Strong winds affected the northern mountains of North Carolina and a small part of the adjacent North Carolina Foothills.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Strong winds affected the northern mountains of North Carolina and a small part of the adjacent North Carolina Foothills.
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 Feb 22, 9:50 AM EST, 4 hours 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
950 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007
.SHORT TERM /REST OF TODAY/...
EARLY MORNING FOG AND STRATUS HAS BURNED OFF ACROSS THE AREA...SO
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THIS UPDATE WILL BE TO REMOVE FOG
WORDING FROM THE FORECAST SUITE. OTHERWISE...THE MAIN CONCERN FOR
TODAY WILL BE WITH THE WIND...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE MTNS. AS
USUAL...THERE ARE PLENTY OF ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST A WIDESPREAD
DAMAGING WIND EVENT. THE GFS AND NAM ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD
AGREEMENT THAT AN H8 JET OF 50 TO 55 KTS WILL TRANSLATE ACROSS THE
AREA THIS AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE...THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY OVER THE
TN AND OH VALLEYS WILL RACE ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. THE
MIXED LAYER IS PROGGED TO DEEPEN OVER THE MTNS THIS PM AS STRONG LOW
LEVEL COLD ADVECTION DEVELOPS. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE 50 TO 55
KT WINDS AT THE TOP OF THIS MIXED LAYER. WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EVENTS
THIS SEASON IN WHICH A DEEP MIXED LAYER...COMBINED WITH DECENT COLD
ADVECTION AND 50+ KT WINDS AT THE TOP OF THE MIXED LAYER RESULTED IN
WINDS BARELY EVEN REACHING WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. MEANWHILE...THE
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AS PROGGED BY THE MODELS THIS AFTERNOON IS
NOT ESPECIALLY STRONG ACROSS THE MTNS...WHILE THE STRONGEST PRESSURE
RISES BEHIND THE FRONT ARE EXPECTED TO PASS WELL NORTH OF THE
REGION. WE DO NOT WANT TO START SCALING BACK THE WIND ADVISORY/HIGH
WIND WARNING ATTM...BUT CERTAINLY SEE NO REASON TO EXPAND THEM. WE
WILL LOWER THE WINDS JUST A BIT IN THE FORECAST SUITE...AND STRESS
THE GUST POTENTIAL RATHER THAN THE SUSTAINED WINDS IN THE NPW.
OTHERWISE...THE FORECAST WILL REQUIRE ONLY A FEW TWEAKS AND COSMETIC
CHANGES ATTM.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT RH OF LESS THAN 30
PERCENT WILL BE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED. IN FACT...MANY AREAS COULD SEE RH OF
AROUND 25 PERCENT BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON. HAVE NO PLANS TO UPDATE
THE FIRE WEATHER FORECAST ATTM...BUT WILL FRESHEN UP THE FIRE DANGER
STATEMENT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 238 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007/
SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN AMPLIFIES TODAY AS A RIDGE BUILDS JUST
EAST OF THE ROCKIES. A SHORTWAVE DIVES INTO THE BASE OF THE
WESTERN ATLANTIC LONGWAVE TROUGH TODAY...PASSING BY JUST TO OUR
NORTH...BUT ACCOMPANIED BY STRING WINDS ALOFT. WINDS WILL REMAIN
DECOUPLED ACROSS PARTS OF THE LEE OF THE MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS
MORNING WITH FOG AND LOW CLOUDS...BUT MIXING SHOULD DESSICATE THE
LOWER LEVELS AND TRANSPORT GUSTY WINDS TO THE SURFACE. THE NAM IS
QUITE A BIT WINDIER THAN THE GFS...AND THE SREF MEAN WOULD LEND
SUPPORT TO THE NAM. A HIGH WIND WARNING WILL BE POSTED FOR THE
NORTHERN NC MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT BLUE RIDGE FOR TODAY AND
TONIGHT...WITH A WIND ADVISORY IN THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER VALLEY
AND BALSAM MOUNTAINS...ALSO THROUGH TONIGHT. THE REST OF THE
FORECAST AREA GETS LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR TODAY.
MODEL GUIDANCE SUPPORTS EVEN WARM MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES
TODAY...BUT WITH SO MUCH MIXING...THE HIGHER END OF GUIDANCE IN
THE MAV WILL BE AVOIDED. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WERE
ADJUSTED DOWN SLIGHTLY IN THE NORTH AND EAST FOR A BETTER FIT WITH
SURROUNDING OFFICES. SOME MOISTURE IS SPREAD SOUTH ALONG THE WEST
SIDE OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING...BUT SHOULD ONLY BE
ENOUGH FOR SOME LOW CLOUDS...AND NO SHOWERS WILL BE CARRIED THERE.
THE PRES GRADIENT WILL RELAX FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AS THE UPPER
RIDGE AXIS MOVES OVER THE FORECAST AREA. THE DEEP LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM IN THE PLAINS ON SAT WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TO THE GREAT LAKES
THROUGH SUNDAY. THE CONVECTION IN THE DEEP SOUTH IS EXPECTED TO RUN
OUT WELL AHEAD OF THE PARENT STORM SYSTEM...WITH THE DEEPEST
MOISTURE AND LIFT CROSSING THE FORECAST AREA EARLY SUNDAY. SHEAR
CONTINUES TO LOOK TREMENDOUS WITH THE SYSTEM SUNDAY...BUT
INSTABILITY HAS WAFFLED FROM RUN TO RUN. WILL CONTINUE POSSIBLE
THUNDER MENTION IN THE HWO FOR SUNDAY.
LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
THE GREAT LAKES LOW WILL GRADUALLY FILL ON MONDAY...BUT IT SHOULD
SEND A SHORTWAVE TROUGH SOUTHEAST INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BY
TUESDAY. MOISTURE APPEARS TO BE QUITE LIMITED WITH THIS
WAVE...WARRANTING MAINLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. RIDGING IS THEN
ANTICIPATED ON WEDNESDAY AS THE SYSTEM MOVES EAST OFF THE COAST.
AVIATION /08Z-06Z/...
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE RAPIDLY FALLING FROM MVFR TO IFR
ACROSS THE AREA. SOME SITES WITH MORE WIND WILL AVOID FALLING TO IFR
OVERNIGHT. MODEL GUIDANCE SUPPORTS INCREASING THE WIND BEFORE
DAWN...BUT THE ONLY PLACE THIS IS A SAFE BET IS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
MOISTURE IS RAPIDLY SWEPT EAST THIS MORNING AS MIXING OCCURS...
LEAVING FEW CLOUDS. WITH THE SURFACE GRADIENT TIGHTENING AND
DOWNWARD MOTION INCREASING...SURFACE WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE
GUSTY FROM THE NORTHWEST BY MID MORNING...DECREASING SOME AFTER
DUSK EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS...BUT REMAINING UP THROUGH THE EVENING
AT KAVL.
FIRE WEATHER...
THE WIND SHOULD EASILY REACH RED FLAG CRITERIA TODAY...BUT
RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE ABOVE 25 PERCENT. COORDINATION
WITH GA AND SC OFFICIALS YESTERDAY INDICATED THAT FUEL MOISTURE
WOULD BE ELEVATED SLIGHTLY FROM RAINFALL YESTERDAY. NORTH CAROLINA
FUELS ARE MORE MARGINAL...BUT THE ONLY PLACES THAT EVEN COME CLOSE
TO 25 PERCENT ARE MACON...POLK...AND ROWAN COUNTIES. A FIRE DANGER
STATEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THESE AREAS.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR GAZ010-
017-018-026-028-029.
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY FOR NCZ033-049-050-501-
503-505.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NCZ035>037-051-056>058-062-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-
510.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY FOR NCZ048-052-053-059-
063>065-507-509.
SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SCZ001>014-019.
&&
SHORT TERM/FIRE WEATHER...LANEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 445 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-231100- AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS- MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- 445 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TODAY ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA...AND PERSIST THROUGH TONIGHT. A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. FOR THE LATEST DETAILS ON THE HIGH WINDS...PLEASE SEE THE URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE...CAENPWGSP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE MOUNTAINS ON SUNDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY ANY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NCZ048-052-053-059-063>065-507-509-231100- MADISON-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-NORTHERN JACKSON-SOUTHERN JACKSON- TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 445 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE VERY WINDY CONDITIONS...PLEASE SEE THE LATEST URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE...CAENPWGSP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE MOUNTAINS ON SUNDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY ANY WIND REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-051-056>058-062-068>072-082- 502-504-506-508-510-SCZ001>014-019-231100- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL- DAVIE-SWAIN-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-MACON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK- ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 445 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINDY CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT THE REGION TODAY. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE WINDY CONDITIONS...PLEASE SEE THE LATEST URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE...CAENPWGSP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. HG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1044 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510-222300- AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN- HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON- SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL- BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS- EASTERN POLK- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...STATESVILLE...MOCKSVILLE... SPRUCE PINE...CHEROKEE...WAYNESVILLE...ASHEVILLE...HICKORY... SALISBURY...SYLVA...FRANKLIN...BREVARD...HENDERSONVILLE... SHELBY...LINCOLNTON...GASTONIA...CHARLOTTE...CONCORD...MONROE... LENOIR...MORGANTON...MARION...LAKE LURE...RUTHERFORD...COLUMBUS 1044 AM EST THU FEB 22 2007 ...FIRE DANGER STATEMENT... SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH...WITH STRONGER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN THE MOUNTAINS INTO TONIGHT. BY LATE AFTERNOON...RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE CRITICAL LEVEL OF 25 PERCENT ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA...BUT THIS SHOULD ONLY OCCUR FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. ALTHOUGH SOME RAIN FELL ACROSS THE AREA YESTERDAY...THE STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY COULD LOWER FUEL MOISTURE TO CRITICALLY DRY LEVELS BY LATE AFTERNOON. LANE
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees down. Some trees fell on an apartment complex in Burnsville. A steeple was blown off a church in Spruce Pine.
Numerous tree limbs blown down in the Woodlawn area of McDowell County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2007
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: 18760, 18761.