Thunderstorms erupted in an unstable atmosphere during the late afternoon and early evening. Many of the storms or short line segments evolved into bow echoes, leaving a considerable amount of wind damage in their wake.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
Thunderstorms erupted in an unstable atmosphere during the late afternoon and early evening. Many of the storms or short line segments evolved into bow echoes, leaving a considerable amount of wind damage in their wake. Winds were estimated between 75 and 100 mph in several locations. However, most of the wind damage was limited to downed trees and power lines, though extensive in many areas causing considerable power outages and blocking many roads. Two people were injured by trees which fell on them and one person drowned when his boat was blown away from where he was swimming.
The Greer radar (KGSP), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:18 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning, 1 strong wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a nearby tree, ran into a house, and ignited a fire which burned the house and its contents.
Trees were blown down in multiple locations.
Several trees were blown down on Hebron Road.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed on cars and houses. A local fire chief estimated the winds between 70 and 90 mph and described them as the highest seen since the passage of Hurricane Hugo.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the county, but especially along this path. In Forest City, many trees and power lines fell on cars and houses. In Spindale, there were 16 separate reports of downed trees. There were 4200 people left without power in the county.
Trees and power lines were downed near Lake James.
Many trees and power lines were blown down.
A massive area of wind damage occurred at the Interstate 85 bridge which spans the Yadkin River, and surrounding areas. Hundreds of trees were blown down, including several 100 year old oaks, trees fell on houses, roofs were blown off barns, and an 18-wheeler flipped over on the bridge. Thousands of motorists were stranded on Interstate 85 for 4 to 6 hours.
Power lines were downed and a house was damaged by high winds.
Straight-line winds as high as 75 mph destroyed an outbuilding, blew the roof off a metal building and onto a house across the street, and downed numerous trees and power lines. Many trees and power lines fell on houses and cars. A tree fell on a car in Waco, injuring one occupant. Power was out to much of the area for several hours.
Multiple trees were blown down and a mobile home was blown over.
Severe straight-line winds hit the Salisbury-Rowan County Airport, flipping 3 planes and blowing hangars apart and into the nearby woods. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down as well.
A man drowned when wind from a nearby strong thunderstorm blew a boat away from him and a companion while swimming in Lake Norman.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed, including a 150 year old oak. Many trees and power lines fell on vehicles and there were widespread power outages.
A large swath of wind damage occurred from Ericsson Stadium to the east side of Charlotte. A trained spotter estimated the wind speed to be 90 mph at Dillworth Square. Other estimates were reported of between 75 and 100 mph. There were numerous trees and power lines downed and a canopy was blown off a gas station. Numerous streets were blocked and Interstate 85 was blocked in both directions. Nearly 90,000 people were left without power. The county 911 center said this event generated the most calls since Hurricane Hugo moved through the city.
Numerous streets were briefly blocked by high water.
Damaging winds blew trees and power lines down from Kannapolis to Concord between 1650 EST and 1720 EST. Several barns were damaged near Concord. The hardest hit part of the county was between Harrisburg and Midland from 1715 EST to 1730 EST. Again, numerous trees and power lines were downed. However, a few roofs were blown off structures in Midland.
Several trees were blown down on Providence Road.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Iredell | 2000-08-18 | 55 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2000
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: 5170038, 5170039, 5170040, 5170041, 5170042, 5170303, 5170304, 5170305, 5170306, 5170307, 5170308, 5170309, 5170310, 5170311, 5170312, 5169646, 5169970, 5169971, 5169972, 5169973.