Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, June 8, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, June 8, 2011
Start: 2011-06-08T17:05
End: 2011-06-08T18:23
Location: South Carolina

June 8, 2011 · NWS GSP · 9 events in 2 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed over upstate South Carolina as an unseasonably hot airmass persisted across the region. The storms produced both large hail and damaging winds.

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: 9

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 upstate South Carolina as an unseasonably hot airmass persisted across the region. The storms produced both large hail and damaging winds.

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 8, 4:40 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 8, 4:40 PM EST, 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
540 PM EDT WED JUN 8 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...
WITH A GRADUALLY SHIFT EASTWARD OVER THE ATLANTIC. A WEAK COLD FRONT
WILL APPROACH OVER THE WEEKEND AND MOVE EAST OF THE AREA ON SUNDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
2130 UTC UPDATE...POPS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR CONVECTION
IN THE UPSTATE SC AND NORTHEAST GA...AND QPF WAS UPDATED FOR THE
SAME REASON.

AT 230 PM... WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE INTO LATE
AFTERNOON. WITH LITTLE OR NO WIND THROUGH THE COLUMN...LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN IS A MAIN THREAT...BUT SOME MARGINAL SEVERE HAIL POSSIBLE AS
WELL WITH THE TALLEST STORMS. EXPECT CONVECTION WILL WANE QUICKLY
ABOUT SUNSET WITH LOSS OF HEATING. DEBRIS CLOUDS EXPECTED TO
DISSIPATE DURING THE EVENING ALLOWING FOR CLEAR CONDITIONS
OVERNIGHT. MINIMUM TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE AVERAGE PER A MOS
BLEND.

ON THU WITH THE UPPER RIDGE SHIFTING EAST OF THE AREA ON THU...WEAK
UPPER DIVERGENCE WILL RESULT OVER THE AREA. ALSO...MODELS SUGGEST
THAT THE LEE TROF WILL BECOME MORE PROMINENT. IN ADDITION...FORECAST
SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT CIN WILL BE MUCH LESS. ALL THIS SHOULD ALLOW
FOR SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE IN THE AFTERNOON...
EXTENDING OUT OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND INTO THE PIEDMONT AREAS. WILL
FEATURE HIGHEST POPS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WHERE 50-60% COVERAGE LOOKS
REASONABLE...WITH 20-40% COVERAGE OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS. HOT TEMPS
WILL CONTINUE ON THU.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM WEDNESDAY...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...BROAD RIDGING WILL
REMAIN ACROSS THE CWA THROUGH THE PERIOD. FORECAST SOUNDINGS
INDICATE A FAIR MOIST PROFILE...WITH PW VALUES AROUND 1.25 INCHES.
CIN VALUES APPEAR VERY WEAK WITH CAPE VALUES BETWEEN 500 TO 1000
J/KG. AT THE SFC...WEAK RIDGING IS EXPECTED EAST OF THE MTNS...WITH
VERY WEAK LLVL WINDS. IT APPEARS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WILL FAVOR THE
HIGH TERRAIN AND FOOTHILL AREAS FOR CONVECTION INITIATION DURING THE
EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON. I WILL INDICATE POPS BETWEEN 20 TO 30
PERCENT ACROSS THE NC ZONES...SCHC ACROSS THE SC UPSTATE AND NE GA.
TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 120 PM WEDNESDAY...ON SUNDAY...MEDIUM RANGE MODELS INDICATE
THAT A WEAK COLD FRONT MAY SLIDE ACROSS THE CWA DURING THE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. THE FRONT WILL LIKELY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR
AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHRA/TSRA. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE
MARGINAL LLVL LAPSE RATES WITH CAPE VALUES BELOW 1000 J/KG. IN
ADDITION...LLVL WIND FIELDS APPEAR VERY WEAK...GENERALLY LESS THAN
10 KTS BELOW 15 KFT. I WILL FAVOR CHC POPS ACROSS THE MTNS AN THE NC
FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT...WITH SCHC ACROSS THE UPSTATE AND NE GA.
TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN 5 TO 8 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...VERY LITTLE PATTERN CHANGE IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE CWA REMAINS BETWEEN A BROAD MID LEVEL TROF
OVER THE ATLANTIC AND MID LEVEL RIDGING ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS.
WEAK WIND FIELDS AND WEAK TO MARGINAL INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT
AFTERNOON TO EVENING AIR MASS SHRA/TSRA. I WILL LIMIT COVERAGE IN
THE 20 TO 30 PERCENT RANGE. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN 5
TO 8 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...VFR EXCEPT FOR SOME EARLY MRNG MVFR FOG AT
KAVL AGAIN EARLY ON THU. EXPECT SCT CU ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON WITH ISOLD TSTMS IN THE MTNS INTO EARLY EVE...THEN GENLY
SKC OVERNIGHT. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT MOSTLY SW. THUNDERSTORMS COULD
GET GOING A LITTLE EARLIER ON THU AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD OVER
THE MOUNTAINS BY 18Z THU...BUT WILL NOT CARRY A CB AT THIS TIME AT
KAVL.

OUTLOOK...BASED ON LESS CONVECTIVE INHIBITION SHOWN IN THE FORECAST
SOUNDINGS ON THU....THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE MORE
WIDESPREAD THU AFTERNOON...AND EXTEND OUT OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND
NORTHERN PIEDMONT AREAS. UPPER RIDGE GRADUALLY WEAKENS THROUGH LATE
WEAK ALLOWING FOR A CONTINUATION OF AT LEAST SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN
SUN WITH PERHAPS MORE ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORM THREAT WITH ITS
PASSAGE. EARLY MORNING MOUNTAIN VALLEY FOG IS A GOOD BET EACH DAY.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...TJB
NEAR TERM...JAT/LG
SHORT TERM...NED
LONG TERM...NED
AVIATION...LG

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 8, 1:29 PM EST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
229 PM EDT WED JUN 8 2011

GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509-
SCZ001>003-091830-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-
GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
229 PM EDT WED JUN 8 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAINS THIS
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. A FEW OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.
ALSO...THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING SO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL
ALSO OCCUR AND POSSIBLY LOCALIZED FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS. ALSO...THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING SO
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL RESULT AND POSSIBLY LOCALIZED FLOODING.
OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-
510-SCZ004>014-019-091830-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
EASTERN POLK-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-
SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-
CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
229 PM EDT WED JUN 8 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.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A FEW OF
THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS. ALSO...THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING SO LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN WILL RESULT AND POSSIBLY LOCALIZED FLOODING. OTHERWISE...NO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

LG

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:11 PM EST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
511 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0459 PM     HAIL             MORGANTON               35.74N 81.70W
06/08/2011  E0.75 INCH       BURKE              NC   PUBLIC

&&

NED

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:16 PM EST, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
516 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0455 PM     HAIL             5 SW MORGANTON          35.69N 81.76W
06/08/2011  M0.88 INCH       BURKE              NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

07

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:17 PM EST, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
517 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0515 PM     HAIL             3 W ASHEVILLE           35.57N 82.60W
06/08/2011  E1.00 INCH       BUNCOMBE           NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

NED

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:18 PM EST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
518 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0435 PM     HAIL             MORGANTON               35.74N 81.70W
06/08/2011  E0.50 INCH       BURKE              NC   PUBLIC

&&

07

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:21 PM EST, 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
521 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0504 PM     HAIL             CANDLER                 35.54N 82.69W
06/08/2011  E1.00 INCH       BUNCOMBE           NC   PUBLIC

&&

NED

Local storm report, Jun 8, 4:40 PM EST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
540 PM EDT WED JUN 08 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0216 PM     HAIL             1 N CULLOWHEE           35.33N 83.18W
06/08/2011  E0.75 INCH       JACKSON            NC   CO-OP OBSERVER

            HAIL UP TO DIME SIZED FELL FOR A SHORT WHILE. HAD WIND
            GUSTS...BUT ONLY IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE.

0204 PM     HAIL             3 NE INGALLS            36.00N 81.97W
06/08/2011  E0.88 INCH       AVERY              NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE WIFE OF A SPOTTER FROM CROSSNORE WAS IN THE STORM AT
            THREE MILE AND SAW DIME TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL. WIND GUST
            DID NOT CAUSE VISIBLE DAMAGE.

&&

OUTLAW

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:03 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pickens

When: June 8, 5:05 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.89 mi SE of Easley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.820, -82.590

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickens

When: June 8, 5:05 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.89 mi SE of Easley
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.820, -82.590

Several large tree limbs and at least one power line were blown down in the Easley area.

Hail, Pickens

When: June 8, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.89 mi SW of Easley
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.820, -82.610

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: June 8, 5:23 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.89 mi SW of Pelzer
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.640, -82.460

Numerous tree limbs were blown down, some on power lines. A tree also fell on a home on Holiday St.

Hail, Anderson

When: June 8, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.89 mi SW of Pelzer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.640, -82.460

Hail, Anderson

When: June 8, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, Williamston
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.620, -82.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: June 8, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, Williamston
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.620, -82.480

Newspaper reported trees and power lines blown down on North, Hamilton, and Tripp streets.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: June 8, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 1.14 mi E of Equinox Mill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.520, -82.650

A tree was blown down on power lines on Rose Hill St in the city and another tree was downed on Hammett Acres Rd.

Hail, Anderson

When: June 8, 6:23 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.9 mi SE of Anderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.490, -82.640

Quarter size hail was reported on the south side of the city.

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 South Carolina in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in South 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: 319638, 319642, 319651, 319656, 319659, 319717, 319718, 319724, 319726.