Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2024
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Sep 26, 2024, 9:20 AM EDT for Alexander County, Catawba County, Iredell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 25 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
- Sep 26, 2024, 9:20 AM EDT (13:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 26, 2024, 9:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Alexander County, NC, Catawba County, NC, Iredell County, NC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:22 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 nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 117 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
- 89 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -60 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 764 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 66 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.2
The text
As transmitted.
269
WFUS52 KGSP 261320
TORGSP
NCC003-035-097-261345-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0009.240926T1320Z-240926T1345Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
920 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Catawba County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
Southern Alexander County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
West central Iredell County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...
* Until 945 AM EDT.
* At 919 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 5 miles east of Newton, or 4 miles southwest of
Catawba, moving north at 25 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...
Claremont around 920 AM EDT.
Catawba around 930 AM EDT.
Lookout Shoals Lake around 940 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include
Scotts, Oxford, and Bandys.
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 8103 3558 8117 3583 8129 3586 8099
TIME...MOT...LOC 1319Z 174DEG 20KT 3565 8112
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
ARK1 follow-up statement
885 WWUS52 KGSP 261335 SVSGSP Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 935 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024 NCC003-035-097-261345- /O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-240926T1345Z/ Catawba NC-Alexander NC-Iredell NC- 935 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL CATAWBA...SOUTHERN ALEXANDER AND WEST CENTRAL IREDELL COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 945 AM EDT... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. && LAT...LON 3559 8103 3558 8117 3583 8129 3586 8099 TIME...MOT...LOC 1335Z 174DEG 20KT 3574 8113 $$ ARK
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 Sep 26, 6:55 AM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 26, 6:55 AM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
655 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Tropical Cyclone Helene is forecast to make landfall over the
Florida Panhandle late today. The remnant circulation will move
quickly north through Georgia bringing continued heavy rainfall,
significant flooding and strong winds tonight into Friday morning.
Expect a calmer weekend with temperatures near seasonal normals.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 3:45 am Thursday: ***A MAJOR RAINFALL EVENT FOR THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS AND VICINITY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD TO
CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING***
A wide band of moderate to heavy showers continues to stream north-
ward within a plume of deep tropical moisture to the east of a
stalled frontal bndy still over eastern TN. Thus, the Predecessor
Rain Event (PRE) continues with a handful of Flash Flood Warnings
having been issued since midnight. We have not seen much if any
lightning over our area over the past few hrs, but the I-77 corridor
still appears to have upwards of 500 J/kg of sfc-based CAPE and deep
layer shear of 30 to 40 kt. Thus, another brief tornado remains
possible going forward. Nonetheless, the flash flood threat contin-
ues to increase as the rain continues to fall, mainly over the
foothills and along/near the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Another broad
area of heavier rain is currently approaching our area from the
south within this moist conveyor belt. This rain will likely put
more streams into flood thru the early morning hrs.
Otherwise, no changes were made to the Tropical Storm Warning or
the Flood Watch with this fcst update. The latest CAMs are still
suggesting that a swath of stronger wind gusts will spread over
our area just after 00z Friday and continue thru the morning. They
should start weakening by the afternoon, but conditions will remain
gusty thru the evening. Otherwise, all signs point to a significant
tropical event across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia.
Helene will be a large and fast-moving storm, so any additional
minor shifts in the storm track probably won't change much at this
point. We still expect a rare and significant amount of rainfall
over much of our mountains and adjacent zones with damaging to
catastrophic flooding likely. In the past, once the rainfall gets
above roughly ten inches, we have seen numerous reports of land-
slides across the high terrain. If you live in these areas, it is
imperative that you take whatever precautions you can now, as the
flood/landslide threat will continue to increase today and tonight.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
As of 245 am EDT Wednesday: Calm weather will return to the CWA by
Friday night, as the center of Helen will be spinning down over the
western Ohio Valley...with only some spotty showers expected to
linger across the mountains. Winds will remain gusty Fri evening...
albeit well below any Wind Advisory criteria...but will gradually
diminish through the night. With upper low remaining virtually
stationary across the TN/OH Valley, spokes of vorticity lifting
south of the low will approach the southern Appalachians Saturday
into Saturday night. This is expected to induce scattered shower
development...with perhaps a thunderstorm or two...mainly Saturday
afternoon/evening. Can't rule out some locally heavy rainfall within
any of this activity, but any precipitation should mostly be light.
Temperatures will be right around normal through the period.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 200 am EDT Thursday: Global model guidance is not in the
greatest agreement regarding the details of the evolution in the
upper pattern. However, as a strong short wave trough dips into the
northern Great Plains, the general idea is that the upper low...
centered somewhere over the Ohio Valley at the start of the
extended...will begin to wobble across the Mid-Atlantic and evolve
into an open wave at some point early next week. Scattered, mainly
diurnal convection (primarily showers) will be possible across the
forecast area each day from Sunday through Tuesday...with chances
becoming increasingly confined to the mountains later in the period,
as the pattern transitions to more of a NW flow regime in the wake
of the departing trough. Although precip chances are in the
forecast for much of the period, any rainfall is expected to be
light. Temperatures are forecast to be very close to climo through
the period.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Moderate to heavy showers now cover most
of the fcst area with most terminals reporting either MVFR or IFR
cigs and visby at this time. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to
come. We could see a few lightning strikes embedded in the heavier
showers thru the morning with cigs dropping to IFR across the area
as more upslope forcing arrives and the deeper tropical moisture
streams up from the south. Once there, terminals should stay down
in the LIFR/IFR range for the rest of the taf period. Expect fre-
quent heavier showers to move thru the area with winds becoming
gusty from the SE after daybreak. Winds and gusts will continue
to strengthen later tonight and into Friday.
Outlook: TC Helene will bring widespread low cigs, heavy rain,
strong winds, and low-lvl wind shear thru Friday morning before
moving out of the area late Friday into Saturday. Isolated to
sct mainly diurnal convection will be possible thru the weekend.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for GAZ010-017-018-026-
028-029.
Tropical Storm Warning for GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029.
NC...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for NCZ033-035-048>053-
056-058-059-062>065-068-069-501>510.
Tropical Storm Warning for NCZ033-048>053-056-058-059-062>065-
068>071-082-501>510.
SC...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for SCZ008-010>013-019-
101>109.
Tropical Storm Warning for SCZ008>014-019-101>109.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JDL
NEAR TERM...JPT
SHORT TERM...JDL
LONG TERM...JDL
AVIATION...JPTHazardous weather outlook, Sep 25, 6:10 PM EDT, 15 hours 10 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 610 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-048>053-056-058-059-062>065-068- 069-501>510-SCZ008-010>013-019-101>109-262215- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Madison-Yancey- Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-Graham-Northern Jackson- Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln- Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke- McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains- Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-Anderson- Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Greenwood-Oconee Mountains- Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee- Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-Southern Greenville- Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 610 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, 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. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Thursday and Friday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ070-071-082-SCZ009-014-262215- Gaston-Mecklenburg-Union NC-York-Chester- 610 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont 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. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tropical Storm Warning. A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Thursday and Friday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ036-037-057-072-262215- Iredell-Davie-Rowan-Cabarrus- 610 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the northwest Piedmont of North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Another round of scattered thunderstorms is expected this evening and into the overnight hours. Some of these storms could become strong to severe and produce damaging wind gusts and hail. Heavy rainfall can occur with any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Thursday and Friday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ035-262215- Alexander- 610 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont 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. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Thursday and Friday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. PM
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 26, 8:39 AM EDT, 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
839 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
SCZ009-261315-
York SC-
839 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN YORK COUNTY THROUGH 915 AM
EDT...
At 838 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers 5 miles
southeast of Rock Hill, or over Lesslie, moving north at 25 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...
Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lesslie, Catawba, Carowinds, and Lake
Wylie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
Conditions are favorable for development of a very brief, weak
tornado. Be prepared to take immediate action if a tornado is sighted
or a Tornado Warning is issued.
&&
LAT...LON 3490 8088 3487 8088 3484 8087 3482 8090
3482 8104 3503 8107 3510 8094 3506 8090
3503 8090 3501 8091 3499 8089 3497 8088
3496 8087 3492 8086
TIME...MOT...LOC 1238Z 178DEG 23KT 3489 8094
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
8Special weather statement, Sep 26, 9:12 AM EDT, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
912 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
NCZ056-261345-
Catawba NC-
912 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
...GUSTY SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CATAWBA COUNTY THROUGH 945
AM EDT...
At 911 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking gusty showers 7 miles
southeast of Newton, or 4 miles east of Maiden, moving north at 15
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...
Newton, Conover, Maiden, Claremont, Catawba, St. Stephens, Bandys,
and Sherrills Ford.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
Conditions are favorable for development of a very brief, weak
tornado. Be prepared to take immediate action if a tornado is sighted
or a Tornado Warning is issued.
&&
LAT...LON 3571 8106 3571 8101 3555 8102 3556 8121
3573 8129 3574 8107
TIME...MOT...LOC 1311Z 173DEG 14KT 3559 8112
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
8The office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 8:07 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and 1 more | 11 hr |
| Sep 25, 8:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Avery, Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey | 6 hr |
| Sep 25, 8:56 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Davie | 34 min |
| Sep 25, 9:24 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Transylvania | 8 hr |
| Sep 25, 9:49 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Henderson | 8 hr |
| Sep 25, 9:50 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Avery | 25 min |
| Sep 25, 11:22 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Burke, Caldwell, McDowell | 10 hr |
| Sep 26, 12:03 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Rutherford | 7 hr |
| Sep 26, 2:36 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Avery, Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey | 8 hr |
| Sep 26, 2:53 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba | 6 hr |
| Sep 26, 4:31 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | McDowell | 6 hr |
| Sep 26, 5:06 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Henderson | 22 hr |
| Sep 26, 5:16 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Transylvania | 11 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:01 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | GSP | McDowell | 8 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:40 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Polk | 3 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:45 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Rutherford | 3 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:00 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Haywood | 4 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:03 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Jackson | 4 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:11 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln | 2 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:12 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Catawba | 33 min |
| Sep 26, 9:17 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Macon | 7 hr |
| Sep 26, 9:52 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Gaston, Mecklenburg | 23 min |
| Sep 26, 11:15 AM EDT | Lake Wind Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Cabarrus, Davie, Iredell, Rowan | 16 min |
| Sep 26, 11:32 AM EDT | Wind Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell and 22 more | 40 hr |
| Sep 26, 12:48 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Gaston, Lincoln | 3 hr |
| Sep 26, 1:02 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Alexander | 4 hr |
| Sep 26, 5:07 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Alexander, Catawba, Iredell | 19 hr |
| Sep 26, 5:54 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Gaston, Mecklenburg | 3 days |
| Sep 26, 6:29 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Rutherford | 9 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:18 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Burke, McDowell | 12 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:36 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GSP | Burke, Caldwell | 18 hr |
| Sep 26, 7:58 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Jackson, Macon, Polk, Transylvania | 7 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.