North Carolina, 2003

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in North Carolina, July 21, 2003

July 21, 2003 · NWS GSP · 2 events in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When
July 21, 6:59 PM EST
Where
Mecklenburg County, 8 mi SE of Charlotte
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.150, -80.750

Lightning, Mecklenburg

When
July 21, 6:59 PM EST
Where
Mecklenburg County, Charlotte
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
35.247, -80.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A person received minor injuries after being struck by lightning.

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2003

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: 5334689, 5334690.