Scattered thunderstorms developed over Upstate South Carolina ahead of a strong cold front. A few of the storms caused small areas of wind damage.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms developed over Upstate South Carolina ahead of a strong cold front. A few of the storms caused small areas of wind damage.
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 Sep 8, 1:49 PM EST, 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 249 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THROUGH TONIGHT...PUSHING EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTH SUNDAY AND REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE END OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... CONCERN FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THE PERIOD CONTINUES TO BE THE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND ASSOCIATED PRECIP/CONVECTION. THE GREATEST INSTABILITY AT ALL SITES WILL OCCUR BEFORE THE BETTER SHEAR SETS IN...BUT THE BEST OVERLAP SHOULD BE IN THE LOWER PIEDMONT AREAS AS ADVERTISED BY MODELS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. CLEARER SKIES THIS AFTERNOON EAST AND SOUTH WILL ALLOW MORE DESTABILIZATION BEFORE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. WE WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME DEVELOPMENT OVER THE MOUNTAINS EARLY...WHICH SHOULD BE PRETTY TAME...FOLLOWED BY MORE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PIEDMONT. AS FAR AS THE THREAT OF ORGANIZED OR SEVERE TSTMS...NOT ESPECIALLY HIGH BUT THEY DEFINITELY CANNOT BE RULED OUT. 0-6KM BULK SHEAR IS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG /GENERALLY LESS THAN 30 KT/ BUT DEEP SHEAR VECTORS WILL BE MOSTLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT WHICH SUGGESTS CONVECTION WILL FORM INTO A BROKEN LINE. FREEZING LEVELS OF 12-14 KFT ARE ON THE HIGH SIDE WHICH IS UNFAVORABLE FOR LARGE HAIL. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE A MORE SIGNIFICANT THREAT GIVEN DEEP MIXING AND DRY MIDLEVEL AIR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. MIDLEVEL RH IS UNDERSTANDABLY HIGH NEAR THE FRONT BUT DRIES OUT QUICKLY AS BASE OF 500MB TROUGH ROLLS THROUGH OVERNIGHT. LOW LEVEL RH STAYS FAIRLY HIGH. WE WILL PROBABLY SEE A FAIRLY SHARP LINE OF CLEARING AS THE TROUGH PUSHES THROUGH BUT SOME PATCHY FOG MAY DEVELOP LATE. ADDED A COMPONENT OF RAW MODEL TEMPS TO TONIGHT/S LOW TEMP FORECAST SINCE THE FROPA IS NOT A CLIMATOLOGICALLY COMMON OCCURRENCE...WHICH BROUGHT TEMPS DOWN A TAD ESPECIALLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF NOON SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING SUNNY AND MILD WEATHER TO THE REGION MONDAY AND TUESDAY. DEWPOINTS WILL MIX INTO THE U40S TO L50S DURING THE DAY WHICH WILL FEEL GREAT AFTER THE RECENT SPELL OF VERY MUGGY CONDITIONS. TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 1 TO 2 CATEGORIES BELOW NORMAL. FOR AGENCIES INTERESTED IN CONTROLLED BURNS...THE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO RUN BETWEEN 30 AND 40 PERCENT IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS. I DON/T SEE STRONG DOWNSLOPE FLOW OR ANYTHING THAT SHOULD CAUSE THE DEWPOINTS TO VERIFY APPRECIABLY LOWER...WHICH MEANS BURNING CONDITIONS WILL GENERALLY BE GOOD WITH AFTERNOON MIXING HEIGHTS UP AROUND 6 TO 7 KFT. THE ONLY CONCERN WILL BE VERY LIGHT WINDS EACH DAY AS THE BNDRY LAYER FLOW WILL BE UNDER 5KTS. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 1200 PM SATURDAY...THE LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT BROAD UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED OVER THE EASTERN CONUS THROUGH LATE IN THE WEEK. WITH PERSISTENT N/NE FLOW AND STRONG CAPPING INVERSION ALOFT...WILL FORECAST DRY THROUGH FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN 2-3 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOW 80S OVER THE PIEDMONT AND 70S FOOTHILLS/MOUNTAINS. SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING...BOTH THE LATEST GFS AND THE ECMWF ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT ON A POSITIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS FRIDAY PROGRESSING EASTWARD ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY ON LATE SATURDAY...BUT STILL KEEPS AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST THRU THE PERIOD. WITH INCREASING MOISTURE AND DIURNAL INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT...I MENTIONED SLIGHT CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS OUR CWA ON SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE TO NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AT KCLT...THUNDER LOOKING HIGHLY LIKELY FOR A TIME THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AHEAD OF AND ALONG COLD FRONT. REFLECTED THIS WITH A TEMPO TSRA TO INDICATE LOWER CONFIDENCE IN START TIME...BUT BY 20Z FEEL THERE WILL BE ONGOING CONVECTION ALL AROUND THE AIRPORT. ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH WITH THE SETTING SUN AND LOSS OF INSTABILITY...BUT ISOLATED SHOWERS/STORMS MAY HOLD ON THROUGH THE EVENING. GUIDANCE DID NOT PRODUCE ANY LOW CIGS OR VSBYS EARLY SUNDAY BUT GIVEN THE DRY MID TO UPPER LEVELS BEHIND THE FRONT AND MOIST LOW LEVELS...THREW IN AN MVFR CIG LATE. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY THIS AFTERNOON BUT SHOULD WHIP AROUND TO THE NORTH BEHIND THE FRONT. THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW NEAR THE AIRPORT MAY CAUSE RAPID WIND SHIFTS. ELSEWHERE...INCLUDED VARIATIONS ON THE THUNDER MENTION THIS AFTERNOON TO REFLECT CURRENT PATTERN OF STORMS...AND TRIED TO INDICATE APPROPRIATE END TIMES GIVEN MOVEMENT OF FRONT. AFOREMENTIONED CLEARING BEHIND FRONT WITH LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE POINTED TO A RISK OF FOG OR LOW STRATUS. GUIDANCE FAVORED FOG. THIS IS INCLUDED AT KAVL...WITH A MVFR MENTION INCLUDED AT KHKY. THE SAME IDEA OUTLINED ABOVE REGARDING WIND SHIFTS WITH VICINITY THUNDERSTORMS APPLIES AT ALL SITES TODAY. OUTLOOK...DRY AUTUMNAL HIGH PRES WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER OVER THE REGION SUNDAY THROUGH LATE NEXT WEEK. 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...JOH NEAR TERM...JW SHORT TERM...MCAVOY LONG TERM...JOH AVIATION...JW
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1255 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510- SCZ001>014-019-091700- 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- 1255 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012 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 THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS. WITH A VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE AND INCREASING SHEAR...SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND A FEW INSTANCES OF LARGE HAIL. THE STORMS WILL BECOME MORE ORGANIZED AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST. THEREFORE...THE GREATEST SEVERE THREAT WILL BE ACROSS THE PIEDMONT OF THE CAROLINAS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-77 URBAN CORRIDOR AND THE UPSTATE EAST OF GREENVILLE. THERE IS EVEN A THREAT OF A BRIEF...ISOLATED TORNADO OVER THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... DISPATCHERS PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION ON TO EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS. SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-091700- AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- 1255 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. MCAVOY
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
212 PM EDT SAT SEP 08 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0152 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NNW RUTHERFORDTON 35.44N 81.98W
09/08/2012 RUTHERFORD NC 911 CALL CENTER
A COUPLE TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ON RUCKER ROAD.
&&
MCAVOYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
212 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
NCZ035>037-056-057-081915-
ALEXANDER-CATAWBA-DAVIE-IREDELL-ROWAN-
212 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CATAWBA...DAVIE...IREDELL...
NORTHWESTERN ROWAN AND SOUTHEASTERN ALEXANDER COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM
EDT...
AT 209 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM UNION GROVE TO 6
MILES WEST OF NEWTON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
CONOVER...
NEWTON...
HARMONY...
STATESVILLE...
FARMINGTON...
TROUTMAN...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.
HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE...SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER
LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE RAPIDLY. SEEK HIGHER
GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.
LAT...LON 3588 8038 3588 8041 3588 8039 3560 8072
3559 8151 3606 8085 3605 8049 3607 8046
3601 8041 3599 8041 3596 8037 3589 8036
JOHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
301 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
NCZ036-056-057-068>072-082000-
CABARRUS-CATAWBA-CLEVELAND-GASTON-IREDELL-LINCOLN-MECKLENBURG-ROWAN-
301 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT GASTON...LINCOLN...MECKLENBURG...
SOUTHEASTERN CATAWBA...SOUTHEASTERN CLEVELAND...SOUTHERN IREDELL...
SOUTHERN ROWAN AND WESTERN CABARRUS COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT...
AT 257 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PATTERSON SPRINGS TO
4 MILES WEST OF MAIDEN...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
MAIDEN...
KINGS MOUNTAIN...
IRON STATION...
DENVER...
TERRELL...
LAKE NORMAN...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.
HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE...SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. WATER
LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE RAPIDLY. SEEK HIGHER
GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.
LAT...LON 3516 8060 3513 8065 3517 8159 3566 8130
3571 8035
JOHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
307 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
NCZ508-510-082000-
EASTERN POLK-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
307 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL RUTHERFORD AND
NORTHEASTERN POLK COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT...
AT 305 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MILL SPRING...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF
COLUMBUS...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
RUTHERFORDTON...
SPINDALE...
FOREST CITY...
BOSTIC...
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3526 8174 3525 8175 3525 8224 3534 8225
3545 8214 3555 8179
JOHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
320 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
SCZ006-007-010-082000-
ANDERSON-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
320 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN ANDERSON...SOUTHERN
GREENVILLE AND SOUTHERN SPARTANBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT...
AT 317 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF
REIDVILLE TO 6 MILES WEST OF WILLIAMSTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DONALDSON
CENTER...FIVE FORKS...WOODRUFF...WILLIAMSTON...SIMPSONVILLE...
ROEBUCK...REIDVILLE...PIEDMONT...PELZER...PAULINE...PACOLET
MILLS...PACOLET...MOORE...MAULDIN...FOUNTAIN INN AND FORK SHOALS.
SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...TRY TO
GET INDOORS OR INTO A HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. OTHERWISE...STAY AWAY FROM
OPEN AREAS AND ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. WHEN INDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING WIRED ELECTRONIC
DEVICES. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY APPLIANCES BEFORE THE STORM
APPROACHES.
LAT...LON 3460 8270 3491 8213 3494 8175 3491 8171
3469 8205 3474 8208 3475 8211 3478 8215
3460 8223
07SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
327 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
NCZ082-082015-
UNION-
327 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN UNION COUNTY THROUGH 415
PM EDT...
AT 325 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTH OF WINGATE...OR 6 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF MONROE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
WINGATE...
MARSHVILLE...
STURDIVANTS...
SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3488 8030 3485 8031 3483 8053 3499 8058
3514 8028 3510 8028
JOHThe Greer radar (KGSP), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:33 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on E Georgia St in Woodruff.
A tree was blown down on Cross Anchor Rd about 4 miles east southeast of Woodruff.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the Piedmont area. Highway Patrol also reported a tree down on Garrison Rd near highway 25.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, September 2012
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: 414118, 414120, 414165.