Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

August 1, 2025McDowell County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Aug 1, 2025, 8:57 PM EDT for McDowell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 3 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
Aug 1, 2025, 8:57 PM EDT (00:57 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 2025, 12:00 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County McDowell County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:57 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 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 216 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 00:00Z on 2025-08-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 57 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 00:00Z on 2025-08-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 51 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
57 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-73 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
526 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

240 
WGUS52 KGSP 020057
FFWGSP
NCC111-020400-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0009.250802T0057Z-250802T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
857 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern McDowell County in western North Carolina...

* Until midnight EDT tonight.

* At 857 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1.5 to 2.5 inches in 1 
  hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in 
  the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Old Fort and Montreat.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

When it is safe to do so, please report flooding or landslides 
threatening roads or property to the National Weather Service 
Greenville-Spartanburg by calling toll free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, 
by posting on our Facebook page, or via X using hashtag NWSGSP. Your 
message should describe the specific location where impacts occurred 
and the depth of flooding observed.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3560 8228 3561 8228 3561 8227 3562 8226
      3563 8227 3564 8228 3565 8228 3565 8229
      3566 8229 3567 8223 3566 8213 3565 8209
      3561 8209 3556 8215 3556 8222

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1.5-2.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

TBW

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 Aug 1, 8:27 PM EDT, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 8:27 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
827 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
One last hot and humid day on tap with widespread showers and
thunderstorms developing through this evening. A few strong to
severe storms, as well as isolated flash flooding, will be possible
with today's diurnal activity. Cold air damming develops this
weekend and lingers into the new workweek bringing much needed
relief from the heat and humidity in the form of cooler and below
normal high temperatures. Shower and thunderstorm chances stick
around through next week but a lull may develop Sunday into Monday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 1250 pm Friday: The last of the remnant low cloudiness was
finally exiting the fcst area, while convective initiation has
taken place over the ridges as expected. The development has been
gradual as has been our destabilization, but we're on our way with
sfc-based CAPE up into the 2000-3000 J/kg range. The dCAPE has been
modest at best, but water vapor imagery has a pocket of somewhat
drier air east of the mtns, so the expectation remains that it would
be sufficient to support some stronger downdrafts and outflows. The
wind shift boundary was already sinking south across the Upstate and
northeast Georgia, but the effective front was still located to the
north of the forecast area. No significant changes are noted with
the Day 1 Convective Outlook update keeping most of the fcst area
in a Marginal Risk for damaging wind gusts. The 12Z HREF and the
morning runs of the HRRR continue to support the idea that we will
have just enough shear to promote some multicell organization on
cold pool mergers and outflows. If we can get the storms organized
as they move east off the Blue Ridge as is hinted by the HREF,
our chances of severe wind gusts will go up. There's also the
risk of excessive rainfall that extends into the evening hours,
what with very deep warm cloud potential and precipitable water
well over two inches. The concern will be anchoring of storms
near the Blue Ridge Escarpment because of easterly low level
flow opposing the westerly mid/upper flow, or multiple rounds of
storms over the same area. A Flood Watch has been contemplated,
but the expectation at this moment is for only isolated/localized
threats. Oh yeah, and today will be the last hot day. No changes
to the Heat Advisory over the Lakelands.

The effective cold front should drop southward across the forecast
area late this evening behind the main deep convection, and in
behind, the low level northeasterly flow will improve. There should
be enough moisture left over to be run upslope on the east side of
the mtns to force additional showers well into the overnight near
the Escarpment in NC, as the effective front oozes S and SW across
the Upstate into northeast GA. That should keep rain chances in
play for most of the region with perhaps the exception of the NW
Piedmont where the dry air arrives first. Low temps will still be
near normal.

Saturday is another tricky day as the guidance continues to show
a nascent cold air damming wedge early in the day. The parent high
moving east over the Great Lakes looks relatively weak, but the low
level northeasterly flow has sufficient low level moisture to keep
a thick cloud deck underneath the developing inversion. How far the
wedge boundary makes it will have a big impact on the weather. Some
of the guidance stalls the front over the southwest part of the
fcst area through the day, providing enough forcing to produce
numerous showers, but the CAMs in the 12Z HREF are relatively quiet,
suggesting that boundary clears the fcst area early in the day. The
fcst follows the NBM and maintains a relatively high precip prob,
but not without a healthy dose of skepticism about the extent of
the precip. Either way, the clouds should keep us from being able
to warm up much and high temps should struggle to get out of the
70s. The downward trend in temps continues. If the precip doesn't
develop, we might be more like upper 70s than the mid 70s we will
have in the forecast. It will feel a whole lot different than the
last month, that's for sure...

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 108 PM EDT Friday: Weak, broad cyclonic flow aloft over
the eastern CONUS will linger through much of the forecast
period. ~1024mb surface high will set up shop over the northeastern
CONUS by Saturday as the near-term front sags south of the
CFWA. Drier surface air from the northeast will help to set
the stage for a hybrid CAD event through the weekend into the
early parts of next week. The latest SREF shows a LI between
3-5 indicating that the static stability is relatively strong
for the time of year, especially in regards to a Summertime CAD
event. Ongoing scattered showers are likely Saturday night as
a decent Atlantic fetch (850mb wind: ESE @ 15-20 kts) filters in
atop the CAD dome to go along with better isentropic lift. Extensive
cloud cover and elevated precip chances will allow for overnight lows
to run a few degrees below normal. A shortwave is seen rounding
the base of aforementioned cyclonic flow aloft, while drier air
continues to nose in from the northeast by Sunday. The wedge
boundary will be far south of the area and essentially choke any
really deep moisture flux from filtering into the region. In this
case, precip coverage will be less, with the southwest mountains
and Upper Savannah River Valley being the most likely locations of
receiving rainfall due to the closer proximity to the boundary. Some
form of scattered showers is shown per model guidance of breaking
containment further north in the CWA. Cloud cover will remain
extensive as the area remains locked into the CAD pattern. As
a result, afternoon highs on Sunday should end up 12-18 degrees
below normal, bringing in much needed relief from the heat.

Not too much of a pattern change on Monday, but parent high slips
further offshore into the Northern Atlantic, while the area will
be under more of an in-situ CAD. Model trends are drier for Sunday
night into the daytime period Monday. A digging shortwave trough
is shown over the central CONUS by Monday afternoon, allowing the
flow aloft to become more south to southwesterly. This is turn
will enhance the moisture flux provided by the stalled boundary
to the south and gradually work north. This should allow for
more scattered showers to work into the area, but not growing in
coverage until later Monday. In these types of setups, scattered
showers are possible throughout the duration of a CAD, which is
why mentionable PoPs remain in the forecast through the forecast
period. SREF and deterministic guidance are not excited with any
elevated instability, so only stratiform precip is expected outside
of a rogue thunderstorm through the short term. Some changes are on
the horizon during the extended period, but the CAD dome remains
locked in through Monday as afternoon highs will run 8-12 degrees
below normal as some peaks of sunshine may start making it to the
surface.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 143 PM EDT Friday: Upper trough will shift towards the Eastern
third of the CONUS, while a surface high becomes reinforced over New
England and Atlantic Canada later Tuesday into Wednesday. This will
help to keep the surface cool layer in place and static stability
high as the LI remains near a value of 3-5 through much of the
workweek, emphasizing a lingering CAD event. Better moisture flux
will reach the area by Tuesday as the flow above the surface turns
southerly being on the leeside of the upper trough as it slowly
travels further east. In this case, PoPs will ramp back but not
excited about the thunderstorm potential as there is only some form
of elevated instability. However, this is the summertime so you can
never truly rule it out. The Atlantic subtropical ridge will begin
to deepen by the latter half of the period, while the ridge over
the southwestern CONUS aids in the weakness of the trough over the
southeastern CONUS. This will allow for more diurnal convective,
especially over the mountains by the end of the forecast period and
for a gradual warming trend to occur. The CAD is shown eroding by
late into the workweek through either a coastal low or surface wind
divergence per model guidance. Temperatures remain a category or
two below normal, especially during the daytime period through D7.

&&

.AVIATION /01Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: At present, we've still got some large
clusters of showers and thunderstorms across our area. This
activity will likely continue thru late tonight, thus I have
either a PROB30 or a TEMPO for TSRA thru roughly 04z at all
taf sites. After that, I keep a VCSH at most terminals into
the overnight for lingering showers. At the same time, cigs
are expected to lower to IFR across our fcst area and remain
IFR thru the rest of the taf period for the Upstate terminals
and KAVL. There's a decent chance that cigs will lift to MVFR
at KCLT and KHKY by mid to late afternoon tomorrow, with KCLT
improving to VFR by roughly 00z tomorrow evening. In addition,
most sites have MVFR visby restrictions beginning overnight and
lingering thru much of tomorrow. They also have PROB30s for SHRA
tomorrow aftn/evening, with some amount of moist upglide expected
over the CAD. Thunder/lightning appears unlikely as instability
will be lacking over the area. Outside the mtns, most sites are
already reporting NELY winds with winds at KAVL expected to favor
an ELY direction thru most of the taf period. The other terminals
should remain NELY thru the end of the period.

Outlook: Widespread cig restrictions may linger into early Sunday.
Otherwise, the rest of the weekend looks VFR apart from the usual
low stratus and/or fog each morning. Sct to numerous showers will
be possible again on Sunday, especially over the mtns and western
SC Upstate. A return to more typical summertime weather is expected
early next week.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...CAC
NEAR TERM...JPT/PM
SHORT TERM...CAC
LONG TERM...CAC
AVIATION...JPT
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 1, 2:07 AM EDT, 18 hours 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
207 AM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

GAZ018-026-028-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506>510-
SCZ008>010-012>014-101>109-020615-
Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-
Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-Greater Caldwell-
Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-
Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Laurens-Chester-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-
Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-
Central Greenville-Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg-
Southern Spartanburg-
207 AM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, the North
Carolina Piedmont and Foothills and the South Carolina Upstate.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees are expected this
afternoon across the South Carolina Upstate, portions of northeast
Georgia and the Charlotte Metro area. Strong to severe storms may
develop this afternoon and evening. Any severe storms that develop
will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts. Additionally,
heavy rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding with any storms
that develop this afternoon and evening, especially in areas that
received heavy rain in the past few days as well as across urban
areas.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds or
flash flooding to our office.

GAZ029-SCZ011-019-020615-
Elbert-Abbeville-Greenwood-
207 AM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and the South
Carolina Upstate.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

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

   Heat Advisory.

Strong to severe storms may develop this afternoon and evening. Any
severe storms that develop will be capable of producing damaging wind
gusts. Additionally, heavy rainfall may produce isolated flash
flooding with any storms that develop this afternoon and evening,
especially in areas that received heavy rain in the past few days as
well as across urban areas.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds or
flash flooding to our office.

GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-020615-
Rabun-Habersham-Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-
Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Henderson-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains-
207 AM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and the North
Carolina Mountains.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Strong to severe storms may develop this afternoon and evening. Any
severe storms that develop will be capable of producing damaging wind
gusts. Additionally, heavy rainfall may produce isolated flash
flooding with any storms that develop this afternoon and evening,
especially in areas that received heavy rain in the past few days as
well as across urban areas.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds or
flash flooding to our office.

AR

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 1, 7:53 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
753 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0537 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNW Southpark Mall    35.18N 80.84W
08/01/2025                   Mecklenburg        NC   Broadcast Media

            Social media picture of a tree down on a car
            near Selwyn Ave.

&&

TW
Local storm report, Aug 1, 7:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
756 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0603 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 ENE Waxhaw            34.97N 80.66W
08/01/2025                   Union              NC   Public

            Social media picture of a tree down between
            Mineral Springs and Wesley Chapel.

&&

TW
Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:02 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
802 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0527 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 N Pineville           35.13N 80.88W
08/01/2025                   Mecklenburg        NC   Public

            Social media report of stop lights blown off
            lines along South Boulevard just north of
            I-485.

&&

TW
Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:12 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
812 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0525 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSE Craven            35.60N 80.32W
08/01/2025                   Rowan              NC   Emergency Mngr

            A large number of mature, old trees fell on
            homes near St Matthews Church Rd and
            Lakeshore Dr along south shore of High Rock
            Lake. No injuries but several homes appear
            to be total losses.

&&

Wimberley
Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:31 PM EDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
831 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0517 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SSW Taylors           34.88N 82.34W
08/01/2025                   Greenville         SC   Law Enforcement

            Tree down on Richbourg Rd. Time estimated.

&&

Wimberley
Local storm report, Aug 1, 8:32 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
832 PM EDT Fri Aug 1 2025

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

0518 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNE Downtown Greenvil 34.88N 82.35W
08/01/2025                   Greenville         SC   Utility Company

            Tree on utility equipment on Lake Fairfield
            Dr.

&&

Wimberley

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 1, 8:42 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMcDowell, Rutherford2 hr
Aug 1, 8:51 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Rutherford114 min
Aug 1, 9:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHaywood, Swain115 min
Aug 1, 9:51 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatGSPMcDowell3 hr
Aug 1, 10:07 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe, Haywood, Henderson113 min
Aug 1, 10:40 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe3 hr
Aug 1, 11:10 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson4 hr
Aug 2, 12:16 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMcDowell, Mitchell, Yancey2 hr
Aug 2, 4:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHaywood2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2025Every flash flood warning in 2025

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.