Ice Storm in North Carolina, December 24 to 25, 2009

Name: Ice Storm in North Carolina, December 24 to 25, 2009
Start: 2009-12-24T23:00
End: 2009-12-25T12:00
Location: North Carolina

December 24 to 25, 2009 · NWS GSP · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 7

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.

Light freezing rain developed late on Christmas Eve and continued throughout the overnight before becoming heavier shortly before sunrise. Light ice accretion occurred, mainly on elevated surfaces during this time. Quite a few slick spots also developed, mainly on bridges and overpasses. Freezing rain continued through the morning hours along the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge, and became heavy at times by mid-morning. By the time the precipitation tapered off, ice accretion ranged from .25 to .5 inch across much of the area. The combination of ice and wind gusts up to 60 mph (with gusts up to 80 mph in the higher elevations) caused numerous trees and power lines to fall. The resultant widespread power outages exacerbated the problems for areas that had yet to recover from the December 18th snowstorm.

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 Dec 24, 9:38 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 9:38 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 24, 4:00 PM EST, 7 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

NCZ033-035-049-050-501>506-252100-
AVERY-ALEXANDER-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-
BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

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.

   ICE STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

   ICE STORM WARNING.

THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND MELTING SNOW AND ICE MAY
LEAD TO ISOLATED FLOODING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS ON FRIDAY. A
PERIOD OF STRONG WINDS FRIDAY MORNING...COMBINED WITH WET GROUND
AND A GLAZE OF ICE...COULD ALSO KNOCK DOWN A LARGE NUMBER OF TREES
AND POWER LINES EARLY IN THE DAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS...WIND
DAMAGE AND FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GAZ010-017-NCZ048-051-052-058-059-062-063-252100-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND 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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

   WIND ADVISORY.

THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND SATURATED SOIL MAY LEAD TO
ISOLATED FLOODING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS ON FRIDAY. A PERIOD OF
STRONG WINDS FRIDAY MORNING...COMBINED WITH WET GROUND...COULD
ALSO KNOCK DOWN SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES EARLY IN THE DAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NCZ036-053-056-064-065-068-507>510-252100-
IREDELL-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND
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.

   FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

   FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY.

THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND MELTING SNOW AND ICE MAY
LEAD TO ISOLATED FLOODING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS ON FRIDAY. A
PERIOD OF STRONG WINDS FRIDAY MORNING...COMBINED WITH WET GROUND
AND A GLAZE OF ICE...COULD ALSO KNOCK DOWN SEVERAL TREES EARLY IN
THE DAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ001>008-010>013-019-252100-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-
UNION SC-GREENWOOD-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.

A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE PIEDMONT FROM ELBERTON TO SOUTHERN LAURENS COUNTY TO YORK
BEGINNING AROUND SUNRISE ON FRIDAY. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS...AND A BRIEF...ISOLATED TORNADO ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE
LINE. THE SHOWERS WILL ALSO BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN LATE
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. THIS...ALONG WITH SATURATED
SOILS...MAY RESULT IN A FEW AREAS OF FLOODING ALONG CREEKS AND
STREAMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NCZ037-057-069>072-082-252100-
DAVIE-ROWAN-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE MORNING HOURS
ON FRIDAY. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND A BRIEF...ISOLATED
TORNADO ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE LINE ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE
CHARLOTTE AND CONCORD METRO ARES. THE SHOWERS WILL ALSO BRING A
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN FRIDAY MORNING. THIS...ALONG WITH SATURATED
SOILS...MAY RESULT IN A FEW AREAS OF FLOODING ALONG CREEKS AND
STREAMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

SCZ009-014-252100-
YORK-CHESTER-
400 PM EST THU DEC 24 2009

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.

A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT OF SOUTH CAROLINA A LITTLE AFTER SUNRISE ON
FRIDAY. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND A BRIEF...ISOLATED
TORNADO ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE LINE. THE SHOWERS WILL ALSO BRING A
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN FRIDAY MORNING. THIS...ALONG WITH SATURATED
SOILS...MAY RESULT IN A FEW AREAS OF FLOODING ALONG CREEKS AND
STREAMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO RELAY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND FLOODING
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

MCAVOY

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Avery

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Avery forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 36.077, -81.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Yancey

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Yancey forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.899, -82.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Mitchell

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 36.013, -82.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Buncombe

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Buncombe forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.611, -82.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Caldwell Mountains

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Caldwell Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.953, -81.546 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Burke Mountains

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Burke Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.750, -81.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, McDowell Mountains

When: December 24, 11:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:00 PM EST
Where: McDowell Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.681, -82.049 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, December 2009

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: 207326, 207327, 207328, 207329, 207330, 207331, 207332.