North Carolina, 2013

Flash 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.

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
$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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

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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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 12, 4:17 AM EST, 9 hours 57 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:24 PM EST, 50 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:42 PM EST, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:52 PM EST, 22 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:52 PM EST, 22 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 2:01 PM EST, 13 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 12, 2:05 PM EST, 9 minutes before
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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2013

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 470977, 470978, 470999, 471016, 471037, 471112, 471114, 471121, 471125, 471128, 471129, 471132, 471133, 471630, 471138.