North Carolina, 2015

Damaging Wind in North Carolina, August 4, 2015

August 4, 2015 · NWS GSP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An isolated thunderstorm developed across the high terrain during mid-afternoon and moved southeast. The storm became briefly, but significantly severe across western Henderson County.

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

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The toll

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

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.

An isolated thunderstorm developed across the high terrain during mid-afternoon and moved southeast. The storm became briefly, but significantly severe across western Henderson County.

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 Aug 4, 1:40 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 1:40 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
240 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DRIFT SOUTH ACROSS OUR AREA TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY BECOMING NEARLY STATIONARY OVER NORTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AS MOISTURE INCREASES ACROSS OUR REGION...A STRONG DISTURBANCE WILL
REACH THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THURSDAY. THIS
DISTURBANCE SHOULD BE EAST OF OUR AREA ON FRIDAY AND DRIER HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BE IN CONTROL OVER THE WEEKEND..

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 225 PM EDT...THE CONVECTION ALLOWING MODELS HAVE TRENDED A BIT
MORE CONSERVATIVE ON SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT DRAPED NORTH OF THE REGION HAS
NOT PROVIDED MUCH LOW LEVEL FORCING ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER...AND
SURFACE DEWPOINTS CONTINUE TO MIX OUT INTO THE UPPER 50S AND LOWER
60S EAST OF THE MTNS. HOWEVER...DIFFERENTIAL HEATING ALONG THE
RIDGES ALONG WITH 850 TO 500 MB LAPSE RATES APPROACHING NEARLY 7 DEG
C/KM SHOULD PERMIT SOME ISOLATED TO SCATTERED COVERAGE...ESPECIALLY
ACROSS WESTERN NC THROUGH EARLY EVENING AS THE SURFACE BOUNDARY
SETTLES INTO THE NORTHERN TIER. MEANWHILE...THE SFC LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM WITH TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS ALONG THE CAROLINA COASTLINE
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND KEEP ANY DEEPER MOISTURE
CONFINED TO THE COASTAL PLAIN. WILL DIMINISH ANY LATE AFTN/EVENING
POPS QUICKLY DESPITE THE BOUNDARY LURKING IN THE AREA...WITH
CONTINUED MILD OVERNIGHT MINS.

THE STALLED FRONT WILL LIKELY BEGIN LIFTING NORTHWARD AS A WARM
FRONT AGAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY. WILL KEEP POPS FOCUSED MAINLY OVER
THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH WED AFTN AS HEIGHTS FALL SLIGHTLY FROM THE
WEST...BUT WILL ADVERTISE ISOLATED CHANCES OUT OVER THE PIEDMONT
WITH STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES EXPECTED...ALONG WITH POSSIBLY
BETTER LOW LEVEL PIEDMONT WIND FIELD CONVERGENCE. WED MAX TEMPS
SHOULD BE FAIRLY COMPARABLE TO TUE...WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES
REMAINING BELOW 100 GIVEN THE DEWPOINT MIXING.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AT 215 PM EDT TUESDAY...12Z SUITE OF GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THE
WEAK BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN IN THE VICINITY WED NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.
THE NAM PUSHES THE BOUNDARY NORTH OF THE AREA BY LATE THURSDAY WHILE
THE GFS MOVES IT NO FARTHER NORTH THAT THE NC/SC BORDER. REGARDLESS
OF THE SOLUTION...THE WEAK CONVERGENCE ALONG THE BOUNDARY MAY
TRIGGER SOME WIDELY SCT SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WED NIGHT WITH MORE
NUMEROUS SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AS THE AIRMASS
DESTABALIZES. ALSO...SYNOPTIC FORCING STEADILY IMPROVES THURSDAY AS
A WELL DEFINED SHORT WAVE IN THE MODEL GUIDANCE APPROACHES FROM THE
WEST. THIS FEATURE IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY
NIGHT. THE NAM GENERATES A WELL DEFINED SURFACE LOW WHICH MOVES
ACROSS THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS THURSDAY NIGHT...WHILE THE GFS HAS A
WEAKER LOW MOVING ESSENTIALLY ALONG ITS STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDAY FROM
NE GA EASTWARD ALONG THE NC/SC BORDER. A MORE WELL DEFINED SFC LOW
SEEMS MORE REASONABLE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF UPPER FORCING EXPECTED.
PLUS...THE EC AND SREF ARE MORE MORE LIKE THE NAM...SO WILL LEAN
TOWARDS THE NAM SOLUTION. THE MODELS HAVE QUITE A BIT OF QPF
RESPONSE ACROSS THE AREA FROM LATE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. ALL
THE MODELS THEN DRIVE THE COLD FRONT SOUTH OF THE AREA ON FRIDAY AS
THE SURFACE LOW MOVES TO THE COAST. THIS WILL ALLOW DRYER AIR TO
OVERSPREAD THE AREA FRIDAY AIDED BY DOWNSLOPE FLOW. MAX TEMPS ARE
FORECAST TO BE NEAR CLIMO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH MIN TEMPS A
LITTLE ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AT 230 PM EDT TUESDAY...STARTING AT 00Z SATURDAY...500MB TROUGH HAS
AXIS OVER THE CAROLINAS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH 500MB RIDGE CENTERED OVER
TEXAS.  THE AXIS OF THE TROUGH MOVES TO JUST OFF THE ATLANTIC
SEABOARD BY MONDAY WITH THE RIDGE BUILDING EAST OVER THE GULF
STATES.  HOWEVER...IN MID WEEK THE PATTERN BECOMES MORE AMPLIFIED
WITH DEEPER TROUGH RETROGRADING A BIT WEST TO OVER THE APPALACHIANS
AND RIDGE CENTERED OVER WEST TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

AT THE SURFACE...THE COLD FRONT MOVES TO SOUTH GEORGIA OVER THE
WEEKEND AS THE NEXT COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY. VERY LOW INSTABILITY OVER THE WEEKEND WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS AROUND THE SOUTHERN FRINGE FROM SW NC MTNS TO UPPER
SAVANNAH.  THE LATEST GFS HAS A RATHER VIGOROUS FRONT APPROACHING ON
TUESDAY WITH CAPES FROM NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI TO EAST TENNESSEE OVER
3000 AND SOME WIND SHEAR IN THE LOW TO MID LEVELS.  THE CURRENT
ECMWF IS LESS IMPRESSIVE BUT DOES SHOW A SHORTWAVE COMING DOWN FROM
KY AND TN ON TUES.  THEREFORE...AFTER THE WEEKEND LULL IT DOES
APPEAR TUES WILL BE MORE ACTIVE THAN SHOWN IN PREVIOUS MODEL RUNS.
WITH THE LOWER HEIGHTS...SHEAR AND OTHER FACTORS...APPEARS TO BE
SOME THREAT FOR STORMS TO PRODUCE HAIL AND STRONG WIND. A FIRST
SHORTWAVE CROSSES LATE MONDAY AND THEN THE BIGGER SHORTWAVE LATE
TUESDAY...IF THE TIMING STAYS THE SAME AS AFTER ALL IT IS A WEEK
AWAY FROM NOW.  TEMPS WILL BE NEAR NORMAL OVER THE WEEKEND. THE OLD
FRONT TO OUR SOUTH SLOWLY DISSIPATES LATE IN THE WEEKEND OR MONDAY.
SOUTHERLY NEAR SURFACE FLOW LATE MONDAY WILL SHIFT TO SW ON TUES
AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT AS TEMPS WILL BE AT LEAST A
CATEGORY ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AT KCLT...CIRCULATION AROUND THE COASTAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS LED
TO MAINLY NORTHWEST FLOW AT THE TOP OF THE MIXED LAYER NEAR KCLT.
WITH MIXING...STILL ANTICIPATE WINDS TO TURN NW THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON HOURS...BEFORE BECOMING MORE LIGHT AND VARIABLE TO STEADY
LIGHT NE OVERNIGHT. ANY CONVECTIVE TRIGGERING CLOSER TO THE FRONTAL
ZONE SAGGING INTO THE FAR NRN NC LATE DAY SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM THE
AIRFIELD. WILL NOT MENTION ANY FOG RESTRICTIONS AGAIN WED MORNING
SINCE THE CROSSOVER TEMPS ARE FAIRLY LOW. ANY PIEDMONT STRATUS
SHOULD ONCE AGAIN STAY CONFINED EAST OF THE AREA. EXPECT WINDS TO
COME UP SLIGHTLY FROM THE SW WITH MIXING MID TO LATE WED MORNING.
ANY CLOUDS WILL GENERALLY BE FEW TO SCT HIGH BASED CUMULUS WITH SCT
TO BKN DEBRIS TYPE CIRRUS.

ELSEWHERE...ISOLD CONVECTION ALONG A COLD FRONT SETTLING INTO
WESTERN NC THROUGH THE EVENING SHOULD HAVE ONLY VERY SMALL CHANCES
OF IMPACTING KAVL TO KHKY. WILL KEEP THE TAFS DRY...BUT MONITOR
RIDGETOP CONVECTION FOR VCSH/VCTS FROM KAVL TO KHKY. LIGHT WINDS
WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY NW AT THE NC TAF SITES AND MORE SW TO WSW AT
THE UPSTATE TAFS WITH WEAK LEE TROUGHING THERE. WILL OMIT ANY FOG
MENTION DUE TO LOW CROSSOVER TEMPS...BUT HINT AT VALLEY FOG WITH 6SM
AT KAVL. NO RESTRICTIONS ARE THUS EXPECTED THROUGH THE CURRENT
PERIOD.

OUTLOOK...GRADUALLY INCREASING PRECIPITATION/RESTRICTION CHANCES ARE
EXPECTED THROUGH LATE WEEK AS MOISTURE RETURNS...A FRONT STALLS IN
OUR VICINITY...AND AN UPPER WAVE MOVES THROUGH THU NIGHT. EXPECT
SOME DRYING LATE FRI INTO THE WEEKEND.

CONFIDENCE TABLE...

            18-24Z        00-06Z        06-12Z        12-18Z
KCLT       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KGSP       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KAVL       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KHKY       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH  91%     HIGH 100%
KGMU       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KAND       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%

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...DEO
NEAR TERM...HG
SHORT TERM...LG
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...HG
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 4:46 AM EST, 9 hours 59 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
546 AM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

GAZ010-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510-
SCZ001>003-051000-
RABUN-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-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-
546 AM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST TODAY FOR THE MOUNTAINS...
FOOTHILLS...AND WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...THE SOUTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...AND RABUN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THE
MAIN HAZARD WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

..WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..THURSDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..FRIDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..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.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ017-018-026-028-029-SCZ004>014-019-051000-
HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-
ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
546 AM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND UPSTATE
SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

..WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..THURSDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..FRIDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..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.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

07

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 1:19 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
219 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

NCZ052-059-041900-
HAYWOOD NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC-
219 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN JACKSON
AND CENTRAL HAYWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...

AT 218 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6
MILES NORTH OF WAYNESVILLE...MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WAYNESVILLE...LAKE JUNALUSKA...CLYDE...MAGGIE VALLEY...BALSAM...B.R.
PARKWAY-SMOKY MOUNTAINS TO BALSAM GAP...SMOKY
MOUNTAINS-CATALOOCHEE...SMOKY MOUNTAINS-BALSAM MOUNTAIN...B.R.
PARKWAY-BALSAM GAP TO BLACK BALSAM AREA AND COVE CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3546 8283 3536 8304 3552 8320 3552 8318
      3553 8317 3554 8317 3555 8316 3558 8317
      3559 8318 3567 8303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 240DEG 48KT 3558 8302

LG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 1:24 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
224 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

NCZ501>504-041900-
GREATER CALDWELL NC-GREATER BURKE NC-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
BURKE MOUNTAINS NC-
224 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN CALDWELL
AND NORTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...

AT 223 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES NORTHWEST OF MORGANTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MORGANTON...GAMEWELL...CAJAH'S MOUNTAIN...TABLE ROCK...LAKE
RHODHISS...COLLETTSVILLE AND OAK HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3583 8149 3572 8173 3586 8192 3588 8191
      3590 8191 3600 8173
TIME...MOT...LOC 1823Z 240DEG 48KT 3586 8178

LG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 1:44 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
244 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

NCZ049-505-041915-
YANCEY NC-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
244 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN YANCEY
AND WEST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...

AT 243 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BURNSVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
B.R. PARKWAY-CRAGGY TO LITTLE SWITZERLAND...MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK
AND BUSICK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3585 8214 3584 8214 3584 8215 3583 8214
      3583 8212 3576 8205 3569 8220 3580 8230
      3586 8215
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 240DEG 47KT 3581 8220

LG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 2:06 PM EST, 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
306 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

NCZ052-053-064-065-041930-
HAYWOOD NC-BUNCOMBE NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-HENDERSON NC-
306 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTHWESTERN BUNCOMBE...SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD AND
NORTHWESTERN HENDERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 306 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11
MILES EAST OF WAYNESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOUNT PISGAH...B.R. PARKWAY-MOUNT PISGAH TO THE NC ARBORETUM...
CANTON...B.R. PARKWAY-BLACK BALSAM TO MOUNT PISGAH...CRUSO AND
SUNBURST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY FLOOD AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE...SUCH AS
DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE
RAPIDLY. SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

&&

LAT...LON 3543 8294 3556 8279 3543 8258 3528 8280
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 313DEG 12KT 3545 8280

CDG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 2:12 PM EST, 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
312 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

NCZ504>506-508-042015-
GREATER BURKE NC-GREATER RUTHERFORD NC-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
EASTERN MCDOWELL NC-
312 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN BURKE...
NORTH CENTRAL RUTHERFORD AND SOUTHEASTERN MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 415
PM EDT...

AT 312 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MARION...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MARION...LAKE JAMES...LAKE JAMES STATE PARK...SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE
PARK...DYSARTSVILLE...SUGAR HILL...NEBO...GLENWOOD...UNION MILLS AND
FERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY FLOOD AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE...SUCH AS
DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE
RAPIDLY. SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

&&

LAT...LON 3581 8198 3581 8199 3577 8194 3577 8193
      3563 8174 3545 8194 3570 8215 3582 8199
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 316DEG 12KT 3571 8202

CDG
Local storm report, Aug 4, 2:26 PM EST, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
326 PM EDT TUE AUG 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     HAIL             1 E TABLE ROCK          35.84N 81.79W
08/04/2015  E0.50 INCH       BURKE              NC   PUBLIC

            BRIEF PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL FELL AT A CAMPGROUND AREA.
            NOT MUCH WIND.

&&

OUTLAW

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When
August 4, 2:45 PM EST to 2:52 PM EST
Where
Henderson County, 0.89 mi NW of Etowah to 0.56 mi W of Bowman Bluff
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.330, -82.610

Public reported several dozen trees blown down throughout the Etowah community.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2015

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 599633.