Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009
Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 7:45 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Kings Creek, SC | COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED MAJOR FLOODING ON HWY 18 IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF KINGS CREEK AND ON GRANDON RD. |
| May 16, 8:00 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nnw Patterson, NC | COUNTY 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 EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Kings Creek, NC | BLUE CREEK ROAD FLOODED |
| May 16, 10:40 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Elk Park, NC | CRANBERRY CREEK IS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING IN THE ELK PARK COMMUNITY. |
| May 16, 10:40 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Newland, NC | COUNTY 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.
- 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
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
$$
HG4 follow-up statements
000
WGUS72 KGSP 170008
FFSGSP
FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
808 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009
NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
808 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...
AT 803 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE WIDESPREAD HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
STRETCHING ACROSS AVERY AND CALDWELL COUNTIES...PRODUCING SERIOUS
FLASH FLOODING.
RADAR INDICATED RAINFALL RATES OF 3 TO 4 INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS IN
CALDWELL COUNTY OVER THE PAST HOUR...AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AT THE
RATE OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH 10 PM.
THIS WILL LEAD TO VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING FROM KINGS CREEK TO
PATTERSON...WESTWARD TO GLOBE AND UPTON. PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SHOULD
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY IF IN A FLOOD PRONE LOCATION.
FLOODING WILL BE MOST LIKELY ALONG KINGS CREEK...GINGER
CREEK...MULBERRY CREEK...AND FRANKUM CREEK.
ADDITIONAL FLOODING WILL DEVELOP ACROSS AVERY COUNTY IN THE NEXT
HOUR...WITH FLOODING MOST LIKELY ALONG LOST COVE CREEK...WILSON
CREEK...AND CRANBERRY CREEK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.
&&
LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
3613 8202 3628 8193
$$
HG000
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
$$
HG000
WGUS72 KGSP 170338
FFSGSP
FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1138 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009
NCC011-027-170515-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090517T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AVERY NC-CALDWELL NC-
1138 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
CALDWELL AND AVERY COUNTIES...
AT 1135 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN CONTINUING TO FALL ACROSS THE AREA. THIS
ADDITIONAL RAIN IS AFFECTING LOCATIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED FROM 4 TO
6 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST FOUR HOURS. SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD
FLOODING HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS AVERY AND CALDWELL COUNTIES THIS
EVENING. ADDITIONAL STREAM AND CREEK FLOODING MAY DEVELOP THROUGH 1
AM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN THE WARNED AREA. MUD AND ROCK SLIDES ARE
POSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD AND SERIOUS FLOODING THIS EVENING...DO NOT
TRAVEL UNLESS IT IS AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY. ROADS AND BRIDGES COULD
HAVE BEEN WASHED OUT BY THE FLOODWATERS...AND FLOODED ROADS MAY BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY IN THE DARK.
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.
&&
LAT...LON 3628 8189 3621 8190 3616 8182 3611 8181
3612 8155 3606 8140 3600 8132 3588 8133
3586 8168 3592 8178 3595 8179 3599 8189
3594 8196 3591 8195 3593 8202 3610 8208
3613 8202 3628 8193
$$
HG000
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
$$
CSHWhat 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 6:25 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Avery, Caldwell | 4 hr |
| May 16, 6:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Alexander, Caldwell | 35 min |
| May 16, 6:53 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Henderson | 3 hr |
| May 16, 7:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Jackson, Macon, Swain | 39 min |
| May 16, 7:58 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Buncombe, Madison | 4 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.