North Carolina, 1998

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 19, 1998

April 19, 1998 · NWS GSP · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Thunderstorms ahead of cold front crossing the western North Carolina caused portions of central Henderson county to experience flooding. S.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$72,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Thunderstorms ahead of cold front crossing the western North Carolina caused portions of central Henderson county to experience flooding. Interstate 26, U.S. Highway 25, and North Mills River Road were flooded, with high water remaining into the night. Fast-low topped thunderstorms moved rapidly north across the Charlotte metro area a little later in the afternoon. A few of the storms became severe and produced a moderate amount of wind damage. A large tree was blown onto 2 cars, one house, and broke a gas line on the south side of Charlotte. Trees and power lines were downed from Matthews to Mint Hill. North of Charlotte, a roof was blown off an old grocery store, a beauty shop was damaged, mobile home windows were blown out, and a car had a piece of wood hurled through its glass. One large tree and several small trees were blown down, and the corner of a hangar roof was damaged at the Concord Regional Airport. Large limbs were blown down and shingles were blown off a roof in Union county.

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Henderson

When
April 19, 12:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Henderson County, Central Portion
Coordinates
35.336, -82.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When
April 19, 3:08 PM EST
Where
Mecklenburg County, Charlotte
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
35.230, -80.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When
April 19, 3:15 PM EST
Where
Mecklenburg County, 8 mi N of Charlotte
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
35.350, -80.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When
April 19, 3:20 PM EST
Where
Cabarrus County, Concord
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
35.420, -80.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
April 19, 4:05 PM EST
Where
Union County, Stallings
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
35.080, -80.700

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5646290, 5646291, 5646292, 5646293, 5646294.