A lightning strike caused some injuries in the southern foothills of North Carolina.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A lightning strike caused some injuries in the southern foothills of North Carolina.
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 9, 1:41 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 241 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE SOUTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY AND STALL OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... LATEST W/V LOOP INDICATES THAT A WEAK S/W WAS MOVING OVER THE NC MTNS. CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE TO INITIATE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE DISTURBANCE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. COVERAGE SHOULD INCREASE ACROSS THE MTNS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...SPREADING EAST THROUGH THE MID EVENING ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT. IN THE MEANTIME...A BAND OF HEAVY SHRA AND TSRA WILL ADVANCE SOUTH ACROSS THE PIEDMONT OF THE CAROLINAS. CONVECTION WILL BEGIN TO FADE ACROSS THE CWA BETWEEN 1-4Z. ISO COVERAGE WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA FROM MIDNIGHT THROUGH SUNRISE. EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL REMAIN THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AN ISOLATED SVR THUNDERSTORM COULD PRODUCE MARGINAL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. I WILL FORECAST LIKELY COVERAGE ACROSS THE MTNS AND PIEDMONT...HIGH CHC POPS SHOULD VERIFY THE FOOTHILLS AND UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY. ON FRIDAY...MID LEVEL TROF AXIS WILL SHIFT EAST OVER THE ATLANTIC AS WEAK RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE SRN APPALACHIANS. DRIER AIR MASS AND LACK OF FORCING SHOULD RESULT IN LESS COVERAGE THAN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. BASED ON WRF AND NAM GUIDANCE...I WILL LIMIT THE MENTION OF SCT MTN AND FOOTHILLS SHRA AND TSRA TO THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO WARM BY 3-5 DEGREES FROM TODAY/S VALUES. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/... AS OF 145 PM THURSDAY...WEAK UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER REGION FRI NIGHT-SAT BUT AS A TROF SWINGS ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES SAT...RIDGE FLATTENS OVER AREA. WEAK HIGH PRES AT SFC FRI NIGHT ALSO WEAKENS SAT...BUT WITH UPSLOPE ENHANCEMENT EXPECT A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHWRS/TSTMS OVER MTNS SAT AFTN. LOOK FOR HIGH TEMPS SAT NEAR AVG. UPPER RIDGE CONTINUES TO WEAKEN SAT NIGHT-SUN WITH A WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVG INTO THE CWA FROM THE NW. MODELS INDICATE MOISTURE MAY BE A LIMITING FACTOR BUT WITH TEMPS WARMING A CAT OR SO ABOVE AVG... EXPECT CHANCE SHWRS/TSTMS OVER MTNS AND FOOTHILLS SUN AFTN... TAPERING TO SLIGHT OVER CHANCE FOR FAR S CWA. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 145 PM THURSDAY...UPPER FLOW REMAINS W TO NW THRU THE PERIOD WITH WEAK SHORTWAVES MOVG ACROSS THE REGION. GFS AND ECMWF IN FAIR AGREEMENT SUN NIGHT-MON WITH SFC BOUNDARY JUST N OF AREA SLOWLY SINKING S INTO CWA. WENT WITH INCRSNG CHANCE SHWRS/TSTMS THRU MON WITH CHANCE POPS CONTINUING THRU TUE AS BOUNDARY STALLS OVER AREA. MODELS SHOW FRONT WASHING OUT SLIGHTLY BUT LINGERING OVER AREA THRU THE EXTENDED SO KEPT DIURNALLY FAVORED CHANCE POPS OVER CWA EACH DAY. HIGHS REMAIN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVG WITH LOWS A FEW DEG ABOVE AVG THRU THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AT KCLT...BASED ON THE TCLT RADAR TRENDS...A CLUSTER OF HEAVY SHRA AND TSRA WILL REACH THE TERMINAL BETWEEN 1810Z AND 1830Z. IFR VIS SHOULD OCCUR DURING THE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 19-20Z. IN ADDITION...MARGINALLY GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE THUNDERSTORM. STRATIFORM RAIN BEHIND THE CONVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE OVER THE TERMINAL FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EVENING. VFR CEILINGS AND VIS SHOULD VERIFY MOST OF TONIGHT...HOWEVER...VIS MAY REMAIN LIMITED TO 6SM IN BR AND HZ THROUGH DAYBREAK. ENE WINDS SHOULD STRENGTHEN SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE FRIDAY...RANGING FROM 5-8 KTS. ELSEWHERE...SHRA AND TSRA WILL REMAIN THE PRIMARY AVIATION CONCERN THROUGH THE EVENING. COVERAGE OVER THE MTNS IS FORECAST TO INCREASE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE EAST THROUGH THE EVENING. IT APPEARS THAT COVERAGE WILL REACH IT/S PEAK BETWEEN 21-23Z. I WILL FORECAST RAINFALL AT MOST OF THE TAF SITES BY THE END OF THE FAVORED WINDOW OF PRECIPITATION. THE COMBINATION OF SATURATED SOIL AND DRYING ALOFT WILL FAVOR THE FORMATION OF LIGHT FOG AND PATCHY STRATUS OVERNIGHT. AT KAVL...I WILL FORECAST IFR CONDITIONS BETWEEN 8-14Z. ELSEWHERE...CONDITIONS MAY FALL TO MVFR LAT TONIGHT. NE WINDS SHOULD STRENGTHEN SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE FRIDAY...RANGING FROM 5-8 KTS. OUTLOOK...ISOLD-SCT DIURNAL CONVECTION EXPECTED THRU SAT. THEN COVERAGE INCREASING SUN AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NW. VSBY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE MOST MORNINGS...ESP AT KAVL. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...RB NEAR TERM...NED SHORT TERM...RB LONG TERM...RB AVIATION...NED
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 430 AM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-100830- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER- IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA- ROWAN-GRAHAM-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- 430 AM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY AND PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND POSSIBLY FLOODING. LOCALIZED FLOODING COULD DEVELOP JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE A THUNDERSTORM FORMS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY GUSTY WINDS...ARE ALSO EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1027 AM EDT THU JUL 09 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 E HARTWELL 34.35N 82.84W
07/08/2009 HART GA UTILITY COMPANY
ROADS FLOODED AND WATER OVER 6 INCHES DEEP AROUND TANK
FARM AT HARTWELL ENERGY PLANT.
&&
PTANNERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1054 AM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 NCZ502-504-091615- GREATER BURKE-GREATER CALDWELL- 1054 AM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 ...A NEARLY STATIONARY THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING EASTERN BURKE AND SOUTHERN CALDWELL COUNTIES... AT 1051 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LAKE RHODHISS...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF LENOIR. THIS STORM IS REMAINING NEARLY STATIONARY. HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. KRENTZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1228 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 NCZ072-091730- CABARRUS- 1228 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AFFECT CABARRUS COUNTY THROUGH 130 PM EDT... AT 1226 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORD. THIS STORM IS NEARLY STATIONARY. HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. KRENTZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 141 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 NCZ070-SCZ009-091845- GASTON-YORK- 141 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL AFFECTING SOUTHEASTERN GASTON AND NORTHEASTERN YORK COUNTIES... AT 139 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CRAMERTON TO 6 MILES WEST OF TEGA CAY...MOVING EAST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR. * OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO RANLO... MOUNT HOLLY...MCADENVILLE...LOWELL...CRAMERTON AND BELMONT. HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. KRENTZ
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
306 PM EDT THU JUL 09 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0240 PM FLASH FLOOD CHARLOTTE 35.20N 80.83W
07/09/2009 MECKLENBURG NC NEWSPAPER
NUMEROUS ROADS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WERE REPORTED FLOODED
AND IMPASSABLE.
&&
SCHULERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 342 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 NCZ068-508-092030- CLEVELAND-GREATER RUTHERFORD- 342 PM EDT THU JUL 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN RUTHERFORD AND SOUTHWESTERN CLEVELAND COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT... AT 337 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ELLENBORO...TO MOORESBORO TO 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOILING SPRINGS. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BOSTIC... MOORESBORO...LATTIMORE...HARRIS...FOREST CITY...ELLENBORO... CLIFFSIDE...BOILING SPRINGS NC AND ALEXANDER MILLS. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING WITH THESE STORMS. UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN WILL FALL IN AN HOURS TIME. HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. MCAVOY
The Greer radar (KGSP), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck and injured 5 workers at a power plant near Cliffside. Although most of the injuries were minor, two people were transported to the hospital.
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, July 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: 191241.