Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across Western North Carolina during the afternoon. Although there was no severe weather, lightning caused significant damage to a home in Granite Falls.
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.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across Western North Carolina during the afternoon. Although there was no severe weather, lightning caused significant damage to a home in Granite Falls.
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 30, 1:30 PM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
230 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY CROSS THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE
NORTHEAST THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM
THE NORTHEAST LATE IN THE WEEKEND. THIS HIGH PRESSURE MOVE OFFSHORE
BY MIDWEEK...WHILE MOISTURE INCREASES OVER OUR AREA FROM THE WEST.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON...EXPECT DEEP CONVECTION FIRING
ALONG AND NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE TO STEADILY SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE
PIEDMONT ALONG OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. THIN VEIL OF HIGHER CLOUDS OVER
THE CLT METRO AREA SHOULD MOVE OUT AND ALLOW MORE CONVECTION TO
DEVELOP IN THAT AREA INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
STILL EXPECTING A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ALTHO POTENTIAL NOT AS
GREAT AS YESTERDAY...AND SLOW MOVING STORMS SUGGEST ANOTHER FLASH
FLOOD THREAT.
ONE IS HARD-PRESSED TO IDENTIFY THE REMAINS OF A SURFACE BOUNDARY
THAT SHOULD BE STRUNG OUT NW TO SE ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS...
SUCH THAT IT IS HARD TO SAY IF THIS FEATURE WILL EVEN PLAY ANY ROLE
IN ORGANIZING ANY DEEP CONVECTION. OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS...SUBTLE
CHANGES ARE NOTED AT MID AND UPPER LEVELS...WHILE THE PATTERN DOES
NOT CHANGE SUBSTANTIALLY. A WEAK VORT LOBE OVERHEAD TODAY WILL KEEP
THE ENVIRONMENT NOT UNFAVORABLE FOR CONVECTION TO KEEP GOING AS LONG
AS INSTABILITY PERSISTS AND OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES CAN FORCE NEW
STORMS...GENERALLY INTO THE MID TO LATE EVENING. THE MODELS WANT TO
KEEP SOME COVERAGE PARTICULARLY NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE OWING TO A WEAK
UPSLOPE FLOW AT LOW LEVELS...SO THE FCST RETAINS AT LEAST A SLIGHT
CHANCE IN THE SOUTHEASTERLY UPSLOPE FAVORED AREAS THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING. THE MODELS DO A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT IN IDENTIFYING A SW
TO NE GRADIENT OF MOISTURE ACROSS THE FCST AREA ON SATURDAY THAT
REPRESENTS WHAT IS LEFT OF THE FRONT. THAT SHOULD LEAD TO SOME
IDENTIFIABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE WEATHER BETWEEN NE GEORGIA AND
WESTERN SC...WHICH SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER DAY MUCH LIKE TODAY...TO THE
WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NC WHICH SHOULD HAVE A STRONGER NE WIND
ADVECTING COOLER AND DRIER AIR THAT WILL GREATLY INHIBIT CONVECTION
AND KEEP TEMPS BELOW NORMAL.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AT 230 PM EDT FRIDAY...ON SATURDAY EVENING AN UPPER RIDGE WILL
EXTEND FROM GA AND THE CAROLINAS...TO THE GREAT LAKES...WHILE AN
UPPER LOW WILL BE OVER SE TX...AND A MUCH DEEPER UPPER LOW WILL BE
WELL OFF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST. THE UPPER RIDGE PROGRESSES VERY
SLOWLY TO THE EAST COAST BY MONDAY...WHILE THE UPPER LOW OVER TX
FILLS...AND THE ATLANTIC UPPER LOW REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY.
A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY
SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH SUBSTANTIAL MOISTURE BEHIND IT. AN EASTERLY
LOW LEVEL FLOW COMPONENT IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT WILL KEEP MOIST
UPSLOPE LIFT OVER THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE...SUPPORTING CONTINUING
PRECIPITATION THERE....WHILE LINGERING INSTABILITY ALONG THE
BOUNDARY ITSELF SUPPORTS PRECIPIATION IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY.
THE FRONT MOVES FARTHER INTO GA ON SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE ALONG THE
EASTERN SEABOARD WILL PUSH DRIER AIR SOUTHWEST INTO THE PIEDMONT OF
THE CAROLINAS. LINGERING MOISTURE WILL STILL SUPPORT CLOUD COVER AND
PRECIPITATION IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY AND OVER THE MUCH OF THE
MOUNTAINS...THOUGH INSTABILITY WILL BE MUCH LESS WITH COOLER SURFACE
AIR MOVING IN.
MOISTURE STARTS TO SPREAD EAST AGAIN ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY AS
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVES FROM THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO OFF THE
CAROLINA COAST...ALLOWING WARM MOIST ADVECTION FORM THE GULF TO
REACH NE GA AND THE WESTERN CAROLINAS. POPS WILL BE ALLOWED TO
SPREAD EAST AS A RESULT...AND INCREASING INSTABILITY WILL BE MORE
SUPPORTIVE OF CONVECTION ON MONDAY.
TEMPERATURES WILL TREND DOWNWARD AS THE COOLER AIR MASS SETTLE
IN...UNTIL MONDAY...WHEN WARM ADVECTION ENSUES IN SOUTHERLY FLOW ON
THE BACK SIDE OF THE DEPARTING HIGH PRESSURE.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT 230 PM EDT FRIDAY...THE EXTENDED FORECAST WILL FEATURE A
DEAMPLIFIED PATTERN...WITH A FLAT UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHEAST...
AND MOORE OR LESS ZONAL FLOW TO THE NORTH. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BE CENTERED OFF THE CAROLINA COAST ON TUESDAY...WHILE THE REMNANTS
OF A COLD FRONT CROSS THE APPALACHIANS FROM THE WEST. RESIDUAL
MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTOLYTIC ZONE OVER THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS WILL SUPPORT PRECIPITATION LONG BEFORE THE FRONT
ARRIVES. THE SLOW MOVING BOUNDARY LEAVES THE AREA BY EARLY
WEDNESDAY...HOWEVER DRYING BEHIND IT IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED...AND MODEL
SOUNDINGS SHOW INSTABILITY AND LOW LEVEL MOISTER PERSISTING IN
SUBSEQUENT DAYS. TEMPERATURES WILL RUN NEAR MID SUMMER NORMALS.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AT KCLT...CEILING SLOW TO LIFT OUT OF MVFR RANGE EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON...AND IT LOOKS AS IF THE MVFR CEILING WILL PREVAIL UNTIL
21Z OR SO WHEN HEATING WILL EITHER LIFT IT TO VFR OR CONVECTION WILL
SCATTER IT OUT. DEEP CONVECTION WILL FIRE ACROSS THE PIEDMONT INTO
THE AFTERNOON...BUT MOST LIKELY NEAR KCLT IN A WINDOW FROM 21Z TO
01Z BASED MOSTLY ON THE HRRR AND WRF-ARW. STORMS COULD LINGER BEYOND
THAT BUT WILL BE LEFT OUT FOR NOW. WIND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN S OR
SE INTO THE EVENING AWAY FROM THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. LATER
TONIGHT...SIMILAR TO LAST NIGHT...A WEAK UPSLOPE FLOW INTO THE
PIEDMONT SHOULD FORCE EITHER A LOW CLOUD CEILING OR LIGHT FOG. WENT
WITH A STRATUS DECK IN THE LOW END OF THE MVFR RANGE ALTHO IFR IS
NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION AROUND SUNRISE. THE CEILING WILL RISE
THROUGH THE MORNING AND SCATTER OUT BY MIDDAY. EXPECT A NE WIND ON
SATURDAY MORNING ONCE AGAIN.
ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING WITH
TEMPORARY MVFR RESTRICTIONS. SIMILAR TO KCLT IN MOST REGARDS WITH
SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN DETAIL. ANY PLACES WITH RAINFALL WILL BE
LIKELY TO GET A PERIOD OF FOG OVERNIGHT.
OUTLOOK...ALTHOUGH GRADUAL DRYING WILL DEVELOP FROM THE NE OVER THE
WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...CONTINUED BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE
WILL PRODUCE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED DIURNAL CONVECTION EACH DAY...
WITH MORNING RESTRICTIONS POSSIBLE.
CONFIDENCE TABLE...
18-24Z 00-06Z 06-12Z 12-18Z
KCLT MED 71% HIGH 100% HIGH 84% HIGH 88%
KGSP MED 70% HIGH 100% HIGH 85% MED 75%
KAVL HIGH 91% HIGH 97% HIGH 87% HIGH 83%
KHKY MED 66% HIGH 91% HIGH 88% HIGH 88%
KGMU MED 79% HIGH 100% HIGH 89% HIGH 80%
KAND HIGH 100% HIGH 100% MED 75% MED 73%
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...JAT
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...PMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 500 AM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-310900- 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- 500 AM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A WEAK BACK DOOR FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PUSH THROUGH THE REGION TODAY WITH AMPLE INSTABILITY PRESENT FOR SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM INITIATION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL THAT COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD REACH SEVERE LIMITS LEADING TO AN ADDITIONAL DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ..SATURDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..SUNDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..MONDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..TUESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..THURSDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. CDG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
104 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S MILLERSVILLE 35.82N 81.18W
05/29/2014 CATAWBA NC PARK/FOREST SRVC
NUMEROUS 2-3 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES DOWN IN RIVERBEND
PARK
&&
LVISINSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
133 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
GAZ010-SCZ001-301800-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-RABUN-
133 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN OCONEE AND RABUN
COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...
AT 129 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF CLAYTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5
MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
BLACK ROCK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...
CLAYTON...
LAKEMONT...
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES THAT ARE DEAD...OR THAT HAVE WEAKENED
ROOT SYSTEMS. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND SIMILAR ITEMS CAN BE TOSSED
AROUND IF NOT ANCHORED. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3499 8336 3499 8310 3468 8330 3471 8335
3474 8339 3473 8340 3480 8354
RWHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
136 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
GAZ010-017-301800-
HABERSHAM-RABUN-
136 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN HABERSHAM AND
SOUTHWESTERN RABUN COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...
AT 133 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BATESVILLE...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CLARKESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES THAT ARE DEAD...OR THAT HAVE WEAKENED
ROOT SYSTEMS. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND SIMILAR ITEMS CAN BE TOSSED
AROUND IF NOT ANCHORED. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3482 8366 3485 8367 3487 8366 3482 8347
3461 8353 3464 8367 3473 8363 3476 8363
3479 8368 3481 8368
RWHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
145 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
NCZ505-506-301815-
EASTERN MCDOWELL-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
145 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN MCDOWELL COUNTY
THROUGH 215 PM EDT...
AT 141 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR OLD FORT...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARION...
MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES THAT ARE DEAD...OR THAT HAVE WEAKENED
ROOT SYSTEMS. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND SIMILAR ITEMS CAN BE TOSSED
AROUND IF NOT ANCHORED. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3571 8201 3554 8198 3555 8201 3553 8203
3553 8209 3552 8215 3556 8222 3556 8224
3571 8223
RWHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
153 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
NCZ502-504-301845-
GREATER BURKE-GREATER CALDWELL-
153 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BURKE AND CENTRAL
CALDWELL COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
AT 149 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COLLETTSVILLE...OR 8 MILES WEST OF LENOIR...
MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
GAMEWELL...
MORGANTON...
DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
GUSTY WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES THAT ARE DEAD...OR THAT HAVE WEAKENED
ROOT SYSTEMS. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND SIMILAR ITEMS CAN BE TOSSED
AROUND IF NOT ANCHORED. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3571 8149 3567 8184 3585 8181 3594 8165
3598 8157
RWHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
224 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
SCZ006-010-301900-
ANDERSON-GREATER GREENVILLE-
224 PM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL GREENVILLE AND
EAST CENTRAL ANDERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
AT 223 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILLIAMSTON...OR 14 MILES
EAST OF ANDERSON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
BELTON...
DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
GUSTY WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES THAT ARE DEAD...OR THAT HAVE WEAKENED
ROOT SYSTEMS. OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND SIMILAR ITEMS CAN BE TOSSED
AROUND IF NOT ANCHORED. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
LAT...LON 3452 8263 3469 8242 3457 8224 3447 8233
3440 8245
RWHThe Greer radar (KGSP), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:02 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
EM reported lightning struck a tree that fell on a house on Jones Park Dr causing damage to the main part of the house and significant damage to a garage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2014
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: 517321.