A couple severe storms affected western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A couple severe storms affected western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening 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 Jul 29, 1:12 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 212 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL LINGER IN THE AREA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NORTH LATE WEDNESDAY...AND CROSS OUR AREA THURSDAY. THIS FRONT WILL STALL SOUTH OF OUR AREA LATE FRIDAY...AND REMAIN THERE THROUGH SUNDAY. THE FRONT WILL DISSIPATE EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND MOISTURE WILL INCREASE. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND HEATING OVER CWA WITH CAPE VALUES OF 1500-2500 J/KG. WEAK H5 TROF...MTN CONVERGENCE AND LEE TROF WILL BE MAIN TRIGGERS FOR DEEPER CONVECTION. EXPECT AT LEAST SCT SHWRS/TSTMS THRU EARLY EVE. MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW PWAT 1.5 INCHES OR BETTER AND WITH RELATIVELY SLOW STEERING WINDS...PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED. FZL OVER 15K FT AGAIN TODAY SO SIMILAR CONDITIONS AS YESTERDAY NEEDED FOR SEVERE STORMS. DEEP CONVECTION WILL TAPER OFF BY LATE EVE...LEAVING DEBRIS CLOUDS MOST OF THE NIGHT. TEMPS SHOULD FALL INTO THE 60S IN THE MTNS...AROUND 70 ACROSS THE PIEDMONT. LIGHT FOG COULD DEVELOP DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS...ESPECIALLY IN MTN VALLEYS. MODELS SHOW ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WED WITH WEAK SHORTWAVES MOVG THRU UPPER FLOW. EXPECT NO AIRMASS CHANGE WITH WEAK LEE TROF REMAINING OVER AREA. TEMPS WARM INTO THE LOW 90S ACROSS THE PIEDMONT WITH 80S IN THE MTNS. MODEL CAPES INCREASE IN THE AFTN AND ANOTHER ROUND OF AFTN-EVE SHWRS/TSTMS EXPECTED ACROSS THE CWA. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... AT 2 PM EDT...AN UPPER TROUGH WILL PROGRESS TO THE EASTERN SEABOARD BY THURSDAY...WITH A SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO ITS BASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A LEE TROUGH WILL BE IN PLACE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT...REMAINING A FOCUS FOR EVENING CONVECTION. THE FRONT ITSELF MOVES SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA ON THURSDAY...WITH LITTLE MOISTURE INFLOW. UPPER LEVEL DIFFLUENCE WILL INCREASE LATE THURSDAY TO THE SOUTH OF A JET MAX OVER THE POTOMAC VALLEY...BUT THE BEST INSTABILITY IS SHOWS IN THE GFS TO BE SOUTHEAST OF OUR AREA. CHANCE POPS WILL BE CARRIED IN THE FORECAST...TRENDING FROM LOWER IN THE NORTH TO HIGHER IN THE SOUTH. THE FRONT CONTINUES SOUTH ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...WITH BETTER INSTABILITY REMAINING SOUTH OF OUR AREA. A DOWNWARD TREND IN POPS WILL RESULT...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN TIER OF OUR AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM ON THURSDAY IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT...AS THE LEE TROUGH PROVIDES A DOWNSLOPE FLOW COMPONENT EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS. DOWNSLOPE FLOW CONTINUES BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE ON FRIDAY... OFFSETTING WEAK COLD ADVECTION AND UPPER LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS TO PRODUCE ANOTHER WARM DAY. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AT 1 PM EDT...THE ECMWF AND GFS SHOW A LONGWAVE TROUGH ALONG THE EAST COAST ON SATURDAY. THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THIS TROUGH PROGRESSES INTO THE ATLANTIC ON SUNDAY...WHILE THE SOUTHERN PORTION REMAINS OVER NORTH FL. BY MONDAY AN UPPER RIDGE BECOMES CENTERED OVER THE OH VALLEY...WHILE THE SOUTHERN STREAM PORTION OF THE FL TROUGH RETROGRESSES ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF. BY TUESDAY THE HIGH IS CENTERED OFF THE VA CAPES. A COLD FRONT WILL ALREADY BE SOUTH OF OUR AREA ON SATURDAY... BECOMING STATIONARY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 ON SUNDAY. THIS FRONT DISSIPATES ON MONDAY...LEAVING OUR AREA IN A WARM SUBTROPICAL AIR MASS THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH THE NEAREST FRONT NORTH OF THE OH RIVER. SOMEWHAT DRIER AND COOLER CONDITIONS BEHIND THE FRONT OVER THE WEEKEND WILL MODIFY AS HEAT AND HUMIDITY INCREASE EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AT LEAST SCT TSTMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN UNSTABLE AIRMASS THIS AFTN...ESP W CWA AND OVER MTNS. HAVE CB ALL TAFS AFT 19Z AND VCTS AT ALL BUT KCLT WHICH LIES IN SLIGHTLY MORE STABLE AIR. SW WINDS 6-8KTS SHOULD CONTINUE THRU SUNSET...TAPERING OFF OVERNIGHT WITH SCT LOW CLOUDS AND SCT-BKN MID CLOUDS. MVFR FOG LIKELY EARLY WED MRNG...WITH IFR FOG KAVL 11-14Z. OUTLOOK...WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MAY TRIGGER AFTN-EVE TSTMS...ESP AS A COLD FRONT DROPS S TOWARD THE CWA WED-THU WITH CHANCE SHWRS/TSTMS EACH DAY. FOG EXPECTED EACH MORNING. DRYER HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD START BUILDING IN FROM THE N FRI. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...JAT NEAR TERM...RB SHORT TERM...JAT LONG TERM...JAT AVIATION...RB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 249 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-301900- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-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-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK- ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 249 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SEVERAL OF THESE STORMS COULD BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...PRIMARILY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE ...PARTICULARLY ON THURSDAY...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. 07
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 134 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 GAZ010-017-018-SCZ001-291800- HABERSHAM-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-RABUN-STEPHENS- 134 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN HABERSHAM...NORTHERN STEPHENS...SOUTHERN RABUN AND WESTERN OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT... AT 130 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TALLULAH FALLS...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF TOCCOA...MOVING EAST AT 11 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE RABUN...TURNERVILLE...TALLULAH FALLS...LAKEMONT...HOLLYWOOD AND LONG CREEK. SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. RB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 225 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 GAZ010-SCZ001-291915- OCONEE MOUNTAINS-RABUN- 225 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL OCONEE AND NORTHEASTERN RABUN COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT... AT 225 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF PINE MOUNTAIN...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF WALHALLA...MOVING SOUTH AT 4 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... MOUNTAIN REST BY 315 PM EDT. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. BSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 245 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 NCZ064-065-SCZ002-003-006-291930- GREATER GREENVILLE-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-HENDERSON-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-TRANSYLVANIA- 245 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN TRANSYLVANIA... NORTHEASTERN PICKENS...NORTHWESTERN GREENVILLE AND SOUTHERN HENDERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT... AT 245 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CAESARS HEAD...OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BREVARD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 4 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... CAESARS HEAD BY 255 PM EDT. JONES GAP STATE PARK BY 310 PM EDT. 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARIETTA BY 330 PM EDT. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. BSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 321 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 NCZ064-292000- TRANSYLVANIA- 321 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 320 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES SOUTH OF BREVARD. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. BSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 328 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 NCZ056-502-504-292015- CATAWBA-GREATER BURKE-GREATER CALDWELL- 328 PM EDT TUE JUL 29 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN BURKE...SOUTHERN CALDWELL AND SOUTHWESTERN CATAWBA COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT... AT 328 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF MORGANTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 13 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAKE RHODHISS BY 340 PM EDT. VALDESE BY 345 PM EDT. RUTHERFORD COLLEGE BY 350 PM EDT. 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CONNELLY SPRINGS BY 355 PM EDT. 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ICARD BY 405 PM EDT. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. BSH
The Greer radar (KGSP), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:41 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on Wilson Rd and a tree was blown onto power lines on highway 276 southeast of town.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of highway 74 and Washburn Switch Rd and another tree was blown down on power lines on Union Church Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 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: 128803, 128806.