Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, June 5, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, June 5, 2011
Start: 2011-06-05T14:47
End: 2011-06-05T17:40
Location: North Carolina

June 5, 2011 · NWS GSP · 13 events in 7 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed over the mountains, then pushed out into the foothills and piedmont, supported by northwest flow and a weak cold front. Some of the thunderstorms produced damaging winds and large hail.

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: 13

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.

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 Jun 5, 1:27 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 5, 1:27 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
227 PM EDT SUN JUN 5 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS FROM THE
WEST TONIGHT. WARM UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL STRENGTHEN FROM THE
LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO MID WEEK. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL
APPROACH FROM THE NORTH NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
CONVECTIVE TRENDS STILL UNCERTAIN EVEN AT THIS HOUR. GUIDANCE STILL
SUGGESTING A WAVE DROPS ACROSS OUR CWFA IN THE NLY FLOW PROVIDING
SCT COVERAGE NORTH AND EAST...AND ISOLATED AT BEST SW. HOWEVER...
MCS NEAR THE KY/TN BORDER HAS TAKEN A SOUTHWARD TURN. THE MCS COULD
TAKE A SOUTH OR SE TRACK. A SE TRACK WOULD BRING ORGANIZED
CONVECTION OVER THE WRN CWFA WHILE A S TRACK WOULD TAKE IT TO OUR
WEST. TAKING A LOOK AT CURRENT SYSTEM MOVEMENT...CORFIDI VECTORS AND
MEAN H85-H3 WIND...SHOWS THE WRN CWFA MAY BE UNDER THE GUN FROM THIS
SYSTEM. THEREFORE...WILL ADD SCT POP TO THE WESTERN CWFA. LATER
SHIFT HAS A COUPLE OF HOURS TO REFINE THE FCST AND GO WITH HIGHER
POP SHOULD THE SITUATION WARRANT. SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY...
ESPECIALLY IF THE MCS MOVES IN TO HELP ORGANIZE THE STORMS.
ATMOSPHERE IS VERY UNSTABLE WITH DCAPE OVER 1000 J/KG AND EFFECTIVE
SHEAR IN THE 20 TO 40 KT RANGE. THE CONVECTION MAY LINGER THRU THE
EVENING AND FINALLY DISSIPATE/MOVE OUT NEAR MIDNIGHT. EXPECT QUITE A
BIT OF DEBRIS CLOUD MUCH OF THE NITE...WITH LOWS AGAIN ABOVE NORMAL.

GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THE ATMOS BECOMES UNSTABLE ONCE AGAIN MONDAY
AFTERNOON AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE LINGERS ACROSS THE AREA. WITH COOLER
TEMPS IN PLACE...ATMOS APPEARS TO BE CAPPED ACROSS THE NRN CWFA.
HOWEVER...THERE COULD BE SOME WEAK UPSLOPE FLOW AND DIFFERENTIAL
HEATING TO PRODUCE ISOLATED TSRA OVER THE NE GA...UPSTATE AND THE
WRN MTNS. HAVE INCLUDED SLIGHT CHC POP FOR THESE AREAS. HIGHS WILL
BE COOLER...BUT STILL ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 155 PM SUNDAY...UPPER LEVEL RIDGING REASSERTS ITSELF ACROSS
THE SE CONUS DURING THE SHORT RANGE. MODELS AGREE WELL WITH
MAINTAINING A CLOSED 588 DM HIGH ACROSS MIDDLE TN SHIFTING SLOWLY
EAST TO THE TN/NC BORDER BEGINNING MID DAY TUE THROUGH WED NIGHT.
THERE IS TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE IN THE OP MODELS WRT TO A SE/WARD
DIVING S/W ON THE FRONT END OF THE ANTICYCLONE TO WARRANT MUCH
CONCERN....BUT SOME ENHANCEMENT OF DIURNAL MOUNTAIN CONVEC IS
CERTAINLY POSSIBLE LATER TUE WITH COLD POOL ORGANIZATION PUSHING
TSTMS INTO THE PIEDMONT INTO THE LATE EVENING. SOUNDINGS REMAIN
RATHER BENIGN OUTSIDE THE NC MTNS WITH THE MLVLS REMAINING TOO
WARM...HOWEVER HIGH AMOUNTS OF ELCAPE COULD BE REALIZED IF AN
ORGANIZED MCS GETS GOING ACROSS THE NC MTNS. POPS HAVE BEEN KEPT IN
THE ISOL RANGE FOR TUE EVENING...BUT THIS COULD BE SITUATION TO
WATCH FOR STRONG TO SEVERE POTENTIAL. ON WED...THE UPPER HIGH AND
STRONG NVA WILL HAVE MORE INFLUENCE OVER THE CWFA AND IT WILL BE
LESS LIKELY FOR ANYTHING BUT DIFFERENTIAL HEATING OR MOUNTAIN TOP
CONVECTION FIRING UP. POPS WERE MAINTAINED RIGHT AROUND CLIMO
FOR WED AFTERNOON. MAX TEMPS AGAIN WILL REACH WELL ABOVE
NORMAL...ABOUT 10 ABOVE FOR TUE AND EVEN A COUPLE MORE DEGREES
HOTTER ON WED. MINS WILL AVERAGE ABOUT 10-12 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT 2 PM EDT SUNDAY...AN UPPER RIDGE WILL EXIST OVER THE EASTERN TWO
THIRDS OF THE NATION FROM THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS RIDGE WILL
FLATTEN OVER THE WEEKEND. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER OUR
AREA. A COLD FRONT SETTLES INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER VALLEY BY SUNDAY.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL...WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE AS
HEIGHTS FALL ALOFT OVER THE WEEKEND. SMALL POPS WILL BE CARRIED
THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH THE GREATEST COVERAGE DURING DAYTIME
HEATING.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...CONVECTIVE TRENDS STILL UNCERTAIN ATTM. MCS
NEAR KY/TN BORDER TAKING A SRN JOG AND MAY MISS THE CWFA ENTIRELY.
STILL EXPECTING SOME WAVE TO DIVE INTO THE AREA AND PROVIDE FOCUS
FOR CONVECTION. ATMOS ALREADY VERY UNSTABLE...SO ANY FORCING SHOULD
SET OFF ORGANIZED CONVECTION. THE NC SITES STILL THE MOST LIKELY
LOCATION TO SEE ANY TSRA...SO HAVE KEPT CB THERE. LESS CHC OVER SC
SO NO CB. HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING SLIGHTLY TO LATEST THINKING. N TO NW
WIND OVER NC WITH W TO NW OVER SC THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMES LIGHT NLY
TO NELY THIS EVENING. CONVECTION COULD LINGER THRU MIDNIGHT OR SO...
THEN MAINLY HIGH VFR CIGS EXPECTED. MTN VALLEY FOG EXPECTED ONCE
AGAIN. LIGHT NE WIND WITH DEVELOPING CU EXPECTED THRU THE MORNING
MONDAY.

OUTLOOK...A RETURN TO AN ISOLATED DIURNAL TSTM THREAT MON AFT THRU
THU WITH RIDGING ALOFT. MTN VALLEY FOG POSSIBLE EACH MORNING.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...SBK
NEAR TERM...RWH
SHORT TERM...SBK
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...RWH

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 5, 4:54 AM EST, 9 hours 53 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
554 AM EDT SUN JUN 5 2011

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-061000-
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-
554 AM EDT SUN JUN 5 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION TODAY.
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. AT LEAST ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER IS
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL
BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 5, 2:33 PM EST, 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
333 PM EDT SUN JUN 5 2011

NCZ507-508-510-052015-
EASTERN POLK-GREATER RUTHERFORD-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
333 PM EDT SUN JUN 5 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN POLK AND WESTERN
RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT...

AT 333 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF LAKE LURE...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST
OF RUTHERFORDTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  RUTHERFORDTON...

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

LAT...LON 3537 8185 3519 8206 3519 8208 3539 8221
      3540 8219 3540 8222 3547 8227 3546 8225
      3550 8223 3553 8217 3552 8214 3554 8205

HG

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rutherford

When: June 5, 2:47 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.38 mi N of Rock Spgs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.420, -82.130

Penny to quarter size hail was reported at River Creek campground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: June 5, 3:26 PM EST to 3:36 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 3.24 mi SSW of Oakgrove to 0.69 mi N of Grover
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.230, -81.460

A tree was blown down on Long Branch Rd, about 6 miles southeast of Shelby. Another tree was blown down on Runyan Rd, with trees and power lines also downed on Lavender Rd. Some shutters were blown off a home just north of Grover.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When: June 5, 3:42 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 2.09 mi SSE of Scotts
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.803, -81.003

Trees were blown down on Lippard Farm Rd. A tree was also blown down nearby on Antietam Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: June 5, 3:52 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 3.06 mi NE of Rock Spgs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.430, -82.090

Trees were blown down east of Lake Lure, near the Green Hill community.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: June 5, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 1.49 mi SSE of Maiden Laneys Fld Ar
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.560, -81.110

Approximately 50 trees were blown down in the area along E Maiden Rd, with at least one tree on a home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: June 5, 4:48 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 2.36 mi SSW of Denver Little Mtn Ar
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.550, -81.100

Mutliple trees were blown down along highway 150 near the Catawba County line, with|trees down on a home and a business. Additional trees were blown down along highway 16. Also, part of the roof was blown off a business near the highway 16/150 intersection.

Hail, Lincoln

When: June 5, 4:52 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 2.07 mi S of Denver Little Mtn Ar
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.550, -81.080

Quarter size hail fell near the intersection of highways 150 and 16.

Hail, Lincoln

When: June 5, 5:04 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 0.89 mi SW of Elay
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.460, -81.460

Hail, Madison

When: June 5, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 1.49 mi NNE of Barnard
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.850, -82.740

Quarter size hail fell in the Walnut community.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaston

When: June 5, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 2 mi NW of Cherryville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.401, -81.405

Large tree limbs were blown down about 2 miles northwest of Cherryville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: June 5, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 1.49 mi NNE of Redmon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.820, -82.710

Several small trees and some large limbs were blown down on Riddle Farm Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaston

When: June 5, 5:30 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, Mt Holly to 1.13 mi W of Belmont South
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.300, -81.020

Numerous trees blown down in the eastern part of Gaston County, from Mount Holly, to Cramerton, McAdenville, and Belmont. Falling trees damaged a home in McAdenville and at least two homes and some vehicles in Belmont.

Hail, Gaston

When: June 5, 5:33 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 0.76 mi WSW of Belmont Jct
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.275, -81.062

Quarter size hail fell at the intersection of Reese St and Bartlett St.

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.

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 Warnings in North Carolina, June 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: 318595, 318600, 318602, 318603, 318612, 318625, 318628, 318635, 318638, 318641, 318643, 318648, 318649.