIR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY THE KINGS CREEK AREA AND
LOCATIONS NORTHWEST OF ELLENDALE THROUGH 7 PM. PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND
GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

MOVE INDOORS NOW. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING
TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

HG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 6:25 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAvery, Caldwell4 hr
May 16, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Caldwell35 min
May 16, 6:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson3 hr
May 16, 7:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPJackson, Macon, Swain39 min
May 16, 7:58 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe, Madison4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2009Every flash flood warning in 2009

Sources

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