North Carolina, 2003Flash Flood in North Carolina, May 7, 2003
May 7, 2003 · NWS GSP · 1 event in 1 county or zone
1 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 7, 2:16 AM EST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:16 AM EST, 3 hours 29 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
316 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
ATMOSPHERE REMAINS MOIST AND UNSTABLE. LINE OF INSTABILITY IS
SURGING BACK NORTHEAST...THRU TN AND GA. MCS/TSTMS FIRING ALONG THE
TMB AND STRONG CONVECTION IS MOVING BACK INTO CWA FROM THE W. ON TOP
OF THE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING SEEMS LIKELY
OVER W ZONES AND HAVE EXTENDED THE FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TODAY. MODELS
INCREASE CAPE TO ABOVE 2000 BY THIS AFTN WITH DEEP ASCENT INDICATED.
EXPECT A CHANCE POP CONTINUING MUCH OF WEEK. NOT PLANNING ANY
CHANGES TO EXTENDED.
FCSTID = 77
GSP 80 62 83 62 / 70 40 30 30
AND 81 61 83 63 / 70 40 30 30
CLT 81 62 84 63 / 70 40 30 30
HKY 78 61 82 60 / 70 40 30 30
AVL 76 57 78 59 / 80 50 30 30
.GSP...
GA...FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES GAZ010...GAZ017>018...GAZ026...
GAZ028>029.
NC...FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES NCZ048...NCZ051>053...
NCZ058>059...NCZ062>067.
SC...FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES SCZ001>007...SCZ010>012...
SCZ019.
RB
Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 3:30 AM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-071100-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
430 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
.DAY ONE...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN TODAY...SOME WITH LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WIND. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. FLOODING IS
LIKELY TO BE A SERIOUS CONCERN ...ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE COUNTIES THAT
HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED HIGH WATER PROBLEMS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SOME MAY BECOME
SEVERE...ESPECIALLY LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH EVENING.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY.
RB
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 7, 1:47 AM EST, 3 hours 58 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-071500-
SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
247 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
...SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE AGAIN TODAY ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS
AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN WARM AND UNSTABLE ACROSS THE REGION
TODAY. ONE OR TWO LARGE COMPLEXES OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE REGION DURING
THE DAY...ONE EARLY THIS MORNING...AND ANOTHER DURING THE MID TO
LATE MORNING. IN ADDITION...VARIOUS LOW LEVEL BOUNDARIES
LEFT BEHIND BY EARLIER STORM SYSTEMS COULD PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON.
THE MAIN THREAT WITH ANY STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING
WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. HOWEVER...AS THE ATMOSPHERE
DESTABILIZES LATER THIS MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON...THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING ACROSS THE AREA LATER TODAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRONGER...AND
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. IN
ADDITION...THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES...ESPECIALLY
WITH STORMS DEVELOPING ALONG OR INTERACTING WITH LOW LEVEL
BOUNDARIES.
ALTHOUGH SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON...IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER
WILL BE WITHIN THE MORE UNSTABLE AIR ACROSS UPSTATE SOUTH
CAROLINA...NORTHEAST GEORGIA...AND THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF NORTH
CAROLINA. SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ACTIVATE QUICKLY AT
JUST ABOUT ANYTIME TODAY. DISPATCHERS SHOULD ENSURE COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ARE AWARE OF THIS INFORMATION.
LANE
Special weather statement, May 7, 2:30 AM EST, 3 hours 15 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-070815-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
330 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO MOVE BACK
INTO RABUN...HABERSHAM AND STEPHENS COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH WITH HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL
SPREAD BACK INTO EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA BETWEEN 4 AND 430 THIS
MORNING. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO NEAR
50 MPH. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THE STORMS...WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS TO 3
INCHES...IF THE STORMS DO NOT WEAKEN IN THE MEANTIME.
IF THIS MUCH RAINFALL IS REALIZED AS THE STORMS MOVE ACROSS
RABUN...HABERSHAM AND STEPHENS COUNTIES...FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS
AND STREAMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. ALSO THE WINDS GUSTS TO 50 MPH COULD
TOPPLE TREES ANCHORED IN THE SATURATED GROUND.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER
SITUATION AS THE STORMS MOVE IN.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR
THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER
SITUATION.
RBN
Special weather statement, May 7, 3:41 AM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before
GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ001>008-010>013-019-070945-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
441 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA THIS MORNING. AT 535 AM...RADAR SHOWED
STRONG STORMS...WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...FROM THE MOUNTAINS NORTH
OF WALHALLA AND PICKENS...EXTENDING SOUTH TO ANDERSON...AND THEN TO
WEST OF CARNESVILLE GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS WEST OF
CARNESVILLE...MOVING EAST TOWARD HARTWELL AND ANDERSON.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SOME HAIL WILL BE THREATS WITH THESE
STORMS...IN ADDITION TO CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. ALSO...THE
STORMS BETWEEN CARNESVILLE AND ANDERSON COULD REPEAT OVER THE SAME
AREAS FOR A WHILE...POSSIBLY CAUSING FLASH FLOODING TO DEVELOP. A
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...AND A FLASH FLOOD WARNING COULD
BECOME NECESSARY IF THE HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES MUCH LONGER.
JONES
Special weather statement, May 7, 4:41 AM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SCZ012-019-071045-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
541 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN GREENWOOD AND
SOUTHERN LAURENS COUNTIES THIS MORNING...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LOCATIONS FROM WARE SHOALS...TO
LAURENS AND CLINTON THROUGH 630 AM. STRONG WIND GUSTS TO 50
MPH...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
CAN BE EXPECTED.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
THIS STORM FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, May 7, 4:50 AM EST, 55 minutes before
GAZ017-018-071030-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
550 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2003
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT HABERSHAM AND STEPHENS COUNTIES
THIS MORNING...
THROUGH 630 AM...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL PRODUCE SMALL HAIL...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
IN LOCATIONS FROM CLARKEVILLE AND CORNELIA TO TOCCOA.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
THIS STORM FOR A POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
LANE
Flash Flood, Swain
- When
- May 7, 5:45 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
- Where
- Swain County, South Portion
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.487, -83.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
For the second day in a row, flash flooding developed across southern portions of the county after a series of thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall. Some of the same campgrounds that flooded on the 6th flooded again on the morning of the 7th. Mud and rock slides developed, causing some houses and trailers to be swept away. A portion of highway 19 was also washed away.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003$1.0 billion · 1 event
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 7 to 8, 2003$355,000 · F2 · 33 events
- Flooding in Alabama, May 7 to 10, 2003$4.7 million · 3 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, May 7, 2003$1.6 million · F0 · 9 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Ohio, May 7, 2003$1.2 million · 1 in hail · 10 events
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003$1.0 million · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003$870,000 · 2 events
- Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003$775,000 · 2 events
- Tornadoes in Alabama, May 7, 2003$170,000 · F1 · 2 events
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 7, 2003$300,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003$300,000 · 1 event
- Tornado in Alabama, May 7, 2003$85,000 · F1 · 1 event
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: 5357100.