Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, August 20, 1999

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved west to east across western North Carolina during the early morning hours on the 20th. A very severe thunderstorm produced a long narrow path of wind damage across northern Yancey county. Numerous trees were downed, one on a car, a barn was destroyed and crops were flattened by the wind. There was also significant hail damage to crops. A public report of a roaring noise associated with the wind led some to believe it was a tornado. However, there was not enough evidence to classify the event as such. Trees were also downed in a few other counties and there were a few reports of dime to quarter size hail. The other major story of the night was the lightning damage. Numerous cloud to ground strikes in McDowell county resulted in power lines and trees catching fire, and causing power outages. Some power lines and trees were actually downed. Another strike resulted in a fire which destroyed an unoccupied house at Wildacres Retreat. Lightning caused a house fire in Casar which resulted in significant damage. A barn was destroyed along with the hay inside, by a lightning-ignited fire in Alexander Mills.