Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 26, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 26, 2011
Start: 2011-05-26T15:15
End: 2011-05-26T21:56
Location: North Carolina

May 26, 2011 · NWS GSP · 24 events in 11 counties and zones

Numerous showers and thunderstorms affected the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours. Some of the thunderstorms were severe, producing large hail and damaging straight line wind.

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: 24

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 May 26, 1:34 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 1:34 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
234 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PUSH A WEAKENING COLD FRONT ACROSS THE
CAROLINAS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL AND
WASH OUT OVER THE REGION FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SUMMER LIKE WEATHER WILL
RETURN ON SATURDAY AND LINGER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT 1730Z...A QUICK UPDATE FOR AVIATION GRIDS. HAVE UPDATED THE NEAR
TERM PUBLIC FORECAST AS WELL. AN UPPER TROF WILL PROGRESS ACRS THE
OH/TN VLYS AND LIFT NE THRU THE APPALACHIANS ON FRIDAY. THE FORCING
ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACH OF THE TROF WILL BE STRONGEST FROM LATE
THIS AFTN WELL INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE GFS AND NAM AGREE ON
DECENT UPPER DIVERGE AS WELL DURING THAT TIME FRAME. SHEAR AND
INSTBY WILL BE ENUF TO SUPPORT CONVECTION THRU THE NIGHT. THERE IS
CURRENTLY A SVR TSTM WATCH TO OUR WEST...INCLUDING FOUR NC COUNTIES
(SEE WCNGSP). CONVECTION SO FAR HAS BEEN FAIRLY DISCRETE SUPERCELLS.
THE MESOSCALE MODELS SEEM TO AGREE ON THIS ACTIVITY MORPHING INTO A
MULTI-CELL LINE AS IT ENTERS THE CWA AROUND 20-22Z TIME FRAME. HAVE
ADJUSTED POPS ACCORDINGLY. TEMPS OVERNIGHT WILL BE MILD WITH THE
CLOUDS AND MIXING ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACH OF THE COLD FRONT.

ON FRIDAY...THE FRONT STALLS OVER THE AREA...WITH PLENTY OF
LINGERING MOISTURE. UPPER SUPPORT SHOULD CONTINUE THRU 18Z AS THE
TROF PIVOTS TO NEGATIVE TILT AND SLOWS. HAVE BLENDED IN MODEL
CONSENSUS ON POPS...RESULTING IN LIKELY THRU THE AFTN (ESPECIALLY
ERN HALF OF THE CWA). SHEAR WEAKENS AND UPPER DIVERGE
DECREASES...BUT INSTBY SHUD INCREASE WITH HEATING TO 1000-1500 J/KG
ONCE AGAIN ACRS THE PIEDMONT. SO DO EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
TSTMS...BUT SEVERE THREAT WILL BE MODEST. NEW SPC DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS
JUST SEE TEXT. THE MET AND MAV IN DISAGREEMENT ON MAX TEMPS. WENT
WITH WARMER MAV BASED ON CONTINUITY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM THURSDAY...THE SHORT RANGE PERIOD WILL BEGIN FRIDAY
NIGHT WITH ONGOING DIURNAL CONVECTION. EXPECT NUMEROUS COVERAGE TO
PERSIST ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE FA FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE
DIMINISHING IN THE LOSS OF HEATING AND MOVING FURTHER EAST. SATURDAY
WILL SEE THE TRANSITION PERIOD BETWEEN THE DEPARTING REMNANT UPPER
TROF AND RIDGE BEGINNING TO BUILD IN FROM THE SW. EXPECT STILL
MODERATE INSTABILITY TO DEVELOP ACROSS AREAS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST.
THERE WILL BE LESS CONVECTIVE INHIBITION FURTHER TO THE EAST IN THE
BETTER INSTABILITY BUT WITH WEAK WIND PROFILES THROUGH THE
COLUMN...COVERAGE WILL BE ISOLATED AT BEST. ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS...MODEL SOUNDING SHOW A MORE PROMINENT INVERSION AND CAP
AT AROUND 700 MB...BUT SOME SOUTHERLY UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD HELP KICK
OFF MORE SCATTERED RIDGE TOP CONVECTION. SEVERE THREAT WILL BE
MINIMAL AT BEST WITH HIGH FREEZING LEVELS...BUT DRY AIR ALOFT COULD
HELP PRODUCE A DAMAGING WIND GUST OR TWO. ANY LINGERING SHOWERS AND
STORMS WILL DISSIPATE QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET.

INTO SUNDAY...THE THE RIDGE ALOFT WILL QUICKLY ASSERT ITSELF OVER
THE SOUTHEAST WITH A VERY PROMINENT UPPER ANTICYCLONE DEVELOPING
OVER THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. CONVECTION WILL BECOME EVEN MORE
LIMITED AND WE WILL ONLY CARRY SLIGHT CHANCES ALONG THE ESCARPMENT
AND THE RIDGE TOPS FOR THE NC MOUNTAINS. TEMPS WILL RUN ABOUT 6
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ON SATURDAY AND WILL INCREASE INTO SUNDAY WITH
THE STRENGTHENING UPPER RIDGE. SUNDAY HIGHS WILL INCREASE BACK INTO
THE UPPER 80S OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS...WITH MID 80S EXPECTED IN THE
MOUNTAIN VALLEYS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 200 PM THURSDAY...THE MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE IS IN AGREEMENT
THAT AN UPPER LEVEL ANTICYCLONE WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER OVER THE
SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND WESTERN CAROLINAS THROUGH MIDWEEK. THE
UPPER HIGH IS FORECAST TO RETROGRADE INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS BY LATE
NEXT WEEK WHICH PAVES THE WAY FOR A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT TO MOVE
THROUGH IN THE WED NIGHT THU TIMEFRAME. MON THROUGH WED WILL FEATURE
GENERALLY CLEAR CONDITIONS...HOT TEMPERATURES AND SUPPRESSED
CONVECTIVE CHANCES DUE TO SYNOPTIC SCALE SUBSIDENCE OVER THE REGION.
MAX TEMPS WILL RUN A GOOD 10+ DEGREES ABOVE CLIMO. WILL ALLOW FOR
SOME LOW CHANCE POPS AND COOLER TEMPS FOR THU WITH THE ARRIVAL OF
THE BACKDOOR FRONT. STAYED CLOSE TO HPC GUIDANCE FIELDS.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AT KCLT...GUSTY SOUTH WINDS WITH THICKENING CIRRUS AND PERHAPS SOME
5000FT-BASED CU THIS AFTN. GUSTY CONDITIONS SHOULD DISSIPATE BY MID
EVENING...AS BANDS OF SHRA/TSRA ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE CLT AREA
AROUND MIDNIGHT. LINGERING SHRA/TSRA MAY REMAIN OVER THE PIEDMONT
THROUGH THE REST OF THE NIGHT...BUT COVERAGE APPEARS LIMITED. A COLD
FRONT WILL STALL OVER THE AREA...SO PLENTY OF MOISTURE AROUND...MAY
SEE MVFR CIGS NEAR DAYBREAK...BUT CONFIDENCE IS MARGINAL. THE MAIN
THING WILL BE REDEVELOPMENT OF SHRA/TSRA BY MIDDAY FRIDAY. HAVE HIGH
ENUF POP TO ADD MENTION AT 15Z WITH CB.

ELSEWHERE...GUSTY SSW WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL AT LEAST SUNSET.
GUSTY CONDITIONS SHOULD DISSIPATE BY MID EVENING. BANDS OF SHRA/TSRA
ARE EXPECTED TO SWEEP ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NE GEORGIA
BETWEEN 20Z TO 6Z. HAVE TWEAKED TIMING OF SHRA/CB MENTION...AS ALL
ACTIVITY STILL HOURS AWAY AND NOT VERY ORGANIZED AS OF 18Z. POCKETS
OF IFR CLOUDS MAY DEVELOP DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS...ESPECIALLY
NEAR KAVL. VSBY LESS OF A CONCERN UNLESS WIDESPREAD RAIN DEVELOPS. A
COLD FRONT STALLS OVER THE AREA ON FRIDAY...WITH LINGERING
MOISTURE...EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHRA/TSRA REDEVELOPING BY
MIDDAY. POPS ARE HIGH ENUF TO WARRANT MENTION AT ARND 15Z FRI.

OUTLOOK...CLUSTERS OF SHRA/TSRA WILL LINGER ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY
AFTN/EVE. DRY AND WARM AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO SETTLE OVER THE
FORECAST AREA THIS WEEKEND AND WILL REMAIN INTO THE MID WEEK.
DIURNAL SHRA/TSRA ARE POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE
MTNS AND ADJACENT FOOTHILLS.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...BSH
NEAR TERM...ARK
SHORT TERM...BSH
LONG TERM...LG
AVIATION...ARK

Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 2:31 PM EST, 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
331 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

GAZ010-017-018-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-SCZ001>006-271930-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-
331 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 379 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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.

GAZ026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-SCZ007>014-019-
271930-
FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-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-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-
ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
331 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND
PIEDMONT AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. AT LEAST
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. SCATTERED SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED...MAINLY
THIS EVENING. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE FROM DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. HOWEVER...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE
RULED OUT. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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.

LANE

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 3:15 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 1.38 mi S of Fairview
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.260, -83.630

Quarter size hail fell along Winding Stairs Rd in the far northwest part of the county.

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 4:17 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 0.56 mi W of Iotla
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.230, -83.410

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 1.78 mi SE of Franklin
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.180, -83.380

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 0.69 mi S of Prentiss
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.110, -83.380

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 4:50 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 1.78 mi SE of Ellnay
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 35.180, -83.260

Hail, Macon

When: May 26, 5:09 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where: Macon County, 2.37 mi WSW of Otto to 0.8 mi SSW of Otto
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.060, -83.420

Hail, Caldwell

When: May 26, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 1.49 mi SSE of Baily Camp
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.100, -81.640

Hail, McDowell

When: May 26, 5:50 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 0.56 mi E of Marion
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.680, -82.010

Hail, Caldwell

When: May 26, 6:08 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 1.12 mi E of Mortimer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.980, -81.750

Nickel to quarter size hail fell in the Wilson Creek area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: May 26, 6:44 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 0.89 mi SW of Tryon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.210, -82.240

Multiple trees were blown down in the Tryon area.

Hail, Polk

When: May 26, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 2.15 mi SSW of Beulah
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.250, -82.130

Hail, Caldwell

When: May 26, 6:50 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 0.89 mi NE of Whitnel
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.890, -81.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: May 26, 6:54 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.31 mi WNW of Uree to 0.69 mi ESE of Rutherfordton
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.438, -82.191

Numerous trees were blown down across the western part of the county, with Lake Lure being the hardest hit.

Hail, McDowell

When: May 26, 6:58 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 0.56 mi E of Marion
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.680, -82.010

Penny size hail was reported at McDowell Hospital.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: May 26, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 0.75 mi SSW of Ruth
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.370, -81.955

Trees were blown down in the Rutherfordton area.

Hail, Caldwell

When: May 26, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 2.88 mi ENE of Valmead
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.940, -81.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When: May 26, 7:57 PM EST to 8:10 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 0.89 mi SE of Chesterfield to 0.89 mi NE of Valdese
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.810, -81.660

Multiple trees and power lines were blown down, which some trees blocking roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When: May 26, 8:09 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 2.85 mi E of Pleasant Grove Brke
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.637, -81.550

Several trees and power lines blown down on Bridal Ridge Lane.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: May 26, 8:47 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 0.69 mi S of Kings Mtn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.240, -81.350

Power lines were blown down on Farris Rd and trees blown down on Bethlehem Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaston

When: May 26, 8:53 PM EST to 9:06 PM EST
Where: Gaston County, 3.24 mi SSE of Mountian View to 1.49 mi SSE of North Belmont
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.210, -81.270

Trees were blown down from the Crowders Mountain area to the eastern part of the county. Areas around Cramerton, Lowell, and Belmont were the hardest hit, with numerous trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: May 26, 9:10 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.49 mi SSW of Douglas Muni Arpt to 1.18 mi SW of Clt Brockenbrough Ar
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 35.200, -80.940

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county, especially in|western and northern sections. Several trees fell on homes. A wind gust of 67 mph (58 knots) was measured at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When: May 26, 9:29 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 1.09 mi NE of Mayhew
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.560, -80.915

A tree was blown down on a power line at Island Forest Lane and Brawley|School Rd, about 4 miles west southwest of Mooresville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When: May 26, 9:29 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 1.39 mi S of Troutman
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.680, -80.898

A tree was blown down at Perth Rd and State Park Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davie

When: May 26, 9:56 PM EST
Where: Davie County, 1.78 mi NW of Calahaln
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.940, -80.690

Numerous trees were reported to be blown down in the Sheffield community.

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, May 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: 317155, 317156, 317157, 317159, 317161, 317162, 317165, 317166, 317171, 317178, 317179, 317182, 317184, 317185, 318294, 317188, 317537, 317538, 317539, 317540, 317546, 317548, 317549, 317550.