Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2024
Tornado Warning 5, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at May 9, 2024, 12:15 AM EDT for Buncombe County, McDowell County, Rutherford County, North Carolina. It was in force for 25 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 9, 2024, 12:15 AM EDT (04:15 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 2024, 12:40 AM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Buncombe County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Rutherford County, NC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:15 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 12:15 AM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Nnw Black Mountain, NC | Tornado touched down along North Fork Road where several trees were uprooted, then moved southeast across Allen Mountain and across the Black Mountain Golf Course where additional trees were uprooted along with large limbs snapped. The most concentrated damage |
| May 9, 12:18 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Montreat, NC | Multiple trees down across the northern side of Black Mountain. Possible tornado. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 0 minutes after it went out.
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, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 217 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
- 15 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -303 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2174 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 26 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 79 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
030
WFUS52 KGSP 090415
TORGSP
NCC021-111-161-090500-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0005.240509T0415Z-240509T0500Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1215 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern McDowell County in western North Carolina...
Northwestern Rutherford County in western North Carolina...
East central Buncombe County in western North Carolina...
* Until 100 AM EDT.
* At 1214 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
tornado was located 11 miles northeast of Downtown Asheville, or
near Black Mountain, moving southeast at 30 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...
Black Mountain around 1220 AM EDT.
Old Fort around 1230 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include
Glenwood, Shingle Hollow, Sugar Hill, Thermal City, and Fero.
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 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 8243 3572 8239 3563 8190 3542 8204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0414Z 293DEG 28KT 3566 8236
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
LANE2 follow-up statements
916
WWUS52 KGSP 090427
SVSGSP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1227 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024
NCC021-090437-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-240509T0500Z/
Buncombe NC-
1227 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BUNCOMBE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 3559 8226 3568 8225 3563 8190 3546 8201
TIME...MOT...LOC 0427Z 284DEG 38KT 3563 8219
$$
NCC111-161-090500-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-240509T0500Z/
McDowell NC-Rutherford NC-
1227 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
MCDOWELL AND NORTH CENTRAL RUTHERFORD COUNTIES...
At 1227 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles west of Marion, or near Old Fort, moving east at
45 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...
Old Fort around 1230 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Glenwood, Sugar Hill, Thermal City, and Fero.
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 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 3559 8226 3568 8225 3563 8190 3546 8201
TIME...MOT...LOC 0427Z 284DEG 38KT 3563 8219
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
LANE546 WWUS52 KGSP 090440 SVSGSP Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1240 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 NCC111-161-090449- /O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-240509T0500Z/ McDowell NC-Rutherford NC- 1240 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN MCDOWELL AND NORTH CENTRAL RUTHERFORD COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm. && LAT...LON 3559 8226 3568 8225 3563 8190 3546 8201 TIME...MOT...LOC 0438Z 293DEG 28KT 3559 8208 $$ LANE
What 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 8, 11:34 PM EDT, 41 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 8, 11:34 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1134 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and thunderstorm activity will be more numerous ahead of a strong cold front tonight into Thursday, with severe storms possible. The cold front pushes east early Friday morning but another system approaching out of the south may bring shower and thunderstorm chances back during the day on Friday. Drier conditions and below normal temperatures return for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 1126 PM EDT Wednesday: Over the past two hours, we have been watching supercells come off the Cumberland Plateau and begin to congeal and grow upscale into more of a convective line across the Great Valley of TN. The storms will likely remain strong to severe as they cross over a sfc-based CAPE plume of 1000-1500 J/kg that exists along the TN/NC line, but east of the spine of the mtns, the environment is much less hospitable. The air mass east of the Blue Ridge for the most part did not recover, and has only 500 J/kg at best, which will keep most of the activity in check. The main concern is the area from the SW mountains down across northeast GA and the Savannah R basin. An old outflow boundary from the afternoon convection stalled across this area and a CAPE gradient of 500-1500 J/kg persists, with enough effective shear and low level shear to allow storms to maintain supercell characteristics. All threats are in play across this area, so the SPC issued a new Tornado Watch to cover the possibilities. We are especially interested in the cells crossing north Georgia as of 03Z. This activity will traverse the fcst area thru the late night hours and feel the HRRR has had a good and consistent handle on it. Another round of showers and thunderstorms may come in behind this one, but the severity will be even more restricted toward daybreak. Otherwise...for Thursday...not quite as warm but still mid 80s in the Piedmont. Slight Risk in place on Thursday but that's as the convection slips south in the morning. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 100 PM EDT Wednesday: For the Thursday night period, the 12z HREF and CAM consensus depicts just very limited and isolated deep convection lingering from whatever daytime activity redevelops, along with a smattering, but again limited response into the night and mainly confined to the mountains. Not unexpectedly, the pattern atop the SE CONUS remains dynamic into Friday as energy rounding the base of the upper trough will finally be again to shove lingering sfc frontal zone downstream of the cwfa. But before it does, we will be wary for the threat for tstm encroachment and redevelopment, along the front itself, and in addition, MCS/bowing cluster moving in from Georgia. Sensible weather will feature a shotgun mid-chance pop for Friday with isolated svr storms possible mainly SE of I-85. Will plan on overspreading the region with deep layered dry air within the broad downward vertical motion behind the departing s/wv axis Friday night. Expecting to be under a well mixed and more seasonable airmass within the deep cyclonic flow on Saturday featuring maximum temperatures close to climo. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 315 am EDT Wednesday: A broad upper trough is expected to progress across the East through the weekend, with dry air/pleasant surface dewpoints supporting wide diurnal temp ranges...max temps averaging around normal and min temps a category or so below climo. By early in the work week, a split flow regime is expected to be in place across the eastern Conus, with a short wave ridge developing across the Southeast...downstream of a southern Great Plains upper low. Global models are at odds regarding the evolution of this feature, namely its interaction with the northern stream, and eventual impacts on sensible weather across the Southeast. For now, there's enough of a signal to include chance PoPs across much of the CWA by Mon night/Tue. Temperatures are forecast to be very close to normal through the period. && .AVIATION /04Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: VFR for the time being at all terminals, and that should hold into the late evening, hopefully through the end of busy operations. Most of the forecast area has rain-cooled air with some sct-bkn low VFR debris clouds. We may see some brief MVFR at KAND, but this is not likely and left out of the fcst. Wind will be generally light and modulated by numerous outflow boundaries across the region, so many places will have a variable direction for the evening, until a southerly flow can be re-established. We look to the west and await the next round of storms, which the HRRR brings into the mtns at 04Z and then quickly east through the pre-dawn hours. All terminals should see thunderstorms with this complex, so a 4-hr TEMPO was employed for the initial round. There could be a second round, or at least a trailing stratiform rain for several hours into the middle part of the morning. There should be some MVFR cloudiness lingering into the middle part of the day. Once we scatter the low deck, expect deep enough mixing for some occasional wind gusts from the SW thru the rest of the afternoon. Outlook: A system lifting out of the south my increase shower and thunderstorm chances again on Friday, but confidence on this remains low. Drier conditions can be expected this weekend. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...CSH NEAR TERM...PM/TDP SHORT TERM...CSH LONG TERM...CSH AVIATION...PM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 11:21 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1121 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-510-SCZ008-009- 012>014-019-103-106>109-100330- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston- Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke- Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-York- Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-Greenville Mountains- Central Greenville-Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg- Southern Spartanburg- 1121 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the foothills and western Piedmont of North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Another round of thunderstorms is possible across the western Carolinas late tonight into early Thursday morning, but it remains to be seen if the atmosphere can recover enough by then to allow for more severe weather. Some of the storms could produce damaging wind gusts, small hail, frequent cloud- to- ground lightning, and torrential rainfall. One or two storms could become severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The threat for strong to damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding will continue into Thursday morning. Scattered storms could redevelop Thursday afternoon, potentially posing another threat of isolated severe weather and locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ051-052-058-059-062>064-SCZ010-011-101- 102-104-105-100330- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Swain-Haywood-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Anderson- Abbeville-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greater Oconee- Greater Pickens- 1121 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 214 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT THURSDAY... 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. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The threat for strong to damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding will continue into Thursday morning. Scattered storms could redevelop Thursday afternoon, potentially posing another threat of isolated severe weather and locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ033-048>050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509-100330- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Henderson-Caldwell Mountains- Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains-Rutherford Mountains- Polk Mountains- 1121 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. More thunderstorms will move across the central and northern mountains of North Carolina late tonight into early Thursday morning. Some of the storms will be severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail. Any storm will produce frequent cloud- to- ground lightning and torrential rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The threat for strong to damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding will continue into Thursday morning. Scattered storms could redevelop Thursday afternoon, potentially posing another threat of isolated severe weather and locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 8, 8:53 PM EDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
853 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0253 PM Hail Forest City 35.34N 81.87W
05/08/2024 M1.00 Inch Rutherford NC 911 Call Center
911 Call Center reported quarter sized hail
at the 911 Call Center.
&&Local storm report, May 8, 8:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
854 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0304 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Ellenboro 35.33N 81.76W
05/08/2024 Rutherford NC 911 Call Center
911 Call Center reported numerous trees down
in the Ellenboro area.
&&Local storm report, May 8, 8:56 PM EDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
856 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Polkville 35.42N 81.64W
05/08/2024 Cleveland NC 911 Call Center
911 Call Center reported numerous trees and
powerlines down across the Polkville area.
&&Local storm report, May 8, 9:01 PM EDT, 3 hours 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
901 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Landrum 35.17N 82.19W
05/08/2024 Spartanburg SC Emergency Mngr
Emergency Management reported tree down on
powerline in Landrum.
&&Local storm report, May 8, 9:08 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
908 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Chester 34.70N 81.21W
05/08/2024 Chester SC 911 Call Center
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from
Chester. County official reports many trees
down across the county.
&&
KrentzSpecial weather statement, May 8, 11:20 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1120 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
NCZ033-048>050-053-501-503-505-090400-
Buncombe NC-McDowell Mountains NC-Yancey NC-Caldwell Mountains NC-
Burke Mountains NC-Avery NC-Madison NC-Mitchell NC-
1120 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN MCDOWELL...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...MITCHELL...NORTHWESTERN CALDWELL...AVERY...
NORTHEASTERN BUNCOMBE...YANCEY AND NORTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTIES
THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT...
At 1120 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles northwest of Beech Mountain to 10 miles
northwest of Marshall. Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Newland, Mars Hill, Banner Elk, Elk Park,
Bakersville, Beech Mountain In Avery County, Crossnore, and Sugar
Mountain.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3621 8190 3616 8183 3611 8181 3612 8155
3607 8142 3571 8232 3594 8280 3600 8277
3606 8264 3603 8259 3597 8261 3595 8256
3609 8240 3613 8230 3616 8220 3615 8215
3611 8213 3612 8203 3629 8192
TIME...MOT...LOC 0320Z 291DEG 33KT 3628 8201 3590 8282
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
LANEThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 11:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison and 1 more | 60 min |
| May 8, 11:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Avery, Mitchell, Yancey | 40 min |
| May 8, 11:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, McDowell | 49 min |
| May 9, 12:09 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania | 46 min |
| May 9, 12:29 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Graham, Macon, Swain | 3 hr |
| May 9, 12:45 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cleveland, Polk, Rutherford | 45 min |
| May 9, 12:48 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Henderson, Polk, Transylvania | 57 min |
| May 9, 1:18 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Alexander, Catawba, Davie, Iredell | 42 min |
| May 9, 1:23 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln | 37 min |
| May 9, 1:50 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cabarrus, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and 1 more | 40 min |
| May 9, 2:35 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union | 25 min |
| May 9, 7:24 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Macon | 51 min |
| May 9, 7:52 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Buncombe, Transylvania | 38 min |
| May 9, 10:27 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Henderson | 15 hr |
| May 9, 10:36 AM EDT | River Flood Advisory | GSP | Henderson, Transylvania | 13 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.