Flash Flooding and Flood in North Carolina, July 22 to 23, 2009

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in North Carolina, July 22 to 23, 2009
Start: 2009-07-22T20:45
End: 2009-07-23T02:30
Location: North Carolina

July 22 to 23, 2009 · NWS GSP · 10 events in 3 counties and zones

Severe storms developed along and east of Interstate 77 over the western North Carolina Piedmont during the late evening hours. The slow moving storms produced severe urban flooding along with damaging winds and large hail.

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: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

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 22, 5:53 PM EST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 5:53 PM EST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 22, 7:31 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 22, 5:50 PM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 22, 6:41 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 22, 6:43 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
743 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

NCZ501-502-230030-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-
743 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CALDWELL COUNTY THROUGH 830 PM
EDT...

AT 743 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GAMEWELL...OR 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LENOIR...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PATTERSON...KINGS CREEK...LENOIR...HUDSON...GAMEWELL...
  AND COLLETTSVILLE.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AT RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL
BE BRIEFLY POSSIBLE AS WELL.

HG

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 7:38 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
838 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

NCZ057-230115-
ROWAN-
838 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WESTERN ROWAN COUNTY THROUGH 915
PM EDT...

AT 836 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SERIES OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH ACROSS WESTERN
ROWAN COUNTY...MAINLY FROM ENOCHVILLE TO JUST WEST OF CHINA
GROVE...TO NEAR CLEVELAND. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL AT RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. DEEP PONDING OF WATER
MAY DEVELOP IN LOW LYING AREAS.

HG

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 8:28 PM EST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
928 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

SCZ014-230215-
CHESTER-
928 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN CHESTER COUNTY THROUGH
1015 PM EDT...

AT 928 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF
BLACKSTOCK TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINNSBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15
MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GREAT FALLS
  RESERVOIR...FISHING CREEK RESERVOIR...RICHBURG...GREAT FALLS...FORT
  LAWN...CORNWELL AND BLACKSTOCK.

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.

HG

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 8:35 PM EST, 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
935 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

NCZ072-230215-
CABARRUS-
935 PM EDT WED JUL 22 2009

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN CABARRUS COUNTY
THROUGH 1015 PM EDT...

AT 933 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR KANNAPOLIS...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CONCORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. ADDITIONAL STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE REDEVELOPING TO THE SOUTHWEST OF KANNAPOLIS.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
AT RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

HG

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 165 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: July 22, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 0.63 mi ESE of China Grove
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.566, -80.590

A tree was blown down on Harry St.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: July 22, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 1.25 mi N of Kannapolis
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.518, -80.628

A couple trees were blown down in Kannapolis.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 8:47 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 1.03 mi SSE of Kannapolis
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.487, -80.621

Several trees were blown down across Kannapolis, with one tree on a home.

Flash Flood, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 9:15 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 0.63 mi WNW of Kannapolis to 2.75 mi NW of Rimer
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.502, -80.641

Numerous roads were flooded in Concord, mainly due to poor drainage on the north side of town. Several swift water rescues were required. Water entered a home on Spring St NW and a business on Branchview Dr at highway 73. Urban flooding also developed in Kannapolis, along Jackson St, where additional rescues were required.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 9:30 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 0.92 mi SE of Concord
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.412, -80.587

Trees, power lines, and large limbs were blown down in the Concord area.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 9:30 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 1.25 mi N of North Concord
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.448, -80.602

Hail was reported near I-85 on the north side of town.

Flash Flood, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 10:00 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 1.52 mi W of Roberta Mills to 2.69 mi NW of Cabarrus
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.370, -80.677

A small creek flooded a portion of Bethel School Rd in Midland, and another creek flooded a portion of Stough Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: July 22, 10:03 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.04 mi SSE of Haskings Mills
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.256, -80.873

Trees were blown down on Brookshire Bvd near Lasalle St and in a few other locations on the northwest side of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: July 22, 10:03 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 0.31 mi SW of Idlewild
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.217, -80.754

Trees were blown down at Tarrywood Dr and Sharon Amity Rd.

Flood, Cabarrus

When: July 22, 11:30 PM EST to July 23, 2:30 AM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 1.66 mi S of Glass to 1.98 mi SSW of Roberta Mills
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.446, -80.628

Although heavy rain ended, water levels remained high from the city limits of Concord southwest to Stough Rd for several hours during the early morning.

What these are

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, July 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 190687, 190688, 190689, 190944, 190690, 190691, 190945, 190692, 190693, 190949.