Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2024

Flash Flood Warning 113, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

September 27, 2024Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Sep 27, 2024, 7:23 PM EDT for Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 42 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
Sep 27, 2024, 7:23 PM EDT (23:23 UTC)
Expired
Sep 29, 2024, 1:37 PM EDT
In force
42 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Flash flood emergency
Damage threat
Catastrophic
Flood severity
None

Counties Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, McDowell County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:25 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 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 167 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 2024-09-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 117 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 2024-09-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 311 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
117 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
591 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
69 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
311 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
433 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

894 
WGUS52 KGSP 272323
FFWGSP
NCC023-027-111-291800-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0113.240927T2323Z-240929T1800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
723 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR CATAWBA RIVER FROM LAKE JAMES TO LAKE 
RHODHISS...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Burke County in western North Carolina...
  Southeastern Caldwell County in western North Carolina...
  East Central McDowell County in western North Carolina...

* Until 200 PM EDT Sunday.

* At 723 PM EDT, Devastating rainfall of 6-25 (twenty-five) inches 
  occurred from Wednesday evening through Friday morning from Lake 
  Hickory to the Catawba River headwaters, with the highest totals 
  exceeding 2 feet along the Blue Ridge Escarpment across the upper 
  Catawba River watershed.  This is resulting in catastrophic and 
  historic inflows into Lake James, and releases from Lake James are 
  causing catastrophic flooding along the Catawba River into Lake 
  Rhodhiss.

* The latest pool elevations for the upper Catawba River lakes are 
  as follows (Full Pool is 100.0 feet):

    Lake James: 110.3 feet and rising steadily. RECORD BROKEN.
    Lake Rhodhiss: 108.1 feet and rising steadily.

* The former record pool elevation at Lake James is 107.36 feet 
  which occurred in September 8, 2004 during Hurricane Frances.  
  Major Flood Stage is 110.0 feet.

* The current record pool elevation at Lake Rhodhiss is 110.10 feet 
  which occurred in August 1940.  Major Flood Stage is 110.0 feet.

* This is an unprecedented and extremely dangerous event.  Residents 
  are urged to heed guidance from emergency management and law 
  enforcement on any potential impacts to property.  We are pleading 
  with drivers to heed any barricades and avoid all flooded areas.  
  There have been numerous swift water rescues because people are 
  choosing to risk their lives and the lives of others by failing to 
  Turn Around Don't Drown.  Please do the right thing and protect 
  your life, the life of your family, and the lives of those who 
  risk theirs to save you.


  This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Catawba River from Lake James 
  to Lake Rhodhiss. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK 
  HIGHER GROUND NOW!

  HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding from historic rainfall
           and resultant dam floodgate releases.

  SOURCE...Duke Energy and Burke County Emergency Management.

  IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK
           HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life-threatening flash-flooding of
           Lake James, the Catawba River, and Lake Rhodhiss is
           ongoing.  Structural flooding along Lake James
           continues and is developing along Lake Rhodhiss.
           Downstream of Bridgewater Dam on the Catawba River,
           several structrues are damaged or destroyed, with some
           single-level homes submerged by floodwaters.  These
           floodwaters are causing numerous swift-water rescues.
           Backwater effects are causing significant inundation
           along tributaries, including flooding exceeding 4 ft
           deep at the NC 18/US 64 bridge, blocking a primary
           roadway connecting Morganton and Lenoir.

* Please stay weather aware and monitor lake levels and Duke Energy 
  projections closely for any changes.

* For more information on lake levels or dam releases, people are  
  encouraged to visit https://lakes.duke-energy.com or call 
  1-800-829-5253.

* Residents along the Catawba River are encouraged to stay aware of 
  the latest updates from Burke County by signing up for alerts at: 
  http://smart911.com

* McDowell County Emergency Management, Burke County Emergency 
  Management, Caldwell County Emergency Management, and Duke Energy 
  are closely monitoring these high flows and pool levels and 
  additional updates will be provided as new information becomes 
  available.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and 
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are 
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

If you are in low-lying areas along the Catawba River you should move
to higher ground immediately.

&&

LAT...LON 3583 8188 3577 8179 3584 8164 3581 8159
      3581 8146 3578 8135 3573 8139 3574 8143
      3574 8159 3571 8176 3572 8194 3568 8202
      3572 8206 3580 8191

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC

$$

JMP
1 follow-up statement
064 
WGUS72 KGSP 291737
FFSGSP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
137 PM EDT Sun Sep 29 2024

NCC023-027-111-291747-
/O.CAN.KGSP.FF.W.0113.000000T0000Z-240929T1800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Burke NC-Caldwell NC-McDowell NC-
137 PM EDT Sun Sep 29 2024

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL BURKE, SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL AND 
EAST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD 
WARNING...

&&

LAT...LON 3583 8188 3577 8179 3584 8164 3581 8159
      3581 8146 3578 8135 3573 8139 3574 8143
      3574 8159 3571 8176 3572 8194 3568 8202
      3572 8206 3580 8191

$$

ARK

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 Sep 27, 5:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 27, 5:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
558 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
An upper level low pressure system will lead to a few showers across
the area this weekend into early next week, but rainfall amounts are
expected to be light.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 530 PM: Helene is now centered in central Kentucky where
the storm is expected to move west as it interacts with upper low
centered in TN. Some small light showers continue in the upslope
areas south of the Escarpment, but rainfall rates are small
and they should not add to any of the ongoing problems we have.
Winds continue to diminish and we should lose some of the gusts
with sunset, so the plan remains to let go of the Wind Advisory
in most places at 23z, but we will retain the Advisory over the
mountains from the Smokies to the GA/SC border area thru 12z for
the continuing threat in high elevations.

Otherwise...a combined, stacked low will develop as Helene goes
fully post-tropical and wraps into the extant upper low. The system
will linger over KY/TN Saturday. Accordingly moist southerly flow
will continue, so a few light showers are likely also to continue
near the Blue Ridge Escarpment thru Saturday, still not likely to
be significant in light of what's already occurred. The synoptic
models don't show a clear vort lobe rotating over our mountains as
once suggested during the day Sat, but midlevel height falls and
moistening still make for slightly deeper but very weak convective
profiles to develop over the mountains, so PoPs tick upward as this
occurs along with diurnal warming. This activity likely won't even
be deep enough for lightning, but localized rainfall totals up to
1 inch could occur on ridgetops of the southwest mountains.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 120 PM Friday: A mid level low pressure system will move
slowly across the region through the short range period. This will
lead to some scattered showers mainly in the mountains Sunday into
early next week. Rainfall amounts with this system are expected to
be light and not cause any new flooding. Temperatures should be
slightly above normal.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 135 pm Friday: The mid level low will pull away from the
region for the extended period leaving northwesterly flow and dry
conditions for the rest of the week. A weak system moving across the
Great Lakes region will push a weak and dry cold front through the
area during the middle of the week. Temperatures will start out a
little above normal and then become slightly below normal for the end
of the week.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: LLWS may be an occasional threat for
sites this afternoon, and may recur Saturday over KAVL. Most
cigs have lifted to high MVFR or VFR across most of the Piedmont,
and should steadily continue to improve thru early evening. Areas
of MVFR to IFR fog possible overnight particularly near KAVL and
KHKY. Confidence limited in TAFs by lack of obs at numerous sites
around the region following TS Helene passage, and AMD NOT SKED
included for KAVL. Occasional gusts of 30+ kt are possible at the
TAF sites this afternoon, but for tonight and Saturday should be
seasonable low-end values of 15-20 kt.

Outlook: Isolated to sct mainly diurnal/mainly mountain convection
(primarily showers) will be possible thru early next week. Morning
fog/low stratus will be possible each day, mainly in the mountain
valleys.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for GAZ010.
     Wind Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for GAZ017-018-026-
     028-029.
NC...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for NCZ051-052-058-059-
     062>064.
     Wind Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for NCZ033-035>037-
     048>050-053-056-057-065-068>072-082-501>510.
SC...Wind Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for SCZ008>014-019-
     101>109.

&&

SYNOPSIS...SCW
NEAR TERM...PM/Wimberley
SHORT TERM...SCW
LONG TERM...SCW
AVIATION...Wimberley
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 27, 7:10 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
710 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

GAZ017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>050-053-056-057-065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-282315-
Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander-Iredell-
Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan-Henderson-
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-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-
Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-
Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-
Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg-
710 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No additional rain is expected overnight. Although the weather has
calmed down, flooding continues to be a problem across much of the
region. Continue to monitor warnings in your area and heed all
official instructions for evacuations and road closures.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

GAZ010-NCZ051-052-058-059-062>064-282315-
Rabun-Swain-Haywood-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-
Transylvania-
710 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and western
North 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.

   Wind Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Wind Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 27, 6:26 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
626 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0740 AM     Tropical Cyclone 1 W Reidville           34.86N 82.13W
09/27/2024                   Spartanburg        SC   NWS Employee

            Numerous trees down around the Reidville
            area, several fences blown out and shutters
            blown off homes.

&&

TW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 26, 8:46 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPBuncombe, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford9 hr
Sep 26, 9:02 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPBuncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Transylvania6 hr
Sep 26, 9:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAvery, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey7 hr
Sep 26, 9:28 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPCabarrus, Mecklenburg7 hr
Sep 26, 10:24 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPIredell6 hr
Sep 26, 11:12 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAlexander5 hr
Sep 27, 12:18 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPBurke4 hr
Sep 27, 12:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPJackson, Macon, Swain3 hr
Sep 27, 3:11 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPJackson, Macon11 hr
Sep 27, 3:16 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPBuncombe, Haywood5 hr
Sep 27, 3:18 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPHenderson, Polk, Transylvania5 hr
Sep 27, 3:39 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPGraham, Swain10 hr
Sep 27, 3:45 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPRutherford6 hr
Sep 27, 3:53 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPAvery, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey7 hr
Sep 27, 4:01 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPAlexander, Caldwell5 hr
Sep 27, 4:09 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPHaywood11 hr
Sep 27, 4:14 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPBurke, McDowell6 hr
Sep 27, 4:35 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPIredell9 hr
Sep 27, 5:30 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPBuncombe8 hr
Sep 27, 5:46 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPAvery, Mitchell9 hr
Sep 27, 5:57 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPCabarrus, Mecklenburg, Union8 hr
Sep 27, 6:07 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPCatawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Rutherford8 hr
Sep 27, 6:29 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford8 hr
Sep 27, 6:37 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell13 hr
Sep 27, 6:52 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPBurke, McDowell13 hr
Sep 27, 7:24 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPJackson, Transylvania8 hr
Sep 27, 7:57 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPBuncombe6 hr
Sep 27, 8:50 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPYancey8 hr
Sep 27, 9:02 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPMadison8 hr
Sep 27, 9:35 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPRutherford15 hr
Sep 27, 12:05 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPAlexander, Catawba104 min
Sep 27, 1:14 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPBurke, Caldwell6 hr
Sep 27, 1:24 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPIredell3 hr
Sep 27, 1:37 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPBuncombe17 hr
Sep 27, 1:47 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatGSPAlexander, Catawba, Iredell48 hr
Sep 27, 1:52 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPGraham, Swain6 hr
Sep 27, 2:36 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPAvery, Mitchell17 hr
Sep 27, 2:45 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPBurke, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford19 hr
Sep 27, 2:54 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPHaywood6 hr
Sep 27, 3:08 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPJackson, Transylvania5 hr
Sep 27, 4:33 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPCabarrus27 hr
Sep 27, 4:35 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPYancey15 hr
Sep 27, 4:45 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPMadison13 hr
Sep 27, 6:09 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMacon, Swain12 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2024Every flash flood warning in 2024

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.