Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 16, 2010

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 16, 2010
Start: 2010-05-16T13:49
End: 2010-05-16T23:00
Location: North Carolina

May 16, 2010 · NWS GSP · 11 events in 7 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak warm front over western North Carolina during the afternoon hours. A few of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

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: 1
Property damage: $1.2 million
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.

Scattered thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak warm front over western North Carolina during the afternoon hours. A few of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.

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 May 16, 1:07 PM EST, 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 1:07 PM EST, 42 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
207 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK FRONT WILL REMAIN STALLED OVER THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY.
ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST MONDAY AND CROSS THE
AREA MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY BUILD IN
FROM THE NORTH FOR MID TO LATE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AT 15Z SFC OBSERVATIONS INDICATE A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS EXTREME
NE GA AND EAST ALONG THE I-85 CORRIDOR. RECENT REGIONAL RADAR IMAGES
SHOW SEVERAL SHRA/TSRA ACROSS NRN GA AND SE TN...LIFTING NORTH. THE
CONVECTION IS LIKELY RESPONDING TO THE SFC BOUNDARY AND THE APPROACH
OF MID LEVEL VORT. EXPECT DEEP CONVECTION TO INITIATE OVER THE HIGH
TERRAIN AS THE ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES AND MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE
APPROACHES. NEAR TERM MODELS INDICATES THAT A SFC WAVE MAY DEVELOP
ALONG THE FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY AND THE
UPSTATE OF SC LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LLVL CONVERGENCE
WITHIN THE LOW AND ALONG THE FRONT SHOULD SUPPORT INITIATION ACROSS
MOST THE FORECAST AREA. I WILL DELAY POPS EAST OF THE MTNS UNTIL THE
MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...BUT I WILL INCREASE POPS TO CATE TO HIGH
LIKELY.

CAPE VALUES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOULD RANGE FROM 1000-1500
J/KG. FREEZING LEVELS WILL RANGE FROM 12 TO 13 KFT...PLACE FIRST
GUESS CORE HEIGHTS BETWEEN 23.5 TO 25 KFT. WEAK WIND FIELDS SHOULD
RESULT IN LOOSELY ORGANIZED STORM STRUCTURE. HOWEVER...A FEW STORMS
MAY PRODUCE SVR HAIL OR WINDS. SLOW STORM MOTIONS AND PW NEAR 1.6
INCHES WILL ALLOW SEVERAL STORMS TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND
POSSIBLY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION SVR WX AND
HEAVY RAIN IN THE HWO.

TONIGHT...CONVECTION WILL LIKELY REMAIN THROUGH MOST OF THE NIGHT
WITH GREATER UPPER SUPPORT...LINGERING INSTABILITY...AND LOW LCL. PW
VALUES MAY INCREASE OVERNIGHT...APPROACHING 1.9 INCHES IN A FEW
AREAS. IN ADDITION...K-INDEX VALUES WILL INCREASE INTO THE MID TO
U30S. HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY AS CONVECTION
DEVELOPS WITH AREAS OF ISENTROPIC LIFT AND ALONG A WEAK COLD FRONT.
THE COMBINATION OF LIFT/INSTABILITY AND RECENT TSRA ACTIVITY WILL
INCREASE THE THREAT OF FF OVERNIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 300 AM SUNDAY...H5 SHORTWAVES CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE CWA
MON WITH DEEP S FLOW DEVELOPING AS COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE W.
UPPER FORCING CONTINUES THRU THE DAY WITH MODEL CAPES OF OVER 1000
J/KG SO KEPT CATEGORICAL POPS WITH SHWRS AND TSTMS. BEST FORCING AND
MOISTURE SHIFTS NE MON NIGHT-TUE AND POPS BEGIN TO TAPER OFF FROM
THE W BUT EXPECT CHC POPS TO LINGER ACROSS THE CWA TUE... ESP NC
MTNS AND E OF I-77. TEMPS REMAIN ABOVE AVG...THEN COOL TO NEAR AVG
TUE NIGHT.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 300 AM SUNDAY...MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT SHOWING HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDING TO THE N WHICH KEEPS SOME MOISTURE AND E FLOW OVER
THE AREA. THE MAIN THREAT FOR PRECIP REMAINS TO THE E...BUT EXPECT
ENOUGH MOISTURE TO KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE DIURNAL CONVECTION EACH DAY.
CLOUDS AND E FLOW SHOULD KEEP LOWS NEAR AVG AND HIGHS BELOW AVG WED
AND THU. NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE W FRI AND SAT WHICH WILL
KEEP A SLIGHT CHC OF DIURNAL CONVECTION OVER THE AREA. WITH S FLOW
INCREASING LATE IN THE WEEK EXPECT TEMPS WITHIN A DEG OR SO OF AVG.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT KCLT...A STATIONARY FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION
OF THE CLT METRO AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE BOUNDARY WILL SERVE AS A
FOCUS FOR DEEP CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. STORM
MOTIONS SHOULD REMAIN FAIRLY SLOW...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A
SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR VIS AND CEILING IF A
STORM TRACKS OVER THE TERMINAL. AT THIS TIME...I WILL INDICATE A
TSRA FROM 20Z UNTIL 3Z. OVERNIGHT...BANDS OF SHRA/TSRA WILL MOVE
ACROSS THE REGION. INCREASING MOISTURE AND COVERAGE OF RA SHOULD
RESULT IN A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN CEILING HEIGHTS AND VIS. CONDITIONS
SHOULD BOTTOM OUT IFR FROM AROUND MIDNIGHT THROUGH DAWN MONDAY.
CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE TO MVFR FROM MID MORNING THROUGH 18Z.

ELSEWHERE...A STATIONARY FRONT WILL REMAIN NEAR THE I-85 CORRIDOR
THIS AFTERNOON. THE BOUNDARY WILL SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR DEEP
CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. STORM MOTIONS SHOULD
REMAIN FAIRLY SLOW...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR VIS AND CEILING IF A STORM TRACKS OVER THE
TERMINAL. AT THIS TIME...I WILL INDICATE A TSRA FROM 20Z-21Z UNTIL
2-3Z. OVERNIGHT...BANDS OF SHRA/TSRA WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION.
INCREASING MOISTURE AND COVERAGE OF RA SHOULD RESULT IN A GRADUAL
REDUCTION IN CEILING HEIGHTS AND VIS. CONDITIONS SHOULD BOTTOM OUT
IFR FROM AROUND MIDNIGHT THROUGH DAWN MONDAY. CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE
TO MVFR FROM MID MORNING THROUGH 18Z.

OUTLOOK...A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN STALLED OVER THE REGION INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH CONVECTION ASSOCIATED RESTRICTIONS IN THE
AREA DURING THE AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS...AND POSSIBLE FOG AND
STRATUS RESTRICTIONS EACH MORNING WHERE IT RAINS. IMPROVEMENT WILL
FOLLOW A FRONTAL PASSAGE AT MID WEEK.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...RWH
NEAR TERM...NED
SHORT TERM...RB
LONG TERM...RB
AVIATION...NED

Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 2:28 AM EST, 11 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
328 AM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-170730-
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-
328 AM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS
WILL BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL. SLOW MOVING
STORMS COULD PRODUCE AREAS OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN MONDAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD
ALSO BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL. SEVERAL OF
THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...POSSIBLY RESULTING
IN AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:13 PM EST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
113 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

NCZ069-070-161745-
GASTON-LINCOLN-
113 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LINCOLN AND WESTERN GASTON
COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EDT...

AT 110 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES EAST OF CHERRYVILLE...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LINCOLNTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  LINCOLNTON...

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

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.

LAT...LON 3516 8124 3531 8137 3533 8136 3536 8141
      3540 8144 3556 8132 3554 8096

NED

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:56 PM EST, 53 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
156 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

NCZ069>071-161830-
GASTON-LINCOLN-MECKLENBURG-
156 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT GASTON...LINCOLN AND WESTERN
MECKLENBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EDT...

AT 152 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LINCOLNTON TO
LOWELL...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  BELMONT...
  BOGER CITY...
  IRON STATION...
  MOUNT HOLLY...
  PAW CREEK...

MOTHBALL SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.

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.

LAT...LON 3554 8096 3519 8089 3516 8122 3552 8139

NED

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:58 PM EST, 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
158 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

GAZ028-SCZ004>006-010-011-161845-
ABBEVILLE-ANDERSON-GREATER GREENVILLE-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER
PICKENS-HART-
158 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ANDERSON...NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...
NORTHERN HART...SOUTHEASTERN OCONEE...SOUTHERN GREENVILLE AND
SOUTHERN PICKENS COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...

AT 156 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES EAST OF FAIR
PLAY TO 7 MILES WEST OF BROADWAY LAKE TO ANTREVILLE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PEOPLE IN ANDERSON...NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...NORTHERN HART...
SOUTHEASTERN OCONEE...SOUTHERN GREENVILLE AND SOUTHERN PICKENS
COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

ANTREVILLE...SECESSION LAKE...FAIR PLAY...REED CREEK...IVA...BROADWAY
LAKE...ANDERSON...DUE WEST...SANDY SPRINGS AND PENDLETON...

SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE
WEATHER THREATEN.

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.

LAT...LON 3436 8276 3448 8306 3449 8306 3450 8307
      3451 8307 3482 8274 3469 8240 3454 8222
      3448 8231 3442 8226 3418 8254

RWH

Special weather statement, May 16, 1:01 PM EST, 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
201 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

NCZ071-161830-
MECKLENBURG-
201 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL MECKLENBURG COUNTY
THROUGH 230 PM EDT...

AT 156 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES WEST OF UNC CHARLOTTE...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  UNC CHARLOTTE...

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

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.

LAT...LON 3517 8077 3530 8093 3542 8076 3540 8076
      3537 8073 3529 8066 3527 8066

NED

Special weather statement, May 16, 1:22 PM EST, 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
222 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

NCZ069>072-161900-
CABARRUS-GASTON-LINCOLN-MECKLENBURG-
222 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN GASTON...NORTHERN
MECKLENBURG...NORTHWESTERN CABARRUS AND SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTIES
THROUGH 300 PM EDT...

AT 217 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOUNT HOLLY...OR 8 MILES EAST OF GASTONIA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO I-77 AT
  I-85...CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY...MOUNTAIN ISLAND LAKE...
  LOWESVILLE...UNC CHARLOTTE...PAW CREEK...HUNTERSVILLE...DAVIDSON...
  CROFT...CORNELIUS...HARRISBURG...STANLEY...RANLO...MOUNT HOLLY...
  MCADENVILLE...LUCIA...LOWELL...CRAMERTON AND BELMONT.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LAT...LON 3516 8101 3528 8118 3553 8096 3551 8095
      3550 8080 3536 8055

07

Special weather statement, May 16, 1:25 PM EST, 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
225 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

NCZ056-069-161915-
CATAWBA-LINCOLN-
225 PM EDT SUN MAY 16 2010

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL LINCOLN AND EASTERN
CATAWBA COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT...

AT 222 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LINCOLNTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TERRELL...
  NEWTON...MAIDEN...CLAREMONT...CATAWBA...LINCOLNTON...DENVER AND
  BOGER CITY.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LAT...LON 3574 8107 3571 8105 3571 8102 3567 8097
      3563 8093 3559 8094 3540 8121 3541 8126
      3551 8139 3578 8113

07

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 138 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 4 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: May 16, 1:49 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.49 mi NNW of North Charlotte
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.290, -80.790

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: May 16, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 2.36 mi NNE of Claremont
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.750, -81.130

Multiple large tree limbs, as large as 5 inches in diameter, were blown down near Deal Rd and Oxford School Rd.

Lightning, Rowan

When: May 16, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 2.76 mi N of Woodleaf
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.810, -80.600

A 14-year-old boy was injured by a lightning strike at Bullhole Park.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: May 16, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.49 mi NNW of Lake Lure
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.440, -82.210

Several trees were blown down along highway 64/74 in the Lake Lure area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaston

When: May 16, 4:56 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 1.32 mi ENE of Cherryville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.390, -81.360

A tree and a power line were blown down on Tot Dellinger Rd.

Lightning, Catawba

When: May 16, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 2.83 mi SW of Plateau
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.569, -81.403

Lightning struck a barn on Wilson Rd, destroying the barn, and damaging a vehicle and antique farming equipment contained within.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: May 16, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 0.93 mi SW of Startown
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.640, -81.281

A tree was blown down on Robinson Rd near highway 10 about 4 miles west southwest of Newton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: May 16, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 0.79 mi W of Newton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.680, -81.234

A tree and power line were blown down a little to the northwest of Newton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: May 16, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 0.69 mi S of Claremont
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.710, -81.150

Two trees were blown down on Third St, and another was blown down on Cloninger St in Claremont.

Lightning, Macon

When: May 16, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 0.31 mi NE of Highlands
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.053, -83.196

Lightning ignited a fire at an inn, destroying roughly half of a building with an estimated value of $2.5 million.

Lightning, Cleveland

When: May 16, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 2.93 mi ESE of Shelby
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.282, -81.503

Lightning struck a home on Arbor Way Dr, causing significant damage, mainly to the roof of the home.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 233697, 233698, 236984, 233699, 233700, 236989, 233701, 233702, 233703, 236991, 236994.