Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 20, 2010

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 20, 2010
Start: 2010-07-20T15:35
End: 2010-07-20T17:50
Location: North Carolina

July 20, 2010 · NWS GSP · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed in a moist airmass over western North Carolina during the afternoon hours. A few of the thunderstorms produced small areas of wind damage and a little small hail.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 in a moist airmass over western North Carolina during the afternoon hours. A few of the thunderstorms produced small areas of wind damage and a little small hail.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 164 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:34 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When: July 20, 3:35 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, China Grove
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.570, -80.600

Multiple trees and large limbs were blown down about a mile west of China Grove.

Hail, Cabarrus

When: July 20, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 3.45 mi ESE of Watts Xrds
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.460, -80.410

Thunderstorm Wind, Buncombe

When: July 20, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 3.24 mi NNW of Jugtown
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.590, -82.760

Several large tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabarrus

When: July 20, 4:21 PM EST
Where: Cabarrus County, 3.63 mi NNW of Mt Pleasant Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.450, -80.370

Large tree limbs, 6 to 8 inches in diameter, were blown down about 5 miles northeast of Mount Pleasant.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When: July 20, 5:25 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 0.56 mi E of Marion
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.680, -82.010

Multiple trees were blown down in and around the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When: July 20, 5:50 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 2.82 mi WNW of Enola
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.682, -81.698

Trees were blown down on Jenkins Rd with multiple trees also blown down at Burkemont Rd and Western Ave about 5 miles south of Morganton.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 2010

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: 252380, 252381, 252382, 252383, 252384, 252385.