Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 6, 2008

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 6, 2008
Start: 2008-07-06T12:45
End: 2008-07-06T17:30
Location: North Carolina

July 6, 2008 · NWS GSP · 11 events in 7 counties and zones

Several severe storms affected western North Carolina during the afternoon hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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 happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Several severe storms affected western North Carolina during the afternoon hours.

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 Jul 6, 12:28 PM EST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 12:28 PM EST, 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
128 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK STATIONARY FRONT WILL REMAIN JUST NORTH AND WEST OF THE
FORECAST AREA BEFORE DISSIPATING EARLY IN THE WORK WEEK. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL STRENGTHEN OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF NEXT WEEK. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE CAROLINAS FROM THE
NORTHWEST BY LATE IN THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
EXPECT SHWRS/TSTMS TO REDEVELOP THIS AFTN AND BECOME MORE NUMEROUS
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AS BETTER UPPER FORCING MOVES ACROSS AREA.
CHANCE POPS WILL LINGER OVERNIGHT. THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS SLIGHTLY
HIGHER THAN YESTERDAY...ESP OVER W CWA WHERE MODELS SHOW DRIER AIR
WORKING IN AT THE MID LEVELS. WILL STILL NEED SOME PRETTY BIG CORES
OF 50-55DBZ UP AROUND 28-30KFT...WITH WIND DAMAGE THE MAIN CONCERN.
TWEAKED GRIDS TO REFLECT LATEST TRENDS/GUIDANCE BUT NO MAJOR
ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED WITH THIS UPDATE. LOWS TONIGHT GENERALLY IN THE
60S WITH SOME 50S IN THE MTNS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 240 AM SUNDAY...THE OPERATIONAL MODELS APPEAR TO BE CONVERGING
TOWARD A SOLUTION OF PROGRESSING THE TROUGH EAST OF THE AREA BY
MONDAY AFTERNOON...WITH DRYING OCCURRING THROUGH A DEEP LAYER.
DESPITE THIS...THE NAM BLOWS UP QUITE A BIT OF CONVECTION IN THE LEE
MON AFTERNOON WITHIN AN AXIS OF STRONG CONVERGENCE. IT/S INTERESTING
THAT THE GFS HAS THIS AREA OF CONVERGENCE AS WELL...BUT DOES NOT
INITIATE ANY CONVECTION DUE TO DRY AIR/WEAK INSTABILITY. WE HAVE
OPTED TO INCLUDE LOW CHANCE POPS IN AREAS FROM THE BLUE RIDGE EAST
MON AFTERNOON/EVENING.

TUESDAY APPEARS TO BE A CARBON COPY OF MONDAY FROM THE MODELS
PERSPECTIVE...WITH THE NAM ONCE AGAIN BLOWING UP CONVECTION IN THE
LEE...WHILE THE GFS IS DRIER. SLIGHT TO LOW CHANCE POPS WILL BE
FEATURED ACROSS THE AREA ONCE AGAIN TUE AFTERNOON/EVENING.
TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE WITHIN A CATEGORY OF CLIMATOLOGY
THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 250 AM SUNDAY...A RATHER TYPICAL SUMMER PATTERN IS EXPECTED
THROUGH MUCH OF THE EXTENDED...AS THE SUB-TROPICAL RIDGE/BERMUDA
HIGH NOSES INTO THE SOUTHEAST BY MID-WEEK. THIS WILL RESULT IN
MAINLY DIURAL/WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION...MAX TEMPS IN THE 90S AND
LOWS FROM THE MID 60S TO AROUND 70. COVERAGE OF CONVECTION MAY INCR
BY LATE WEEK...AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE OHIO VALLEY.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
TSTMS ARE THE MAIN THREAT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE E
ACROSS THE CWA THRU THIS EVE. UPPER FORCING COULD KEEP IT GOING INTO
THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SO HAVE VCTS AND CB CLOUDS CONTINUING UNTIL
AT LEAST 06Z ALL SITES. EXPECT MORE MVFR FOG/STRATUS EARLY MONDAY
WITH PATCHY IFR PSBL AROUND DAYBREAK.

OUTLOOK...LITTLE OVERALL CHANGE THRU DAY FIVE. AS SFC RIDGE REMAINS
OFFSHORE BRINGING MOISTURE UP OVER REGION EXPECT MAINLY DIURNAL
CONVECTION WITH ASSOC HAZARDS.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JDL
NEAR TERM...RB
SHORT TERM...JDL
LONG TERM...JDL
AVIATION...RB

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 5:09 AM EST, 7 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
609 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-071015-
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-
609 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND
NORTHEAST GEORGIA AGAIN TODAY. THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS
WILL BE FROM FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL. HOWEVER...ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE IN
THE FORM OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON MONDAY. A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LANE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 6:45 AM EST, 6 hours before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
745 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

SCZ003-005>007-061245-
GREATER GREENVILLE-GREATER PICKENS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-SPARTANBURG-
745 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL GREENVILLE...EASTERN
PICKENS AND WESTERN SPARTANBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 845 AM EDT...

AT 736 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FURMAN UNIVERSITY...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
GREENVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  TAYLORS BY 805 AM EDT.
  LAKE ROBINSON BY 815 AM EDT.
  GREER BY 825 AM EDT.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

KRENTZ

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 12:32 PM EST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
132 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

NCZ071-082-SCZ009-061830-
MECKLENBURG-UNION-YORK-
132 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN YORK...MECKLENBURG AND
NORTHWESTERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EDT...

AT 128 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FORT MILL...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROCK
HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 18 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO I-77 AT
  I-85...CAROWINDS...UNIONVILLE...CENTER CITY CHARLOTTE...SOUTHPARK
  MALL...EASTLAND MALL...UNC CHARLOTTE...WEDDINGTON...WAXHAW...
  STALLINGS...PINEVILLE...MINT HILL...MATTHEWS...INDIAN TRAIL...
  FAIRVIEW...CROFT...TEGA CAY AND FORT MILL.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR 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.

07

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lincoln

When: July 6, 12:45 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 6 mi W of Lincolnton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.470, -81.377

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: July 6, 1:27 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.61 mi W of Lansdowne
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.176, -80.798

Dime to nickel size hail was reported at the intersection of Sharon Amity Rd and Randolph Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: July 6, 1:35 PM EST to 1:40 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2.06 mi ESE of Charlotte to 1.67 mi WNW of Idlewild
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.215, -80.819

Several trees and power lines were blown down, with trees on homes on Dunlavin Way and Windham Place and a tree on vehicles on Clement Ave.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: July 6, 1:45 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 14 mi ESE of Newton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.602, -80.990

Power lines were blown down.

Hail, Lincoln

When: July 6, 2:08 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 6 mi SE of Lincolnton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.409, -81.195

Hail, Henderson

When: July 6, 2:48 PM EST
Where: Henderson County, Mountain Home
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.380, -82.500

Hail, Henderson

When: July 6, 2:55 PM EST
Where: Henderson County, 0.51 mi NNE of Asheville Rgnl Arpt
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.437, -82.528

Nickel size hail was reported on Park Ridge Dr.

Hail, Rowan

When: July 6, 3:27 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 5 mi S of Salisbury
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.598, -80.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 6, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 2.5 mi NE of Columbus
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.276, -82.169

A tree was blown down on highway 74 near Columbus, and another tree was downed on Fox Mountain Rd.

Hail, Polk

When: July 6, 3:40 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 1.67 mi NW of Beulah
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.298, -82.139

Hail was reported on Toney Rd.

Lightning, Transylvania

When: July 6, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Transylvania County, 0.6 mi SE of Cedar Mtn
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.144, -82.643

Lightning ignited a fire which destroyed most of a house on Fox Tower Rd.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 2008

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 127961, 127968, 127969, 127975, 127982, 127985, 127990, 127991, 127992, 127993, 128823.