Flash Flooding and Flooding in South Carolina, December 2 to 3, 2009

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in South Carolina, December 2 to 3, 2009
Start: 2009-12-02T15:10
End: 2009-12-03T06:00
Location: South Carolina

December 2 to 3, 2009 · NWS GSP · 11 events in 6 counties and zones

A fast moving area of low pressure moved across the southern Appalachians during the afternoon of December 2nd. 11 inches at the GSP ASOS.

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: $21,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

A fast moving area of low pressure moved across the southern Appalachians during the afternoon of December 2nd. Widespread 3 to 4 inch rainfall totals were reported with the system, including 3.93 inches at the Anderson ASOS and 3.11 inches at the GSP ASOS. As the ground was already quite moist from several recent rain events, a few areas of flash flooding developed, particularly in the Greenville and Anderson metro areas. A small area of thunderstorms developed on the southern end of the rain shield. The storms produced some isolated wind damage.

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 Dec 2, 2:26 PM EST, 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 2, 2:26 PM EST, 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
226 PM EST WED DEC 2 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT TO NEW
ENGLAND ON THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE WITH DRIER AIR MOVES INTO OUR
REGION.  A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM AFFECTS THE SOUTHEAST ON
SATURDAY.  BEHIND THIS SYSTEM...HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN TO THE
FORECAST AREA AND REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE THRU THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON. THE END IS IN SIGHT HOWEVER AS THE BACK EDGE OF THE
PRECIP IS MOVING INTO CENTRAL GA ATTM. THAT SAID...WITH THE ONGOING
FLOODING AND SEVERAL HOURS OF HEAVY RAIN TO GO...WILL KEEP FFA AS IS
SINCE ADDITIONAL FLOODING IS LIKELY. TRIPLE POINT LOW IS MOVING
ALONG A BOUNDARY THAT HAS FORMED NEAR THE SRN CWFA BORDER. SPC HAS
PLACED A TORNADO WATCH THERE...SO WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS AREA
CLOSELY FOR POTENTIAL SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND THE
SOUTHEASTERN CWFA BORDER THIS EVENING. THE STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS
WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER...THEY WILL CHANGE
TO A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION AND SHOULD HAVE LESS IMPACT ON THE
SC/GA MTNS AFTER MIDNIGHT. WILL EXTEND THE WIND ADV OVER THE NC MTNS
ALL NIGHT...BUT KEEP THE SC/GA MTNS ENDING AT MIDNIGHT. PRECIP ENDS
FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST THIS EVENING AS COLD FRONT MOVES THRU
THE AREA. CLEARING WILL OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS AFTER MIDNIGHT AS
WELL. COPIOUS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS OVER THE MTNS OVERNIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THE FLOW WILL NOT BE NWLY THERE WILL BE SOME WEAK COLD
ADVECTION AND SYNOPTIC SCALE LIFT AS A SHORT WAVE AND UPPER JET MOVE
THRU. THEREFORE...WILL HAVE SCT TO ISOLATED SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME CAA OVERNIGHT...TEMPS AND PARTIAL THICKNESSES
DO NOT SUPPORT ANY P-TYPE OTHER THAN RAIN.

WEATHER WILL BE MUCH CALMER WEDNESDAY WITH DEEP SWLY FLOW IN THE
WAKE OF THE UPPER LOW THAT CAUSED THE WEATHER TUESDAY. THERE WILL BE
SOME LINGERING MOISTURE OVER THE MTNS AND BREEZY TO WINDY NWLY FLOW
IN THE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTING SFC LOW AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER
THE MID WEST. THIS WILL KEEP SCT TO ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE NC
MTNS DURING THE MORNING THEN DIMINISHING DURING THE AFTERNOON. TEMPS
AND PARTIAL THICKNESSES FINALLY FALL ENUF TO ALLOW A LITTLE SNOW OR
SLEET TO MIX IN OVER THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF THE SMOKIES. NO
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED. OUTSIDE OF THE MTNS CLEARING SKIES AND
DIMINISHING WINDS ARE EXPECTED. HIGHS ABOVE NORMAL OUTSIDE OF THE
MTNS AND BELOW NORMAL OVER THE MTNS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 230 PM EST WEDNESDAY...AN UPPER TROUGH WILL EXTEND FROM HUDSON
BAY TO TX THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT FROM THE GULF
TO NEW ENGLAND. A STRONG SHORTWAVE WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE TROUGH
ON FRIDAY...THEN WILL MOVE FROM THE GULF TO THE APPALACHIANS ON
SATURDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS ON
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THE MODELS SHOW MODEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
LINGERING ALONG THE TN BORDER BEHIND A DEPARTING FRONT...WHILE UPPER
LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES. A SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE ALONG THIS FRONT
IN THE GULF FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE ANOTHER WAVE DEVELOPS OFF THE
CAROLINA COAST. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL INCREASE FROM THE EAST
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...WITH A WEAK LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW INTO
THE BLUE RIDGE ESCARPMENT. THE GFS SHOWS WEAK ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE
FRIDAY EVENING ..WITH DOWNGLIDE AND DECREASING MOISTURE BY SATURDAY
AFTERNOON. PARTIAL THICKNESS AND SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH
ENOUGH THAT AREAS EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS WILL SEE LIQUID
PRECIPITATION FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. PARTIAL THICKNESS FALLS
BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS IN THE MOUNTAINS...STAYING THERE THROUGH
SATURDAY...AND WHERE SNOW WILL BE CARRIED ABOVE 2000 FEET...WITH A
MIX FROM 1500 TO 2000 FEET...BEFORE DRYING OCCURS SATURDAY EVENING.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE A BIT BELOW NORMAL ON FRIDAY...THEN WILL
EXHIBIT A LOW DIURNAL RANGE SATURDAY WITH CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM EST WEDNESDAY...THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN REASONABLE
AGREEMENT WITH THE LARGE SCALE PATTERN. A LOW AMPLITUDE UPPER TROUGH
WILL BE OVER THE WEST SUNDAY...WITH A FLAT RIDGE OVER THE EAST. BY
MONDAY ZONAL FLOW EXISTS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER OF STATES. ON
TUESDAY THE WESTERN TROUGH AMPLIFIES...WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE
SOUTHEAST. THE MODELS DIVERGE LATE TUESDAY AS THE ECMWF TROUGH
PROGRESSES INTO MS VALLEY. HPC NOTED VARIATIONS WITH SHORTWAVE
SYSTEMS...LEADING TO A PREFERRED BLEND OF ECMWF AND GFS AND THEIR
ENSEMBLE MEANS.

SUNDAY WILL FEATURE DRY HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS.
     WHICH REACHES THE EASTERN COAST MONDAY...REMAINING THERE ON
TUESDAY. WHILE THE GFS WOULD SUGGEST SOME MOIST UPGLIDE AROUND THE
PERIPHERY OF THIS RIDGE...IT KEEPS OUR AREA DRY. BY WEDNESDAY A
SURFACE WAVE REACHES THE LOWER OH VALLEY...WITH A WARM FRONT MOVING
UP THE EAST COAST. MOIST GULF FLOW LIFTING OVER THIS BOUNDARY WILL
SUPPORT STRATIFORM RAIN TUESDAY NIGHT. AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH
WEDNESDAY THE WARM SECTOR ARRIVES...SHOWERS AND PERHAPS ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRECEDE A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST.

TEMPERATURES NEAR MID WINTER CLIMATOLOGY PERSIST SUNDAY THROUGH
TUESDAY WITH COOL HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH. CLOUD COVER WILL
MODERATE LOW TEMPERATURES TUESDAY NIGHT. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES
WEDNESDAY PRESENT A CHALLENGE...AS THE TIMING OF WARM FRONTAL
PASSAGE WILL DICTATE HOW MUCH WARMING OCCURS BEFORE THE COLD FRONT
ARRIVES FROM THE WEST.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...WIDESPREAD IFR CIGS AND MVFR TO IFR VSBY
WILL CONTINUE THRU THE AFTERNOON AS PRECIP REMAINS ACROSS THE AREA.
WINDS HAVE TURNED SELY AT KCLT AND WILL REMAIN SO DURING THE
AFTERNOON. NELY WINDS...XCPT SLY AT KAVL...WILL CONTINUE ELSEWHERE.
THE SFC WIND COMBINED WITH STRONG SLY LOW LEVEL JET WILL LEAD TO LOW
LEVEL WIND SHEAR ACROSS THE AREA...AND HAVE CONTINUED THIS THRU THE
AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT ENTERS THE AREA FROM THE WEST THIS EVENING.
THIS WILL TURN WINDS TO THE SOUTH THEN SW. THIS SHOULD HELP ABATE
ANY WIND SHEAR CONCERNS. PRECIP AND IFR CONDITIONS WILL ALSO END
WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE. THERE COULD BE A PERIOD OF LINGERING MVFR CIGS
UNTIL THE DRY AIR BEHIND THE FRONT MOVES IN. WLY WINDS DEVELOP THU
MORNING...BUT REMAIN GENERALLY 10 KTS OR LESS.

OUTLOOK...VFR EXPECTED FRIDAY...BUT BRIEF MVFR POSSIBLE AT KAVL
AROUND SUNRISE. ANOTHER PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS IS POSSIBLE ON
SATURDAY AS AN UPPER DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH...WHICH COULD RESULT
IN SOME LIGHT SNOW OVER THE MTNS.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017-
     018-026-028-029.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017.
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ035>037-
     056-057-062>065-068>072-082-501>510.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY FOR NCZ033-048>053-058-
     059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>014-
     019.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>003.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...RWH
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...RWH

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 2, 5:07 AM EST, 10 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
507 AM EST WED DEC 2 2009

GAZ010-017-NCZ062>065-501-503-505-507-509-SCZ001>003-031015-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
507 AM EST WED DEC 2 2009

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...
...FLASH 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.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINAS MOUNTAINS
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND REMAIN INTO THE EARLY EVENING.
AREAS ABOVE 3000 FEET IN ELEVATION COULD SEE LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS BY SATURDAY EVENING. TEMPERATURES SATURDAY NIGHT
ARE FORECAST TO FALL WELL BELOW FREEZING. BLACK ICE MAY DEVELOP
SATURDAY NIGHT ON UNTREATED ROADS...BRIDGES...OR SIDEWALKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-031015-
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-
507 AM EST WED DEC 2 2009

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH 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.

   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINAS MOUNTAINS
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND REMAIN INTO THE EARLY EVENING.
AREAS ABOVE 3000 FEET IN ELEVATION COULD SEE LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS BY SATURDAY EVENING. TEMPERATURES SATURDAY NIGHT
ARE FORECAST TO FALL WELL BELOW FREEZING. BLACK ICE MAY DEVELOP
SATURDAY NIGHT ON UNTREATED ROADS...BRIDGES...OR SIDEWALKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ018-NCZ035>037-056-057-068-069-502-504-506-508-510-031015-
STEPHENS-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-
GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
EASTERN POLK-
507 AM EST WED DEC 2 2009

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

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN NORTH 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...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST ACROSS THE NC FOOTHILLS AND
PIEDMONT SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY EVENING. TEMPERATURES SATURDAY
NIGHT ARE FORECAST TO FALL WELL BELOW FREEZING. BLACK ICE MAY
DEVELOP SATURDAY NIGHT ON UNTREATED ROADS...BRIDGES...OR
SIDEWALKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ026-028-029-NCZ070>072-082-SCZ004>014-019-031015-
FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
507 AM EST WED DEC 2 2009

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

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
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.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE...PRODUCING
DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT
SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY EVENING. TEMPERATURES SATURDAY NIGHT ARE
FORECAST TO FALL BELOW FREEZING. PATCHY BLACK ICE MAY DEVELOP
SATURDAY NIGHT ON UNTREATED ROADS...BRIDGES...OR SIDEWALKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

NED

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 2, 12:42 PM EST, 2 hours 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1242 PM EST WED DEC 2 2009

SCZ011-012-019-021845-
ABBEVILLE-GREENWOOD-LAURENS-
1242 PM EST WED DEC 2 2009

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS TO BRING GUSTY WINDS AND TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL TO ABBEVILLE...GREENWOOD AND LAURENS COUNTIES THROUGH 145
PM EST...

AT 1238 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM LOWNDESVILLE TO CALLISON. THE LINE WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN A LARGER AREA OF MODERATE
RAINFALL AND WILL PRODUCE LOCAL ONE TO TWO INCH PER HOUR RAINFALL
RATES AS THE LINE PASSES. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 35 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY
THE THUNDERSTORMS AS WELL AS A FEW CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL IMPACT AREAS FROM DUE WEST
TO GREENWOOD THROUGH 1 PM...AND THEN REACH FROM GRAY COURT TO JOANNA
BY 130 PM.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. TURN
AND AROUND FIND ANOTHER ROUTE.

HG

Special weather statement, Dec 2, 2:32 PM EST, 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
232 PM EST WED DEC 2 2009

GAZ029-SCZ011-022030-
ABBEVILLE-ELBERT-
232 PM EST WED DEC 2 2009

...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT ABBEVILLE AND
SOUTHEASTERN ELBERT COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EST...

AT 230 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF CRAWFORD...OR 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
GAINES SCHOOL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS OVER
EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA...BUT RADAR TRENDS HAVE SHOWN A GRADUALLY
WEAKENING THUNDERSTORM. WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH MAY STILL
ACCOMPANY THE THUNDERSTORM ACROSS THE SOUTHERN END OF ELBERT
COUNTY...AND INTO ABBEVILLE COUNTY...THROUGH 330 PM.

HG

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy rain, 3 flood, 2 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Anderson

When: December 2, 3:10 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.74 mi S of West Anderson to 1.01 mi NNW of Toxaway
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.509, -82.680

Flash flooding developed in and around the city of Anderson, with several roads closed due to high water. Although most of the flooding was of the urban/poor drainage variety, at least two creeks were involved, including Whitner and Cox Creeks. Affected roads included Southwood St (due to Whitner Creek) and Rantowles Rd (due to Cox Creek), where water entered some homes. At least a half dozen additional streets were closed in the city due to urban flooding. These included Susan St and Booker St, which were covered by as much as 3 feet of water.

Flash Flood, Greenville

When: December 2, 3:15 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.11 mi N of Taylors to 1.63 mi NNW of Woodside
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.936, -82.302

Quite a few roads closed due to flooding throughout the Greenville and Greer areas. Although most of the flooding was due to poor drainage, some streams were involved, particularly the Reedy River. Some of the roads affected included Hudson Rd, which was closed at Prestige Ct. A portion of Brushy Creek Rd was closed, as well as Boiling Springs Rd near Sugar Creek Rd, where over a foot of water covered about a 200-foot section of the road. Also, portions of Hammett Bridge Rd were closed. The Reedy River exceeded established flood stage in downtown Greenville, flooding portions of Cleveland Park.

Heavy Rain, Spartanburg

When: December 2, 3:15 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Spartanburg County, 0.8 mi SE of Landrum
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.172, -82.170

Urban and poor drainage flooding caused closure of a handful of roads in the northern half of Spartanburg County, including Campbell Ave in Landrum.

Heavy Rain, Spartanburg

When: December 2, 3:15 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Spartanburg County, 5 mi NW of Spartanburg
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.001, -81.983

Urban and poor drainage flooding caused closure of a handful of roads in the northern half of Spartanburg County, including portions of Monks Grove Church Rd and highway 221 near Spartanburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenwood

When: December 2, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Greenwood County, 0.9 mi N of Cokesbury
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.293, -82.219

Several trees were blown down near the intersection of highways 254, 246 and 25, about 8 miles west northwest of the city of Greenwood.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenwood

When: December 2, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Greenwood County, 0.96 mi SSE of Harris
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.217, -82.194

A couple trees were blown down along Center St on the northwest side of Greenwood.

Flood, Greenville

When: December 2, 5:00 PM EST to December 3, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.11 mi N of Taylors to 1.63 mi NNW of Woodside
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 34.936, -82.302

Although heavy rain began to wind down across the area during the late afternoon and early evening, flooding persisted in some areas, while new flooding developed, as runoff worked its way through the waterways. Floodwaters gradually moved down the Reedy River to the Simpsonville area, where flooding did not subside until 6 AM on the 3rd.

Heavy Rain, Chester

When: December 2, 5:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Chester County, 0.81 mi NNW of Chester
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.711, -81.205

Saluda Rd was closed at the intersection of Foote St due to urban flooding.

Flood, Spartanburg

When: December 2, 6:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Spartanburg County, 2.71 mi NW of Holly Spgs to 1.76 mi NNW of Holly Spgs
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.025, -82.217

After 3-4 inches of rain fell over a 12-24 hour period, a stream gauage on the Middle Tyger River went above the established flood stage at the site. Several roads were flooded downstream in the Lake Lyman area.

Flood, Spartanburg

When: December 2, 6:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Spartanburg County, 2.83 mi S of Campobello Arpt to 2.92 mi S of Campobello Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 35.039, -82.219

After 3-4 inches of rain fell over a 12-24 hour period, a stream gauage on the Middle Tyger River went above the established flood stage at the site, flooding the approaches to the bridge on Mount Labanon Rd.

Heavy Rain, York

When: December 2, 8:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: York County, 1.9 mi NW of Rock Hill Bryant Arp
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.000, -81.073

West Oak St was closed between Pennington Rd and Mt Gallant Rd due to flooding.

What these are

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.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.
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 South Carolina in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, December 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: 207410, 207411, 207585, 207586, 208613, 208627, 207579, 208629, 207581, 207582, 208630.