High Wind, Rabun
- When
- May 12, 12:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
- Where
- Rabun forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.882, -83.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Strong winds developed behind a cold front, downing several trees over the mountains of extreme northeast Georgia during the early morning hours.
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 developed behind a cold front, downing several trees over the mountains of extreme northeast Georgia during the early morning hours.
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 11, 9:38 PM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1038 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE NEAR THE NEW JERSEY COAST TONIGHT
AS IT DRAGS A COLD FRONT TOWARD THE CAROLINA COAST. DRY HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE WEST MONDAY AND TUESDAY. ANOTHER
COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST THURSDAY BEFORE STALLING IN
THE VICINITY AND KEEPING CONDITIONS UNSETTLED INTO NEXT WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
THE SHORT RANGE MODELS SHOW 50 TO 60 KT OF 850 MB FLOW MOVING INTO
THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT...SO THE HIGH WIND WARNING WILL REMAIN
UNCHANGED IN THE STRONG COLD ADVECTION FLOW. BREEZY TO WINDY
CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE PIEDMONT
OVERNIGHT...WITH GUSTS PICKING BACK UP WITH MIXING AFTER DAYBREAK
MONDAY. WILL THUS REPLACE WIND PRODUCTS FOR MOST NON MTN LOCATIONS
WITH A LAKE WIND ADVISORY TO RUN THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY. ABUNDANT
RAIN/SHOWERS EVIDENT ON KMRX RADAR UPSTREAM IN THE NW FLOW WILL
WARRANT HIGH LIKELY POPS FOR MOST MTN LOCATIONS NEAR THE TN
LINE...WITH POPS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY NEAR AND EAST OF THE BLUE
RIDGE. DESPITE THE COLD ADVECTION...TEMPS WILL REMAIN ON THE HIGH
SIDE OF MOS WITH MIXING OVERNIGHT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 230 PM SUNDAY...STILL EXPECTING A PERIOD OF BLUSTERY
CONDITIONS ON MONDAY AS THE CWFA LINGERS WITHIN THE CIRCULATION OF
DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE. DOWNSLOPE DRYING IS ON TAP FOR AREAS
EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...WITH SOME WRAP-AROUND/UPSLOPE SHOWERS
PROBABLE FOR THE NC MTNS...ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN SLOPES. GOING WIND
ADVISORY AND WARNINGS LOOK TO BE ON TRACK AND WILL LIKELY NEED LAKE
WIND ADVISORIES FOR THOSE AREAS OUTSIDE OF EXPECTED WIND
WARNING/ADVISORY. WITH SFC RIDGING BUILDING EAST INTO THE CWFA
MONDAY NIGHT...WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT. DEEP DRYING WITHIN
NW FLOW ALOFT WILL PROMOTE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES ALLOWING TEMPERATURES
TO FALL TO BELOW NORMAL LEVELS. DEEP LAYERED RIDGING TO PROMOTE
SUNSHINE AND SEASONABLY MILD CONDITIONS FOR TUESDAY. HIGHER LEVEL
MOISTURE WILL TOP UPPER RIDGING TUESDAY NIGHT LEADING TO SOME DEGREE
OF INCREASING CLOUDS. FRONTAL BNDRY PROGGED TO SAG SOUTHEAST TOWARD
THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY...AND WILL MAINTAIN GOING CHANCE POPS.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 215 PM SUNDAY...AS THE FRONT CROSSES THE AREA FROM THE
NORTHWEST EARLY THURSDAY...IT IS FORECAST TO STALL OUT VERY NEAR OR
JUST TO THE SOUTH OF OUR FORECAST AREA. LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM NEAR
TEXAS AND RIDE ALONG THE FRONT SPREADING MOISTURE INTO THE CAROLINAS
FROM THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. IT APPEARS THAT INSTABILITY WILL
GENERALLY BE LIMITED TO LOCATIONS IN THE PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS AS
THE LOW APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THE ECMWF IS CONSIDERED THE
PREFERRED MODEL AND IT TAKES THE LOW OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST
FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH FOLLOWS BEHIND
THE LOW THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT
LAKES. MOISTURE WILL ATTEND THE UPPER TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTH ALONG
THE APPALACHIANS. NOT SURE HOW FAR SOUTH THIS WILL EXTEND...BUT
WANTED TO INCLUDE POPS FOR THE NC MOUNTAINS AND TAPPER IT OFF AT THE
END OF THE WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES WILL BE BELOW NORMAL AS THE AXIS
OF THIS TROUGH PASSES.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
SHOWER ACTIVITY SHOULD BE CONFINED MAINLY TO LOCATIONS NEAR THE TN
BORDER IN THE NW FLOW OVERNIGHT...WITH LITTLE CHANCE OF REACHING
KAVL. MOISTURE PUSHING INTO THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY ON NW
FLOW...HOWEVER...COULD SHOULD MVFR CIGS TO DEVELOP AT KAVL. THE
RAPIDLY TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN AS
WINDS WILL GUST TO 35 KT AT KAVL...WITH SOME GUSTS OF 25 KT
LINGERING AT ALL PIEDMONT TAF LOCATIONS THROUGH THE NIGHT. WILL
ALLOW GUSTY CONDITIONS TO PICK BACK UP ON MONDAY WITH DECENT MIXING
THROUGHOUT.
OUTLOOK...CONDITIONS WILL STEADILY IMPROVE TUESDAY...WITH SLACKENING
WINDS AND VFR CONDITIONS. DIURNAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN MID TO
LATE WEEK AS A COLD FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE WEST AND STALLS NEAR THE
SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR GAZ010-017.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR GAZ018-026-028-
029.
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR NCZ033-048>053-059-
062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR NCZ058-502-504-506-508-
510.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR NCZ035>037-056-
057-068>072-082.
SC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR SCZ001>003.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR SCZ004>014-019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...CSH
LONG TERM...CSH
AVIATION...HGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1040 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ004>014-019- 130245- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN- CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC- GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG- CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 1040 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE WIND ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ010-017-NCZ058-502-504-506-508-510-SCZ001>003-130245- RABUN-HABERSHAM-GRAHAM-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 1040 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ033-048>053-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509-130245- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 1040 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
809 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM HAIL 10 SW MORGANTON 35.64N 81.82W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH BURKE NC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
816 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG LAURENS 34.50N 82.03W
05/11/2008 LAURENS SC TRAINED SPOTTER
TWO TREES DOWN ALONG HW-252 IN LAURENS AND POWER OUTAGES
IN THE HODGES AREA.
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
817 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM HAIL SALISBURY 35.67N 80.48W
05/11/2008 E0.88 INCH ROWAN NC COUNTY OFFICIAL
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
819 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0639 PM HAIL MOUNT PLEASANT 35.40N 80.44W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN MOUNT
PLEASANT. REPORT RELAYED BY NWS ILM.
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
907 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM HAIL 10 SW MORGANTON 35.64N 81.82W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH BURKE NC TRAINED SPOTTER
0415 PM HAIL 9 SW MORGANTON 35.65N 81.81W
05/11/2008 E0.75 INCH BURKE NC PUBLIC
0445 PM TORNADO VALE 35.54N 81.40W
05/11/2008 LINCOLN NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
POLICE OFFICER CONFIRMS A TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN CAT
SQUARE.
0446 PM HAIL VALE 35.54N 81.40W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH LINCOLN NC TRAINED SPOTTER
0451 PM HAIL VALE 35.54N 81.40W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH LINCOLN NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER IN VALE REPORTS HAIL HAS INCREASED TO GOLF BALL
SIZED.
0505 PM HAIL LINCOLNTON 35.48N 81.25W
05/11/2008 E2.00 INCH LINCOLN NC PUBLIC
0509 PM HAIL 3 N LINCOLNTON 35.52N 81.25W
05/11/2008 E2.50 INCH LINCOLN NC TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL RANGING FROM GOLF BALL TO TENNIS BALL SIZED.
0514 PM HAIL LINCOLNTON 35.48N 81.25W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH LINCOLN NC AMATEUR RADIO
REPORT OF QUARTER SIZED HAIL AT THE LINCOLNTON COUNTY
AIRPORT.
0517 PM HAIL 7 NE LINCOLNTON 35.55N 81.16W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH LINCOLN NC TRAINED SPOTTER
0521 PM HAIL 5 E LINCOLNTON 35.48N 81.16W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH LINCOLN NC AMATEUR RADIO
LINCOLNTON COUNTY AIRPORT.
0525 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 7 E LINCOLNTON 35.48N 81.12W
05/11/2008 LINCOLN NC AMATEUR RADIO
REPORT OF A FUNNEL CLOUD OVER HW-73.
0550 PM HAIL 2 S CORNELIUS 35.45N 80.87W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH MECKLENBURG NC BROADCAST MEDIA
FROM WCNC...REPORTER HAD GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL ON I-77.
0550 PM HAIL CORNELIUS 35.48N 80.87W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH MECKLENBURG NC AMATEUR RADIO
QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON W CATAWBA AVENUE IN CORNELIUS.
0600 PM HAIL HUNTERSVILLE 35.42N 80.85W
05/11/2008 E0.25 INCH MECKLENBURG NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTS PEA SIZE HAIL.
0600 PM HAIL 8 WNW CONCORD 35.45N 80.73W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTS QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND A WALL CLOUD AT
THE INTERSECTION OF HW-73 AND ODELL SCHOOL ROAD.
0606 PM HAIL CONCORD 35.41N 80.59W
05/11/2008 E2.00 INCH CABARRUS NC PUBLIC
0610 PM HAIL 4 W CONCORD 35.41N 80.67W
05/11/2008 E2.75 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTS HAIL AS LARGE AS BASEBALLS AT
INTERNATIONAL DRIVE AND POPLAR TENT ROAD.
0614 PM HAIL 2 NNW CONCORD 35.43N 80.61W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
0615 PM HAIL 2 SW CONCORD 35.39N 80.62W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH CABARRUS NC EMERGENCY MNGR
CITY OF CONCORD EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS QUARTER SIZED
HAIL AT HW-601 AND HW-29.
0615 PM HAIL CONCORD 35.41N 80.59W
05/11/2008 E0.88 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL SIZED HAIL AT BRANCH VIEW ROAD AND SOUTH UNION
ROAD.
0618 PM HAIL CONCORD 35.41N 80.59W
05/11/2008 E1.00 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTS ONE INCH HAIL ON SOUTH UNION ROAD.
0639 PM HAIL MOUNT PLEASANT 35.40N 80.44W
05/11/2008 E1.75 INCH CABARRUS NC TRAINED SPOTTER
GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN MOUNT
PLEASANT. REPORT RELAYED BY NWS ILM.
0800 PM HAIL SALISBURY 35.67N 80.48W
05/11/2008 E0.88 INCH ROWAN NC COUNTY OFFICIAL
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1143 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG BURNSVILLE 35.92N 82.30W
05/11/2008 YANCEY NC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
SOUTH TOE FD REPORTS TREES DOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY
WITH WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES.
&&
BSHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2008
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: 107897, 107899.