Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2024
Flash Flood Warning 113, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
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.
- 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
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
$$
JMP1 follow-up statement
064
WGUS72 KGSP 291737
FFSGSP
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
137 PM EDT Sun Sep 29 2024
NCC023-027-111-291747-
/O.CAN.KGSP.FF.W.0113.000000T0000Z-240929T1800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Burke NC-Caldwell NC-McDowell NC-
137 PM EDT Sun Sep 29 2024
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL BURKE, SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL AND
EAST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD
WARNING...
&&
LAT...LON 3583 8188 3577 8179 3584 8164 3581 8159
3581 8146 3578 8135 3573 8139 3574 8143
3574 8159 3571 8176 3572 8194 3568 8202
3572 8206 3580 8191
$$
ARKWhat 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...WimberleyHazardous 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.
&&
TWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 8:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford | 9 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:02 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Transylvania | 6 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:06 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey | 7 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:28 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Cabarrus, Mecklenburg | 7 hr |
| Sep 26, 10:24 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Iredell | 6 hr |
| Sep 26, 11:12 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander | 5 hr |
| Sep 27, 12:18 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Burke | 4 hr |
| Sep 27, 12:48 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Jackson, Macon, Swain | 3 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:11 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Jackson, Macon | 11 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:16 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Haywood | 5 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:18 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Henderson, Polk, Transylvania | 5 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:39 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Graham, Swain | 10 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:45 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Rutherford | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:53 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey | 7 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:01 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander, Caldwell | 5 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:09 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Haywood | 11 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:14 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, McDowell | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:35 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Iredell | 9 hr |
| Sep 27, 5:30 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 5:46 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Mitchell | 9 hr |
| Sep 27, 5:57 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Union | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 6:07 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Rutherford | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 6:29 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Henderson, Polk, Rutherford | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 6:37 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell | 13 hr |
| Sep 27, 6:52 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, McDowell | 13 hr |
| Sep 27, 7:24 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Jackson, Transylvania | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 7:57 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 8:50 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Yancey | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 9:02 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Madison | 8 hr |
| Sep 27, 9:35 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Rutherford | 15 hr |
| Sep 27, 12:05 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander, Catawba | 104 min |
| Sep 27, 1:14 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, Caldwell | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 1:24 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Iredell | 3 hr |
| Sep 27, 1:37 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe | 17 hr |
| Sep 27, 1:47 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander, Catawba, Iredell | 48 hr |
| Sep 27, 1:52 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Graham, Swain | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 2:36 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Mitchell | 17 hr |
| Sep 27, 2:45 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Burke, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford | 19 hr |
| Sep 27, 2:54 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Haywood | 6 hr |
| Sep 27, 3:08 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Jackson, Transylvania | 5 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:33 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Cabarrus | 27 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Yancey | 15 hr |
| Sep 27, 4:45 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | Madison | 13 hr |
| Sep 27, 6:09 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Macon, Swain | 12 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.