Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2019
Tornado Warning 23, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at May 31, 2019, 5:22 PM EDT for Cabarrus County, Rowan County, North Carolina. It was in force for 23 min. 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 31, 2019, 5:22 PM EDT (21:22 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 2019, 5:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 23 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Cabarrus County, NC, Rowan County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 167 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:22 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 10 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 75 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
- 62 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -125 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1499 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -4 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 97 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
The text
As transmitted.
641
WFUS52 KGSP 312122
TORGSP
NCC025-159-312145-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0023.190531T2122Z-190531T2145Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
522 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northern Cabarrus County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
Southern Rowan County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
* Until 545 PM EDT.
* At 521 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Kannapolis, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Rockwell around 540 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include Gold
Hill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National
Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg by calling toll free, 1, 800,
2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, or by posting on our Facebook page, or Tweet it using
hashtag nwsgsp. Your message should describe the event and the
specific location where it occurred.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 8029 3534 8040 3538 8072 3556 8070
3558 8021 3555 8021 3554 8020 3553 8020
3552 8018 3550 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 273DEG 30KT 3547 8063
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN
$$
HG1 follow-up statement
913
WWUS52 KGSP 312144
SVSGSP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
544 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
NCC025-159-312152-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-190531T2145Z/
Cabarrus NC-Rowan NC-
544 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CABARRUS AND SOUTHERN ROWAN
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 545 PM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado at this
time. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire on schedule
at 545 pm EDT. However, gusty winds are still possible with this
thunderstorm. In addition, the storm will need to be monitored
closely through 6 pm in case the rotation spins back up very
quickly.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
the Piedmont of North Carolina.
LAT...LON 3550 8029 3534 8040 3538 8072 3556 8070
3558 8021 3555 8021 3554 8020 3553 8020
3552 8018 3550 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 269DEG 30KT 3548 8044
$$
HGWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 31, 5:05 PM EDT, 17 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 5:05 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
505 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A weak cold front will move toward the Carolina coast
tonight. Dry high pressure will develop across the region for the
early and middle part of next week after a second cold frontal
passage on Sunday night. Temperatures are expected to be near of
just above normal.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 5 PM EDT Friday: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect
for the northeast portion of the fcst area through tonight. Over the
past few hours we've seen a handful of storms become severe, with one
storm possibly producing a brief tornado. Very little activity has
occurred over the SC Upstate or NE Georgia and not much is expected
thru the evening. Convective activity across NC should wane after
00z or so as profiles become more stable and the sfc front moves
farther south and east.
Overnight, conditions will become fairly quiet as cloud cover slowly
decreases. Temperatures will drop into the low to mid 60s across the
Upstate and NW Piedmont, into the 50s across the mountains. Though
confidence is low, would not entirely rule out a rogue, light shower
meandering about the FA. On Saturday, with upper ridge building in
the west and lingering upper troughing (becoming broad in nature)
over the Southeast, isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible
(mainly across the NC counties) late Saturday morning through the
afternoon hours, as low level moisture lingers in the wake of the
slowly exiting upper shortwave. SPC Day 2 Convective Outlook has
the entire area in general thunder. Otherwise, weak sfc high pressure
will begin to infiltrate into the area. High temps will climb into
the low to mid 80s, into the 70s across the mountains.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 133 PM EDT Friday: The change in our weather pattern will
finally be complete as the next week begins. The NW flow should
have one more cold front in store for us on Sunday before a large
dry continental high pressure air mass settles over our area for
the first half of next week. The short wave driving that feature
down across the area will pass by to our north early Sunday,
leaving very little in the way of mid/upper forcing to accompany
the front, while moisture remains relatively sparse. The mtns
will stand a chance at showers/storms, but in this pattern it
looks like convection will be widely scattered at best in most
places east of the Blue Ridge. Any precip should exit the region
by around sunset on Sunday. With the passage of that boundary,
our temperatures will finally drop all the way back to normal. One
of the few nice things about a heat wave is that when it finally
breaks, the weather seems even that more awesome, and Monday will
be that day. Sky should be bright and sunny with temps maybe even
a degree or two below normal, with low humidity.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 2 PM EDT Friday: At the start of the medium range...Monday
evening...models show a prominent 500mb trough over the East Coast
which will move NE into Tuesday. The dry and cooler than recently
weather will continue Tuesday, then the cool surface high moves off
the East Coast into Wednesday. This will result in a moist southerly
flow which will continue through the second half of the week. The
models show a varying shortwave to occasionally closed low on the
500mb pattern moving NE from west Texas toward the Great Lakes by
the weekend. The GFS has the highest convective coverage Friday into
Saturday while the ECMWF has high coverage late Wednesday and even
greater next Saturday. So they agree on the end of the week with the
closest approach of the closed low and the corresponding best
moisture feed out of the Gulf. CAPE values ramp upward in the
second half of the week with the EC having higher instability with
CAPEs approaching 2000 at times. Temperatures just below normal on
Tuesday then about one category above normal late in the week.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Expect VFR to prevail through the valid TAF
period, with the exception of brief flight restrictions possible
this afternoon as scattered showers and thunderstorms move across
the area, associated with a sfc cold front pushing through the area.
Per latest guidance, afternoon convection will be possible as well
on Saturday, with CAMs suggesting any convective activity will stay
confined to NC. Thus, have introduced VCSH/VCTS for KCLT, KHKY with
this fcst. Otherwise, expect an overall trend of gradually
decreasing clouds into tonight behind the cold front, with FEW/SCT
mid to high level clouds on Saturday.
Through this afternoon, southwest winds will prevail, AOB 12 kts
with gusts nearing 25 mph, potentially higher with any strong
thunderstorm. With gusts diminishing this evening, expect winds to
veer to the W-WNW into tonight behind the passing cold front. WNW
winds AOB 5 kts are expected on Saturday.
Outlook: Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms possible,
mainly across the mountains, through the weekend. Otherwise, expect
VFR.
Confidence Table...
21-03z 03-09Z 09-15Z 15-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KHKY High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGMU High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAND High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
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...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...JPT
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...JPT/SGLHazardous weather outlook, May 31, 2:23 PM EDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 223 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 NCZ035>037-056-057-069>072-082-501>504-011830- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg- Cabarrus-Union-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains- Greater Burke- 223 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 300 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-068- 505>510-SCZ001>014-019-011830- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Madison-Yancey- Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon- Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-Cleveland-McDowell Mountains- Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford- Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains- Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens- Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville- Laurens-Union-Chester-Greenwood- 223 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening. Lightning, gusty winds, and brief heavy rain will be possible. Some storms may become strong. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. SGL
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 31, 4:36 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
436 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0421 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW STATESVILLE 35.74N 80.94W
05/31/2019 IREDELL NC 911 CALL CENTER
ONE POWERLINE KNOCKED DOWN AT 907 OLD MOUNTAIN ROAD. PEA
SIZE HAIL REPORTED AS WELL.
&&
KRENTZSpecial weather statement, May 31, 4:37 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
437 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
NCZ056-068-069-504-508-312100-
Greater Rutherford NC-Cleveland NC-Lincoln NC-Greater Burke NC-
Catawba NC-
437 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CATAWBA...
NORTHEASTERN RUTHERFORD...WESTERN LINCOLN...NORTHWESTERN CLEVELAND
AND SOUTHEASTERN BURKE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM EDT...
At 436 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles northeast of Forest City, or 4 miles southwest of Casar, moving
east at 25 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Belwood, Lawndale, Fallston, Polkville, Casar, South Mountains State
Park, Cooksville, Vale and Propst Crossroads.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
western and the Piedmont of North Carolina.
LAT...LON 3542 8132 3542 8145 3540 8144 3536 8175
3555 8180 3568 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 255DEG 21KT 3549 8169
HGSpecial weather statement, May 31, 4:38 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
438 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
NCZ036-056-069-071-312115-
Iredell NC-Lincoln NC-Mecklenburg NC-Catawba NC-
438 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CATAWBA...
SOUTHEASTERN IREDELL...EASTERN LINCOLN AND NORTH CENTRAL MECKLENBURG
COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT...
At 438 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles east of Lincolnton, or over Denver, moving east at 30 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Huntersville, Cornelius, Mooresville, Davidson, Westport, Lake
Norman, Denver, Ramsey Creek Park, Lowesville and Sherrills Ford.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible in these areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
the Piedmont of North Carolina.
LAT...LON 3551 8078 3550 8079 3542 8076 3542 8112
3560 8114 3567 8077 3552 8074 3551 8074
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 264DEG 27KT 3553 8104
HGLocal storm report, May 31, 5:02 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
502 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E VALE 35.54N 81.36W
05/31/2019 LINCOLN NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES BLOWN DOWN ACROSS FRANK CLINE ROAD.
&&
KRENTZLocal storm report, May 31, 5:04 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
504 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 ENE VALE 35.56N 81.35W
05/31/2019 LINCOLN NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ACROSS GILBERT HILTON ROAD.
&&
KRENTZSpecial weather statement, May 31, 5:14 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 514 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 NCZ036-056-069-504-312145- Iredell NC-Lincoln NC-Greater Burke NC-Catawba NC- 514 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CATAWBA...WEST CENTRAL IREDELL...NORTHERN LINCOLN AND EAST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM EDT... At 514 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles southwest of Hickory, or near Mountain View, moving east at 30 mph. Locations to be impacted include... Hickory, Newton, Conover, Longview, Maiden, Icard, Hildebran, Claremont, Catawba and Lookout Shoals Lake. Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these areas. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for western and the Piedmont of North Carolina. LAT...LON 3554 8145 3573 8147 3579 8098 3552 8097 TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 267DEG 27KT 3565 8138 HG
The office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1:12 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Caldwell | 33 min |
| May 31, 1:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Alexander, Caldwell | 42 min |
| May 31, 1:51 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cleveland | 39 min |
| May 31, 2:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Alexander, Iredell | 47 min |
| May 31, 2:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg | 42 min |
| May 31, 2:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Iredell | 23 min |
| May 31, 3:00 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Iredell | 30 min |
| May 31, 3:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Davie | 25 min |
| May 31, 3:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Burke | 32 min |
| May 31, 3:17 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Burke | 28 min |
| May 31, 3:39 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Catawba, Lincoln | 36 min |
| May 31, 3:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Davie | 35 min |
| May 31, 3:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Catawba, Iredell | 33 min |
| May 31, 3:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Rutherford | 28 min |
| May 31, 3:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Catawba, Lincoln | 51 min |
| May 31, 4:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Catawba, Iredell, Rowan | 43 min |
| May 31, 4:06 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Catawba, Iredell | 24 min |
| May 31, 4:34 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Iredell | 41 min |
| May 31, 4:37 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cleveland | 23 min |
| May 31, 4:38 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Lincoln | 37 min |
| May 31, 4:41 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Cabarrus, Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan | 49 min |
| May 31, 5:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Catawba | 31 min |
| May 31, 5:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Lincoln | 31 min |
| May 31, 5:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Stanly | 29 min |
| May 31, 6:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Rowan | 29 min |
| May 31, 6:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cabarrus | 29 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2019Every tornado warning in 2019Tornadoes in 2019
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.