South Carolina, 2013

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, July 4, 2013

July 4, 2013 · NWS GSP · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

Numerous thunderstorms developed again over Upstate South Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours of the 4th. A few of the storms caused a little wind damage.

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
1
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 thunderstorms developed again over Upstate South Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours of the 4th. A few of the storms caused a little wind damage. A few areas of flash flooding also affected the region as the airmass over the region was exceptionally moist.

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 4, 2:13 PM EST, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 2:13 PM EST, 2 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 4:06 AM EST, 10 hours 9 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 12:11 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 4, 12:45 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 4, 2:01 PM EST, 14 minutes before
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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenville

When
July 4, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, 1.33 mi ESE of East Gantt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
34.790, -82.360

A couple trees were blown down on Mauldin Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Abbeville

When
July 4, 3:31 PM EST
Where
Abbeville County, 0.82 mi ENE of Abbeville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
34.185, -82.367

A couple trees were blown down around Abbeville, including on Trail Drive and the Highway 28 bypass on the west side of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Abbeville

When
July 4, 3:31 PM EST
Where
Abbeville County, 4.64 mi WNW of Abbeville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
34.214, -82.450

A tree was blown down on Rock Hill Road, about 5 miles northwest of Abbeville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When
July 4, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Anderson County, 8 mi SSW of Belton
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.413, -82.554

A tree was blown down on Wright School Rd and another in the same area on Bethany|Church Rd. Both locations are about 6.5 miles south of Belton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When
July 4, 4:00 PM EST to 4:10 PM EST
Where
Anderson County, 4 mi SE of Anderson to 6 mi N of Anderson
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.459, -82.600

A scattering of trees was blown down from about four miles southeast of Anderson up to Interstate 85.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When
July 4, 6:29 PM EST to 6:45 PM EST
Where
Cherokee County, Thicketty to 0.57 mi W of Blacksburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.020, -81.720

Multiple trees were blown down from the Thicketty community, across Gaffney to the Blacksburg area. One large tree limb fell on and killed a 34-year old man standing in front of his house on 7th St in Gaffney.

Flash Flood, Greenville

When
July 4, 6:30 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, 1.56 mi NNW of Jordon to 2.15 mi SE of Taylors
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.052, -82.256

The public reported that Suber Road was flooded by Brushy Creek. Highway department reported that Mt Lebanon Church Road was closed due to flooding as was Jug Factory Road. Both Roads are about 6 miles north of Greer.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee2013-07-0434MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

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.
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 South Carolina in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in South 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: 470329, 470333, 470335, 470338, 470340, 470360, 471628.