Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018
Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at May 30, 2018, 4:52 AM EDT for Rutherford County, North Carolina. It was in force for 6 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
- May 30, 2018, 4:52 AM EDT (08:52 UTC)
- Expired
- May 30, 2018, 10:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Rutherford County, NC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:53 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
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 199 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
- 1172 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 554 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 97 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.3
The text
As transmitted.
020
WGUS52 KGSP 300852
FFWGSP
NCC161-301445-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0035.180530T0852Z-180530T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
452 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Rutherford County in western North Carolina...
* Until 1045 AM EDT.
* At 445 AM EDT, although heavy rainfall has ended across Rutherford
County, streams continue to rise and dam releases continue at Lake
Lure causing impacts to roads, residences, and low-lying areas
downstream. Evacuations remain in effect for areas along and
downstream of Lake Lure and all persons are strongly encouraged to
heed all evacuation orders and barricades to protect life.
Therefore, a new Flash Flood Warning has been issued to allow
floodwaters to crest and begin to recede through the morning hours.
* Additional rainfall of 1-2 inches is possible during the next 6-12
hours which may exacerbate ongoing flooding or cause new flooding
to develop. Exercise extreme caution near streams and other low-
lying areas and be prepared to seek higher ground immediately.
* Some locations that may experience flooding include...
Forest City, Rutherfordton, Spindale, Ellenboro, Bostic, Chimney
Rock State Park, Cliffside, Green Hill, Thermal City and Henrietta.
* Excessive rainfall over the warned area may cause additional mud
slides near steep terrain. The mud slide can consist of rock, mud,
vegetation and other loose materials.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not attempt to cross
water-covered roadways, bridges, or low-level crossings. Only a few
inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away your vehicle. It is
not worth the risk. Please TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.
Runoff from heavy rain into creeks and streams will cause sudden
increases in water levels and flows, even in areas where rainfall has
been light or nonexistent. Hikers, campers and other individuals
outdoors must immediately seek high ground and avoid all streams.
The additional heavy rain will increase the risk of landslides,
especially in areas where slides have occurred in the past. Be
especially alert if you are near a stream, especially at the base of
a mountain or in a cove. Watch for loose-moving soil and rocks or a
sudden increase in streamflow. Leave the area quickly if this is
observed. When driving along roads where the terrain is steep or
rocky, watch and listen for falling rocks, mud, trees and other
debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3561 8172 3558 8169 3538 8170 3519 8177
3518 8177 3519 8197 3526 8197 3540 8213
3541 8217 3539 8226 3545 8228 3547 8224
3550 8222 3552 8223 3554 8203 3555 8200
3552 8197 3554 8185 3559 8179 3561 8176
$$
JMPWhat 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 30, 3:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 30, 3:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
342 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
Deep tropical moisture will persist over the area today as the
remnants of Alberto move northward toward the Great Lakes. A moist
airmass will then persist on Thursday into Friday, with a few waves
of thunderstorms arriving from the west. Slightly drier air will mix
in from the west over the weekend, but moisture may return by late
weekend or early next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 330 AM EDT Wednesday: Though portions of the Flash Flood
Watch will expire at 8 AM this morning, areas across the
mountains and NC foothills will remain under a watch through
Thursday morning.
Showers continue to move northward across the FA this morning
(mainly west of the I-77 corridor) as seen from latest radar
imagery, with redevelopment especially continuing across the
upslope areas. Per latest guidance, the remnant circulation of
Alberto, currently over western TN, will move up into the upper
midwest today and become absorbed into the upper shortwave
trough as an upper ridge remains in place along the eastern
seaboard. This along with the Atlantic high in place will keep
the continued infiltration of moisture from the GOM into the
Southeast. As flow becomes more southwesterly today, anticipate
most of the showers and isolated thunderstorms to remain
concentrated across the mountains, as is noted with latest CAMs.
With this expected trend and given the recent rainfall and
ongoing flooding situations this morning, the Flash Flood Watch
for the mountains and portions of the NC foothills will remain
in effect through Thursday morning. Flooding and mountain
landslides will remain a primary concern. Given very saturated
soils, it won't take much for a few trees to topple over as well,
even with a minimal wind gusts. Elsewhere across the Upstate
and NW Piedmont, with a few breaks in the clouds and daytime
heating, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be
possible as well today and tonight.
Into this evening, in the wake of Alberto, another shortwave trough
will near the Carolinas from the west tonight and will keep the
unsettled weather pattern in place. Temperatures today and
tonight will remain just below normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 320 AM Wednesday: By Thursday, a trough axis will linger
across central Tennessee in the wake of the Alberto remnants that
moved north to the Great Lakes. At low levels, flow will turn more
westerly and permit any upstream convection to run east across the
mountains and eventually the piedmont through late day. This should
support likely PoPs throughout the region, but the movement of the
convection should keep any additional rain from being excessive in
most areas.
Additional shortwave energy will sharpen the trough to the west on
Thursday night, with the main axis moving through the region on
Friday as an H5 low cuts off over the mid-Atlantic. Yet another
round of scattered to numerous convection may arrive from the west.
Temperatures will also climb to well above climo values, upper 80s
east of the mountains, in the warming westerly flow.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 330 AM Wednesday: A surface cold front will settle southward
into the region on Saturday, but with a relative lull in the upper
forcing. Still, with low levels remaining moist another round of
scattered convection looks likely. Shallow ridging aloft will be
very brief through Saturday night before another vorticity maximum
in the NW flow crosses the region Sunday into Sunday night with yet
another round of scattered convection.
Deep layer northwest flow will finally set up on Monday and Tuesday
of next week between the offshore Atlantic trough and southern
plains ridging. Low level moisture will remain fairly abundant even
in the weak post frontal airmass Monday through Tuesday, with solid
diurnal PoPs continuing, especially over the mountains. Temperatures
return to near climo values, except for very mild mins.
&&
.AVIATION /08Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: With the exception of VFR currently at KCLT,
a mixture of MVFR/IFR prevails across a majority of the FA this
morning due to low cigs and lingering light showers which continue
to move northward, especially across the upslope areas. Looking at
latest satellite/ob trends, do anticipate KCLT will deteriorate to
MVFR/IFR within the next hour or two due to low cigs. Similar to the
past few days, expect patchy areas of fog to develop as well towards
morning. Later this morning, do anticipate cigs to improve to MVFR,
and gradually to VFR this afternoon, as daytime heating allows for
the redevelopment of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Into the evening hours, expect convection to wane, with VCSH
prevailing. Again, a mixture of VFR/MVFR is expected towards the end
of the valid TAf period, with isolated areas of IFR possible. SSE
winds around 5 to 10 kts will prevail.
Outlook: Drier air begins to move into the area towards the end of
the week, with some degree of diurnal convection expected.
Confidence Table...
07-13Z 13-19Z 19-01Z 01-06Z
KCLT Med 76% High 82% High 100% High 98%
KGSP High 82% High 89% High 91% High 90%
KAVL High 87% Med 77% High 100% High 91%
KHKY Med 71% Med 79% High 83% High 88%
KGMU Med 79% High 91% High 91% High 87%
KAND Med 73% High 93% High 91% High 89%
The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly
experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts
are available at the following link:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for GAZ010.
Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT this morning for GAZ017-018-
026-028-029.
NC...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for NCZ033-048>053-
058-059-062>065-501>510.
Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT this morning for NCZ035>037-
056-057-068>072-082.
SC...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for SCZ001>003.
Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT this morning for SCZ004>014-
019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...HG
NEAR TERM...SGL
SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...HG
AVIATION...SGLHazardous weather outlook, May 30, 12:15 AM EDT, 4 hours 37 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1215 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 GAZ017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ004>014-019- 310415- Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-Davie- Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood- 1215 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. ..Wednesday...Heavy rain with flooding possible. ..Thursday...Heavy rain with flooding possible. ..Friday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Saturday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Sunday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Monday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501>510-SCZ001>003-310415- Rabun-Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke- McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains- Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains- Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- 1215 AM EDT Wed May 30 2018 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. ..Wednesday...Heavy rain with flooding possible. ..Thursday...Heavy rain with flooding possible. ..Friday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Saturday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Sunday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. ..Monday...No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 30, 3:59 AM EDT, 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
359 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM DEBRIS FLOW 4 NW HENDERSONVILLE 35.36N 82.50W
05/29/2018 HENDERSON NC BROADCAST MEDIA
MOUNTAIN RD PARTIALLY BLOCKED DUE TO A MUDLSIDE.
&&
LECLocal storm report, May 30, 4:23 AM EDT, 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
423 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM DEBRIS FLOW WSW BAT CAVE 35.45N 82.29W
05/29/2018 HENDERSON NC BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORTS OF 2 MUDSLIDES ALONG WITH A FEW TREES DOWN AND
MINOR ROAD DAMAGE FROM FLOODED WATERS ON HIGHWAY 64 NEAR
CHIMNEY ROCK,GERTON AND EDNEYVILLE.
&&
LACORTELocal storm report, May 30, 4:28 AM EDT, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
428 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM DEBRIS FLOW 2 NW BAT CAVE 35.47N 82.31W
05/29/2018 HENDERSON NC BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORT OF A LARGE MUDSLIDE ON MIDDLEFORK RD NEAR
MIDDLEFORK CHURCH WITH NUMEROUS OTHER SLIDES PARTIALLY OR
FULLY BLOCKING ROAD.
&&
LACORTELocal storm report, May 30, 4:48 AM EDT, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
448 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 WSW COLUMBUS 35.23N 82.26W
05/29/2018 POLK NC BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORT OF WARRIOR DRIVE CLOSED BETWEEN BAKER RD AND
MEADOWLARK DRIVE DUE TO FLOOD WATERS.
&&
LACORTELocal storm report, May 30, 4:49 AM EDT, 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
449 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM FLASH FLOOD 6 NW COLUMBUS 35.29N 82.29W
05/29/2018 POLK NC BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORT OF GREEN RIVER COVE RD CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD WATERS.
&&
LACORTELocal storm report, May 30, 4:51 AM EDT, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
451 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 W COLUMBUS 35.26N 82.30W
05/29/2018 POLK NC BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORT OF HOLBERT COVE ROAD NEAR COYOTE LANE CLOSED DUE
TO FLOOD WATERS.
&&
LACORTEThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 8:33 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Mecklenburg | 27 min |
| May 29, 8:43 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Gaston, Mecklenburg | 32 min |
| May 29, 10:11 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Jackson | 9 hr |
| May 29, 10:32 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | McDowell | 12 hr |
| May 29, 10:41 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Macon | 15 hr |
| May 29, 10:57 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, Caldwell | 12 hr |
| May 29, 11:02 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford | 6 hr |
| May 29, 11:13 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Yancey | 6 hr |
| May 29, 11:23 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Mitchell | 6 hr |
| May 29, 11:56 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Transylvania | 24 hr |
| May 30, 12:40 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | McDowell | 10 hr |
| May 30, 1:32 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe | 31 hr |
| May 30, 3:10 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell | 24 hr |
| May 30, 3:17 AM EDT | River Flood Advisory | GSP | Madison | 5 hr |
| May 30, 3:19 AM EDT | River Flood Advisory | GSP | Buncombe | 12 hr |
| May 30, 4:47 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Henderson, Polk | 6 hr |
| May 30, 5:17 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Avery | 6 hr |
| May 30, 5:17 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Avery, Mitchell | 6 hr |
| May 30, 7:32 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Macon, Swain | 17 hr |
| May 30, 7:33 AM EDT | River Flood Advisory | GSP | Cleveland | 12 hr |
| May 30, 7:42 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Jackson | 6 hr |
| May 30, 8:56 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe | 28 hr |
| May 30, 8:56 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | GSP | Madison | 38 hr |
| May 30, 10:28 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Rutherford | 18 hr |
| May 30, 10:55 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Henderson, Polk | 12 hr |
| May 30, 11:10 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Avery, Mitchell | 6 hr |
| May 30, 1:30 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Jackson | 12 hr |
| May 30, 5:10 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Avery, Mitchell, Yancey | 6 hr |
| May 30, 6:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Union | 27 min |
| May 30, 6:56 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | GSP | Cleveland | 26 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2018Every flash flood warning in 2018
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.