North Carolina, 2009

Flash Flood and Hail in North Carolina, July 27, 2009

July 27, 2009 · NWS GSP · 8 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed over western North Carolina ahead of a weak cold front. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

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
8

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.

Scattered thunderstorms developed over western North Carolina ahead of a weak cold front. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds. During the late evening, severe urban flooding developed over the western Piedmont for the second time in less than a week.

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 27, 12:51 PM EST, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 12:51 PM EST, 24 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 4:09 AM EST, 9 hours 6 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 12:54 PM EST, 21 minutes before
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The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When
July 27, 1:15 PM EST to 1:25 PM EST
Where
Iredell County, 1.74 mi SSW of Harmony to 3.62 mi NNE of Cool Spg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.928, -80.785

Two trees were blown down on highway 21, two miles south of Harmony. Trees also fell across and blocked Society Church Rd.

Hail, Iredell

When
July 27, 1:20 PM EST
Where
Iredell County, 3.14 mi SSE of Harmony
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.907, -80.752

Several reports of hail, ranging up to the size of quarters, were received between 3 and 5 miles south southeast of Harmony.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When
July 27, 1:35 PM EST
Where
Henderson County, 2.52 mi ESE of Dana
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.320, -82.337

Trees were blown down on Deep Gap Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell

When
July 27, 2:20 PM EST
Where
Caldwell County, 1.82 mi SSE of Globe
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.027, -81.684

Trees were blown down along highway 90.

Hail, Transylvania

When
July 27, 2:37 PM EST
Where
Transylvania County, 0.97 mi SE of Oakland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Park/Forest Service
Coordinates
35.110, -82.968

Hail was reported on highway 64.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When
July 27, 6:35 PM EST
Where
Cabarrus County, 1.15 mi E of Midland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.227, -80.500

A large tree and several large limbs were blown down across Midland.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When
July 27, 6:45 PM EST
Where
Cabarrus County, 0.79 mi E of Mt Pleasant
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.399, -80.436

Trees were blown down in the Mount Pleasant area.

Flash Flood, Cabarrus

When
July 27, 9:45 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where
Cabarrus County, 3.18 mi S of Harrisburg to 1.52 mi S of Midland
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.274, -80.667

A second severe flash flood affected the county in less than a week. Highway 601, Miami Church Rd, and Mount Pleasant Rd were closed by flooded streams. Highway 200 was closed due to flooding from Dutch Buffalo Creek. Some water rescues were required there. Also, severe urban flooding occurred in the town of Midland, with water sweeping some cars off roads, and water entering at least one home.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 190885, 190889, 190891, 190900, 190907, 190913, 190916, 190954.