Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, May 11, 2008

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, May 11, 2008
Start: 2008-05-11T14:47
End: 2008-05-11T19:00
Location: North Carolina

May 11, 2008 · NWS GSP · 22 events in 6 counties and zones

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

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.

An isolated supercell thunderstorm developed over the South Mountains in the North Carolina Piedmont. The storm then tracked east, producing large to very large hail and brief tornadoes during it's 3 hour lifetime. There was quite a bit of hail damage, particularly in the city of Concord in Cabarrus County, though no damage estimates were available.

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 May 11, 1:53 PM EST, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 1:53 PM EST, 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
253 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/...
LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS SHOULD EXIT THE CWFA QUICKLY THIS
AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SHOWERS AND
STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE
FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO OUR WEST MOVES IN. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A
SEVERE STORM WITH THE SECOND LINE...BUT CHC IS MINIMAL. PRECIP WILL
END OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS BY THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE WRAPS BACK INTO THE MTNS AND SHOWERS WILL REDEVELOP THERE
AS STRONG UPSLOPE FLOW AND SHORT WAVE ENERGY MOVE IN.

WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PICK UP AND BECOME GUSTY ACROSS THE WESTERN
SECTIONS AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO
THE EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS. THE WINDS
ACTUALLY INCREASE ACROSS THE MTNS OVERNIGHT WITH GUSTS POSSIBLY 50
KTS OR HIGHER. GIVEN THESE WINDS...CURRENT WIND ADVISORY/HIGH WIND
WARNINGS LOOK GOOD. THESE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVERNIGHT.

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 SATURDAY/...
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 /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TS SHOULD MOVE EAST OF THE AREA QUICKLY THIS
AFTERNOON. LOW CIGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE DRY SLOT SEEN TO OUR
WEST MOVES IN. WINDS WILL PICK UP HOWEVER AND BECOME GUSTY THRU THE
EVENING. WINDS DIMINISH OVERNIGHT EXCEPT OVER KAVL WHERE GUSTS
CONTINUE AND WILL ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WRAPS BACK
INTO THE AREA WITH MVFR CIGS REDEVELOPING AT KAVL...WITH LOW VFR
CIGS POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE. THESE LOW CIGS WILL CONTINUE AT KAVL MONDAY
MORNING...BUT WILL LIFT ELSEWHERE. WINDS BECOME GUSTY ONCE AGAIN
OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS AS MIXING BEGINS.

OUTLOOK...WINDS REMAIN VERY GUSTY THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH
DIMINISHING CLOUDS. 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...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017-
     018-026-028-029.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
     GAZ010-017.
NC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-
     048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
     NCZ048-051-052-058-059-062>064-502-504-506-508-510.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
     NCZ033-049-050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>007-
     010>014-019.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
     SCZ001>003.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...RWH
SHORT TERM...CSH
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...RWH

Hazardous weather outlook, May 11, 1:13 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ004>007-010>013-019-121815-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-
GREENWOOD-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND 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...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

GAZ010-017-NCZ048-051-052-058-059-062>064-SCZ001>003-121815-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT
MONDAY...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND 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.
   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...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NCZ033-049-050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509-121815-
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-BUNCOMBE-HENDERSON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-
BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
POLK MOUNTAINS-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT
MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND 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.
   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...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NCZ035-036-056-068>070-SCZ008-121815-
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-CATAWBA-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-CHEROKEE-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST THIS
AFTERNOON. AS A WARM FRONT MOVES NORTHEAST SOME OF THESE STORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES
ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NCZ037-057-071-072-082-SCZ009-121815-
DAVIE-ROWAN-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-YORK-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...TORNADO WATCH 307 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

NCZ502-504-506-508-510-121815-
GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
EASTERN POLK-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT
MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND 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...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

SCZ014-121815-
CHESTER-
213 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH 307 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND 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.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 11, 12:45 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
145 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

NCZ036-069>071-111830-
GASTON-IREDELL-LINCOLN-MECKLENBURG-
145 PM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN LINCOLN...NORTHEASTERN
GASTON...NORTHERN MECKLENBURG AND SOUTHERN IREDELL COUNTIES THROUGH
230 PM EDT...

AT 142 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DENVER TO MOUNT
HOLLY...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  MOUNTAIN ISLAND LAKE BY 150 PM EDT.
  DAVIDSON BY 155 PM EDT.
  HUNTERSVILLE BY 200 PM EDT.
  UNC CHARLOTTE BY 210 PM EDT.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

NED

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Caldwell

When: May 11, 2:47 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 13.5 mi NW of Patterson
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.138, -81.741

Hail, Burke

When: May 11, 3:13 PM EST to 3:15 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 9 mi SW of Morganton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.658, -81.813

Hail, Burke

When: May 11, 3:25 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 12 mi SSE of Morganton
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.590, -81.618

Baseball size hail measured just east of South Mountains State Park.

Tornado, Burke

When: May 11, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 12 mi SSE of Morganton
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.590, -81.618

A brief tornado touched down just east of South Mountains State Park. Damage was limited to a few downed trees and large limbs.

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 3:46 PM EST to 3:51 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 0.7 mi N of Vale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.540, -81.398

Tornado, Lincoln

When: May 11, 3:48 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 0.87 mi NE of Cat Square
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.540, -81.410

A tornado touched down briefly in an open field in the Cat Square area.

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 0.91 mi ENE of Lincolnton
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.474, -81.254

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 4:09 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 3 mi N of Lincolnton
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.513, -81.270

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 4:14 PM EST to 4:21 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 0.53 mi E of Boger City
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.481, -81.211

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 4:17 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, Pumpkin Center
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.520, -81.150

Hail, Lincoln

When: May 11, 4:20 PM EST to 4:21 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 6.5 mi ENE of Lincolnton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 35.506, -81.163

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: May 11, 4:50 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2 mi S of Cornelius
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.451, -80.870

Reported on Interstate 77.

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: May 11, 4:50 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 0.75 mi W of Cornelius
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.480, -80.883

Reported on West Catawba Ave.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 5.86 mi WSW of Glass
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.440, -80.728

Reported at the intersection of highway 73 and Odell School Rd.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 4.5 mi W of Concord
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.420, -80.680

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:14 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 1.11 mi ENE of North Concord
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.435, -80.582

Reported on Kidd Ct.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 2.5 mi SSE of Cabarrus
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.197, -80.533

Reported at Branch View Rd and South Union Rd.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 0.63 mi ESE of Jackson Park
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.398, -80.609

Reported at highway 601 and highway 29.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:18 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 3 mi SSE of Concord
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.380, -80.580

Tornado, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:19 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 3.91 mi E of West Concord
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.373, -80.551

A tornado touched down briefly near the intersection of highway 49 and highway 601.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: May 11, 5:33 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, Mt Pleasant
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.400, -80.450

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Rowan

When: May 11, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 1.5 mi NNW of Rockwell
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.570, -80.430

Reported between Salisbury and Rockwell.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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 The tornado archive for North Carolina, 2008 Warnings in North Carolina, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 102685, 102688, 102689, 102690, 102691, 102693, 102695, 102696, 102697, 102698, 102701, 102704, 102707, 102711, 102712, 102730, 102731, 102732, 102733, 102734, 102735, 102736.