Isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains of northeast Georgia during the late afternoon hours. One of the storms caused a little 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.
Isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains of northeast Georgia during the late afternoon hours. One of the storms caused a little 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 May 21, 7:02 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
802 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
.SYNOPSIS...
AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE
REGION THROUGH MIDWEEK. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL KEEP THE AREA WARM AND
GENERALLY UNSETTLED WITH STORM CHANCES EACH AFTERNOON. A COOLER AND
DRIER AIRMASS SETTLES IN FOR THE WEEKEND AFTER A COLD FRONT MOVES
THROUGH THURSDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 800 PM...A LITTLE BIT OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY CROSSING THE WRN
THIRD OF THE CWFA IS WORKING TO ENHANCE CONVECTION.
FORTUNATELY...SHEAR IS STILL WEAK AND THE LAST OF THE UN-OVERNTURNED
AIR MASS IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED OVER. SO STILL EXPECT THINGS TO
WIND DOWN OVER THE NEXT 2-4 HOURS. THE REST OF THE CWFA SHUD REMAIN
TRANQUIL. POPS WERE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY...WITH OTHER CHANGES BEING
FOR 00Z AVIATION GRIDS.
AS OF 530 PM...CONVECTION HAS BEEN FAVORING THE WESTERN SITE OF THE
CWFA IN THE LAST HOUR OR SO...AS DECENT WWD PROPAGATING OUTFLOW
BNDRYS ARE WORKING INTO 3500 J/KG CAPE AIR MASS. THE PULSE
CONVECTION HAS BEEN FAIRLY ROBUST...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WIND THREATS. HAVE UPDATED THE POPS...BLENDING IN THE 18Z NAM AND
LATEST HRRR...WHICH AGREE ON CONVECTION WORKING OVER THE UPPER
SAVANNAH VALLEY AND SW NC MTNS DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.
MEANWHILE...CONVECTION IS TRYING TO ORGANIZE OVER ERN TN WHERE THE
BETTER UPPER FORCING AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR EXISTS. I/M EXPECTING MOST
OF THIS TO STRUGGLE TO REACH THE SRN APPALACHIANS...DUE TO THE LACK
OF SHEAR AND FORCING OVER OUR AREA.
AT 230 PM EST TUESDAY...STILL SEEING AN EVOLVING CONVECTIVE
SITUATION ACROSS THE CWFA AS WEAK FORCING IS MAINTAINED WITHIN A
VERY BROAD H5 TROF. STILL EXPECT PULSE SEVERE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
MAINLY ACROSS THE ERN UPSTATE ALIGNED WITH A LINE OF VORT ENERGY AND
ACROSS NC MTNS WHERE RATHER STEEP LAPSE RATES ARE MOVING IN FROM THE
WEST. THESE STORMS WILL BE MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVEN...BUT SOME -SHRA
WILL BE MAINTAINED ACROSS THE NC MTNS IN UPSLOPE FLOW THROUGH THE
MID MORNING. DEBRIS CLOUDS WILL PERSIST OVERNIGHT...BUT ENOUGH
CLEARING SHOULD BE HAD TO ENABLE MORNING FG...AND PATCHY/AREAS OF
DENSE FG THROUGH 13Z OR SO. NOT MUCH CHANGE IS IN STORE WITH THE
SYNOPTIC PATTERN WED. THE WRN UPPER TROF IMPINGES UPON THE AREA AND
THE WRN ZONES WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON PRECIP/CONV
THAN THE ERN ZONES AND HAVE MAINTAINED HIGH END CHANCES ACROSS THE
MTNS. A GOOD HEATING DAY IN SW/LY FLOW WITH MAXES A COUPLE DEGREES
ABOVE NORMAL WILL SET THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER HIGH CAPE ENVIRONMENT
AND PULSE SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 210 PM TUESDAY...MODEL GUIDANCE REMAINS IN FAIRLY GOOD
AGREEMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE WEATHER ACROSS NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND
THE CAROLINAS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK. DEEP UPPER LEVEL
TROF AND AN ASSOCIATED SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MIGRATE
EASTWARD OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. SURFACE RIDGING TO THE SOUTHEAST
WILL ALLOW FOR SOUTHERLY FLOW...THUS SETTING UP A MODEST WARM SECTOR
ACROSS THE REGION ON THURSDAY LEADING TO ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
EXPECTING COLD FRONT TO MOVE INTO FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA BY
AROUND 12Z THURSDAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL INCREASE
NEAR AND ALONG THIS BOUNDARY AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS...AND THEN SPREADS EASTWARD ACROSS THE PIEDMONTS. HIGHEST
POPS WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS/PIEDMONT DUE TO
CLOSER PROXIMITY TO BOTH UPPER AND SFC LOWS. EXPECTING ANY ACTIVITY
ACROSS THE ABOVE MENTIONED REGIONS DURING THE MID TO LATE MORNING
HOURS ON THURSDAY TO REMAIN SUBSEVERE AS LOW LEVEL INVERSION REMAINS
IN PLACE. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON AS SURFACE TEMPS INCREASE INTO THE
80S NEAR AND ALONG THE I85 CORRIDOR...AND SHEAR PROFILES IMPROVE
SOMEWHAT ALONG THE PASSING FRONTAL BOUNDARY...A SVR STORM OR TWO
CANNOT BE RULED OUT. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE
ON THURSDAY AS DIURNAL HEATING IS LOST...AND DRIER AIR BEGINS TO
ADVECT IN BEHIND THE FRONT.
SLIGHT CHANCE POPS REMAIN IN THE FCST ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN
DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON FRIDAY MORNING. BY DAYBREAK...ALL
PRECIPITATION SHOULD HAVE DISSIPATED AND SKIES WILL BEGIN TO CLEAR
AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING ACROSS THE MIDWEST
WILL ADVECT TO THE EAST DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY ALLOWING HEIGHTS TO
BUILD OVER NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE CAROLINAS...LEADING TO PLEASANT
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE REMAINDER OF FRIDAY EVENING.
TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY WILL BE ON AVERAGE ABOUT TEN DEGREES COOLER
THAN PREVIOUS DAYS AS NORTHWEST FLOW USHERS IN A COOLER/DRIER
AIRMASS.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 220 PM TUESDAY...THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES OFF THE EAST COAST
FRIDAY NIGHT AND DRIER COOLER AIR FILTERS IN FROM THE NORTHWEST.
DRIEST AIR VARIES PER MODEL FROM FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE DAY
SATURDAY. AS THE UPPER RIDGE SLOWLY BUILDS FROM THE WEST AND WARM
FRONT CHANNELS SHOWERS CLOSER TO THE NC MTNS TO START THE NEW
WEEK...POPS WILL INCREASE AT LEAST INTO THE SLIGHT RANGE. BASED ON
THE BLEND OF THE MODELS...LOOKS LIKE THE BEST TIME FOR RAIN WILL BE
GOING INTO MID WEEK. SEEMS BEST ORGANIZED BANDS OF CONVECTION WOULD
BE LATE TUESDAY. CONSIDERED GOING TO LOW CHANCE POPS AT THAT
TIME...BUT THAT IS A WEEK AWAY AND MUCH COULD CHANGE. CAPES ON THE
GFS FOR TUES PM ARE 1100 TO 1400 AND WINDS GOING UP FROM SURFACE NOT
TOO BAD FOR THAT TIME. TEMPERATURES...HIGHS NEAR NORMAL OR SLIGHTLY
BELOW AND LOWS COOLER THAN NORMAL EARLY IN WEEKEND AND GOING ABOVE
INTO NEW WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT KCLT...VFR WITH A LIGHT S/SE WIND UNDER CONVECTIVE DEBRIS CLOUDS
OVERNIGHT. GUIDANCE IS SHOWING STRATUS AND FOG DEVELOPING AGAIN ACRS
THE REGION DURING THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. WILL GO WITH AN IFR CIG RIGHT
AROUND DAYBREAK...SIMILAR TO LAST MORNING. THE CLOUDS SHUD
QUICKLY LIFT AND SCATTER AFTER SUNRISE. SCATTERED CONVECTION
EXPECTED AGAIN WEDNESDAY AFTN. WILL GO WITH A PROB30.
ELSEWHERE...VFR EXPECTED THIS EVENING...AS CONVECTION GRADUALLY
WANES TO THE WEST. EXPECTING SIMILAR CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT TO WHAT
OCCURRED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. FOG AND STRATUS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
FIRST INT HE MTNS VLYS...THEN ACRS THE PIEDMONT CLOSER TO DAYBREAK.
FOG AND STRATUS SHUD DISSIPATE AFTER SUNRISE WEDNESDAY. SCATTERED TO
NUMEROUS SHRA/TSRA EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTN. WILL GO WITH PROB30 FOR
TS AT ALL SITES FROM 18Z TO 00Z.
OUTLOOK... CEILING AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS IN SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN THURSDAY AFTN/EVE. GENERALLY VFR WEATHER
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
CONFIDENCE TABLE...
00-06Z 06-12Z 12-18Z 18-24Z
KCLT HIGH 100% HIGH 91% HIGH 90% HIGH 100%
KGSP HIGH 100% HIGH 91% HIGH 85% HIGH 100%
KAVL HIGH 100% HIGH 89% HIGH 94% HIGH 100%
KHKY HIGH 100% MED 62% HIGH 91% HIGH 100%
KGMU HIGH 100% HIGH 89% HIGH 87% HIGH 100%
KAND HIGH 100% HIGH 89% HIGH 86% HIGH 100%
THE PERCENTAGE REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING
WITH THE SCHEDULED TAF ISSUANCE FLIGHT RULE CATEGORY. COMPLETE
HOURLY EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLES AND ENSEMBLE
FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: (MUST BE LOWER CASE)
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION_TABLES
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...LEV
NEAR TERM...ARK/SBK
SHORT TERM...CDG
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...ARKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 510 AM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-220915- 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- 510 AM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION...SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY DURING THE PEAK DAYTIME HEATING HOURS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
711 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
GAZ010-220000-
RABUN-
711 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL RABUN COUNTY THROUGH 800
PM EDT...
AT 709 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TIGER...OR 3 MILES SOUTH OF CLAYTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
CLAYTON...
MOUNTAIN CITY...
DILLARD...
SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
LAT...LON 3500 8343 3489 8321 3481 8329 3482 8331
3481 8330 3473 8338 3473 8340 3480 8355PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
731 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM HAIL 6 ESE JONAS RIDGE 35.93N 81.81W
05/21/2013 M1.75 INCH BURKE NC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
HAIL DENTED VEHICLE AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD.
&&
MCAVOYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 737 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013 NCZ053-220015- BUNCOMBE- 737 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BUNCOMBE COUNTY THROUGH 815 PM EDT... AT 731 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF SWANNANOA...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. * THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE INDICATED COUNTY. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND WET SOIL CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE SCATTERED TREES AND POWER LINES TO FALL. SEEK SHELTER INSIDER AN INTERIOR ROOM. LAT...LON 3569 8253 3573 8236 3562 8232 3560 8247 MCAVOY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
749 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
SCZ001-220030-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
749 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN OCONEE COUNTY THROUGH
830 PM EDT...
AT 743 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LONG CREEK...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF TOCCOA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LONG CREEK.
DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
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 3475 8332 3476 8333 3483 8327 3479 8312
3469 8324 3474 8333
MCAVOYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
759 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
NCZ033-220045-
AVERY-
759 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN AVERY COUNTY THROUGH
845 PM EDT...
AT 753 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NEWLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LINVILLE...
NEWLAND AND CROSSNORE.
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
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 3603 8181 3600 8189 3600 8190 3599 8191
3597 8194 3606 8204 3614 8191
MCAVOYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
800 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
NCZ050-220045-
MITCHELL-
800 PM EDT TUE MAY 21 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN MITCHELL COUNTY THROUGH
845 PM EDT...
AT 753 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BULADEAN...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ERWIN...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POPLAR AND
BULADEAN.
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
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 3612 8213 3611 8209 3606 8206 3601 8219
3602 8223 3601 8228 3601 8227 3604 8230
3603 8233 3607 8234 3609 8238 3616 8222
3616 8215
MCAVOYThe Greer radar (KGSP), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:19 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on Marsengill St a little south of Clayton and large tree limbs were blown down in the Tiger area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2013
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: 456701.