South Carolina, 2010

Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in South Carolina, May 31, 2010

May 31, 2010 · NWS GSP · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A large area of rain and embedded thunderstorms caused a small area of flash flooding right as the precipitation was ending over the Upstate.

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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 large area of rain and embedded thunderstorms caused a small area of flash flooding right as the precipitation was ending over the Upstate.

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 31, 10:25 AM EST, 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 10:25 AM EST, 35 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 9:41 AM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 6:35 AM EST, 4 hours 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 31, 7:06 AM EST, 3 hours 54 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 31, 10:01 AM EST, 59 minutes before
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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Greenville

When
May 31, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Greenville County, 0.88 mi ESE of Brandon
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
34.843, -82.387

Heavy rainfall caused the Reedy River to crest over 9 feet in downtown Greenville. This resulted in minor flooding of Cleveland Park.

Flash Flood, Union

When
May 31, 2:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Union County, 2.1 mi N of Johns to 2.51 mi NNE of Johns
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
34.880, -81.674

Mill Creek overflowed its banks and flooded Tinsley Rd just north of town.

Heavy Rain, Chester

When
May 31, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Chester County, Lowrys
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.800, -81.230

Several roads were flooded in and around Lowrys.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in South 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 237004, 236968, 237012.