Strong winds developed around noon along the I-85 corridor and persisted through the afternoon. Numerous trees were blown onto roads and power lines, resulting in quite a few power outages across the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 around noon along the I-85 corridor and persisted through the afternoon. Numerous trees were blown onto roads and power lines, resulting in quite a few power outages across the area. Some trees fell on automobiles, and one tree fell on a trailer in the Gaffney area, causing significant damage. Wet ground resulting from heavy rain during the preceding days likely contributed to the tree damage.
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 Jan 7, 11:17 AM EST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1117 AM EST WED JAN 7 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. HIGH PRESSURE
WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION LATE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...FOLLOWED BY
ANOTHER COLD FRONT THIS WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE IS THEN EXPECTED TO
REBUILD OVER THE AREA LATE SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
RECENT RADAR IMAGES AND SFC OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT RAINFALL
RATES HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
SHOWER COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE THROUGH THE DAY AS THE SFC
WAVE AND ASSOCIATED FRONT PUSH AWAY FROM THE FORECAST AREA. I WILL
TIME THE DECREASE IN POPS FOR THE UPDATE AND CANCEL THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH. RECENT SFC OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT WINDS ACROSS THE CWA
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THIS MORNING. RECENT MOS GUIDANCE AND
FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT SPEEDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...DISSIPATING AFTER SUNSET. IT APPEARS THAT
THE WIND ADVISORY IS WELL PLACED AND TIMED.
TEMPERATURE WILL GENERALLY REMAIN STEADY THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON
EAST OF THE MTNS. HOWEVER...MTN TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO
GRADUALLY COOL THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY. IN FACT...MID TO LATE
AFTERNOON READING ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT MAY BEGIN TO
DROP WITH IMPRESSIVE CAA.
TONIGHT...WNDS WILL SUBSIDE SOMEWHAT EXCEPT IN THE NRN MTNS (WHERE
TIGHTER PRES GRAD WILL CONT THRU MOST OF THE NGT). THE AXIS OF UPR
TROF WL SWING THRU AREA...W/ POTENT S/W ENERGY. GUIDANCE SHOWS
PLENTY OF MOISTURE BUT WNDS RMNG BACKED TO WLY OR EVEN WSWLY. IT
STILL LUKS LIKE ENUF QPF AND COLD TEMPS FOR AT LEAST 1-2 ALONG THE
TN/NC BORDER. W/ A WND EVENT PRECEDING THE SNOW...WE WILL ISSUE A
WINTER WX ADVY FOR THE TN BORDER COUNTIES FOR THIS EVENING THRU THU
AFTN. TEMPS WILL DROP READILY IN THE CAA TO THE UPR 20S TO LWR 30S
MTNS AND MAINLY MID-UPR 30S PIEDMONT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 320 AM WEDNESDAY...DEEP TROF LINGERS OVER E US WITH MOIST W TO
NW FLOW CONTINUING OVER THE MTNS THU-THU EVE. MODELS ARE INDICATING
LONGER DURATION OF MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW IN THE COLDER AIR OVER THE NC
MTNS SO BUMPED UP POPS THU AFTN-EVE IN LINE WITH LATEST TRENDS. BY
THE TIME THE MOISTURE MOVES E OF THE N MTNS THU NIGHT...SNOWFALL
TOTALS OF 1-3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY FOR COUNTIES ALONG THE TN
BORDER.
UPPER TROF MOVES E LATE THU NIGHT-FRI WITH DRY...HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDING OVER THE AREA AT THE SFC. SFC HIGH MOVES E BY FRI AFTN
WHICH PUTS US IN WARM S FLOW. AFTN HIGHS WILL BE A FEW DEG ABOVE
AVG. WARM...MOIST S FLOW PICKS UP FRI NIGHT AND CLOUDS BEGIN TO
INCREASE OVER THE AREA. A FAST MOVG SHORTWAVE AND ASSOC COLD FRONT
APPROACH FROM THE NW SAT BRINGING AN INCREASING CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS TO THE AREA. LOOK FOR HIGHS A COUPLE CATEGORIES ABOVE AVG.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 320 AM WEDNESDAY...MODELS IN POOR AGREEMENT WITH TIMING FOR
THE EXTENDED RANGE BUT H5 SHORTWAVE AND SFC COLD FRONT SHOULD PUSH S
OF AREA SAT NIGHT-SUN WITH AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. EXPECT NEAR
AVG HIGHS SUN-MON AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. GFS AND
ECMWF SHOW A BROAD UPPER TROF SETTING UP OVER THE E US WITH A
SHORTWAVE AND ASSOC COLD FRONT DIVING TOWARD THE AREA FROM THE NW
MON NIGHT AND TUE. NOT MUCH MOISTURE EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT
WILL HOLD ON TO SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. LOOK FOR NEAR AVG TEMPS TUE.
&&
.AVIATION /16Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT KCLT...COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED E PAST THE TERMINAL...WITH JUST SOME
LIGHT SHWRS W/ TEMPO MVFR RESTRICTIONS FOR NEXT COUPLE HOURS. VFR
LVL CLOUDS WILL GENERALLY DECREASE IN COVERAGE...AND VSBY WILL BE
VFR THRU PERIOD. SWLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15-20 KT AROUND
15-16Z...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 30 KTS POSSIBLE THRU THE AFTN.
WINDS WILL SUBSIDE THIS EVENING AND REMAIN SWLY.
ELSEWHERE...THERE WILL BE SOME LINGERING VERY LIGHT SHWRS THRU 14Z
OR SO. THERE IS STILL POTENTIAL FOR MVFR CIGS SO I THREW IN A TEMPO.
OUTSIDE THE MTNS...SWLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15-20 KT AROUND
15-16Z...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 30 KTS POSSIBLE THRU THE AFTN. AT
KAVL...THE DIRECTION WILL CHANGE TO NWLY AROUND MIDDAY OR EARLY AFTN
AND BECOME GUSTY INTO THE EVENING. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE THIS EVENING.
OUTLOOK...CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN VFR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH
BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE. SATURDAY...A COLD FRONT WILL BRING SHOWERS
INTO THE AREA...WITH THE POTENTIAL OF RESTRICTIONS. DRYING HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS IN SUNDAY.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017-018-
026-028-029.
NC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-035>037-
048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR NCZ033-048>052-058.
SC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>014-019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RB
NEAR TERM...NED/ARK
SHORT TERM...RB
LONG TERM...RB
AVIATION...ARKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1042 AM EST WED JAN 7 2009 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-053-056-057-059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-081545- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL- DAVIE-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-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- 1042 AM EST WED JAN 7 2009 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY 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...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ033-048>052-058-081545- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-GRAHAM- 1042 AM EST WED JAN 7 2009 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY 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. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
943 AM EST WED JAN 07 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 N FRANKLIN 35.21N 83.38W
01/06/2009 MACON NC EMERGENCY MNGR
ARTHUR DRAKE ROAD FLOODED DUE TO LITTLE TN RIVER
OVERFLOWING BANKS.
&&
PTANNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1128 AM EST WED JAN 07 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG GREENWOOD 34.19N 82.15W
01/07/2009 GREENWOOD SC NEWSPAPER
THE INDEX JOURNAL IN GREENWOOD RELAYED A REPORT OF A
COUPLE OF TREES DOWN IN GREENWOOD. EVENT HAPPENED AROUND
4 AM.
0412 AM NON-TSTM WND GST GREENWOOD 34.19N 82.15W
01/07/2009 M46 MPH GREENWOOD SC ASOS
SITE KGRD...GREENWOOD COUNTY AIRPORT.
&&
BSHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 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 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2009
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: 151600, 151601, 151602, 151603, 151604.