Hail and Lightning Strike in North Carolina, May 22, 2012

Name: Hail and Lightning Strike in North Carolina, May 22, 2012
Start: 2012-05-22T15:50
End: 2012-05-22T21:30
Location: North Carolina

May 22, 2012 · NWS GSP · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours ahead of a cold front. A few of the thunderstorms produced 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: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours ahead of a cold front. A few of the thunderstorms produced 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 May 22, 1:51 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 22, 1:51 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
251 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
AN UPPER LOW PRESSURE TROUGH WILL SLOWLY MOVE THROUGH THE REGION
TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA FOR
UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER THURSDAY
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 220 PM...GOOD COVERAGE SEEN ON THE NEXRAD COMP WITH MOST OF
THE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE NC/GA MTNS REMAINING RELATIVELY LIGHT FOR
NOW. THERE ARE AREAS OF DIFFERENTIAL HEATING COMBINING WITH THE
UPPER FORCING THAT HAS PRODUCED DEEP CONVECTION ACROSS THE
UPSTATE...BUT NOTHING WARRANTING A STATEMENT/WARNING YET. EXPECT THIS
ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET WITH STRONGER STORMS
DEVELOPING...PERHAPS A MULTICELL CLUSTER COMING TOGETHER ACROSS THE
SC/NC PIEDMONT AROUND 23Z ALIGNED WITH LEADING EDGE OF THE ULVL
TROF.

OVERNIGHT...THE TROF STRENGTH REMAINS STEADY STATE WITH THE BEST
ENERGY AND DPVA DISPLACED SOUTH OF THE CWFA. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE
ENOUGH LIFT AND SOME MEASURE OF ELCAPE AND MLVL LAPSE RATES FOR THE
CONTINUATION OF ISOL/SCT -SHRA/TSTMS. DONT ANTICIPATE A FLOODING
CONCERN...BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STORMS TO REDEVELOP
OVER THE SAME AREAS AND IF THEY ARE OVER THE LOW FFG ZONES...THEN
MINOR FLOODING COULD BE PRODUCED. MIN TEMPS WILL REMAIN A FEW
DEGREES F ABOVE NORMAL WITH THE DEBRIS CLOUD COVER. ALSO...PATCHY
DENSE FOG WILL BE FAVORED ACROSS THE MTN VALLEYS.

WEDNESDAY...HEIGHTS WILL BEGIN TO RISE...HOWEVER AN OVERALL BROAD
TROF WILL ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE SE REGION. MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW
ENOUGH SBCAPE DEVELOPING...ESP ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST FOR SOME
STRONGER CONVECTION. DEEP SHEAR WILL BE VERY LOW AS THE UPPER LOW
BECOMES LESS DEFINED. HOWEVER...AT THE SFC THERE WILL BE WEAK LOW
PRESSURE CENTERED ACROSS ERN GA AND THE WRN UPSTATE...SO A NATURAL
CONVERGENCE ZONE WILL DEVELOP NORTH AND TO THE WEST OF THIS FEATURE.
THIS WILL BE THE AREA ADVERTISED FOR HIGHER CHANCE POPS...ESP ACROSS
THE NRN NC MTN AND FTHILLS. MAX TEMPS WILL BE A FEW DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL SOUTH AND A FEW DEGREES BELOW NORMAL NORTH AS HIGHER CLOUD
COVER WILL LIMIT INSOLATION FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY ACROSS MOST
OF NC.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM TUESDAY...USED A GENERAL GFS/NAM MODEL BLEND FOR
THU-FRI TIMEFRAME. EXPECT POPS TO TAPER OFF TO SLIGHT CHC WED EVE
WITH COOLING. THE 500 MB LOW WILL FILL AND LIFT NE AS AN OPEN WAVE
WED NIGHT-THU WITH UPPER LEVEL DIFLUENT FLOW OVER THE AREA THU. ALSO
EXPECT INCRSNG LOW LEVEL S-SE FLOW TO BRING SOME MOISTURE OFF THE
ATLANTIC UP OVER THE AREA. LOOK FOR A CHC OF MTN TSTMS TO SPREAD OUT
ACROSS MUCH OF THE NC PIEDMONT THU AFTN...WITH ISOLD COVERAGE
UPSTATE SC AND NE GA. TEMPS SHOULD WARM ABOUT A CATEGORY ABOVE AVG.
UPPER WAVE MOVES NE OF THE AREA THU NIGHT WITH A RIDGE BUILDING IN
BEHIND IT. UPPER RIDGE CONTINUES TO BUILD OVER THE REGION FRI WHILE
A SFC RIDGE PUSHES DOWN OVER THE AREA FROM THE NE. LOW LEVEL E FLOW
COULD BRING ENOUGH ATLANTIC MOISTURE OFF THE E COAST...COMBINED WITH
WEAK UPSLOPE FLOW AND AFTN HEATING...FOR SLIGHT CHC TSTMS OVER THE
MTNS. TEMPS WILL WARM ANOTHER CAT ABOVE THU READINGS.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM TUESDAY...THE LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO
INDICATE THAT THE LARGE H5 HIGH WILL BUILD OVER THE MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY ON FRIDAY AND MIGRATES EAST ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS THROUGH
THE WEEKEND. THEREFORE...EXPECT HIGH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE
UPPER 80S FRIDAY AND REACHING THE LOW 90S ON SATURDAY OVER THE
PIEDMONT. WARMING TEMPERATURES ALOFT IN THE RIDGE WILL PROVIDE A
DEGREE OF CAPPING FOR CONVECTION...BUT A COMBINATION OF UPSLOPE FLOW
DUE TO PREDOMINANT SE TO E FLOW AND ELEVATED DIURNAL INSTABILITY MAY
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFTERNOON ISOLATED/SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS FRI THROUGH SAT. SO
HAVE KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THERE WITH DRY ELSEWHERE.

SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...CONFIDENCE IS LOW AS THE MODELS SHOW
DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR HANDLING THE TROPICAL FEATURE OVER THE
SOUTHEAST. THE GFS INDICATES THAT A TROPICAL LOW OVER THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN APPROACHES THE SE COAST ON SUNDAY AND CROSSES NORTHERN FL ON
MONDAY WHILE THE ECMWF HAS THE LOW LINGERING OFF THE SE COAST
THROUGH THE PERIOD. GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE TRACK/INTENSITY OF
THE LOW...WILL CARRY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER MUCH OF OUR CWA THROUGH
THE PERIOD. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMALS.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING AFFECTING ALL
TERMINALS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THESE WRN STORMS WILL GENERALLY
DEVELOP EAST AS THE UPPER TROF DEEPENS AND PULLS NE. A DIURNAL IS
EXPECTED...BUT A FEW -SHRA/TSTMS WILL PERSIST. TOO LITTLE SPATIAL
CONFIDENCE TO ADVERTISE VCSH/VCTS AT ANY TAF SITE AFT 02Z. THERE
COULD BE SOME PATCHY DENSE FG AND PERHAPS SOME LINGERING LLVL STCU
IN THE MORNING. RIGHT NOW...KAVL LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO
AN MVFR CIG/VSBY IS INCLUDED AT 11Z.

OUTLOOK...DIURNAL SHOWERS AND TSTMS SHOULD RE-DEVELOP AGAIN WED
AFTERNOON MOST AREAS. DIURNAL THUNDERSTORMS TOWARD THE END OF THE
WEEK ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.
EARLY MORNING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO FOG ARE A GOOD BET MAINLY IN THE
MOUNTAIN VALLEYS.

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...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-049-
     050-053-501-503-505.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JOH
NEAR TERM...SBK
SHORT TERM...RB
LONG TERM...JOH
AVIATION...SBK

Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 2:48 AM EST, 13 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
348 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-048-051-052-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-502-504-506>510-SCZ001>014-019-230800-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-
DAVIE-MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-
MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-
GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-
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-
348 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION
TODAY AND POSSIBLY LINGER INTO TONIGHT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PRODUCE DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL. THE RAINFALL COULD BE EXCESSIVE IN A FEW
LOCATIONS...ESPECIALLY WHERE HEAVY RAIN FELL ON MONDAY...WITH
LOCALIZED FLOODING RESULTING. IN ADDITION...SEVERAL OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AS LARGE AS QUARTERS AND BRIEF
BUT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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

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.

NCZ033-049-050-053-501-503-505-230800-
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-BUNCOMBE-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
348 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

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

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION
TODAY AND POSSIBLY LINGER INTO TONIGHT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PRODUCE DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. IN ADDITION...SEVERAL
OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AS LARGE AS QUARTERS AND
BRIEF BUT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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

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.

GERAPETRITIS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 2:45 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
345 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ068-508-222030-
CLEVELAND-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
345 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN RUTHERFORD AND
NORTHWESTERN CLEVELAND COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT...

AT 341 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDER MILLS...OR 8 MILES
EAST OF RUTHERFORDTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  BOSTIC...
  ELLENBORO...
  POLKVILLE...

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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. 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 3560 8176 3546 8152 3521 8179 3531 8197

RWH

Special weather statement, May 22, 3:06 PM EST, 44 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
406 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

GAZ017-018-222045-
HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-
406 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN HABERSHAM AND
STEPHENS COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM EDT...

AT 402 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOYDVILLE...OR 5 MILES WEST
OF TOCCOA...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  TOCCOA...

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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. 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 3464 8358 3470 8335 3468 8334 3467 8331
      3461 8323 3460 8317 3451 8314 3448 8318
      3448 8352 3449 8353

RWH

Local storm report, May 22, 3:12 PM EST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
412 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

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

0406 PM     HAIL             5 S HOLLYWOOD           34.58N 83.45W
05/22/2012  E0.88 INCH       HABERSHAM          GA   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            UP TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED TO THE COUNTY COMMS
            SOUTH OF HOLLYWOOD, GA.

&&

JPT

Special weather statement, May 22, 3:34 PM EST, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
434 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

SCZ001-002-004-005-222115-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
434 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN OCONEE AND PICKENS
COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM EDT...

AT 430 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAKE KEOWEE...OR 8 MILES
NORTHWEST OF CLEMSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  LAKE KEOWEE...
  CENTRAL...
  NORRIS...

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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. 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 3500 8279 3480 8261 3465 8293 3479 8306

RWH

Special weather statement, May 22, 3:50 PM EST, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
450 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

GAZ018-026-028-SCZ004-222130-
FRANKLIN-GREATER OCONEE-HART-STEPHENS-
450 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN...NORTHERN
HART...SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS AND SOUTHERN OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 530
PM EDT...

AT 445 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MARTIN...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CARNESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  LAVONIA...
  WHITWORTH...
  LAKE HARTWELL...
  FAIR PLAY...

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

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. 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 3451 8330 3465 8297 3454 8292 3448 8299
      3449 8290 3441 8286 3434 8322

RWH

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Burke

When: May 22, 3:50 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 3.1 mi ENE of Pleasant Grove Brke
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.647, -81.549

Quarter size hail fell near Sugarloaf Rd.

Hail, Rowan

When: May 22, 5:48 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 2.2 mi SE of Granite Quarry
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.597, -80.422

Hail, Davie

When: May 22, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Davie County, 3.5 mi N of Sheffield
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.020, -80.680

Up to quarter size hail was reported on Ben Anderson Rd.

Hail, Rowan

When: May 22, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Rowan County, 4.1 mi NNE of Gold Hill
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.575, -80.322

Dime to quarter size hail fell in eastern Rowan County.

Lightning, Mecklenburg

When: May 22, 9:30 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.41 mi SSW of Griffith
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.150, -80.885

Lightning started a fire at an apartment building on Cherrycrest Lane. The blaze damaged two units of the complex, causing about 50 thousand dollars worth of damage.

What these are

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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, May 2012

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: 385845, 385846, 385848, 385851, 385886.