Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 17, 2013

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 17, 2013
Start: 2013-07-17T13:23
End: 2013-07-17T16:34
Location: North Carolina

July 17, 2013 · NWS GSP · 14 events in 9 counties and zones

A deep layer ridge of high pressure just north of the region resulted in light easterly winds. The atmosphere south of the ridge was very unstable and numerous slow moving thunderstorms developed.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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.

A deep layer ridge of high pressure just north of the region resulted in light easterly winds. The atmosphere south of the ridge was very unstable and numerous slow moving thunderstorms developed. Some of the storms produced damaging winds and large hail.

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 17, 1:05 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 1:05 PM EST, 18 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 4:07 AM EST, 9 hours 16 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 17, 10:45 AM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 12:19 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 12:34 PM EST, 49 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 1:00 PM EST, 23 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 1:03 PM EST, 20 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 17, 1:05 PM EST, 18 minutes before

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The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:24 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mitchell

When: July 17, 1:23 PM EST
Where: Mitchell County, 1.38 mi S of Hawk
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.000, -82.100

Multiple trees were blown down in the Cane Creek area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When: July 17, 1:50 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 2 mi N of Harmony
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.979, -80.770

Numerous trees were blown down near Harmony.

Hail, Iredell

When: July 17, 1:55 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 2 mi N of Harmony
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.979, -80.770

Quarter size hail was reported 2 miles north of Harmony.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: July 17, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Union County, 5.5 mi ENE of Indian Trail
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.111, -80.590

Trees were blown down on Emerald Woods Dr.

Hail, Burke

When: July 17, 2:17 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 0.56 mi W of Jonas Ridge
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.970, -81.890

Quarter size hail fell in the Jonas Ridge area.

Hail, Alexander

When: July 17, 2:35 PM EST
Where: Alexander County, Stony Pt
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.870, -81.050

NWS Blacksburg, VA relayed a report of nickel size hail in Stony Point.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When: July 17, 2:58 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 0.69 mi S of Catawba to 8.97 mi W of Longview
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.710, -81.080

Multiple trees were blown down across the county, mainly northern sections, although a few trees were also down in Sherrills Ford. Interestingly, the storms this day moved from east to west.

Hail, Catawba

When: July 17, 3:10 PM EST
Where: Catawba County, 0.69 mi S of Claremont
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.710, -81.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: July 17, 3:17 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 1.69 mi W of Huntersville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.420, -80.880

Several small trees were blown down a little west of Huntersville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When: July 17, 3:40 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Burke County, 0.89 mi NW of Ieard to 1.32 mi ESE of Oak Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.730, -81.480

Trees were blown down on power lines on Knobs Landing in Connelly Springs, on Morganton Furniture Rd (3.5 WSW Valdese) and in the Oak Hill community northwest of Morganton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: July 17, 4:09 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 0.89 mi SE of Casar
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.510, -81.620

Multiple large trees were uprooted and some power lines were blown down in the Casar area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: July 17, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 6.44 mi NNE of Sunshine
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.540, -81.790

Numerous trees were blown down in the northeast part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: July 17, 4:34 PM EST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.13 mi E of Ellenboro to 0.89 mi SE of Bostic
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.330, -81.760

Multiple trees were blown down in the Ellenboro and Bostic areas.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: July 17, 4:34 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, Mooresboro
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.300, -81.700

Numerous trees were blown down in the Mooresboro area. Some trees fell on structures and power lines.

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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 471157, 471158, 471159, 471160, 471161, 471162, 471163, 471164, 471165, 471166, 471167, 471168, 471169, 471170.