North Carolina, 2003Flash Flood in North Carolina, September 22, 2003
September 22, 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
- $20,000
- 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 Sep 22, 2:20 PM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 22, 2:20 PM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
320 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND A FEW TSRA
WILL MOVE THRU AS WELL. CANNOT RULE OUT ISOLATED SEVERE STORM GIVEN
STRONG WIND FIELDS ALOFT. WILL KEEP CATEGORICAL POP AND TREND PRECIP
ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT. WARMED UP MINS A LITTLE GIVEN
TIMING.
PRECIP SHOULD END BY 12Z TUE AS DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN.
THICKNESSES HOLDING UP A LITTLE AND FULL SUN SO ACCEPTED SLIGHTLY
WARMER GUIDANCE MAXES. NEAR NORMAL TEMPS WED AS THICKNESSES FALL.
DRY FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVES THRU THURSDAY WITH NEARLY STEADY TEMPS.
MDLS TRENDING WETTER SAT/SUN AS LOW MOVES NORTHEAST NEAR ATLANTIC
COAST. DECENT UPGLIDE AND MOISTURE DEVELOP AND CONTINUES UNTIL LOW
PULLS OUT LATE SUNDAY. HAVE ADDED CHC RAIN WITH WARMER LOWS AND
COOLER HIGHS DURING THIS TIME. COOL DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK IN
MONDAY.
FCSTID = 81
GSP 64 84 56 80 / 99 10 00 00
AND 64 84 56 81 / 99 10 00 00
CLT 64 84 56 80 / 99 10 00 00
HKY 62 82 53 79 / 99 10 00 00
AVL 58 78 49 77 / 99 10 00 00
.GSP...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.
RWH
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 22, 5:00 AM EST, 13 hours before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-221200-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
600 AM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD AND ALONG A COLD FRONT
APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT SOME OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...MAINLY ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT. THERE IS ENOUGH
WIND SHEAR IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE THAT A TORNADO WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...SEE THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
(SPSGSP) ISSUED AT 507 AM. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY AND TONIGHT.
MOORE
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 3:55 PM EST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-222200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
455 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS
ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...
AT 445 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE RAIN...WITH ISOLATED HEAVY SHOWERS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF
NORTH CAROLINA. THE MAIN THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE
HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR. HOWEVER...
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THE ISOLATED SHOWERS COULD
PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS
OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE TREE
BRANCHES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 4:37 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-222245-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
537 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS
AND URBAN FLOODING ACROSS THE WESTERN UPSTATE...
AT 530 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN OCONEE COUNTY.
THROUGH 645 PM...THESE SHOWERS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF OCONEE COUNTY...
INCLUDING WALHALLA...AND MUCH OF WESTERN PICKENS COUNTY...INCLUDING
THE CITY OF CLEMSON. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE SHOWERS WILL BE HEAVY
RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR. THIS HEAVY RAINFALL
COULD PRODUCE FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW LYING AREAS. THERE IS
ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED...BRIEF
PERIODS OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF
THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE TREE BRANCHES.
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 4:37 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
GAZ018-SCZ001>006-222245-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED UGC
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
537 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS
AND URBAN FLOODING ACROSS THE WESTERN UPSTATE...
AT 530 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN OCONEE COUNTY.
THROUGH 645 PM...THESE SHOWERS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF OCONEE COUNTY...
INCLUDING WALHALLA...AND MUCH OF WESTERN PICKENS COUNTY...INCLUDING
THE CITY OF CLEMSON. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE SHOWERS WILL BE HEAVY
RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR. THIS HEAVY RAINFALL
COULD PRODUCE FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW LYING AREAS. THERE IS
ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED...BRIEF
PERIODS OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF
THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE TREE BRANCHES.
OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 4:56 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
NCZ033-048>053-059-063>065-222300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
556 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...
AT 550 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...WITH SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS. THROUGH 7 PM...THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL
AFFECT THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS...FROM EASTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTY...TO
HENDERSON AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THE MAIN THREAT IN THESE AREAS
WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO INCHES PER
HOUR. THIS HEAVY RAINFALL COULD PRODUCE FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND
LOW LYING AREAS. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT THE HEAVIER SHOWERS
AND STORMS COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED...BRIEF PERIODS OF DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW
DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE TREE BRANCHES. OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 5:45 PM EST, 15 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-SCZ001>007-010-230000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
645 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST
GEORGIA AND THE UPSTATE...
AT 640 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EXTREME
NORTHEAST GEORGIA...AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. THROUGH 8 PM...THE
MAIN THREAT IN THESE AREAS WILL BE FROM VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
FLOODING OF URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. HOWEVER...THERE IS ALSO A
POSSIBILITY THAT THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND STORMS COULD PRODUCE
ISOLATED...BRIEF PERIODS OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE
TREE BRANCHES. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATIONS TO EXPERIENCE THESE GUSTY
WINDS WILL BE LOCATIONS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-85. OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 5:52 PM EST, 8 minutes before
NCZ033-034-049-050-053>055-065>068-230000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
652 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND
EASTERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA...
AT 645 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF
THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA. THROUGH 8 PM...THE
MAIN THREAT IN THESE AREAS WILL BE FROM VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
FLOODING OF URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. HOWEVER...THERE IS ALSO A
POSSIBILITY THAT THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND STORMS COULD PRODUCE
ISOLATED...BRIEF PERIODS OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND LARGE
TREE BRANCHES. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATIONS TO RECEIVE THESE GUSTY WINDS
WILL BE IN AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Flash Flood, Transylvania
- When
- September 22, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
- Where
- Transylvania County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 35.202, -82.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flooding began around Rosman in urban and poor drainage areas, after which flooding developed quickly along creeks. The French Broad River rose above flood stage at Rosman just after 7 pm, and remained in flood through 11 pm. At the height of the flooding, some vehicles were half-submerged in flood waters. Numerous mud slides also developed. Flooding developed late in the evening across other portions of the county, including along the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest.
- 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 Flooding in Tennessee, September 22, 2003$123,000 · 27 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, September 22 to 23, 2003$74,000 · F1 · 7 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, September 22, 20031 in hail · 24 events
- Damaging Wind in New York, September 22, 2003$30,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Georgia, September 22, 2003$20,000 · 1 event
- Hail in Kansas, September 22, 20030.88 in hail · 7 events
- Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Georgia, September 22, 2003$7,000 · 52 kt wind · 4 events
- Heavy Rain in North Carolina, September 22, 20033 events
- Heavy Rain in Maryland, September 22 to 23, 20033 events
- Heavy Rain in South Carolina, September 22, 20032 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Erie, September 22, 20032 events
- Hail in Kansas, September 22, 20030.75 in hail · 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: 5372135.