North Carolina, 2003Flash Flood in North Carolina, September 22 to 23, 2003
September 22 to 23, 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
- $5,000
- 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, 8:40 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 22, 8:40 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
940 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
JET ENTRANCE REGION AND ASSOCIATED UPPER DIVERGENCE PULL EAST OF THE
CWA BY 9 UTC PER THE ETA. LLVL CONVERGENCE TENDS TO HANG UP ACROSS
THE ERN UPSTATE FROM 3 TO 9 UTC BEFORE PUSHING EAST. THUS...WHILE
DON/T EXPECT THE HEAVY PCPN THAT WE SAW EARLIER IN ASSOCIATION W/THE
FRONTAL BAND...MIGHT BE TOUGH TO GET RAINFALL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE
ERN ZONES BEFORE THE END OF THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD.
ATTM WE HAVE A SHORT FUSE FLOOD WATCH UP FOR PARTS OF THE
UPSTATE...NE GEORGIA AND WESTERN NC. THE HEADWATERS OF THE FRENCH
BROAD FLOODED AT ROSMAN TNGT...FIRST TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED IN A
WHILE. APPEARS HIGH PW AIRMASS RESULTED IN EFFICIENT RAINFALL
PRODUCTION...WITH RADAR ESTIMATES GENERALLY TOO LOW FOR THE EVENT.
THE WATCH RUNS ALL NIGHT...BUT CURRENTLY THINK THAT MOST OR ALL OF
IT CAN BE CANCELLED W/IN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. WL HOLD OFF A WHILE
ON ISSUING THE TEXT PRODUCTS IN HOPES THAT WE CAN JUST DROP THE
WATCH W/OUT HAVING TO CARVE IT UP FIRST.
SO...WL LOWER POPS IN THE WRN ZONES SINCE THE MTNS...NE GA AND WRN
UPSTATE ARE...OR SOON WL BE...RAIN FREE. HOWEVER...WL WORD ZONES
SOMETHING LIKE ENDING LATE IN THE ERN UPSTATE AND NC PIEDMONT
WHERE I THINK PCPN WL BE SLOW TO LEAVE.
SFC DWPTS REMAIN HIGH A WAYS BEHIND FRONT. THIS ALONG WITH DRYING
ALOFT AND LIGHT BNDRY LAYER WNDS SHOULD RESULT IN AREAS OF FOG...
WILL ADD PATCHY FOG TO GIRDS AND ZONES FOR LATE TNGT AND TUE
MORNING.
.GSP...
GA...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT GAZ010-017-018-026-028.
NC...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT NCZ064>068.
SC...FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT SCZ004>008-010.
MCAVOY
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 22, 5:00 AM EST, 17 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
Local storm report, Sep 22, 6:25 PM EST, 3 hours 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
725 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
455 PM CORNELIA AND BALDWIN GA FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 HABERSHAM COUNTY 911 OFFICIALS
REPORTED ANKLE DEEP WATER
INSIDE MANY BUSINESSES. A
SECTION OF HWY 105 WASHED
OUT.
500 PM 3 N CORNELIA GA FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 HABERSHAM TREE TOPPLED POWERLINES
AND TREE OVER HWY 441
REPORTED BY COUNTY 911
OFFICIALS.
600 PM COUNTYWIDE SC FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 OCONEE TREES DOWN ALL OVER
COUNTY...INCLUDING 3
FALLEN NEAR HWY 123 10
SOUTHWEST OF
WESTMINISTER...AND 1 DOWN
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
FLATS SHOALS AND HWY 28.
713 PM COUNTYWIDE NC FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED
WATER HALF WAY UP ON CAR
DOORS IN ROSMAN. SEVERAL
MUDSLIDES ALL OVER
COUNTY...INCLUDING HWY 64
AND CASHIERS VALLEY.
ROAD PARTIALLY WASHED
AWAY IN SILVERSTEIN.
KRENTZLocal storm report, Sep 22, 6:25 PM EST, 3 hours 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
725 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
455 PM CORNELIA GA FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 HABERSHAM COUNTY 911 OFFICIALS
REPORTED ANKLE DEEP WATER
INSIDE MANY BUSINESSES. A
SECTION OF HWY 105 WASHED
OUT.
500 PM 3 N CORNELIA GA WIND DAMAGE
09/22/03 HABERSHAM TREE DOWNED POWERLINES
AND TREE OVER HWY 441
REPORTED BY COUNTY 911
OFFICIALS.
600 PM WESTMINISTER SC WIND DAMAGE
09/22/03 OCONEE TREES DOWN ALL OVER
COUNTY...INCLUDING 3
FALLEN NEAR HWY 123 10
SOUTHWEST OF
WESTMINISTER...AND 1 DOWN
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
FLATS SHOALS AND HWY 28.
713 PM BREVARD NC FLASH FLOOD
09/22/03 TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED
WATER HALF WAY UP ON CAR
DOORS IN ROSMAN. SEVERAL
MUDSLIDES ALL OVER
COUNTY...INCLUDING HWY 64
AND CASHIERS VALLEY.
ROAD PARTIALLY WASHED
AWAY IN SILVERSTEIN.
KRENTZSpecial weather statement, Sep 22, 6:59 PM EST, 3 hours 1 minute before
GAZ028-SCZ002>008-010-230100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
759 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS AND URBAN FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
AT 755 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF
THE UPSTATE...AND PORTIONS OF EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THROUGH 9
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 GUSTY WINDS AND
URBAN FLOODING WILL BE IN AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-85...INCLUDING
THE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG METRO AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 7:05 PM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes before
NCZ034>037-054>057-066>072-082-230100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
805 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS AND URBAN FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS
THE FOOTHILLS AND FAR WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...
AT 8 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF
THE FOOTHILLS...AND WAS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO FAR WESTERN PORTIONS
OF THE PIEDMONT. THROUGH 9 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 GUSTY WINDS AND URBAN FLOODING WILL BE IN AREAS ALONG AND
WEST OF HIGHWAY 321...INCLUDING THE HICKORY AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 8:01 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before
GAZ029-SCZ002-003-005>014-019-230200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
901 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS AND URBAN FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
AT 855 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF
THE UPSTATE. THROUGH 10 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 GUSTY WINDS AND URBAN FLOODING WILL BE IN AREAS ALONG AND
NORTH OF I-85...AND ALONG AND EAST OF I-26...INCLUDING AREAS FROM
SPARTANBURG TO GAFFNEY.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Special weather statement, Sep 22, 8:06 PM EST, 1 hour 54 minutes before
NCZ036-054>057-066>072-082-230215-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
906 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003
...ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS AND URBAN FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS
THE FOOTHILLS AND WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...
AT 8 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF
THE FOOTHILLS...WHILE HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA
WERE MOVING INTO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. THROUGH 10 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 AS HIGH AS 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD BLOW DOWN TREE LIMBS. THE MOST
LIKELY LOCATIONS TO RECEIVE GUSTY WINDS AND URBAN FLOODING WILL BE IN
AREAS SOUTH OF I-40...AND WEST OF I-77.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
LANE
Flash Flood, Rowan
- When
- September 22, 10:00 PM EST to September 23, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Rowan County, China Grove
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.640, -80.525 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding along Grant's Creek between Salisbury and Spencer. A creek near China Grove overflowed its banks and flooded a portion of highway 152. Town Creek flooded in Salisbury, causing some damage at a construction site, and resulting in several road closures.
- 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
- Flash Flood in North Carolina, 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
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: 5372137.