High Wind, Buncombe
- When
- October 29, 4:00 AM EST to October 31, 12:00 AM EST
- Where
- Buncombe forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.611, -82.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind in North Carolina, October 29 to 31, 2012
As superstorm Sandy approached the northeast coast, strong northwest winds developed across the North Carolina mountains during the early morning of the 29th and continued throughout the day. The strongest winds developed across the upper French Broad Valley and the Green River Gorge area, where numerous trees fell during the day.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
- 4
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.
As superstorm Sandy approached the northeast coast, strong northwest winds developed across the North Carolina mountains during the early morning of the 29th and continued throughout the day. The strongest winds developed across the upper French Broad Valley and the Green River Gorge area, where numerous trees fell during the day.
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 Oct 29, 2:45 AM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 29, 2:45 AM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 29, 3:37 AM EST, 23 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 NCZ033-048>053-059-300845- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- NORTHERN JACKSON- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. FREEZE WARNING. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND DAMAGE AND SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ082-SCZ004>014-019-300845- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-UNION NC-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK- ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. FIRE DANGER MAY REMAIN ELEVATED DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF AREAS OF FROST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ036-037-056-057-068>072-300845- IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG- CABARRUS- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT TUESDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND 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. WIND ADVISORY. DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FIRE DANGER MAY REMAIN ELEVATED DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF AREAS OF FROST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. NCZ058-300845- GRAHAM- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... 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. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. FREEZE WARNING. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WIND ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NCZ501-503-505-300845- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. FREEZE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND DAMAGE AND SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GAZ017-NCZ035-502-504-506-508-510-SCZ001>003-300845- HABERSHAM-ALEXANDER-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL- GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS- GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH 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. WIND ADVISORY. DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FIRE DANGER MAY REMAIN ELEVATED DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF AREAS OF FROST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. GAZ010-NCZ062>065-507-509-300845- RABUN-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 437 AM EDT MON OCT 29 2012 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. FREEZE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NED
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Henderson
- When
- October 29, 4:00 AM EST to October 31, 12:00 AM EST
- Where
- Henderson forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.336, -82.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Polk Mountains
- When
- October 29, 4:00 AM EST to October 31, 12:00 AM EST
- Where
- Polk Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.279, -82.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Eastern Polk
- When
- October 29, 4:00 AM EST to October 31, 12:00 AM EST
- Where
- Eastern Polk forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.279, -82.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- High Wind in New York, October 29, 2012
- High Wind in New Jersey, October 29, 2012
- Flooding and Coastal Flood in Pennsylvania, October 29 to 30, 2012
- High Wind in Connecticut, October 29, 2012
- High Wind in Maryland, October 29, 2012
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, October 29 to 31, 2012
- Coastal Flood in New Jersey, October 29 to 30, 2012
- Debris Flow and Flooding in New Hampshire, October 29 to 30, 2012
- High Wind in Connecticut, October 29, 2012
- High Wind in Pennsylvania, October 29 to 30, 2012
- Blizzard and Flood in West Virginia, October 29 to 31, 2012
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Ohio, October 29 to 30, 2012
More
Every storm in North Carolina in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 418132, 418133, 418134, 418135.