Flooding in North Carolina, September 21 to 22, 2009

Name: Flooding in North Carolina, September 21 to 22, 2009
Start: 2009-09-21T13:30
End: 2009-09-22T03:00
Location: North Carolina

September 21 to 22, 2009 · NWS GSP · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A third round of heavy rain in two days over the southern North Carolina Mountains caused the French Broad River to go into flood west of Hendersonville. The prolonged heavy rain also caused many streams to flood, closing several roads across the southern mountains.

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: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 Sep 21, 12:47 PM EST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 21, 12:47 PM EST, 43 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
147 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL WINDS FROM THE ATLANTIC AND GULF OF MEXICO WILL KEEP A
TROPICAL AIR MASS OVER THE REGION THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK. A
BACK DOOR COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
ON FRIDAY AND MAY LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE WRN NC
MTNS AND NE GA/SC MTNS THIS MORNING. RIVERS AND STREAMS ARE NEAR OR
ABOVE FLOOD LEVELS IN SOME OF THESE AREAS. LATEST MODEL INDICATIONS
ARE THAT THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL JUST TO OUR WEST IN GA AND E
TN. HOWEVER...WITH CONDITIONS ALREADY AT OR IN FLOOD...ONLY MODERATE
RAINFALL WILL BE ENUF TO CAUSE FLOODING OVER THE WATCH AREA. WITH
MODERATE RAINFALL EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THRU THE AFTERNOON...THE
WATCH WILL BE LEFT IN PLACE.

OTHERWISE...CURRENT FCST IS LOOKING GOOD. BEST RAINFALL CHC WILL BE
OVER THE MTNS AND WRN UPSTATE/NE GA...WITH MUCH LOWER CHC OVER THE
I-77 CORRIDOR. TEMPS COULD BE TRICKY OVER THAT AREA WITH LESS CLOUDS
AND RAINFALL...BUT CURRENT TRENDS STILL LOOK GOOD. ALL THIS MEANS
ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE GOING FCST FOR THE AFTERNOON.

AS FOR TONIGHT...WILL LET THE DAY SHIFT DETERMINE IF FLOOD WATCH
NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. FLOW AT LOW LEVELS BECOMES LESS CONVERGENT AND
THERE IS SOME DISCREPANCY BETWEEN HOW THE NAM AND GFS HANDLE THE
850MB FLOW. THINK THERE WILL BE ENUF UPSLOPE TO ONCE AGAIN FAVOR A
LIKELY POP NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE...BUT CUT BACK ON IT AFTER 06Z.
GUIDANCE TEMPS LOOK OKAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 205 AM MONDAY...ON TUESDAY...CLOSED MID LEVEL LOW WILL DIG
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS AS A H5 RIDGE BECOME CENTERED OFF THE
MID ATLANTIC COAST. AT THE SFC...AN INVERTED TROF WILL MOVE WEST
SOUTH THE RIDGE CENTER...REACHING THE CAROLINA COAST AROUND SUNRISE.
THE COMBINATION OF THE CYCLONIC CIRCULATION OVER THE PLAINS AND THE
ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC TROF WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER DAY OF DEEP
MOISTURE ACROSS THE CWA. WEAK INSTABILITY SHOULD DEVELOP ACROSS THE
REGION BY MID DAY. SCT TO NUMEROUS SHRA WITH EMBEDDED TSRA MAY
DEVELOP ACROSS THE MTNS...GIVEN FAIRLY LOW LFC LEVELS...UPSLOPE
FLOW...AND CAPE VALUES AROUND 500 J/KG. EXPECT MOSTLY SCT SHRA/TSRA
EAST OF THE MTNS. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RANGE NEAR NORMAL.

ON WEDNESDAY...USING THE FAVORED ECMWF SOLUTION...H5 RIDGE CENTER
WILL SHIFT OVER THE DEEP SOUTH BY THE AFTERNOON. FORECAST SOUNDINGS
INDICATE A WEAK INVERSION NEAR H8...LIKELY ENOUGH TO CAP MOIST LAPSE
RATES. PROFILES ALSO INDICATE LESS AFTERNOON INSTABILITY...WEAKER
FLOW...AND HIGHER LFC LEVELS. THIS PATTERN MAY YIELD ONLY SCT
SHRA/TSRA...DEVELOPING FIRST OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN. TEMPERATURES
SHOULD RESPOND TO WARMER THICKNESSES AND INCREASE INSOLATION...I
WILL FORECAST VALUES 2-4 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 225 AM MONDAY...USING THE PREFERRED ECMWF...H5 RIDGING WILL
REMAIN OVER THE CWA ON THURSDAY. THE AIRMASS SHOULD REMAIN VERY
SIMILAR TO WEDNESDAY. I WILL FORECAST DIURNAL TIMED SCT
SHRA/TSRA...FAVORING THE MTNS. HIGH TEMPERATURES 2-4 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL AGAIN LOOK POSSIBLE.

NATIONAL GUIDANCE AND ECMWF TIME A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT TO ENTER THE
CWA FRIDAY MORNING...SLOWLY PUSHING SOUTHWEST DURING THE DAY. SFC
HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER NEW ENGLAND WILL BUILD SOUTHWEST IN THE
WAKE OF THE FRONT. IN ADDITION...A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ACROSS THE
HEARTLAND WILL RESULT IN LLVL SW WINDS ACROSS THE CWA. BASED ON THE
TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THESE FEATURES...IT APPEARS THAT CAD WILL
BUILD OVER THE CWA LATE FRIDAY AND MAY LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY. AT
THIS POINT...I WILL FORECAST UNSETTLED CONDITIONS ACROSS THE
REGION...INCREASING SKY COVER...KEEPING HIGH TEMPS LESS THAN
GUIDANCE...AND ADVERTISING CHC POPS. ON SUNDAY...A WEST TO EAST
MOVING COLD FRONT MAY SWEEP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. THIS
FRONT WILL BRING THE CAD EPISODE TO AN END. HOWEVER...FORECAST
SOUNDINGS APPEAR QUITE UNSTABLE WITH LOW WBZ...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN
SEVERAL SVR TSRA. TEMPERATURES MAY VERIFY WITHIN A DEGREE OR TWO
AROUND NORMAL.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AT KCLT...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THRU THE EARLY PART OF
THE FCST. HOWEVER...LOW VFR CIGS ARE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AS CU
DEVELOP IN THE GOOD LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WEAK INSTABILITY. THESE
LOW VFR SHOULD DISSIPATE THIS EVENING. EXPECT MVFR CIGS TO MOVE IN
FROM THE EAST TOWARD DAYBREAK AND CONTINUE MUCH OF THE MORNING.
SHOWER ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN TO THE WEST. WINDS ESE WINDS SHOULD
BECOME ENE DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING.

ELSEWHERE...THE REMNANT WEDGE CONTINUES TO HOLD ON ACROSS THE
FOOTHILLS AND NWRN NC PIEDMONT. AREAS SOUTH OF I-85 HAVE DEVELOPED
SE WINDS. WINDS SHOULD RETURN TO ENE DURING THE EVENING AND CONTINUE
THERE THRU MORNING. KAVL THE EXCEPTION WITH SELY WINDS BECOMING
LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVERNIGHT...THEN SLY DURING THE MORNING. CIGS AND
VSBYS WILL BECOME LOW VFR...BUT MVFR WILL RETURN IF/WHEN MODERATE
SHOWERS MOVE OVER. EXPECT A RETURN TO MVFR DURING THE EVENING WITH
IFR LIKELY AT KAVL/KHKY TOWARD DAYBREAK. CONDITIONS AS LOW AS VLIFR
POSSIBLE AT KAVL. BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL REMAIN OVER THE MTNS THRU
THE PERIOD.

OUTLOOK...NO SIGNIFICANT PATTERN CHANGE IS EXPECTED THROUGH AT LEAST
TUESDAY...MEANING PERIODS OF RAIN AND FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS CAN BE
EXPECTED. DRIER WEATHER MAY FINALLY RETURN TO THE REGION BY MID-WEEK.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GAZ010-017-018-026.
NC...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR NCZ033-048>053-058-
     059-062>065-505>510.
SC...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR SCZ001>005.

&&

SYNOPSIS...NED
NEAR TERM...PM/RWH
SHORT TERM...NED
LONG TERM...NED
AVIATION...RWH

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 21, 3:41 AM EST, 9 hours 49 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
441 AM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

GAZ028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>504-SCZ006>014-019-
220845-
HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-
GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-
GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-GREATER GREENVILLE-
SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-
CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
441 AM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE

GAZ010-017-018-026-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-505>510-SCZ001>005-
220845-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-
SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
441 AM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

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.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL
REPORTS AND OBSERVED FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:00 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
100 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0850 AM     FLOOD            WALHALLA                34.77N 83.06W
09/20/2009                   OCONEE             SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL ROADS IN TOWN TO INCLUDE N ANDOVER RD AND WINDY
            HILL FLOODED. SOME DUE TO STREAMS OVERFLOWING.

&&

LG

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:03 PM EST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
103 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0614 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 SW LAKE ADGER         35.31N 82.21W
09/20/2009                   POLK               NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            GREEN RIVER COVE ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. IN
            ADDITION...SEVERAL TREES UPROOTED IN SATURATED SOIL ON
            HIGHWAY 176.

&&

LG

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:05 PM EST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
105 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0154 PM     FLOOD            1 SSE CLARKESVILLE      34.60N 83.52W
09/20/2009                   HABERSHAM          GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            RODEO CIRCLE FLOODED BY CREEK OVERFLOWING.

&&

LG

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:16 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
116 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1257 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 W TOCCOA              34.58N 83.39W
09/20/2009                   STEPHENS           GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HIGHWAY 17 AND 441 CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

LG

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:19 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
119 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0640 AM     FLOOD            LAKE LURE               35.44N 82.21W
09/20/2009                   RUTHERFORD         NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            SEVERAL ROADS AROUND LAKE LURE HAVE WATER COVERED AREAS.

&&

LG

Local storm report, Sep 21, 12:20 PM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
120 PM EDT MON SEP 21 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 AM     FLOOD            3 E HENDERSONVILLE      35.32N 82.41W
09/20/2009                   HENDERSON          NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DANA AND HOWARD GAP ROADS FLOODED DUE TO STREAM.

&&

LG

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Transylvania

When: September 21, 1:30 PM EST to 11:59 PM EST
Where: Transylvania County, 2.12 mi NNE of Ecusta to 1.07 mi WNW of Rosman
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.297, -82.702

Flooding developed near the headwaters of the French Broad River which covered Main St in Rosman with about a foot of water. Water also entered an apartment building. Also, the Davidson River flooded near Brevard, flooding a portion of Davidson River Rd and Wilson Rd. Turkey Creek flooded Deavor Rd in Pisgah Forest. A total of 35 roads in Henderson and Transylvania Counties were blocked by flood water.

Flood, Macon

When: September 21, 1:45 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 1.15 mi NE of Olive Hill to 0.73 mi SSE of Teresita
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.232, -83.456

Flooding developed in several spots along the Little Tennessee River after an extended period of heavy rainfall. Several roads were closed, including Arthur Drake Rd and Riverside Rd. At least one motorist required rescue after driving over a flooded road. Water entered and damaged several homes along the river. In addition, water from Cartoogechaye Creek surrounded several homes on Patton Creekside Dr.

Flood, Jackson

When: September 21, 4:15 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 1.03 mi NW of Addie to 2.09 mi NW of Greens Creek
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.412, -83.181

Settlement Rd was flooded in Webster and Dillard Rd was closed due to flooding in Sylva. Also, Roy Tritt Rd was reported to be under water and closed two miles southeast of Cullowhee as was Helen Zachary Rd.

Flood, Henderson

When: September 21, 6:00 PM EST to September 22, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Henderson County, 3.9 mi W of Mills River to 1.18 mi SW of Etowah
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.411, -82.648

An extended period of moderate to heavy rain resulted in flooding along the Mills River. Portions of South Mills River Rd and River Loop Rd were covered in water. Also, flooding began on the French Broad River near Etowah around this time, covering portions of highway 64, Pleasant Grove Rd, and Willow Rd with water. A total of 35 roads in Henderson and Transylvania Counties were blocked by flood waters. River flooding continued until the evening hours on the 24th.

What these are

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, September 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 198016, 198029, 198020, 198010.