Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 3, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 3, 2011
Start: 2011-05-03T17:00
End: 2011-05-03T20:00
Location: North Carolina

May 3, 2011 · NWS GSP · 11 events in 8 counties and zones

Clusters of fast moving thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front. Some of the storms produced damaging winds as they tapped strong gradient winds over the western Carolinas.

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: 2
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

Clusters of fast moving thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front. Some of the storms produced damaging winds as they tapped strong gradient winds over the western Carolinas.

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 3, 1:33 PM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 1:33 PM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
233 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROF WILL MOVE EAST AND SWING A COLD FRONT ACROSS
THE AREA BY LATE TUESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD IN AND
REMAIN UNTIL SATURDAY...WHEN A FAST MOVING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
REACHES THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
THE LATEST SFC ANALYSIS PLACES THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT JUST WEST
OF THE SRN APPALACHIANS AT 18Z. RAOB AND LAPS SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO
SHOW ABUNDANT MID LEVEL DRY AIR...BUT THIS SHOULD BE FILLING IN OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS FRONTAL ZONE MOISTURE ARRIVES. THE LAPS
ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWS SFC BASED CAPE VALUES OF 500 TO 1500 J/KG AND
RISING THIS AFTERNOON AS BREAKS IN CLOUD COVER CONTINUE. UPPER LEVEL
DIVERGENCE WILL MAXIMIZE 21Z TO 00Z THIS EVENING OVER THE COLD
FRONT...AND COVERAGE SHOULD RAPIDLY INCREASE IN THAT TIME FRAME.
STILL ANTICIPATE STRONG TO ISOLD SEVERE TSTMS EAST OF THE FRONT
THROUGH EVENING...WITH MAINLY A SOLID SHOWER SHIELD OVER THE MTNS
POST FROPA. THE BEST COMBINATION OF FORCING...INSTABILITY...AND
MOISTURE MAY COME TOGETHER ALONG THE INTERSTATE 77 CORRIDOR LATE
THIS EVENING.

ALTHOUGH STRONGER DPVA WILL CROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF THE UPPER
TROUGH 09Z TO 12Z...DRYING PROFILES WILL ALLOW PRECIP TO DIMINISH
FROM THE SW OVERNIGHT. NW FLOW MOISTURE WILL START UP INTO THE WRN
MTNS BEFORE DAYBREAK...AND LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH WED. WILL KEEP
ANY ASSOC PTYPE LIQUID...BUT PROFILES WILL COOL TOWARD SNOW
SOUNDINGS ALONG THE HIGHER PEAKS. THE UPPER COLD POOL IN THE TROUGH
AXIS WILL THEN CROSS THE NRN TIER WED AFTN. THE ASSOC STEEPER LAPSE
RATES COULD WRING OUT ISOLATED SHOWERS ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE
40. TEMPS WILL RUN 5 TO 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL FOR WED MAXES
OUTSIDE THE MTNS...AND ABOUT 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL ACROSS
THE MTNS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 150 PM TUESDAY...CAA/LLVL MIXING CONTINUES THRU WED NITE AND
SOME DEGREE OF UPSLOPE CLOUDS MAY REMAIN AS WELL. LATEST MOS BLEND
CONTINUES TO INDICATE A LIGHT ADVECTIVE FREEZING THREAT FOR THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE NC MTNS EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. SELECT
VALLEYS...ESPECIALLY ACRS THE SW MTNS REMAIN UNDER THE GUN FOR FROST
DEVELOPMENT. AT THIS POINT...THERE LOOKS TO BE ENUF CVRG OF FREEZING
TEMPS ACRS THE NORTHERN NC MTNS TO HOIST A FREEZE WATCH.

A PERIOD OF DEEP LAYERED RIDGING TO RESULT IN SUNSHINE FOR THURSDAY
AND MAX TEMPS REBOUNDING CLOSER TO CLIMO. MOISTURE LIMITED S/WV IS
SLATED FOR PASSAGE ON FRIDAY WITH MODEL RESPONSE OF LIGHT QPF WITHIN
WEAK INSTABILITY LIMITED TO NC. OTHERWISE...SENSIBLE WX WILL FEATURE
MIXED SUN AND CLOUDS...DEVELOPING BREEZY AND SEASONABLY WARM MAX
TEMPS.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 145 PM TUESDAY...THE 00Z ECMWF IS ALL ALONE WITH IT/S DEEPER
CLIPPER TYPE S/W SOLN SUN. MEANWHILE THE GFS AND CMC ARE IN GOOD
SUPPORT OF A LOW MAGNITUDE NRN SYSTEM. THE MOST RECENT DPROG/DT IS
MAKING THE CASE FOR MORE OF A DRY SCENARIO SUN...CONTINUING WITH AN
OVERALL STABLE DEEP LAYERED NW FLOW AND MINIMAL AVAILABLE LLVL
MOISTURE.

THE GOING POPS ARE ALREADY FAIRLY LOW FOR SUN...SLIGHT TO LOW END
CHC AND THESE HAVE ONLY BEEN ADJUSTED DOWN A FEW PERCENT. STILL
THINK THERE COULD BE ENOUGH INGREDIENTS FOR MTN TOP CONVERGENCE AND
ISOL TO PERHAPS SCT GENERAL CONVECTION DEVELOPING BY NOON SUN. OTHER
THAN THAT...THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN RATHER QUIET. DRY NW FLOW WILL
ENVELOP THE CWFA SAT AND BY LATE SUN A STRONG L/W RIDGE WILL BEGIN
DEVELOPING TO THE WEST...SLOWLY SHIFTING EAST THROUGH TUE. TEMPS ARE
EXPECTED RIGHT AROUND NORMAL SAT WITH AN INCREASE TO ABOUT 5-8
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL BY TUE.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT KCLT...STUBBORN MVFR CIGS HAVE FINALLY SCATTERED EARLY THIS
AFTN...AND ONLY SCT TO BKN VFR CUMULUS OR CB ARE EXPECTED FOR THE
REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. FRONTAL ZONE MOISTURE
SHOULD ARRIVE MAINLY BETWEEN 02Z AND 07Z...BUT ISOLD TO SCT
CONVECTION CANNOT BE RULED OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SW WINDS MAY GUST
TO NEAR 20 KT PRIOR TO FROPA...WITH A SHARP SWITCH TO NW ANTICIPATED
AFTER 02Z. RAPID CLEARING IS EXPECTED WITH NW FLOW WED
MORNING...WITH FEW TO SCT COLD ADVECTION CUMULUS WITH THE PASSING
UPPER WAVE LATE IN THE PERIOD.

ELSEWHERE...VFR CIGS WILL FILL BACK IN ON MOIST SRLY FLOW AHEAD OF
THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. ISOLD TO SCT CONVECTION COULD OCCUR
THROUGH EARLY EVENING AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BUT WITH THE BEST SHOWER
COVERAGE POST FROPA 23Z WEST TO 05Z EAST. THE BEST CHANCE OF
RESTRICTIONS TONIGHT WILL BE AT KAVL AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES
ON NW FLOW INTO THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY. ELSEWHERE...CIGS SHOULD
REMAIN VFR WITH A SHARP WIND SHIFT TO NW FOLLOWING FROPA THIS
EVENING. EXPECT A GENERAL CLEARING TREND ON WED...BUT WITH TEMPO VFR
CIGS POSSIBLE KAVL TO KHKY AS AN UPPER TROUGH PASSES.

OUTLOOK...CLEARING AND DRYING CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY. A CLIPPER
SYSTEM WILL BRUSH THE AREA ON FRIDAY BEFORE HIGH PRES RETURNS AGAIN
OVER THE WEEKEND.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
     MORNING FOR NCZ033-049-050.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...SBK
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...CSH
LONG TERM...SBK
AVIATION...HG

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 3:26 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
426 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

NCZ048-052-053-059-062>065-042030-
MADISON-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-
TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
426 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE INTO THIS
EVENING...AND A FEW OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BEING THE
MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

A CHILLY AIRMASS WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION...GIVING RISE TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT FREEZE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FROST WILL ALSO
BE POSSIBLE IN SHELTERED VALLEYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

NCZ033-049-050-042030-
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-
426 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE INTO THIS
EVENING...AND A FEW OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BEING THE
MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FREEZE WATCH.

A CHILLY AIRMASS WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION...GIVING RISE TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT FREEZE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING. FROST WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE IN SHELTERED VALLEYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-
SCZ001>014-019-042030-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-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-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
426 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE INTO THIS
EVENING...AND A FEW OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BEING THE
MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

NCZ051-058-042030-
SWAIN-GRAHAM-
426 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

A CHILLY AIRMASS WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION...GIVING RISE TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT FREEZE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FROST WILL ALSO
BE POSSIBLE IN SHELTERED VALLEYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 3:45 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
445 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-NCZ062-SCZ001-002-004-005-010-032130-
ANDERSON-FRANKLIN-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER
PICKENS-HABERSHAM-HART-MACON-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS
MOUNTAINS-RABUN-STEPHENS-
445 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN HABERSHAM...EASTERN
RABUN...NORTHERN FRANKLIN...NORTHERN HART...OCONEE...PICKENS...
SOUTHEASTERN MACON...STEPHENS AND WESTERN ANDERSON COUNTIES THROUGH
530 PM EDT...

AT 439 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DILLARD TO ALTO...
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  TALLULAH FALLS...
  TOCCOA...
  PINE MOUNTAIN...
  EASTANOLEE...
  MARTIN...
  LAKE HARTWELL...

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

LAT...LON 3436 8339 3446 8340 3448 8346 3504 8346
      3504 8314 3500 8311 3504 8295 3504 8259
      3501 8259 3501 8254 3436 8254

ARK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:14 PM EST, 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
514 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

NCZ052-053-059-063>065-SCZ001>006-032200-
BUNCOMBE-GREATER GREENVILLE-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREENVILLE
MOUNTAINS-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-NORTHERN JACKSON-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS
MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
514 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN JACKSON...HENDERSON...
NORTHWESTERN GREENVILLE...OCONEE...PICKENS...SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD...
SOUTHERN BUNCOMBE AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM EDT...

AT 509 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BALSAM TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF TOCCOA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  WESTMINSTER...
  LAKE TOXAWAY...
  LAKE JOCASSEE...
  LAKE KEOWEE...
  BREVARD...
  ASHEVILLE...

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

LAT...LON 3559 8229 3553 8218 3546 8227 3539 8226
      3528 8235 3519 8236 3519 8232 3520 8230
      3519 8230 3484 8242 3462 8313 3461 8323
      3468 8332 3484 8326 3494 8312 3499 8310
      3506 8317 3511 8317 3545 8305 3573 8228

ARK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:55 PM EST, 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
555 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

NCZ049-053-064-065-504>507-509-SCZ002-003-032245-
BUNCOMBE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER BURKE-GREENVILLE
MOUNTAINS-HENDERSON-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-POLK
MOUNTAINS-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-TRANSYLVANIA-YANCEY-
555 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN BUNCOMBE...EASTERN
TRANSYLVANIA...HENDERSON...MCDOWELL...NORTHERN GREENVILLE...NORTHERN
PICKENS...SOUTHEASTERN YANCEY...WESTERN BURKE...WESTERN POLK AND
WESTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM EDT...

AT 551 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WEAVERVILLE TO NINE TIMES...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  TABLE ROCK RESERVOIR...
  FAIRVIEW...
  JONES GAP STATE PARK...
  FLAT ROCK...
  EDNEYVILLE...
  BAT CAVE...

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

LAT...LON 3592 8192 3588 8191 3581 8199 3577 8192
      3584 8181 3552 8197 3555 8200 3553 8208
      3529 8230 3520 8226 3519 8221 3507 8222
      3486 8290 3494 8291 3574 8253 3585 8214
      3582 8214

ARK

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Buncombe

When: May 3, 5:00 PM EST to 5:07 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 0.56 mi E of Swannanoa to 1.12 mi W of Ridgecrest
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.600, -82.390

Numerous trees and large limbs were blown down in the Swannanoa area and around Black Mountain. Some trees fell on and blocked roads in Black Mountain. Two people received minor injuries near Black Mountain due to falling trees, one on Goldmont Rd and the other on Old Toll Rd. A couple of small structures also received damage due to falling trees.

Hail, Buncombe

When: May 3, 5:05 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 1.12 mi W of Black Mtn
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.600, -82.340

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When: May 3, 5:07 PM EST to 5:13 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 1.73 mi S of Graphite to Old Ft
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.645, -82.250

Numerous trees blown down in the Old Fort area, with the Mill Creek Rd area, about 4 miles west northwest of town, being the hardest hit. One tree fell on and damaged a mobile home on Middle Street in the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When: May 3, 5:13 PM EST
Where: McDowell County, 2.18 mi NE of Davistown
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.590, -82.140

Quite a few trees were blown down in the Old Fort Sugar Hill Rd area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When: May 3, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 1.38 mi S of Joy
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.860, -81.780

A few trees were blown down along highway 181 in the Brown Mountain area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell

When: May 3, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Caldwell County, 1.31 mi WNW of Patterson
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 36.010, -81.590

A few trees were blown down in a remote area about 8 miles northwest of Lenoir.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alexander

When: May 3, 6:24 PM EST
Where: Alexander County, 0.56 mi W of All Healing Spgs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.930, -81.280

A few trees were blown down in the Ellendale area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alexander

When: May 3, 6:24 PM EST to 6:29 PM EST
Where: Alexander County, 1.68 mi E of All Healing Spgs to 2.82 mi NNE of Taylorsville Arpt
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.930, -81.240

An outbuilding was damaged off Zeb Watts Rd about 4 miles west northwest of Taylorsville. Trees and power lines were also blown, particularly along highway 16 around 4 miles north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: May 3, 6:45 PM EST to 6:47 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 3.06 mi SE of Olive Grove to 3.13 mi WNW of Toluca
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.520, -81.560

Numerous trees were blown down along Casar Rd, with most of the damage concentrated in areas around Big Hill Rd, Curt Ledford Rd, Creekwood Rd, and Joe Z Rd. An outbuilding was severely damaged on Creekwood Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: May 3, 7:11 PM EST to 7:14 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 1.49 mi NNW of Conover to 4.35 mi NE of Oyama
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.720, -81.230

A tree was blown down on a mobile home on Highland Ave. Trees were also blown down Daniel St and Lee Cline Rd.

Lightning, Transylvania

When: May 3, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Transylvania County, 1.32 mi WSW of Davidson River
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.240, -82.700

A tree fell after being struck by lightning, damaging a home and destroying an outbuilding in the Williamson Creek area.

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 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: 306902, 306903, 306904, 307171, 307172, 307174, 307177, 307179, 307180, 318285, 307184.