North Carolina, 1998

Flood and Hail in North Carolina, September 6, 1998

September 6, 1998 · NWS GSP · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A couple of severe thunderstorms moved from the foothills into a small part of the piedmont. Trees were downed in several locations and dime size hail fell in the same general areas according to county communication centers and spotters.

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
None recorded
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.

A couple of severe thunderstorms moved from the foothills into a small part of the piedmont. Trees were downed in several locations and dime size hail fell in the same general areas according to county communication centers and spotters. In Morganton, heavy rainfall also caused some urban flooding.

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When
September 6, 2:42 PM EST
Where
Burke County, Rutherford College
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.750, -81.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When
September 6, 4:15 PM EST to 4:20 PM EST
Where
Burke County, Morganton
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.750, -81.700

Hail, Burke

When
September 6, 4:15 PM EST
Where
Burke County, Morganton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.750, -81.700

Flood, Burke

When
September 6, 4:15 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Burke County, Morganton
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
35.750, -81.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When
September 6, 5:30 PM EST to 5:35 PM EST
Where
Cleveland County, Casar
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.520, -81.630

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, September 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5667709, 5667710, 5667711, 5667712, 5667713.