A fast moving line of thunderstorms swept across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the late evening hours of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th. Strong low level gradient winds and the rapid bowing of the line as it crossed the region contributed to widespread straight line wind damage.
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 fast moving line of thunderstorms swept across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the late evening hours of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th. Strong low level gradient winds and the rapid bowing of the line as it crossed the region contributed to widespread straight line wind damage.
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 Apr 4, 8:02 PM EST, 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
902 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS OUR AREA FROM WEST TO EAST
TONIGHT...THEN BE OFF THE CAROLINA COAST BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN ACROSS THE REGION AND DOMINATE OUR WEATHER
THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FOR THE 00 UTC UPDATE I/VE SLOWED THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE
HIGH POPS. THE LINE OF STORMS HAS WEAKENED AND BECOME NEARLY
STATIONARY AS IT HAS ENTERED THE MTNS. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WAS
EXPECTED...THOUGH IT/S SLOWED DOWN A BIT MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED.
MORE IMPORTANTLY...A LARGE BOWING LINE SEGMENT HAS DEVELOPED OVER NW
GA. BASED ON IT/S CURRENT RATE OF MOVEMENT...IT SHOULD MOVE INTO OUR
NE GA COUNTIES AROUND 0250 UTC...POSSIBLY SOONER IF IT ACCELERATES
MORE. WITH MUCAPE VALUES AROUND 1000 OVER THIS AREA...THE LINE
SHOULD HOLD TOGETHER.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS A STRONG COLD
FRONT MOVES INTO THE AREA. THEREFORE...WILL EXTEND THE WIND/LAKE
WIND ADV OVERNIGHT AS WELL. GENERAL THOUGHTS FROM THE PREVIOUS FCST
STILL ON TRACK. SOME ISOLATED TO SCT CONVECTION POSSIBLE OVER THE NC
MTNS THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE QLCS SQUALL LINE AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD
FRONT MOVES INTO THE MTNS THIS EVENING...THEN TO A HKY-GSP-GRD LINE
AROUND MIDNIGHT...THEN I-77 CORRIDOR BEFORE DAYBREAK...THEN EAST OF
THE AREA AROUND 12Z. ALL THE GUIDANCE HAS AT LEAST SOME CAPE WITH
THE NAM A SEEMINGLY STRONG OUTLIER. STILL...THE SREF MEAN MUCAPE HAS
VALUES 500 OR BETTER ALONG THE LINE AND MIXED LAYER CAPE SLIGHTLY
LESS. THE SREF ALSO SHOWS MEDIAN BULK SHEAR 60 TO 80 KNOTS AND 0-1KM
HELICITY VALUES FROM 100 TO 300. GIVEN THESE FACTORS IT LOOKS LIKELY
THAT A SEVERE STORMS WILL DEVELOP AS THIS LINE MOVES THRU THE CWFA.
HAVE ALREADY INCLUDED ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND
WORDING IN THE GRIDS. LOWS SHOULD BE AROUND 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
THE FRONT QUICKLY MOVES EAST OF THE AREA TUE MORNING...TAKING THE
SQUALL LINE WITH IT. HAVE QUICKLY ENDED POP FROM WEST TO EAST OVER
THE AREA. NW FLOW AND LOW LEVEL LINGER OVER THE MTNS...SO HAVE
LIKELY POP DIMINISHING TO SLIGHT CHC FOR THE AFTERNOON. CANNOT RULE
OUT SOME SNOW FOR THE HIGHEST PEAKS...BUT NO SIGNIFICANT ACCUMS
EXPECTED. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THRU AT LEAST EARLY AFTERNOON.
FOR NOW...WILL NOT EXTEND ANY WIND ADV INTO TUE. HOWEVER...LATER
SHIFTS WILL LIKELY NEED SOMETHING FOR THIS PERIOD. HIGHS 5 TO 10
DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 200 PM MONDAY...SHORT TERM WEATHER WILL BE QUIET AS AN
UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE SE U.S. THROUGH THU. SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE CENTERED TO THE SW OF THE AREA TUE NIGHT WILL TRANSITION TO
OFF THE EAST COAST BY LATE WED AND REMAIN THERE THROUGH THE SHORT
TERM. THE ONLY WEATHER CONCERN WILL BE THE COLD TEMPS FORECAST FOR
TUE NIGHT. DRY ATMOSPHERE AND LIGHT WINDS WILL PROMOTE IDEAL
RADIATIONAL COOLING. CURRENT MIN TEMP GRID HAS TEMPS BELOW FREEZING
OVER ALL THE MOUNTAINS...WITH FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT MIN TEMPS
GENERALLY IN THE MID 30S. HENCE...WILL HOIST A FREEZE WATCH FOR THE
MOUNTAINS FOR TUE NIGHT. PATCHY FROST IS A GOOD BET OVER MOST
FOOTHILL/PIEDMONT LOCATIONS TUE NIGHT...ESPECIALLY LOW LYING AREAS.
OTHERWISE...GENERALLY CLEAR CONDITIONS WITH SLOWLY WARMING TEMPS.
STAYED CLOSE TO A MOS BLEND FOR TEMPS.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 140 PM MONDAY...THE MEDIUM RANGE MODEL OF CHOICE IS THE ECMWF.
THERE ARE SOME BIG TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GFS AND ECMWF AND
THE GFS IS FOR THE MOST PART CONSIDERED AN OUTLIER MODEL. SOUTHERLY
FLOW AND INSTABILITY WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF SHOWERS AND
STORMS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS. HIGH
TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOUT TEN DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. A LULL IS
EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING WITH MORE STABILITY AND
NO FOCUS MECHANISM. THE ECMWF SHOWS A MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM
LEAVING OKLAHOMA FRIDAY EVENING AND REACHING THE UPPER TENNESSEE AND
OHIO VALLEYS SATURDAY AFTERNOON. IF THIS PANS OUT...WE WILL GET THE
SOUTHERN END OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS AS IT TRACKS ACROSS THE
VIRGINIAS SATURDAY NIGHT. WE WILL THEN BE UNDER OR NEAR THE AXIS OF
THE UPPER RIDGE LATE SUNDAY INTO MUCH OF SUNDAY NIGHT AND VERY
LITTLE CONVECTION. THE NEXT FRONT WILL BE APPROACHING ACROSS
TENNESSEE ON MONDAY AND VERY SLOWLY REACHING OUR AREA LATE MONDAY
AND INTO MONDAY NIGHT. THE DYNAMICS WILL BE PASSING WELL NORTH AND
THE FRONT TENDS TO WASH OUT AS IT CROSSES FROM NW TO SE LATE MONDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AT KCLT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ORGANIZE OVER NRN GA AND AL THIS
EVENING AND THEN SPRINT TO THE NE OVERNIGHT. ATTM I EXPECT THE
STORMS TO AFFECT THE AIRFIELD BETWEEN ABOUT 7 AND 10 UTC...THOUGH
THAT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE A LITTLE ONCE THE UPSTREAM LINE BECOMES
MORE ORGANIZED AND WE GET A BETTER HANDLE ON IT/S MOVEMENT.
CONDITIONS SHOULD BE QUITE WINDY TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. I HAVE THE
WIND SHIFT TRAILING THE LINE...BUT ONCE THE STORMS COME
THROUGH...WINDS WILL BE QUITE ERRATIC. THE STORMS WILL GIVE WAY TO A
PERIOD OF LIGHTER RAIN AND THEN CLEARING BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH
A FROPA. THERE WILL ALSO BE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR TONIGHT AS THE LOW
LEVEL WINDS WILL BE QUITE STRONG AHEAD OF THE FRONT.
ELSEWHERE...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED INTO THE NC MTNS...AND SHOULD
AFFECT KAVL WITHIN THE HOUR. THESE STORMS WILL BE VERY SLOW TO MOVE
EASTWARD...AND WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR STRONGER STORMS TO
MOVE OUT OF NRN GA A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT BEFORE THE FOOTHILL AND
PIEDMONT TAF SITES SEE ANYTHING. THESE STORMS SHOULD MOVE QUITE FAST
AND WILL PRODUCE A COUPLE HOURS OF SIGNIFICANT VSBY AND CIG
REDUCTIONS. A PERIOD OF IFR CIGS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BEHIND THE
LINE FOR A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE THE COLD FRONT CROSSES THE
REGION...TURNING THE WINDS OUT OF THE NW AND BRINGING CLEARING SKIES.
OUTLOOK...CONDITIONS SHOULD BE VFR TUE AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY. SOME
RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN LATE FRIDAY AS A FRONT DROPS DOWN
INTO THE AREA.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
S FUEL MOISTURE REMAINS LOW...AND SUSTAINED WINDS ARE STILL IN IN
THE 15 TO 25 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS WELL OVER 30 MPH...A FIRE DANGER
STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF TODAY FOR NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR GAZ010.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-
026-028-029.
NC...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR NCZ033-035>037-
048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510.
SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...MCAVOY/RWH
SHORT TERM...LG
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...MCAVOYHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 954 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011 GAZ017-018-026-028-029-SCZ001>014-019-060200- HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK- ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 954 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011 ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 97 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE WIND ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-510-060200- ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK- 954 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 97 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509-060200- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 954 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 97 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .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. FREEZE WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. GAZ010-060200- RABUN- 954 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011 ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 97 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT TUESDAY... ...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE WIND ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .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. FREEZE WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
453 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
NCZ048-051-052-058-059-062-042130-
GRAHAM-HAYWOOD-MACON-MADISON-NORTHERN JACKSON-SWAIN-
453 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS WILL AFFECT
GRAHAM...MACON...MADISON...NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD...NORTHWESTERN
JACKSON AND SWAIN COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM EDT...
AT 448 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS MOVING RAPIDLY NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
THIS STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
STECOAH...
FRANKLIN...
ALARKA...
SYLVA...
BALSAM...
MAGGIE VALLEY...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LAT...LON 3541 8403 3557 8375 3557 8349 3577 8315
3580 8308 3578 8299 3596 8288 3593 8281
3597 8278 3590 8257 3569 8278 3567 8289
3563 8285 3499 8351 3515 8366 3516 8374
3525 8371 3525 8384 3521 8396 3524 8401
LGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
537 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062-042215-
BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-HAYWOOD-MACON-MADISON-NORTHERN JACKSON-SWAIN-
537 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT
GRAHAM...HAYWOOD...MACON...NORTHERN JACKSON...SWAIN...WESTERN
BUNCOMBE AND WESTERN MADISON COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...
AT 531 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS OF
NORTH CAROLINA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT...
STECOAH...
BRYSON CITY...
CHEROKEE...
SMOKEMONT...
MAGGIE VALLEY...
WATERVILLE...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LAT...LON 3543 8401 3558 8370 3557 8349 3577 8315
3578 8299 3594 8290 3593 8281 3599 8279
3602 8272 3582 8262 3524 8313 3523 8322
3516 8321 3499 8335 3500 8345 3515 8366
3516 8374 3525 8371 3524 8387 3534 8404
LGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
620 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
GAZ010-NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062>064-SCZ001-042300-
BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-HAYWOOD-MACON-MADISON-NORTHERN JACKSON-OCONEE
MOUNTAINS-RABUN-SOUTHERN JACKSON-SWAIN-TRANSYLVANIA-
620 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL AFFECT
GRAHAM...HAYWOOD...JACKSON...MACON...NORTHEASTERN RABUN...NORTHERN
OCONEE...SOUTHWESTERN MADISON...SWAIN...WESTERN BUNCOMBE AND WESTERN
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EDT...
AT 614 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
THIS STORMS WILL AFFECT...
FRANKLIN...
ALARKA...
CULLOWHEE...
SYLVA...
BALSAM...
WAYNESVILLE...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3543 8401 3558 8368 3557 8349 3577 8315
3580 8308 3578 8299 3584 8292 3592 8292
3595 8284 3559 8253 3545 8265 3542 8274
3539 8271 3486 8317 3505 8357 3515 8366
3515 8373 3525 8371 3522 8393 3528 8403
LGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
703 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062-042345-
BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-HAYWOOD-MACON-MADISON-NORTHERN JACKSON-SWAIN-
703 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS A COUPLE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
GRAHAM...HAYWOOD...MACON...NORTHERN JACKSON...SOUTHWESTERN
MADISON...SWAIN AND WESTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM EDT...
AT 657 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SOUTHWEST
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT...
FONTANA LAKE...
ALARKA...
BRYSON CITY...
CHEROKEE...
SMOKEMONT...
MAGGIE VALLEY...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3543 8401 3557 8372 3557 8349 3567 8334
3566 8330 3573 8324 3573 8319 3577 8315
3580 8308 3578 8299 3584 8292 3591 8291
3567 8256 3505 8355 3515 8366 3516 8375
3523 8370 3525 8371 3523 8389 3531 8404
LGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
748 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
NCZ048>052-058-059-050030-
GRAHAM-HAYWOOD-MADISON-MITCHELL-NORTHERN JACKSON-SWAIN-YANCEY-
748 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS AND A COUPLE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
GRAHAM...MADISON...NORTHERN HAYWOOD...NORTHERN YANCEY...NORTHWESTERN
JACKSON...NORTHWESTERN MITCHELL AND SWAIN COUNTIES THROUGH 830 PM
EDT...
AT 738 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE MOUTNAINS OF NORTH
CAROLINA NEAR THE TENNESSEE BORDER. THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
THE AREAS AFFECTED BE...
FONTANA LAKE...
BRYSON CITY...
CHEROKEE...
SMOKEMONT...
WATERVILLE...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND ISOLATED WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED. SMALL CREEKS IN GRAHAM COUNTY AND THE GREAT SMOKY
MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ARE LIKELY TO HAVE RAPID RISES THIS EVENING.
LAT...LON 3541 8403 3553 8388 3557 8377 3557 8349
3577 8315 3578 8299 3594 8290 3593 8281
3599 8279 3607 8264 3596 8256 3610 8239
3614 8228 3600 8216 3570 8278 3569 8286
3565 8288 3529 8358 3521 8396 3523 8401
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
812 PM EDT MON APR 04 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 W SALISBURY 35.67N 80.57W
04/04/2011 ROWAN NC TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREE FELL THROUGH A HOUSE ON KENT RD.
&&
MCAVOYThe Knoxville radar (KMRX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:56 UTC.
30 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county, with some trees on structures. Also, a door was blown off a hangar at the Macon County airport.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county, with the area from Fontana Lake to just west of Bryson City being the hardest hit.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county, some falling on roads and structures. Several billboards were also destroyed on highway 74. Part of the roof was blown off a building at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county. Some trees fell on homes in the Maggie Valley and Waynesville area.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county, with at least one tree on a house.
Two trees were blown down near the intersection of I-26 and I-240. Other trees were blown down in the Asheville area, including on Wanoca Ave on the southeast side of town.
Dozens of trees were blown down around a golf course on the north side of Etowah. Other trees and power lines were blown down sporadically toward the|Hendersonville area.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Several businesses and some homes received minor wind damage in the Pineola area.
A few trees were blown down across the county, with damage starting in the Lake James area.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county, with the Tryon area being the hardest hit. Numerous trees fell on roads, and at least one tree fell on a vehicle in Tryon.
The metal roof was blown off a large shed on Old Homestead Trail. Additional trees were blown down in the general area.
Trees were blown down across the north side of the county. One tree fell on a man on Hudlow Rd, about 6 miles north of Rutherfordton.
Much of the roof was blown off a home and numerous trees were blown down on St. Clair Rd. The solar panels of another home were damaged just off St Clair Rd. Two chicken houses were heavily damaged and several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed on Vashti Rd near Childers Loop.
Numerous trees were blown down in extreme southern sections of the county near Cliffside. A roof was blown off a mobile home near the intersection of Ferry Rd and Goode's Creek Church Rd about 3 miles west of Cliffside.
Trees were blown down in and around Granite Falls.
Numerous trees were blown down across all of Cleveland County. Trees fell on and damaged homes on Robinwood Dr in Shelby and Ware Loop Dr in Kings Mountain. A mobile home was destroyed by a falling tree off Bell Rd in Kings Mountain. Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. A wind gust of 65 mph was measured at the Shelby Airport as the line or storms moved over the area.
Numerous trees were blown down in the western and central part of Lincoln County, generally in the highway 182 and highway 274 areas and into Lincolnton. Some trees fell on homes, including on North Aspen St in Lincolnton, and on Reepsville Rd near Lincolnton. Part of the roof was blown off a church in the city. Wind damage continued into the eastern part of the county where part of the roof was blown off a barn on Mount Zion Church Rd. In addition, the roof was blown off of a barn and old farmhouse on Shoal Rd.
Large tree limbs were blown down near Cherryville with large trees blown down near Dallas. A tree fell on and damaged a home on Kiser Rd and on Dameron Rd, both in Bessemer City. Two transmission towers were blown down and part of the roof of a home was torn off a home on Springs Rd about 4 miles north of Dallas. Also, a shed was damaged on Ole Hill Rd near Dallas.
Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down from Maiden to the Catawba and Sherrills Ford areas. Minor structural damage was mainly the result of trees falling on homes. However, a couple of mobile homes sustained significant roof damage in the Maiden area. The steeple was also blown off a church in the Olivers Crossroads area about 5 miles east of town.
Several trees were blown down in the vicinity of Gastonia. Some trees were blown onto homes, including on Lee St.
Trees were blown onto a home along Redbird Lane about 6 miles south of Gastonia.
Numerous trees were blown down, mainly in the area between Troutman and Mooresville. Some trees fell on homes and other structures and blocked roads. One tree fell on a moving vehicle near the highway 801, highway 150 intersection. Another tree fell on a home on Mills Forest Rd. For the second time in less than two months, several buildings were damaged at a zoo on Pilch Rd near Troutman. The roof of a mobile home was also damaged on Pilch Rd and on Arthurs Rd near Troutman.
Numerous trees were blown down in and around the city of Charlotte as well as most of Mecklenburg County. Some trees fell on and blocked roads, especially on the south side of the city, including several spots on I-485. Structural damage was generally limited to trees on structures. However, a gas pump was blown near UNC-Charlotte. A wind gust of 66 mph was measured by the ASOS at Charlotte/Douglass International Airport.
County comms reported numerous trees were blown down across the county. Some trees fell on structures and vehicles, including two trees that severely damaged a mobile home on East Ridge Rd.
Multiple trees were blown down from west of Concord, through the city, and across the Mount Pleasant area. One tree fell on a home west of Concord.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county. At least one tree fell on a house near Cooleemee.
Numerous trees were blown down across Union County, with several roads closed around Monroe due to downed trees.
At least a dozen trees were blown down near Granite Quarry, with numerous trees down in the Gold Hill area. Some trees fell on and caused minor damage to structures.
Lightning struck a church on highway 153, igniting a fire that detroyed much of the structure's interior.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford | 2011-04-04 | Male | Unknown | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 2011
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: 294976, 294977, 294978, 294979, 294987, 294989, 294990, 294991, 294992, 294993, 295375, 295376, 295377, 295378, 295379, 295380, 295381, 295382, 295383, 295384, 295385, 295386, 295387, 295388, 295687, 295689, 295690, 295691, 295692, 295693, 295696, 297603, 297612, 297633, 297638, 303830, 303836, 303842, 299011.