Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 69, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 8, 2025McDowell County, Rutherford County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 8, 2025, 4:45 PM EDT for McDowell County, Rutherford County, North Carolina. It was in force for 45 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 2025, 4:45 PM EDT (20:45 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2025, 5:30 PM EDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties McDowell County, NC, Rutherford County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:47 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 4:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 289 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2025-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2025-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1148 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 8, 2:47 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 2:47 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
247 PM EDT Thu May 8 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front crosses the area Friday and stalls over the Southeast
this weekend into early next week, keeping unsettled weather around
through then. The front and associated low pressure system finally
clears the area Thursday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 245 PM EDT Thursday: Elongated upper trough and associated
height falls stretch from the eastern Atlantic Canada through
the Great Lakes and into the Ozarks. This is helping to send an
attendant cold front towards the region, with the best forcing
encroaching the CFWA and should exist over the area later this
afternoon and evening. Deep layer shear of 30-40 kts are present,
especially over the North Carolina zones being closer in vicinity
to the better forcing and frontal zone. MLCAPE of 1000-2000+
J/kg is currently in place as well. Low-level southwesterly flow
has allowed for a decent WAA regime out of the Gulf with PWAT
values between 1.00'-1.25". Model guidance continue to agree that
ridgetop convergence will set the stage for convective initiation
after 19Z. Discrete cells will develop with robust supercell
features. Steep and drier low/mid-level lapse rates and lower than
normal freezing level (~10,000') suggest the onset threat will be
large hail, with isolated convection capable of producing hail of 2"
or greater and downbursts (DCAPE 600-800 J/kg), mainly across the
North Carolina mountains/foothills. As the activity pushes east,
CAMs continue to show upscale growth and the development of a cold
pool late afternoon into the evening across the North Carolina
Piedmont and northern Upstate to help aid in storm initiation
downstream from the original starting point. Storm mode becomes
more linear and allows for the hail threat to diminish, but upticks
the damaging wind threat as the convection pushes further east.

CAMs also depict another area of interest across the Upstate and
northeast Georgia as the convection from Tennessee and northern
portions of the Deep South grow upscale and make a run at the
southern half of the CFWA, where the environment may be left
untapped. Storm mode would be more linear in this case and look
for the threat to be mainly damaging winds. In both cases when the
storm mode shifts more linear, hodographs become a little more
deeper as the LLJ (15-25 kts) is better established later this
evening. In this case, a tornado or two can't be ruled out, but
the lack of low-level shear will make full tornadogenesis difficult.

The cold front to the northwest of the area will struggle to reach
the CFWA until Friday afternoon as the upper-level pattern amplifies
with the trough developing a closed upper low and slows down the
frontal boundary advancement. As a result, lingering convection
will be possible overnight as model guidance struggle to fully
get rid of elevated CAPE and overall forcing. Convective debris
will likely linger through much of the nighttime period, but if
some clearing can get going expect areas of fog and possibly low
stratus to settle in just before daybreak.

The now closed upper low will intensify and set up shop over the
Mid-Atlantic by Friday as the front gradually enters the CFWA from
the northwest by late morning to early afternoon Friday. Another
round of convection is expected ahead of the front during peak
heating Friday. CAMs are not as excited with this potential,
but still show an environment conducive for multi-cellular to
supercellular storm mode as 25-35 kts of shear and 1000-2000 J/kg
of MLCAPE develop. The overall forcing isn't the best, however,
inverted-v profiles and dry mid-level indicate damaging winds will
be the main threat, but large hail can't be ruled out. Coverage
will be more isolated compared to today, but the severe threat will
persist nonetheless as the cold front moves across the area during
peak heating Friday. Afternoon highs will end up a few degrees above
normal ahead of the front, but cooler than normal for locations
behind the front (mainly across the mountains) during peak heating.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 200 PM EDT Thursday: Any left over convection will quickly
dissipate with loss of heating Friday evening as drier and cooler
high pressure builds in from the north and the frontal boundary
moves south of the area. Lows now look to drop to near or 5 degrees
below normal.

Guidance continues to trend drier for Saturday as the drier air mass
and surface high penetrate farther into the Southeast. Even with
those expectations, there may be some showers over the Lakelands
into the Upper Savannah River Valley as moisture may try to lift
north over the stalled frontal boundary. Even if that occurs, any
precip will be very light. Despite the cooler air mass, the lack of
precip will allow temps to warm more than previously expected as no
real cold air damming develops. Highs will still be around 5 degrees
below normal.

This drier trend continues into Sunday with precip slower to move
back north as the moist low level flow and isentropic lift take
longer to develop in response to the developing upper low and
associated surface low near the Gulf Coast remaining farther south
and west of the area. Still have a chance of showers moving into NE
GA and the Upstate by afternoon with slight chance over NC. But
again, any precip would be light. The lack of precip keeps the CAD
from forming and allowing temps to warm more than previously
expected. Didn't go full on with the model blend given the
uncertainty, but highs end up around 5 degrees below normal but
could be warmer if the precip remains slow to develop.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Thursday: Widespread precip does begin moving back
into the area Sunday night as the stacked low pressure system begins
moving north and a stronger, moist low level southerly flow and
isentropic lift develop. This does help the hybrid cold air damming
to set in by Monday and holding on through Monday night as precip
continues. The CAD erodes Tuesday as the high moves well off shore
cutting off support for the CAD and the stacked lows move north and
east. Widespread precip remains over the area though with the
strong, moist southerly flow and isentropic lift. The lows only
slowly move northeast on Wednesday keeping moisture and precip over
the area through the day. The lows finally move northeast of the
area on Thursday, but some lingering NW flow showers may continue.

There is a threat of moderate to heavy rainfall with this system.
The guidance has poor run to run consistency of QPF however. In
fact, overall precip will likely be on the lower side of guidance
given the now drier short term. Still, some excessive rainfall and
minor flooding can't be ruled out. There will be some thunderstorms
once the CAD erodes, but chance of severe storms looks quite low for
now.

Highs will be around 10 degrees below normal Monday in the CAD, then
slowly warming to near normal by Wed and above normal by Thursday.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Diurnal cu with very low VFR cigs continue
to roam the sky in anticipation of a SHRA/TSRA developing after 19Z
in the mountains and pushing east across the rest of the area by
00Z, maybe a little after. Placed a TEMPO group at all TAF sites
to forecast the best timing for TSRA and associated restrictions
at each terminal. Strong winds (=> 30 kts) and large hail (=>
1") are possible through the afternoon and evening. Expect the
coverage in SHRA/TSRA to dwindle around 06Z or so. Model guidance
still hint at restrictions forming overnight through mid-morning
with IFR/MVFR cigs/vsby. There are uncertainties for the overall
extent of restrictions, but with the potential for heavy rainfall,
ground fog could become an issue to go along with low stratus. Most
vsby/cig restrictions should scatter around mid to late Friday
morning. Winds continue out of the west to southwest this afternoon,
while likely becoming variable with any thunderstorm that passes
by. Winds should toggle more west to northwesterly on Friday as
another round of SHRA/TSRA and associated restrictions are possible
just after the end of the 18Z TAF update.

Outlook: An unsettled pattern will linger into early next week
keeping chances for showers and thunderstorms around as well as
associated restrictions.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...RWH
NEAR TERM...CAC
SHORT TERM...RWH
LONG TERM...RWH
AVIATION...CAC
Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 4:28 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 8, 4:13 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 4:31 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 4:34 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 4:36 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 4:39 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 4:40 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 3:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPPolk29 min
May 8, 3:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford28 min
May 8, 3:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMadison26 min
May 8, 3:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPPolk, Rutherford24 min
May 8, 3:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe, Madison31 min
May 8, 3:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPJackson28 min
May 8, 3:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPHenderson33 min
May 8, 4:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBurke, McDowell, Rutherford41 min
May 8, 4:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPPolk24 min
May 8, 4:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBuncombe35 min
May 8, 4:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke32 min
May 8, 4:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe45 min
May 8, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPPolk, Rutherford57 min
May 8, 4:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBurke, Cleveland, McDowell, Rutherford81 min
May 8, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCaldwell23 min
May 8, 5:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Caldwell59 min
May 8, 5:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland, Rutherford56 min
May 8, 5:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCaldwell39 min
May 8, 5:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSwain34 min
May 8, 5:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford31 min
May 8, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPDavie28 min
May 8, 5:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPHenderson24 min
May 8, 6:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPHenderson30 min
May 8, 6:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBurke, Catawba, Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln68 min
May 8, 6:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPJackson33 min
May 8, 6:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland59 min
May 8, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford57 min
May 8, 6:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPJackson, Macon, Transylvania55 min
May 8, 6:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson68 min
May 8, 6:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRowan29 min
May 8, 7:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHenderson, Transylvania42 min
May 8, 7:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatGSPGaston66 min
May 8, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus, Rowan61 min
May 8, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford26 min
May 8, 7:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland, Rutherford51 min
May 8, 7:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGraham, Swain58 min
May 8, 7:36 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford3 hr
May 8, 7:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford24 min
May 8, 7:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBuncombe28 min
May 8, 5:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRabun35 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2025Every severe thunderstorm 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.