North Carolina, 2013Flash Flooding and Hail in North Carolina, July 12 to 13, 2013
July 12 to 13, 2013 · NWS GSP · 15 events in 5 counties and zones
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a stationary front over the North Carolina Blue Ridge. A few reports of severe weather were received early in the day, with the event transitioning to a flash flood mode by the evening hours.
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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $510,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 15
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.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a stationary front over the North Carolina Blue Ridge. A few reports of severe weather were received early in the day, with the event transitioning to a flash flood mode by the evening hours.
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 Jul 12, 1:49 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 1:49 PM EST, 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:24 PM EST, 50 minutes before
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7 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Burke
- When
- July 12, 2:14 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 1.12 mi E of Glen Alpine
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 35.730, -81.780
Trees were blown down on power lines along highway 70 near Glen Alpine.
Hail, Burke
- When
- July 12, 2:14 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 2 mi E of Glen Alpine
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.730, -81.764
Public reported quarter size hail near Glen Alpine.
Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford
- When
- July 12, 3:35 PM EST to 4:05 PM EST
- Where
- Rutherford County, 0.97 mi S of Rutherfordton Arpt to 3.64 mi WSW of Forest City
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 35.416, -81.931
Multiple trees were blown down across the central and western part of the county, from the north side of Rutherfordton, to between Forest City and Rutherfordton, to just south of Rutherfordton. One fallen tree ruptured a gas line on Oscar Justice Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, Polk
- When
- July 12, 4:03 PM EST to 4:12 PM EST
- Where
- Polk County, 3.95 mi SE of Columbus to 1.32 mi WSW of Melvin Hill
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 35.210, -82.150
A few trees were blown down from Tryon to the Green Creek community.
Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford
- When
- July 12, 4:30 PM EST
- Where
- Rutherford County, 2.36 mi WSW of Harris
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 35.240, -81.920
Trees were blown down on Big Island Rd about 9 miles south southeast of Rutherfordton.
Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell
- When
- July 12, 7:30 PM EST to 7:50 PM EST
- Where
- Caldwell County, 2.76 mi N of Collettsville to 2.17 mi SE of Collettsville
- Measured
- 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.960, -81.680
Widespread trees were blown down in the Collettsville area. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees. Trees also fell on a few homes.
Hail, Caldwell
- When
- July 12, 7:40 PM EST
- Where
- Caldwell County, 1.32 mi ENE of Collettsville
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 35.930, -81.660
One inch diameter hail was reported in and around Collettsville. Hail remained piled up in spots until the next day.
Flash Flood, Caldwell
- When
- July 12, 7:55 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
- Where
- Caldwell County, 3.03 mi NNW of Collettsville to 2.58 mi W of Collettsville
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.963, -81.691
Highway 90 at Franklin Place flooded by Franklin Branch. Several other roads were reportedly flooded in the Collettsville area. Some roads were blocked by small landslides as well, including NC Highway 90 near Abington Road.
Hail, Caldwell
- When
- July 12, 8:01 PM EST
- Where
- Caldwell County, 1.32 mi ESE of Lenoir
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.910, -81.530
Half dollar size hail was reported in Lenoir.
Thunderstorm Wind, Burke
- When
- July 12, 8:40 PM EST to 8:55 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 2.15 mi SSW of Glen Alpine to 3.7 mi SE of Glen Alpine
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.700, -81.810
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along Kathy Rd, eastward to Byrd Rd.
Hail, Burke
- When
- July 12, 8:45 PM EST to 8:55 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 2.15 mi SSW of Glen Alpine to 1.66 mi SE of Glen Alpine
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.700, -81.810
Half dollar size hail fell from Kathy Rd on the southwest side of Glen Alpine to Causby Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell
- When
- July 12, 8:45 PM EST
- Where
- McDowell County, Old Ft
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.630, -82.180
Trees were blown down along I-40 near Old Fort.
Hail, Burke
- When
- July 12, 9:25 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 4.49 mi W of Enola
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.670, -81.730
Large hail fell on Jenkins Rd.
Flash Flood, Burke
- When
- July 12, 9:55 PM EST to July 13, 12:30 AM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 1.77 mi NNW of Glen Alpine to 2.42 mi ENE of Bridgewater
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $60,000
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.753, -81.814
Powerhouse Road was flooded. A tractor trailer and a number of cars were swept together by flood waters on Causby Road (1 S Glen Alpine). A swift water rescue was reported at Byrd and Conley Roads (5 SW Morganton). Jenkins Road was flooded near Burkemont Road (4 S Morganton). Swift water rescues were also reported along highway 70 and Kathy Road (3 SW Glen Alpine).
Flash Flood, Polk
- When
- July 13, 2:00 AM EST to 3:30 AM EST
- Where
- Polk County, 0.43 mi SSE of Columbus to 0.79 mi WNW of Mill Spg
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $400,000
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 35.244, -82.198
A stream flooded Houston Road near Dimsdale lane, trapping people in their cars (2 NNE Columbus). Two mudslides were also reported around Mill Spring. A 40 foot section of Peniel Road was washed out by Mill Creek between Hugh Champion Road and Highway 9 south. A private road, Hawks Landing Drive, also had a large section washed out in this area. Water reportedly entered a few homes in this area as well.
- 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.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in South Carolina, July 12 to 13, 2013$330,000 · 1 in hail · 17 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in West Virginia, July 12 to 13, 2013$206,000 · 1.25 in hail · 11 events
- Flash Flooding in Nevada, July 12, 2013$150,000 · 2 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Delaware, July 12 to 13, 2013$50,000 · 8 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 12 to 15, 2013$43,000 · 52 kt wind · 8 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Maryland, July 12, 2013$50,000 · 4 events
- Flash Flooding and Flood in South Carolina, July 12, 2013$31,000 · 7 events
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 12, 20131 injured · $21,000 · 56 kt wind · 4 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in Georgia, July 12, 2013$21,000 · 1 in hail · 8 events
- Wildfire in Missouri, July 12, 2013$25,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in New Jersey, July 12, 2013$25,000 · 52 kt wind · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Flood in New Mexico, July 12, 20132 injured · 4 events
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 470977, 470978, 470999, 471016, 471037, 471112, 471114, 471121, 471125, 471128, 471129, 471132, 471133, 471630, 471138.