Hail, Laurens
- When
- July 31, 4:07 PM EST
- Where
- Laurens County, 0.69 mi N of Ekom
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.440, -82.130
Quarter size hail fell along Ekom Beach Rd.
Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, July 31, 2011
Scattered thunderstorms developed over the southern part of upstate South Carolina during the afternoon hours along a weak stationary front. A few of the storms 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed over the southern part of upstate South Carolina during the afternoon hours along a weak stationary front. A few of the storms produced damaging winds and large hail.
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 Jul 31, 1:36 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 1:36 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 236 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY PUSH SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION...THEN GRADUALLY DISSIPATE ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE CAROLINA COAST ON MONDAY. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER WEAK COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION LATE NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... AS UPPER TROF DIGS OFF E COAST AND RIDGE AXIS RETREATS TO CENTRAL PLAINS...EXPECT H5 DIFLUENT FLOW OVER THE AREA THRU THIS EVE. WITH CAPE VALUES NEAR 1000 J/KG...SFC DEW POINTS IN THE 70S...INCREASED MOISTURE THRU THE COLUMN AND PWATS OVER 2 INCHES...EXPECT NUMEROUS SHWRS AND TSTMS ACROSS THE CWA THRU THIS EVE. THERE IS A CHC OF ISOLD STRONG WIND GUSTS BUT WITHOUT DRY MID LEVEL AIR THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE PERIODS OF HVY RAIN W/TSTMS...ESP IN AREAS THAT PICKED UP 1-2IN OF RAIN YDA. CONVECITON WILL TAPER OFF LATE THIS EVE AND SHOULD DIE OUT OVERNIGHT...EXCEPT A FEW LINGERING SHWRS WILL BE PSBL IN THE S CWA. MRNG LOWS WILL COOL TO WITHIN A DEG OR TWO OF AVG. SFC BOUNDARY PUSHES WELL S OF CWA MON WHILE NW DIFLUENT FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES SO WE HELD ON TO SLIGHT CHC POPS ACROSS FAR S CWA THRU EARLY AFTN. TEMPS WILL BE COOLER BUT STILL A COUPLE DEG ABOVE AVG. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 130 PM SUNDAY...A RATHER STRAIGHTFORWARD SHORT TERM FORECAST IS IN THE OFFING. THE RETURN OF STRONG UPPER RIDGING AND SUBSIDENCE WILL ENGULF THE AREA TUE AND PERSIST THROUGHOUT WED. THE OP MODELS DISAGREE WITH THE DEGREE OF DOWNWARD FORCING AND MLVL MOISTURE SOMEWHAT...WITH THE 12Z GFS ADDING MORE ACU THAN THE OTHER MODELS...HOWEVER THIS WILL HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE SENSIBLE WX TO BE EXPECTED. MODEL CROSS SECTIONS SHOW TWO DISTINCT PERIODS OF SUBSIDENCE...THE SECOND REINFORCING THE FIRST ON WED. WITH THIS IN MIND...AND A NEBULOUS DRY SFC FLOW...MAX TEMPS SHOULD RESPOND INTO THE U90S NON/MTNS AND L90S MTN VALLEYS TUE...AND A COUPLE DEGREES HOTTER ON WED. A GOOD MIXING OF DRY AIR TO THE SFC WILL ALLEVIATE ANY HEAT INDEX CONCERNS BOTH DAYS...BUT AMBIENT TEMPS WILL CREATE THE USUAL INCREASED HEAT ISSUES...SUCH AS ENCLOSED SPACES AND PERSONAL HYDRATION. A S/W ROUNDING THE RIDGE WILL MAKE A RUN FOR THE CWFA LATE WED AND IT/S MOISTURE LEVELS WILL BE ENTRAINED WITH THE PREVAILING DRY AIR...HOWEVER ISOLATED -SHRA/TSTMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NRN NC MTNS WED EVENING AS THIS SYSTEM NEARS. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 1210 PM SUNDAY...THE GLOBAL MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE WILL REMAIN MORE OR LESS PARKED OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THROUGH THE MEDIUM RANGE....RESULTING IN PERSISTENT N/NW FLOW OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST/MID-ATLANTIC. ALTHOUGH THE MODELS ARE ALSO IN AGREEMENT THAT A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SAG INTO THE REGION BY THURSDAY...NONE ARE PARTICULARLY BULLISH ON CONVECTIVE PRECIP THU AFTERNOON. THIS ISNT TOO SURPRISING... CONSIDERING THAT W AND NW LOW LEVEL FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT PROBABLY DICTATES THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A GREAT DEAL OF MOISTURE IN PLACE. NEVERTHELESS...ITS RARE TO SEE A SURFACE BOUNDARY MOVE OVER THE AREA THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WITHOUT AT LEAST SCATTERED DIURNAL CONVECTION....SO CHANCE POPS WILL BE RETAINED ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA DURING THIS TIME. IN FACT...AT LEAST SLIGHT CHANCE DIURNAL POPS WILL LINGER INTO NEXT WEEKEND...AS THE MODELS ARE HINTING AT ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY DROPPING INTO THE AREA LATE IN THE PERIOD. TEMPS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL...ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY COOLER THICKNESS VALUES MAY YIELD MAXES A LITTLE CLOSER TO CLIMO FRI AND SAT. && .AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...EXPECT SCT-NUMEROUS SHWRS/TSTMS THIS AFTN-EVE. EXPECT TEMPO GROUPS FOR ALL TERMINALS AT SOME TIME THRU THIS EVE FOR VRB WINDS...TSRA...LOW CIGS AND LOW VSBY. TOWARD MIDNIGHT CONVECTION SHOULD DIMINISH...THEN LOOK FOR AREAS OF FOG LATE TONIGHT...PREDOMINANTLY MVFR...BECMG IFR AT KAVL. AFTER EARLY MRNG FOG LOW CLOUD CIGS LINGER THRU THE MRNG...PSBLY MVFR BUT KEPT THAT LAYER SCT ATTM. OUTLOOK...SFC BOUNDARY WILL PUSH S OF THE AREA MONDAY WITH DRIER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THRU MID WEEK...THEN INCRSNG AFTN CONVECTION AND MRNG FOG. AN EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED ISSUANCE CATEGORY IS AVAILABLE AT FOLLOWING LINK (USE LOWER CASE)... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION/TABLES.HTM && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...SBK NEAR TERM...RB SHORT TERM...SBK LONG TERM...JDL AVIATION...RB
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 2:25 PM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 325 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-011930- 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- 325 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 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. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND A FEW STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. THESE STORMS WILL ALSO PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS. LOCALIZED URBAN AREAS AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE THESE STORMS DIMINISH LATE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. KRENTZ
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 1:52 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
252 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
NCZ503-505-311930-
BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
252 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN MCDOWELL AND
NORTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
AT 246 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ASHFORD...OR 8 MILES EAST OF SPRUCE PINE...
MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH.
SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
LAT...LON 3592 8183 3583 8184 3578 8192 3582 8206
3588 8201 3587 8200 3589 8198 3591 8198
3592 8195 3594 8196 3595 8195
MCAVOYSpecial weather statement, Jul 31, 2:26 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
326 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
SCZ010-312000-
ANDERSON-
326 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN ANDERSON COUNTY THROUGH
400 PM EDT...
AT 320 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF CENTRAL...OR 7 MILES EAST OF
CLEMSON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
SANDY SPRINGS...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
LAT...LON 3465 8281 3467 8279 3475 8263 3466 8246
3451 8269
MCAVOYSpecial weather statement, Jul 31, 2:38 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
338 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
NCZ056-068-069-504-312015-
CATAWBA-CLEVELAND-GREATER BURKE-LINCOLN-
338 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN CLEVELAND...SOUTHEASTERN
BURKE...SOUTHWESTERN CATAWBA AND WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTIES THROUGH 415
PM EDT...
AT 332 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HICKORY TO CASAR...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
NEWTON...
VALE...
COOKSVILLE...
BELWOOD...
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER
LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK
HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
LAT...LON 3562 8105 3542 8143 3542 8145 3541 8145
3539 8149 3553 8170 3555 8170 3577 8130
MCAVOYSpecial weather statement, Jul 31, 2:54 PM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
354 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
GAZ029-312030-
ELBERT-
354 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN ELBERT COUNTY THROUGH
430 PM EDT...
AT 345 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BOWMAN...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF
ELBERTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
LAT...LON 3409 8303 3412 8305 3414 8306 3417 8311
3423 8306 3423 8303 3418 8291
MCAVOYSpecial weather statement, Jul 31, 3:26 PM EST, 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
426 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
SCZ011-019-312100-
ABBEVILLE-GREENWOOD-
426 PM EDT SUN JUL 31 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL ABBEVILLE AND
NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...
AT 419 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF DUE WEST...OR 10 MILES NORTH OF
ABBEVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HODGES...
DUE WEST AND COKESBURY.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3435 8228 3426 8215 3421 8231 3423 8248
3433 8246 3435 8235
MCAVOYThe radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:05 UTC.
Event by event
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens
- When
- July 31, 4:10 PM EST
- Where
- Laurens County, 0.57 mi E of Joanna
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 34.420, -81.790
A tree was blown down on Whitmire Highway near Indian Creek Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens
- When
- July 31, 4:10 PM EST
- Where
- Laurens County, 2.15 mi SSE of Joanna
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 34.390, -81.790
A tree was blown down on highway 76 towards Kinards.
Thunderstorm Wind, Union
- When
- July 31, 5:07 PM EST
- Where
- Union County, 0.89 mi NW of Lockhart
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.790, -81.460
Power lines were blown down at Lockhart Dr and North 2nd St in Lockhart.
Thunderstorm Wind, Union
- When
- July 31, 5:07 PM EST
- Where
- Union County, 1.74 mi ENE of Bonham
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.785, -81.620
A tree was blown down on Pineland Rd about 4.5 miles of Union.
Thunderstorm Wind, Spartanburg
- When
- July 31, 7:41 PM EST
- Where
- Spartanburg County, 0.56 mi E of Chesnee
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.150, -81.860
Large tree limbs were blown down.
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
- Lightning Strike in Mississippi, July 31, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 31, 2011
- Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, July 31, 2011
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 31, 2011
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, July 31, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 31, 2011
- Damaging Winds in Kansas, July 31, 2011
- Excessive Heat in Missouri, July 31, 2011
- Heat in Nebraska, July 31, 2011
- Heat in Illinois, July 31, 2011
- Heat in Missouri, July 31, 2011
- Lightning Strike in Florida, July 31, 2011
More
Every storm in South Carolina in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, July 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 339748, 339607, 339609, 339611, 339612, 339656.