Flash flooding affected parts of the foothills and western Piedmont of North Carolina during the morning hours of the 26th.
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.
Flash flooding affected parts of the foothills and western Piedmont of North Carolina during the morning hours of the 26th.
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 May 26, 1:58 AM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
258 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A MOIST TROPICAL AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH THE LATE WEEK. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM
THE NORTHWEST LATE THURSDAY...THEN SETTLE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST OF THE
AREA THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN SET UP THE
REST OF THE WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
THE WV IMAGERY LOOKS MUCH THE SAME AS IT DID THIS TIME YSTDY...DEEP
AND MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW ACRS THE SE CONUS...WELL DOWNSTREAM OF A
MIDWEST VORTEX. 00 UTC OBSERVED AREA SNDGS ALSO HAVE CHANGED
LITTLE...VERY MOIST THROUGHOUT THE COLUMN AND PWATS ABOUT 160
PERCENT OF NORMAL. IT IS NOT TAKING MUCH TO MAINTAIN HEAVY SHOWERS
AND ISOLATED TSTMS EARLY THIS MORNING...JUST ENOUGH TERRAIN LIFT AND
DEEP MOISTURE MAKING UP FOR THE LACK OF LARGER SCALE LIFT. WITH SOME
HEATING TODAY...EXPECTING DEEP CONVECTION TO REINVIGORATE AND EXPAND
AS THE MEAN PATTERN REMAINS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED. LOCALIZED HEAVY TO
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL TO BE THE GREATEST THREAT JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE
ACRS THE CWFA. OP MODEL AND SREF CONSENSUS PROGS A QPF MAXIMUM ALONG
AND JUST EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE AND INTO THE CAROLINA/NE GA FTHLS
INTO TONIGHT. KGSP STP SHOWS THAT THE ANTECEDENT CONDS ACRS THIS
AREA IS RIPE AS WELL...SO WITH THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF ADDITIONAL
HEAVY SHOWERS...FEEL THAT A FFA WOULD NOT BE A BAD IDEA. SO...THE
SENSIBLE WX WILL FEATURE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS MORNING SHOWERS
BLOSSOMING TO NUMEROUS HEAVY SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED TSTMS AS THE
DAY WEARS ON AND LASTING INTO THE EVENING. SINCE THE FLOW CONTINUES
TO FEATURE A SSE DIRECTION...ESPECIALLY IN THE LLVLS...AT LEAST
SCATTERED HEAVY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD LINGER THRU TONIGHT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 300 AM TUESDAY...MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE
REGION THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. WITH LOCAL TERRAIN ENHANCEMENT
OF THE PRECIPITATION EXPECTED ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHERN MTNS AND
ALONG AND EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...WILL CONTINUE THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE FORECAST MODELS AGREE FAIRLY
WELL WITH THE TROPICAL LOOKING SYSTEM OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS
MOVING NORTHWARD EAST OF THE OUTER BANKS THROUGH WED NIGHT. COVERAGE
WILL REMAIN IN THE LIKELY RANGE ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA...HOWEVER...AS SOUTHERLY FLOW PROVIDES JUST ENOUGH TRIGGERING
IN THE SATURATED AIRMASS.
850 MB FLOW WILL FINALLY VEER TO WESTERLY WED NIGHT INTO THU AS LOW
PRES MOVES ACROSS THE SRN GREAT LAKES. THE DEVELOPING DOWNSLOPE FLOW
WILL ALLOW SLIGHTLY BETTER HEATING...AND DOWNSLOPE WARMING WILL PUSH
TEMPERATURES AT LEAST A COUPLE OF CATEGORIES HIGHER FOR THU AFTN
MAXES. A COLD FRONT WILL THEN APPROACH THE MTNS FROM THE NW LATE
THURSDAY...AND MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA ON FRIDAY. SOLID
CHANCE POPS WILL BE FEATURED WITH THE FROPA...AND TEMPS WILL COOL
SLIGHTLY FOR FRI AFTN.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 300 AM TUESDAY...SLOW DRYING FROM THE WEST IS INDICATED ON
SATURDAY AS WEAK HIGH PRES BUILDS INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT
DEPARTING TO THE SOUTHEAST. ANOTHER BACKDOOR FRONT WILL SETTLE JUST
NORTH OF THE AREA ON SUNDAY...BUT THEN RETURN NORTHWARD AS A WARM
FRONT ON MONDAY. A SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW WILL SET UP AROUND BERMUDA
HIGH PRES MONDAY AFTN. SLIGHT CHANCES OF CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP
ACROSS THE SRN APPALACHIANS MONDAY AFTN. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE COMBINATION OF DEEP SOUTHERLY FLOW AND TROPICAL LIKE MOISTURE
CONTINUES TO RESULT IN NUMEROUS TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TSTMS EVEN
AT THIS LATE NITE HOUR. ONE WOULD EXPECT DIMINISHING CVRG AS THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS CREEP BY...BUT STILL CANNOT RULE OUT SHOWERS
AFFECTING THE TERMINALS...AT LEAST BRIEFLY THROUGH DAYBREAK.
OTHERWISE...THE THREAT OF LOW CIGS...DOWN TO IFR LVL...LOOKS LIKELY
AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE PRE-DAWN HOURS AND LINGERING THROUGH
MID-MORNING. PLANNING ON VFR CONDITIONS AT ALL LOCATIONS BY THIS
AFTERNOON AND DEEP CONVECTIVE CVRG RETURNING TO NUMEROUS INTO THE
EVENING.
AT KCLT...WILL PLAN ON JUST VCSH OVERNIGHT AS BEST CONVECTIVE CVRG
SHOULD REMAIN NORTHWEST OF THE TERMINAL. NUMERICAL GUIDANCE IS IN
GOOD AGREEMENT IN DEVELOPING LATE NIGHT/PRE-DAWN IFR CIGS...JUST
LIKE WHAT OCCURRED MONDAY MORNING. RESTRICTIVE CIGS SHOULD IMPROVE
FROM MID-MORNING ONWARD WITH CHANCES INCREASING AGAIN THAT SHOWERS
AND TSTMS WILL AFFECT THE TERMINAL INTO THE EVENING HOURS.
OUTLOOK...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE
AT JUST ABOUT ANY TIME THROUGH THURSDAY...AND MVFR DAYTIME TO IFR
NIGHTTIME CEILINGS POSSIBLE. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK...BRINGING DRIER WEATHER FOR THE
WEEKEND.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GAZ010-017.
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR NCZ062>065-
501>510.
SC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR SCZ001-002-
004-005.
&&
SYNOPSIS...HG
NEAR TERM...CSH
SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...HG
AVIATION...CSHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 344 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 GAZ010-017-NCZ062>065-501>510-SCZ001-002-004-005-270745- RABUN-HABERSHAM-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE- MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS- GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS- 344 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...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. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO RELAY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL REPORTS OR REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING. GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-068>072-082-SCZ003- 006>014-019-270745- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON- YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS- UNION NC-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG- CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 344 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT. ANY SHOWERS THAT DEVELOP IN THIS TROPICAL AIRMASS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. ISOLATED FLOODING COULD DEVELOP IN AREAS THAT REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCE SHOWERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. HG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 154 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 NCZ504-260645- GREATER BURKE- 154 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HIGH RAIN FALL RATES WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN BURKE COUNTY... AT 148 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTH OF CASAR PRODUCING RAIN FALL RATES ON THE ORDER OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. THIS STORM IS MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR...SO NO IMMEDIATE FLOODING CONCERN IS HAD AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...IF THIS STORM BECOMES STATIONARY AND REMAINS STRONG A FLOOD ADVISORY OR FLASH FLOOD WARNING MAY BECOME NECESSARY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION. 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. KRENTZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 221 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 GAZ010-260715- RABUN- 221 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...HEAVY RAINS TO AFFECT RABUN COUNTY... AT 218 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LAKE RABUN...PRODUCING RAIN FALL RATES ON THE ORDER OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. THIS STORM IS MOVING NORTHWEST AT AROUND 10 MILES PER HOUR...SO NO IMMEDIATE FLOODING CONCERN IS HAD AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...IF THIS STORM SLOWS OR BECOMES STATIONARY AND REMAINS STRONG...A FLOOD ADVISORY OR FLASH FLOOD WARNING MAY BECOME NECESSARY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION. 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. KRENTZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 253 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 NCZ056-260745- CATAWBA- 253 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN CATAWBA COUNTY THROUGH 345 AM EDT... AT 250 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF TERRELL PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN FALL RATES AND MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STORM IS MOVING...SO NO IMMEDIATE FLOODING CONCERN IS HAD AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...IF THIS STORM SLOWS OR BECOMES STATIONARY WHILE REMAINING STRONG...A FLOOD ADVISORY OR FLASH FLOOD WARNING MAY BECOME NECESSARY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION. 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. KRENTZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 301 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 NCZ501-502-261000- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL- 301 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS CALDWELL COUNTY THROUGH 600 AM EDT... AT 358 AM EDT...TORRENTIAL RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS BURKE AND ALEXANDER COUNTIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD ACROSS CALDWELL COUNTY DURING THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS MOIST AND WEAKLY UNSTABLE...RIPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCALLY HEAVY AND/OR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS...AND PERHAPS ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS. 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. CSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 343 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 SCZ007-260845- SPARTANBURG- 343 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT NORTHERN SPARTANBURG COUNTY THROUGH 445 AM EDT... AT 340 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS AROUND SPARTANBURG...ROEBUCK AND BOILING SPRINGS...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. * RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL AFFECT THE ADVISED AREAS THROUGH THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES FROM HEAVY RAIN AND PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. 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. CSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 418 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 NCZ056-261000- CATAWBA- 418 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN CATAWBA COUNTY THROUGH 600 AM EDT... AT 415 AM EDT...TORRENTIAL RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS ACROSS WESTERN CATAWBA COUNTY AND EFFECT METRO HICKORY DURING THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS MOIST AND WEAKLY UNSTABLE...RIPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCALLY HEAVY AND/OR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS...AND PERHAPS ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS. * OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ST. STEPHENS...NEWTON...LONGVIEW...HICKORY AND COOKSVILLE. 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. CSH
The Greer radar (KGSP), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:51 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Queens Creek flooded highway 18 near St Johns Church Ave.
Several small streams came out of their banks in the Love Valley area, including Snow Creek, Dishmon Creek, and Little Rocky Creek. These creeks flooded numerous roads and bridges, including Love Valley Rd, Fox Mountain Rd, Fox Bottom Rd, Burke Farm Rd, and Bacon Rd. Several homes were also flooded in these areas. At least one family required rescue from their home on Morgan Ford Rd.
Although heavy rain ended across the area during the late morning, high water conditions continued along smaller streams across the northwest part of Iredell County. In addition to the areas affected by the earlier flash flooding, new flooding developed along additional creeks, as the earlier heavy rainfall worked its way through the system. New flooding included water topping the bridge over Patterson Creek on Friendship Rd and water from Rocky Creek flowing over Morgan Ford Rd.
Flooding along a tributary of the South Yadkin River caused closure of Ramie Mitchell Rd.
Heavy rain caused a pump station to fail on Crocker Rd, spilling 8100 gallons of sewage into Beason Creek. Also, poor drainage caused flooding of a section of East Gold St in Kings Mountain.
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, May 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: 170581, 170594, 170604, 170612, 173550.