Tornado and Hail in North Carolina, April 9, 2011

Name: Tornado and Hail in North Carolina, April 9, 2011
Start: 2011-04-09T12:10
End: 2011-04-09T20:16
Location: North Carolina

April 9, 2011 · NWS GSP · 60 events in 16 counties and zones

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: 12
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 60

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.

Thunderstorms initiated over the mountains of North Carolina during the afternoon hours. As the afternoon progressed, several supercell thunderstorms developed which tracked southeast across the foothills and piedmont along a slow moving surface cold front. With unusually steep lapse rates over the region, several of the storms produced large hail. Fortunately the supercells were a little elevated in nature, and only one, brief, weak tornado developed. Still, hail ranging up to the size of a softballs did quite a bit of damage over the region.

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 Apr 9, 9:48 AM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 9:48 AM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1048 AM EDT SAT APR 9 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NORTH TODAY. THE FRONT WILL MOVE
NORTHEAST AND AWAY FROM OUR AREA ON SUNDAY. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL
APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON MONDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGES LATE THIS MORNING NICELY DEPICT THE
STRONG TO SEVERE CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE VORTEX
OVER THE LOWER OH VALLEY. DEEP LAYER...FORWARD PROPAGATING...CORFIDI
VECTOR STEERING FLOW HAS THIS MCV DRIVEN CONVECTION MAKING A RIGHT
TURN OVER THE RIDGE AND IMPACTING THE NRN TIER OF THE FORECAST AREA
FROM MID AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. A DEEP...ELEVATED MIXED
LAYER ON THE OHX SOUNDINGS THIS MORNING SUGGESTS THAT VERY STEEP
LAPSE RATES WILL TRAVERSE THE SRN APPALACHIANS TO ALLOW THE SYSTEM
TO BE MAINTAINED. SFC BASED CAPE VALUES ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
SHOULD BE QUITE ROBUST EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE NW NC PIEDMONT...WHERE
LOW CLOUDS NE OF THE STALLED SFC FRONT WILL LINGER AND KEEP TEMPS A
BIT COOLER THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. FORCING WILL BE BEST IN THE
LOWER CAPE AIR ACROSS THE NORTH...WHILE 1000 TO 2000 J/KG CAPE LOOK
BETTER ACROSS THE SRN HALF WHERE FORCING IS WEAKER. CONVECTIVE POPS
LOOK LIKELY FOR MOST AREAS AT SOME POINT LATER THIS AFTERNOON...AND
HAVE ADJUSTED THE NC FOOTHILL POPS UP TO CATEGORICAL FOR THIS
UPDATE. WILL CONTINUE THE SEVERE WORDING IN THE HWO GIVEN THE DEEP
LAYER WESTERLY SHEAR.

CONVECTION SHOULD END FAIRLY RAPIDLY LATER THIS EVENING WITH THE
PASSAGE OF THE UPPER VORT. LOW CLOUDS OVER THE NC FOOTHILLS AND
PIEDMONT ARE A GOOD BET AS THE BACK DOOR FRONT SLIPS BACK SLIGHTLY
SOUTHWARD. MIN TEMPS SHOULD STAY WELL ABOVE NORMAL AS THE AIRMASS
WARMS WITH RISING HEIGHTS OVERNIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
AT 2 AM EDT SATURDAY...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE WILL MOVE FROM THE OH
AND TN VALLEYS ON SUNDAY...TO THE EAST COAST ON MONDAY. AN UPPER
TROUGH UPSTREAM WILL REACH THE APPALACHIANS MONDAY NIGHT. ON SUNDAY
OUR AREA WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR BETWEEN A WARM FRONT DEPARTING
THE TO THE EAST...AND A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE MS RIVER VALLEY.
MOIST INFLOW FROM THE GULF AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL BE QUITE
LIMITED...AND THE BEST POPS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO THE VICINITY OF
THE FRONT AS MIT MOVES INTO OUT AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE FRONT
SWEEPS ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY EVENING...FOLLOWED BY LIMITED UPSLOPE
FLOW SHOWERS IN THE NC MOUNTAINS ALONG THE TN BORDER. SMALL CAPE AND
MODERATE HELICITY WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT...AND SEVERE WEATHER
APPEARS POSSIBLE AROUND FRONTAL PASSAGE. QPF WILL BE LIMITED BY THE
SPEED OF THE SYSTEM AND WEAK INFLOW AHEAD OF IT.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT 2 AM EDT SATURDAY...A SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL CROSS
THE EAST COAST ON TUESDAY...FOLLOWED BY UPPER RIDGING FROM WEDNESDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY. LATE FRIDAY AND UPPER LOW MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTH
CENTRAL PORTION OF THE NATION. A COLD FRONT WILL BE EXITING THE EAST
COAST ON TUESDAY...WITH A DRYING WESTERLY FLOW BEHIND IT. HIGH
PRESSURE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...WITH
MOIST GULF INFLOW ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGH REACHING THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS LATE THURSDAY. MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES INTO
FRIDAY AS A COLD FRONT CROSSES THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY. POPS WILL
BE CARRIED WITH THE GULF MOISTURE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES
WILL BE SEVERAL CATEGORIES ABOVE NORMAL...AS DOWNSLOPE WARMING
BEHIND THE FRONT IS FOLLOWED BY HEIGHT RISES ALOFT.

&&

.AVIATION /15Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AT KCLT...THE LOW CLOUD SHIELD HAS GENERALLY STALLED NE OF THE
AIRPORT. WITH SFC WINDS TURNING SE...HEATING OCCURRING...AND NO
ADDITIONAL STRONG PUSH ON NE FLOW...WILL KEEP THE AIRPORT VFR
THROUGH THE DAY. SCT CUMULUS CLOUDS WILL DEVELOP WITH HEATING AT VFR
LEVELS...WITH CB CIGS LIKELY LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS
ARRIVING FROM THE NW STILL SEEM BEST TIMED AFTER 20Z. THESE STORMS
COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE. LOW CIGS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AS THE SFC
FRONT REMAINS IN THE VICINITY.

ELSEWHERE...VFR LEVEL CUMULUS...WITH CB CEILING...ARE LIKELY THROUGH
THE AFTN. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD ARRIVE FROM THE NW THIS AFTN...MAINLY
AFFECTING KAVL TO KHKY BY MID AFTN...18Z TO 20Z...AND THEN SC TAF
SITES IN A MORE SCATTERED VARIETY LATER IN THE DAY...GENERALLY AFT
20Z. THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE. MVFR CLOUDS MAY STILL
FLIRT WITH KHKY THIS AFTN...BUT MAINLY VFR IS EXPECTED. SE FLOW WILL
TURN MORE SW THROUGH THE PERIOD. PATCHY FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS RECEIVING ABUNDANT RAINFALL THIS
AFTN/EVENING.

OUTLOOK....STRONGER RIDGING RETURNS ON SUNDAY. SCT SHRA/TSTMS MAY
ARRIVE WITH A COLD FRONT MONDAY. DRIER HIGH PRES IS EXPECTED TUE AND
WED.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...JAT
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...HG

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 9, 10:02 AM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1102 AM EDT SAT APR 9 2011

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-101515-
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-
1102 AM EDT SAT APR 9 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING AS A STRONG UPPER DISTURBANCE CROSSES THE REGION. THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME QUITE UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON...AND MANY
OF THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS SHOULD BE THE MAIN THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS
THAT DEVELOP. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
UNUSUALLY LARGE HAIL FOR THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY...AS WELL AS
LONG SWATHS OF WIND DAMAGE. THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD START OVER
THE MOUNTAINS BY MID AFTERNOON AND QUICKLY SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS
THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

GERAPETRITIS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 9, 12:02 PM EST, 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
102 PM EDT SAT APR 9 2011

NCZ053-091745-
BUNCOMBE-
102 PM EDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BUNCOMBE COUNTY THROUGH 145 PM
EDT...

AT 100 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF LEICESTER...OR 8 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ASHEVILLE
  MALL...UNC ASHEVILLE...FAIRVIEW...WOODFIN...WEAVERVILLE...
  SWANNANOA...LEICESTER AND DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE.

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

LAT...LON 3559 8229 3548 8237 3564 8278 3572 8273
      3572 8272 3573 8271 3573 8267 3577 8259

KRENTZ

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

50 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 12:10 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 1.12 mi W of Weaverville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.720, -82.590

Hail up to quarter size was reported by an NCDC employee.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 12:14 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 1.49 mi SSE of Weaverville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.700, -82.560

Nickel size hail was reported in Weaverville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yancey

When: April 9, 12:47 PM EST
Where: Yancey County, Hamrick
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.830, -82.200

Large tree limgs were blown down near Celo.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 1:15 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 1.12 mi E of Barnardsville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.780, -82.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell

When: April 9, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 2.34 mi WSW of Collettsville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.910, -81.720

Trees were blown down at Brown Mountain Beach campground.

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 2:35 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, Old Ft
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.630, -82.180

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 2:50 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 0.39 mi SW of West Marion to 2.66 mi N of Fero
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.646, -82.035

The Blacksburg, VA Forecast Office relayed a report of 2-inch diameter hail near exit 81 on I-40. Other reports of large hail were received in the Marion area as far east as exit 88.

Hail, Cleveland

When: April 9, 3:29 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 3.24 mi SSW of Casar to 0.56 mi E of Kings Mtn
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.480, -81.660

Hail up to the size of golf balls fell in a nearly continuous swath from southwest of Casar near the Rutherford County line, across the Lawndale, Fallston and Waco to near Kings Mountain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: April 9, 3:47 PM EST to 3:55 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 1.86 mi E of Double Shoals to 0.61 mi NW of Stubbs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.378, -81.537

Minor downburst damage was surveyed upstream and downstream of a brief tornado path. Damage was mainly limited to a few uprooted trees and large limbs snapped.

Tornado, Cleveland

When: April 9, 3:50 PM EST to 3:51 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 1.07 mi SW of Beam Mill to 1.29 mi SSW of Beam Mill
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.53 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.368, -81.512

A short tornado path began between Dick Spangler Rd and Fallston Rd north of Shelby. The tornado moved southeast for about one half mile before lifting just east of the intersection of Oakberry St and Fallston Rd. Most of the damage was limited to downed trees and minor structural damage to frame homes. The roof was|blown off a vehicle shed between Wright St and Dick Spangler Rd. Damage was more significant near the end of the path across from Oakberry St. Two mobile homes were|flipped while several other mobile homes received mainly minor damage to underskirting|and roofing. Two men and a woman residing in one of the flipped homes received mainly minor injuries.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 4:03 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, Cherryville to 2.36 mi SSE of Gastonia Arpt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.380, -81.380

Hail up to the size of golf balls fell in a nearly continuous swath from Cherryville, across the Bessemer City area, to near Gastonia, to the Crowders community and then to the South Carolina state line.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 4:07 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 0.56 mi W of Bessemer City
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.280, -81.290

Baseball size hail was reported in Bessemer City.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 4:19 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 0.13 mi WNW of Gastonia Arpt
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.201, -81.152

Hail up to the size of baseballs damaged airplanes at the Gastonia airport.

Hail, Rutherford

When: April 9, 4:21 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.69 mi E of Gilkey
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.450, -81.950

Hail, Avery

When: April 9, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Avery County, 0.69 mi N of Newland
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.090, -81.930

Hail up to the size of nickels covered the ground in the Newland area.

Hail, Mitchell

When: April 9, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Mitchell County, 0.89 mi SE of Bakersville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.010, -82.160

Golf ball size hail was reported in the Bakersville area.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 4:37 PM EST to 5:05 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 1.32 mi ENE of Cherryville to 0.89 mi NE of Mc Adenville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.390, -81.360

Another severe thunderstorm, moving along a path just a few miles east of the earlier storm, produced another round of large hail.

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: April 9, 4:43 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2.15 mi SSW of Shopton
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.140, -80.980

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 4:46 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 1.83 mi ENE of Bessemer City
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.290, -81.250

Baseball size hail fell at the intersection of Holland Memorial Church Rd and highway 274.

Hail, Cleveland

When: April 9, 5:01 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 0.89 mi SE of Shelby
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.290, -81.540

A second severe storm produced large hail in the Shelby area.

Hail, Burke

When: April 9, 5:10 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 1.32 mi WNW of Morganton to 0.89 mi NE of Valdese
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.760, -81.720

Hail up to golf ball size was reported from the west side of Morganton to the Valdese area.

Lightning, Burke

When: April 9, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 1.32 mi WNW of Morganton
Injuries: 9 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.760, -81.720

Nine people were injured and several dogs were killed when lightning struck the Burke County Fairgrounds during a dog show.

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 5:10 PM EST to 5:16 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.57 mi E of Waxhaw to 3.25 mi SSE of Waxhaw Arpt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.920, -80.740

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 5:11 PM EST
Where: Union County, 1.49 mi SSW of Waxhaw
Measured: 2.25 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.900, -80.760

Hail 2.25 inches in diameter was reported on Rehobeth Rd.

Hail, Burke

When: April 9, 5:12 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 0.69 mi S of Morganton
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.740, -81.700

Hail, Burke

When: April 9, 5:21 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 0.89 mi NE of Connellys Spgs
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.740, -81.510

Hail, Yancey

When: April 9, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Yancey County, Burnsville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.920, -82.300

Quarter size hail was reported at the county communications center.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yancey

When: April 9, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Yancey County, Burnsville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.920, -82.300

Several large branches were blown down around the Burnsville area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: April 9, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 1.32 mi ENE of Lincolnton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.480, -81.250

A tree was blown down onto a house in the city of Lincolnton and another tree was blown down near the intersection of South Fork Rd and Southside Rd about 2 miles south of town.

Lightning, Union

When: April 9, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.69 mi N of Mineral Spg
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.940, -80.670

Lightning ignited a fire which damaged much of a home in Mineral Springs.

Hail, Madison

When: April 9, 5:48 PM EST to 5:52 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.56 mi W of Halls Store to 1.82 mi WNW of California
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.930, -82.610

Quarter to golf ball size hail fell to the north of Mars Hill.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 5:50 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 3.06 mi SW of Hardins
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.350, -81.240

Golf ball size hail fell near the intersection of Puetts Chapel Rd and highway 279.

Hail, Gaston

When: April 9, 5:52 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 0.69 mi S of Dallas
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.310, -81.180

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 5:58 PM EST
Where: Union County, 1.49 mi NNW of Alton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.900, -80.540

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:05 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 0.69 mi S of Marion Arpt to 2.07 mi N of Glenwood
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.710, -82.020

Hail up to the size of golf balls fell across the Marion area.

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 6:02 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 2.07 mi S of East Marion
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.670, -81.980

Tennis ball size hail was reported on Rutherford Rd about 2 miles southeast of Marion.

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 6:02 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 2.67 mi SE of East Marion
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.670, -81.950

Two inch diameter hail fell along Roy Hollifield Rd.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 6:07 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 1.12 mi E of Barnardsville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.780, -82.450

Hail, Madison

When: April 9, 6:08 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 1.49 mi NNE of Barnard
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.850, -82.740

Hail 1.5 inches in diameter was reported in the Walnut area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: April 9, 6:10 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2.36 mi SSE of Charlotte to 3.14 mi ESE of Griffith
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.200, -80.830

Trees and large tree limbs were blown down near Uptown Charlotte. At least one tree fell on a house. Other trees were blown down near South Park Mall.

Hail, Madison

When: April 9, 6:11 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 7.35 mi SSE of Paint Fork
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.740, -82.400

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: April 9, 6:15 PM EST to 6:18 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2.82 mi SSW of Shopton to 2.99 mi NNW of Pineville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.130, -80.980

Golf ball size hail fell from the Steele Creek community, about 12 miles southwest of Uptown Charlotte, to near the the I-77 and I-485 interchange.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 6:20 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 0.89 mi SW of Ridgecrest
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.610, -82.290

Nickel size hail fell on I-40 near the Ridgecrest community.

Hail, Yancey

When: April 9, 6:20 PM EST
Where: Yancey County, 5.33 mi SSE of Eskota
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.730, -82.280

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported in the extreme southern part of the county.

Hail, Buncombe

When: April 9, 6:21 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 0.69 mi N of Walkertown
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.660, -82.350

Hail, Cleveland

When: April 9, 6:29 PM EST to 6:57 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 3.24 mi SSW of Casar to 2.36 mi NNW of Grover
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.480, -81.660

A third long track hail storm brought hail up to the size of half dollars from southwest of Casar, across the Shelby area, to near the South Carolina border.

Hail, McDowell

When: April 9, 6:30 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, Old Ft
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.630, -82.180

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: April 9, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 4.84 mi SW of Matthews
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.070, -80.790

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.57 mi E of Indian Trail
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.080, -80.670

Half dollar size hail was reported in the Indian Trail area.

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 6:34 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.89 mi SE of Wesley Chapel
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.990, -80.670

Hail, Union

When: April 9, 6:38 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.69 mi N of Mineral Spg
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.940, -80.670

Hail, Haywood

When: April 9, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Haywood County, 2.36 mi SSE of Crabtree
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.570, -82.930

Hail, Haywood

When: April 9, 6:47 PM EST
Where: Haywood County, 2.35 mi ENE of Beaverdam
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.560, -82.790

Golf ball size hail was reported on Sweetwater Dr.

Hail, Rutherford

When: April 9, 6:55 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 3.24 mi SSW of Gilkey to 0.56 mi E of Rutherfordton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.410, -82.010

Hail up to golf ball size hail damaged the gutters and smashed the windshield of a car at a spotter's house about 4 miles northwest of Rutherfordton. Golf ball size hail was reported into Rutherfordton as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: April 9, 6:57 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 0.89 mi SE of Patterson Spgs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.220, -81.520

Large tree limbs were blown down and some siding stripped off a home about 5 miles south of Shelby.

Hail, Henderson

When: April 9, 7:08 PM EST
Where: Henderson County, 0.89 mi SE of Mills River
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.390, -82.570

Hail, Madison

When: April 9, 7:11 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 1.12 mi E of Walnut
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.830, -82.650

Hail, Rutherford

When: April 9, 7:14 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.38 mi S of Ellenboro
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.310, -81.780

Two inch diameter hail fell along highway 74 about 2 miles southwest of Ellenboro.

Hail, Cleveland

When: April 9, 7:25 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 2.15 mi SSW of Boiling Spgs
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.220, -81.690

Hail, Rutherford

When: April 9, 8:07 PM EST to 8:16 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 0.89 mi NE of Forest City to 1.32 mi ESE of Ellenboro
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.340, -81.870

Quarter to half dollar size hail fell from Forest City to the Ellenboro area.

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for North Carolina, 2011 Warnings in North Carolina, April 2011

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: 299052, 299057, 299064, 299067, 299079, 299086, 299099, 299110, 303875, 299112, 299132, 299136, 299153, 299157, 299219, 299224, 299230, 299231, 299237, 299244, 299245, 299250, 299252, 299253, 299255, 299259, 299260, 299262, 299268, 299272, 299283, 299294, 299296, 299301, 299307, 299317, 299319, 299553, 299557, 299558, and more.