High Wind, Avery
- When
- May 11, 8:00 PM EST to May 12, 2:00 PM EST
- Where
- Avery forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 36.077, -81.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Strong winds developed behind a cold front over the North Carolina mountains. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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 over the North Carolina mountains. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the region. Several structures were damaged by fallen trees. Twenty two homes were damaged by fallen trees in the town of Lake Lure in Rutherford County alone.
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, 7:38 PM EST, 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
838 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 LATEST RUC RUN INDICATES THAT MIXING WILL REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY
DEEP AS COLD ADVECTION INCREASES LATE THIS EVENING TO PRODUCE
MARGINAL WIND ADVISORY CONDITIONS IN NE GA AND THE WRN UPSTATE.
WILL UPGRADE THESE AREAS FROM LAKE WIND TO WIND ADVISORY AND ISSUE
A LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE NC PIEDMONT AS COLD ADVECTION BEGINS
TO MOVE IN. THE OTHER HIGH WIND AND WIND ADVISORY AREAS WILL
REMAIN THE SAME.
TEMPERATURES OVER SOME RIDGE TOPS WILL FALL INTO THE MID
30S...ALTHOUGH VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN IN THE LOW TO MID 40S.
WITH THE EXPECTED WINDS...FROST SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. CANNOT RULE
OUT SOME SNOWFLAKES MIXING IN WITH THE RAIN ABOVE 5000 FT...BUT NO
TRAVEL PROBLEMS EXPECTED. OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS...TEMPS WILL FALL INTO
THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S.
&&
.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 /01Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
CONVECTION MOVING EAST OF INTERSTATE 77 SHOULD MEAN NO ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORM THREAT AT TAF SITES THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...BUT
SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE COLD ADVECTION WILL CONTINUE NORTH OF A
KAVL TO KCLT LINE. OTHERWISE...THE RAPIDLY TIGHTENING GRADIENT WILL
BE THE MAIN CONCERN AS WINDS GUST TO 30 KT AT MANY PIEDMONT
TAFS...AND STRONGER THROUGH THE NIGHT AT KAVL. ALSO...MOISTURE
PUSHING INTO THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY ON NW FLOW WILL ALLOW MVFR CIGS
TO DEVELOP AT KAVL. WILL ALLOW GUSTY CONDITIONS TO PICK BACK UP ON
MONDAY WITH MIXING.
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.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT 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 MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ035>037-
056-057-068>072-082.
SC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR SCZ001>003.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ004>007-
010>013-019.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ008-009-
014.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...CSH
LONG TERM...CSH
AVIATION...HGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 837 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ004>007-010>013-019-130045- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS- GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC- GREENWOOD- 837 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA 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 NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ010-017-NCZ058-502-504-506-508-510-SCZ001>003-130045- RABUN-HABERSHAM-GRAHAM-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 837 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>065-501-503-505-507-509-130045- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 837 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 ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ008-009-014-130045- ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-CHEROKEE-YORK-CHESTER- 837 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008 ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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 NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
702 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0606 PM HAIL CONCORD 35.41N 80.59W
05/11/2008 E2.00 INCH CABARRUS NC PUBLIC
&&
NEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
715 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 E INMAN 35.05N 82.06W
05/11/2008 SPARTANBURG SC NWS EMPLOYEE
LARGE OAK TREE BLOWN DOWN ON I-26 ABOUT 11 SOUTH OF THE
NC STATE LINE. REPORT RELAYED FROM CHS.
&&
BSHPRELIMINARY 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.
&&
BSHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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, 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: 107870, 107872, 107873, 107876, 107877, 107878, 107880, 107881, 107882, 107884, 107885, 107886, 107887, 107888, 107889, 107891.