A large area of rain and embedded thunderstorms caused a small area of flash flooding shortly after the precipitation ended in the metro Charlotte area.
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.
A large area of rain and embedded thunderstorms caused a small area of flash flooding shortly after the precipitation ended in the metro Charlotte area.
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 31, 1:58 PM EST, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
258 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010
.SYNOPSIS...
DEEP MOISTURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY WHILE
A WEAK COLD FRONT MOVES EAST AND CROSSES THE AREA. WEAK HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD BACK INTO THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY. THEN ANOTHER
WEAK COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
THE FIRST ROUND OF WIDESPREAD TSTM/SHRA COVERAGE HAS SLIPPED EAST
INTO THE PIEDMONT THIS AFTN. STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE INTERSTATE 77
AREA HAVE SHOWN RAPID RESPONSE TO THE RAINFALL. WITH ADDITIONAL
STRONG CONVECTION UPSTREAM TO THE SW...WILL ADD THE AREA FROM
LAURENS TO GAFFNEY TO THE CHARLOTTE METRO AREA INTO THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH. THESE NEWER AREAS WILL ONLY BE UNDER THE WATCH UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.
BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS SHOWING UP IN VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY TO THE
SW ARE ALLOWING WRN UPSTATE AND NE GA AREAS TO DESTABILIZE FOR
ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG CONVECTION AND HEAVY RAINFALL INTO THE
EVENING. IN ADDITION...UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE IS EXPECTED TO
MAXIMIZE ALONG THE SRN ESCARPMENT THIS EVENING. THE UPPER LOW
LIFTING AND PHASING OVER ERN TN THIS AFTN WILL ALSO BRING A LOBE OF
DPVA ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT. 850 MB FLOW WILL TURN FROM
S TO SW OVERNIGHT TO KEEP UPSLOPE MAXIMIZED ALONG THE SRN MTNS.
GIVEN THE RECENT...CURRENT...AND NEAR FUTURE ACTIVITY...THE SRN
ESCARPMENT AND ADJACENT FOOTHILLS FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES TO
APPEAR WELL PLACED THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
THE UPPER SUPPORT WILL MOVE OFF TO THE EAST BY NOON ON TUESDAY.
LIGHT WESTERLY FLOW OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN TOMORROW MAY PRODUCE A LEE
SIDE TROUGH TO AID CONVERGENCE JUST EAST OF THE MTNS. THE AIRMASS
WILL CHANGE VERY LITTLE THROUGH THE DAY TUE...TO PERMIT CONTINUED
SCATTERED CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH ANY WEAK TRIGGERING.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 240 PM MONDAY...WEAK ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL DOMINATE THE SHORT
TERM. WEAK UPPER IMPULSES RIPPLING THROUGH FROM TIME TO TIME ALONG
WITH CONTINUING DEEP LAYER MOISTURE MEANS A CONTINUATION OF MAINLY
DIURNAL CONVECTION. A WEAK FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE AREA TUE NIGHT
BRINGING SOMEWHAT DRYER AIR TO NORTHERN SECTIONS FOR WED...WHICH
WILL MINIMIZE CONVECTIVE CHANCES THERE. HOWEVER...WIDELY SCATTERED
TO SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS ARE EXPECTED ELSEWEHRE WED
AFTERNOON...THEN DISSIPATING WED EVENING. ON THU...IMPROVING
MOISTURE ALONG WITH WEAK DIVERGENCE ALOFT SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR
SCATTERED TO MAYBE NUMEROUS SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS THU AFTERNOON.
USED A BLEND OF MOS TO GENERATE TEMPERATURE FIELDS WHICH YIELDS
ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPS THROUGH THE PERIOD.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM MONDAY...WEAK ZONAL UPPER AIR FLOW WILL TRANSITION TO A
A FLAT TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN U.S. BY THE WEEKEND. A COLD FRONT
WILL MAKE A RUN AT THE AREA ON FRI AND ALONG WITH A PASSING SHORT
WAVE SHOULD TRIGGER SCATTERED...TO MAYBE NUMEROUS SHOWERS/STORMS.
DEVELOPING DOWNSLOPE FLOW ON SAT SHOULD MINIMIZE CONVECTIVE CHANCES
TO JUST WIDELY SCATTERED ON SAT AT BEST. CONTINUING DOWNSLOPE ON SUN
WILL PRODUCE A HOT DAY WITH GUIDANCE INDICATING MAX TEMPS OUTSIDE
THE MOUNTAINS WELL INTO THE 90S. AS UPPER TROUGH DEEPENS LATE IN
THE WEEKEND...A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA IN
THE SUN TIMEFRAME WHICH SHOULD TRIGGER AT LEAST SCATTERED
CONVECTION SUN AFTERNOON...BUT MAINLY ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS DUE TO
CONTINUING DOWNSLOPE FLOW. MONDAY AT THIS POINT LOOKS LIKE A DRY
DAY BEHIND THE FRONT. GENERALLY FOLLOWED HPC GUIDANCE FIELDS...BUT
ADJUSTED SOME POPS FIELDS FOR COLLABORATIVE PURPOSES.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AT KCLT...SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE WILL REMAIN HIGH IN THE
VICINITY THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS...BEFORE WANING LATER THIS
EVENING. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE LIGHTER
SHOWERS...BUT TEMPO MVFR SHOULD DEVELOP IN ANY HEAVIER SHOWERS.
WINDS HAVE BEEN A BIT VARIABLE TODAY...BUT GRADIENT FLOW SHOULD
PERSIST FROM THE S. CIGS WILL LIKELY LOWER STEADILY TONIGHT...WITH
IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TOWARD 08Z. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TSTMS
COULD PERSIST BUT ARE TOO UNCERTAIN TO TIME AT PRESENT.
ELSEWHERE...KAND WILL BE LISTED AS AMD NOT SKED PENDING REPAIRS TO
THE ASOS UNIT. OTHERWISE...SHOWERS AND TSRA WILL LIKELY BEGIN TO
FILL BACK IN FROM THE SW THROUGH THE LATE AFTN HOURS. TEMPO IFR
CONDITIONS ARE LINGERING AT SOME SITES DUE TO THE ABUNDANT MOISTURE
FROM RAINFALL THIS MORNING. THIS SHOULD LIFT...BUT MVFR CONDITIONS
WILL LIKELY PERSIST ON AVERAGE WITH CONTINUED MOIST SRLY FLOW. THE
BEST CHANCE OF THUNDER WILL BE BE KAND TO KGSP...WITH SHRA MORE
LIKELY FROM KAVL TO KHKY. CIGS WILL LIKELY DETERIORATE TO IFR
THROUGHOUT OVERNIGHT. RECOVERY TO MVFR IS EXPECTED IN THE MORNING
HOURS...WITH WINDS TURNING MORE SW TO W.
OUTLOOK...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TSTMS WITH MVFR CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON/EVENING HOURS THROUGH FRIDAY.
MVFR TO IFR CIG/VSBY WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY EACH MORNING.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR GAZ010-017-018.
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR NCZ059-062>065-
509-510.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ071-072-
082.
SC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR SCZ001>007-010.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ008-009-
012>014.
&&
SYNOPSIS...TJB
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...LG
LONG TERM...LG
AVIATION...HGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 332 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010 GAZ010-017-018-NCZ059-062>065-509-510-SCZ001>007-010-011945- RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON- TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-ANDERSON- 332 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON 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. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FAIRLY LOW...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONE OR TWO STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COUPLE OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. GAZ026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>058-068>070-501>508-SCZ011- 019-011945- FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY- MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-CLEVELAND- LINCOLN-GASTON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS- GREATER BURKE-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-ABBEVILLE-GREENWOOD- 332 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND MAY LEAD TO ISOLATED FLOODING. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FAIRLY LOW...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONE OR TWO STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COUPLE OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ071-072-082-SCZ008-009-012>014-011945- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-CHEROKEE-YORK-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER- 332 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON 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. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND MAY LEAD TO ISOLATED FLOODING. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FAIRLY LOW...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONE OR TWO STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COUPLE OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1251 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM FLASH FLOOD GREENVILLE 34.84N 82.37W
05/31/2010 GREENVILLE SC OFFICIAL NWS OBS
THE REEDY RIVER GAGE REACHED A CREST OF 9.75 FEET AT
NOON.
&&
TBENTHALPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
404 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 N JONESVILLE 34.86N 81.68W
05/31/2010 UNION SC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
MILL CREEK FLOODED OUT OF BANKS ON TINSLEY ROAD NORTH OF
JONESVILLE.
&&
OUTLAWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
458 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010
GAZ010-017-SCZ001-312145-
HABERSHAM-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-RABUN-
458 PM EDT MON MAY 31 2010
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN HABERSHAM...NORTHWESTERN
OCONEE AND RABUN COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM EDT...
AT 454 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES EAST OF
MOUNTAIN CITY TO 4 MILES SOUTH OF BATESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE
RABUN...NACOOHE LAKE...MOUNTAIN REST...LONG CREEK...TIGER...SKY
VALLEY...PINE MOUNTAIN...MOUNTAIN CITY...LAKEMONT...CLAYTON...
TURNERVILLE...TALLULAH FALLS AND BATESVILLE.
SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
LAT...LON 3467 8365 3471 8363 3474 8364 3499 8336
3501 8297 3466 8337 3463 8366 3466 8367
KRENTZThe Greer radar (KGSP), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:06 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Little Sugar Creek overflowed its banks, flooding and closing Freedom Park.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2010
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: 236971.