Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2021
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 122, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2021, 4:10 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 50 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
- Aug 12, 2021, 4:10 PM EDT (20:10 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 12, 2021, 5:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 50 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Alexander County, NC, Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, Catawba County, NC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:10 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 severe thunderstorm 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 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 137 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
- 1015 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -92 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1048 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 2 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -42 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -15 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
679
WUUS52 KGSP 122010
SVRGSP
NCC003-023-027-035-122100-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0122.210812T2010Z-210812T2100Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
410 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northwestern Catawba County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
Southwestern Alexander County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
Southeastern Caldwell County in western North Carolina...
East central Burke County in western North Carolina...
* Until 500 PM EDT.
* At 409 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 4 miles west of
Hickory, or near Hickory Regional Airport, moving northeast at 5
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind
damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Hickory, St. Stephens, Longview, Sawmills, Granite Falls,
Bethlehem, Icard, Hildebran, Connelly Springs and Rhodhiss.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Brief damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines over small
areas. A brief period of large hail is also possible. Seek shelter
inside an interior room.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground
lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National
Weather Service 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 3563 8140 3577 8154 3596 8135 3576 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2009Z 228DEG 6KT 3575 8141
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
TDPWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 12, 2:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 2:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
250 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
A stormy pattern will persist over the area into this weekend, with
scattered if not numerous showers and thunderstorms developing each
afternoon. Temperatures will remain above normal through Saturday.
Cooler but still rainier weather will arrive Sunday with a stalling
cold front, a potential weak CAD, and possibly the remnants of
Tropical Storm Fred Monday night into Tuesday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 225 PM EDT Thursday: Expect another hot and muggy day as
the sub-tropical ridge remains dominant over the Southeast along
with a persistent Bermuda High sfc pattern. So once again, expect
another round of scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms
across the fcst area, especially in the mountains where differential
heating on the slopes will be a reliable trigger. A few storms
will likely pulse up to severe levels again today thanks to 2000+
J/kg of SBCAPE and 500-1000 J/kg of DCAPE, with the main threat
being damaging wind gusts. The overall coverage outside of the
mountain should be less than yesterday given the slightly higher
500 mb heights and model consensus of less CAPE than last couple
days. There will also continue to be a non-zero flash flood threat,
given the high PWATs still in place and slow storm motions expected.
High temperatures will continue to run a few degrees above normal.
Tonight, should see convection wane with loss of heating, leaving
debris cloudiness into the overnight, followed by patchy fog,
especially in the mtn valleys. Lows will be a couple degrees
above normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Thursday: Ridging over the SE CONUS will continue
to maintain a strong Bermuda high over the western Atlantic
Saturday, promoting southerly flow off the Atlantic coast and
helping PWATs jump as high as 2" across the Piedmont and Upstate.
A shortwave will swing across the region by Saturday afternoon,
promoting better synoptic forcing and steering a weak front through
the area late in the day. This should enhance diurnal PoPs on
Saturday if the front moves through early enough - and model
consensus presently pushes the front out of the Appalachians
between 18Z and 00Z on Saturday afternoon, well-timed to take
advantage of peak afternoon heating.
With weak shear across the board, storms should struggle to develop
much organization, and even with the boundary we should be looking
at mainly pulse-type storms. Not to say a few couldn't become
severe - if the last few days have taught us anything, it's that
the amount of instability and moisture this pattern is producing
can give us notable convection - so certainly can't rule out a
handful of severe cells. However, the main threat at this time
will be localized flash flooding, as the environment is ripe for
moderately slow-moving, heavy rain-producing storms.
Sunday looks to be somewhat of a transitional period: behind
the front, high pressure should sweep well to our north, while
continued southerly flow off the Atlantic should drive some amount
of upglide and associated stratiform precip. All the global models
now pick up on a least the early-stage development of a CAD event
by Sunday evening, though the GFS remains the most aggressive as
in previous runs.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Thursday: The GFS, and now the ECMWF as well,
are picking up on the development of a largely in situ CAD
event by Monday. Consequently, expecting significantly decreased
temperatures on Monday, likely well below normal, as precipitation
continues throughout Sunday night and Monday.
The arrival of Fred will dictate what happens next. As of Tuesday
afternoon, there's still a decent amount of model spread, with
the GFS allowing Fred to fizzle and die over the Gulf Coast,
where the ECMWF and CMC depict some variation on Fred moving
through Georgia and into the western Carolinas. The latter
scenario could bring substantial rainfall to the CWA beginning
Monday night and persisting through Tuesday; the GFS solution, by
contrast, results in drastically lower QPF totals. Any solution
at this point will likely result in some hydro threat - as days
of widespread rainfall will have produced high stream levels and
elevated soil moisture, priming the environment for flooding.
The latest ECMWF dialed back QPF for the Blue Ridge Escarpment
from 8"+ totals to a more reasonable 4-6" storm total QPF, which
still seems a bit more reasonable. In any case, confidence is
low in the exact track and local effects of Fred, and likely will
remain so for a least the next couple forecast packages.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Expect another round of diurnally-driven
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon/evening, with the best
coverage still expected over the higher terrain. Overall, the
latest guidance continues to depict less coverage than yesterday,
largely due to less instability, but still enough to keep TEMPOS
and/or VCTS at all sites. Still expecting the Piedmont sites to
have a later start wrt convection compared to the last couple of
days. Whatever convection does develop should dissipate fairly
quickly this evening with skies clearing out later tonight. Winds
will be light through the period and continue to favor a SWLY
direction, except around tstms. The potential for fog and/or low
stratus will be similar again overnight and tomorrow morning,
with the best chances for restrictions over the usual mtn valleys
including KAVL.
Outlook: Diurnal convection remains in the fcst for the rest of
the week and into the weekend. Fog and low stratus will be possible
each morning, especially over mountain valleys and areas primed by
rainfall from the previous evening.
Confidence Table...
18-24Z 00-06Z 06-12Z 12-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% Med 61% Med 77%
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 are available at
the following link:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...MPR
NEAR TERM...JPT
SHORT TERM...MPR
LONG TERM...MPR
AVIATION...JPTHazardous weather outlook, Aug 12, 4:12 AM EDT, 11 hours 58 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 412 AM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021 NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-068>072-082-501>510-SCZ007>009- 012>014-019-130815- Avery-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood- Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Cleveland-Lincoln- Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Caldwell Mountains- Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains- Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford- Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Laurens- Union SC-Chester-Greenwood- 412 AM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western North Carolina and eastern Upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the area today, with the greatest coverage during the afternoon. Any of these storms will be capable of dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning as well as heavy downpours, which may cause localized flash flooding. A few storms will produce brief damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ062>065-SCZ001>006-010-011-130815- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Macon-Southern Jackson- Transylvania-Henderson-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains- Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens- Greater Greenville-Anderson-Abbeville- 412 AM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western upstate South Carolina, and the southern mountains of North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the area today, with the greatest coverage during the afternoon. Any of these storms will be capable of dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning as well as heavy downpours, which may cause localized flash flooding. A few storms will produce brief damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Daily chances of showers and thunderstorms will continue for several more days. A cold front will stall over the area Saturday or Saturday night and linger through Monday, further enhancing the development of precipitation. The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Fred may move into the area early next week. Altogether, an increasing threat of localized flash flooding is expected over the coming days, especially in areas that receive multiple rounds of heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. Wimberley
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 2:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
246 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
NCZ033-501-121930-
Caldwell Mountains NC-Avery NC-
246 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CALDWELL AND
SOUTHEASTERN AVERY COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...
At 246 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a cluster of thunderstorms
along a line extending from 10 miles south of Deep Gap to 8 miles
southwest of Blowing Rock, and moving northeast at 5 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Blowing Rock In Caldwell County, Grandfather Mountain State Park,
B.R. Parkway-Linville Falls To Grandfather, Edgemont, Globe,
Patterson and Upton.
Very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.
&&
LAT...LON 3612 8155 3610 8152 3610 8150 3609 8147
3609 8145 3607 8144 3608 8142 3607 8141
3598 8157 3596 8180 3598 8187 3611 8181
3612 8172
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 246DEG 5KT 3609 8150 3603 8176
TDPSpecial weather statement, Aug 12, 2:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
248 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
NCZ064-121915-
Transylvania NC-
248 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Transylvania
County through 315 PM EDT...
At 248 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles west of Brevard, or 4 miles southwest of Looking Glass. This
storm was nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Brevard, Rosman, Graveyard Fields, Looking Glass, Dupont State
Forest, Balsam Grove, Connestee, Cedar Mountain and Penrose.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3541 8274 3516 8261 3511 8286 3525 8293
3529 8292 3531 8288 3532 8285 3532 8283
3533 8282 3534 8282 3535 8280 3538 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 1848Z 246DEG 4KT 3523 8282
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDPSpecial weather statement, Aug 12, 3:23 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
323 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
NCZ064-SCZ002-003-122000-
Transylvania NC-Pickens Mountains SC-Greenville Mountains SC-
323 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Transylvania, northwestern Greenville and northwestern Pickens
Counties through 400 PM EDT...
At 323 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles south of Brevard, or near Rosman. This storm was nearly
stationary.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Rosman, Table Rock State Park, Caesars Head State Park, Gorges State
Park, Dupont State Forest, Lake Jocassee, Jocassee Gorges, Balsam
Grove, Connestee and Sassafras Mountain.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3525 8290 3516 8259 3499 8272 3504 8290
3505 8291 3505 8293
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 200DEG 3KT 3509 8280
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDPSpecial weather statement, Aug 12, 3:45 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
345 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
NCZ056-502-504-122015-
Greater Burke NC-Greater Caldwell NC-Catawba NC-
345 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Catawba, southeastern Caldwell and southeastern Burke Counties
through 415 PM EDT...
At 345 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles west of Hickory, or over Connelly Springs. This storm was
nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hickory, Longview, Sawmills, Granite Falls, Valdese, Hudson, Icard,
Hildebran, Connelly Springs and Rutherford College.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3563 8152 3580 8160 3592 8140 3566 8127
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 248DEG 3KT 3575 8148
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDPSpecial weather statement, Aug 12, 3:47 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
347 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
NCZ035-036-122015-
Iredell NC-Alexander NC-
347 PM EDT Thu Aug 12 2021
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Alexander
and north central Iredell Counties through 415 PM EDT...
At 347 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 13 miles southeast of Wilkesboro to 5 miles
west of Taylorsville. Movement was northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Taylorsville, Love Valley, Vashti, Ellendale and Little River In
Alexander County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3605 8087 3594 8098 3588 8133 3592 8134
3599 8133 3601 8131 3601 8129 3603 8127
3604 8119 3603 8117 3604 8113 3603 8107
3606 8098
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 209DEG 10KT 3599 8104 3595 8127
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TDPLocal storm report, Aug 12, 4:05 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
405 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW MOUNT PLEASANT 35.35N 80.50W
08/12/2021 CABARRUS NC PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED TREES DOWN AND A LARGE TREE BRANCH ON
HOUSE ON CLUB VIEW DR.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 8:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Graham | 36 min |
| Aug 11, 8:27 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Mecklenburg | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 1:34 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Jackson | 26 min |
| Aug 12, 2:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Caldwell | 44 min |
| Aug 12, 2:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Transylvania | 27 min |
| Aug 12, 3:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Transylvania | 37 min |
| Aug 12, 3:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Caldwell | 30 min |
| Aug 12, 3:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Alexander | 28 min |
| Aug 12, 4:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Iredell | 32 min |
| Aug 12, 4:26 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Rutherford | 34 min |
| Aug 12, 4:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Rowan | 35 min |
| Aug 12, 5:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Iredell, Rowan | 23 min |
| Aug 12, 5:18 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Burke | 27 min |
| Aug 12, 5:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Davie, Rowan | 30 min |
| Aug 12, 6:12 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Polk | 33 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2021Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2021
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.