North Carolina, 2015

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, June 17, 2015

June 17, 2015 · NWS GSP · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

Widely scattered thunderstorms developed along and near the Blue Ridge escarpment in North Carolina during the afternoon and evening. A couple of isolated severe storms produced brief damaging winds and large hail.

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
$10,000
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.

Widely scattered thunderstorms developed along and near the Blue Ridge escarpment in North Carolina during the afternoon and evening. A couple of isolated severe storms produced brief 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 Jun 17, 1:50 PM EST, 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 1:50 PM EST, 58 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
250 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
THE AREA OF DEEP HIGH PRESSURE IS GRADUALLY BEGINNING TO
WEAKEN...ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO COOL SLIGHTLY. ABOVE AVERAGE
CHANCES OF AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN OVER THE
WEEKEND AS A MORE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME PATTERN DEVELOPS. YET ANOTHER
STRONG AND HOT RIDGE WILL APPROACH THE AREA BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...SUBTROPICAL RIDGE REMAINS DOMINANT
ACROSS THE REGION LEADING TO ABUNDANT HEATING AND THUS DIURNALLY
FAVORED CONVECTION.  LATEST SPC MESOANALYSIS INDICATES A RATHER
UNSTABLE AIRMASS WITH DCAPES IN EXCESS OF 800-1000 JOULES...AND
SBCAPE NEARING/TOPPING 2000 JOULES.  LIKEWISE...WEAK SHEARING THANKS
TO THE UPPER ANTICYCLONE CONTINUES TO YIELD SLOW STORM MOTIONS AND
THEREBY A PREDOMINATELY PULSE THREAT.  THUS...THE FCST FEATURES
ISOLATED/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE GREATEST PROBS RESIDING
OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN WHERE CAPPING IS WEAKEST.  PRIMARY THREATS
WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING MICROBURST POTENTIAL IN
ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL WITH THE TALLEST OF CELLS.  ALSO...LOCALIZED
HEAVY RAINFALL CANNOT BE RULED OUT DUE TO THE WEAK FLOW ALOFT.
OTHERWISE...DEWPOINTS HAVE MIXED OUT RATHER WELL ALLOWING FOR HEAT
INDEX VALUES TO REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA.

COVERAGE WILL DECREASE WITH HEATING LOSS THIS EVENING LEADING TO A
MOSTLY DRY FCST FOR THE OVERNIGHT WITH ONLY LOW END SLIGHT CHANCE
POPS FAVORED ALONG THE TN LINE.  ANY LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVE
PRECIPITATION THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY THE MTN VALLEYS...WILL BE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO PATCHY FOG OVERNIGHT.  OTHERWISE...MUCH THE SAME FOR
TOMORROW AS RIDGING HOLDS LEADING TO ISOLATED/SCATTERED AIRMASS
THUNDERSTORMS FAVORED BY HEATING.  HEAT INDEX VALUES ON THURSDAY ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN RATHER PERSISTENT WITH DAYS PAST THUS REACHING
JUST BELOW ANY ADVISORY CRITERIA...GIVEN THAT DEWPOINTS MIX OUT.
THEREFORE NO HEAT ADVISORY HEADLINES ARE EXPECTED.  TEMPERATURES ON
FRIDAY WILL TOP OUT IN THE MID/UPPER 90S OVER THE
PIEDMONT...DECREASING INTO THE MID/UPPER 80S OVER THE HIGHER
TERRAIN.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 235 PM WEDNESDAY...ANY TIME A REMNANT OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE IS
THROWN INTO THE MIX...UNCERTAINTY GOES UP...AND THAT WILL BE THE
CASE AS WE GO INTO THE WEEKEND. AS EXPECTED...AS THE REMNANT OF BILL
LIFTS OUT OF THE SRN PLAINS INTO THE OH VALLEY...THE MODEL GUIDANCE
STILL SUPPRESSES/SHUNTS THE UPPER ANTICYCLONE/RIDGE OFF TO THE
SOUTHEAST THRU SATURDAY. THAT SHOULD ALLOW A SUBTLE LOWERING OF HIGH
TEMPS JUST ENOUGH TO ALLEVIATE ANY HEAT INDEX CONCERNS...ALTHO IT
WILL STILL FEEL PLENTY WARM ENOUGH. ANY AIR MASS CHANGES WILL ALSO
BE SUBTLE...MEANING THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT A CONTINUATION OF THE
MAINLY DIURNAL SHOWERS AND STORMS FRIDAY AND INTO SATURDAY. THIS
SHOULD TAKE THE FORM OF MOST OF THE ACTIVITY DEVELOPING OVER THE
MTNS/BLUE RIDGE IN THE AFTERNOON...THEN MOVING OUT OVER THE
FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT IN THE EVENING. PRECIP CHANCES RAMP DOWN OVER
THE MTNS DURING THE OVERNIGHT...BUT THEN BACK UP ON THE TN BORDER IN
THE EARLY MORNING IN THE EVENT THAT UPSTREAM CONVECTION REMNANTS
REACH THE NC BORDER BY DAYBREAK. A FEW STRONG/SEVERE STORMS SHOULD
BE EXPECTED IN SPITE OF WEAK LAPSE RATES...BECAUSE OF SUFFICIENT MID
LEVEL DRY AIR AND LOW LEVEL DCAPE EACH DAY. A SOMEWHAT INTERESTING
DEVELOPMENT IN THE MODEL GUIDANCE ON SATURDAY IS THE PRESENTATION OF
THE REMNANT OF BILL AS MORE OF A CLASSIC OPEN SURFACE WAVE...WITH
THE WESTERN CAROLINAS IN A BROAD WARM SECTOR. THE MODELS SHOW LESS
OF A RESPONSE IN THE PRECIP FIELD...SO PERHAPS SOME WARMER AIR ALOFT
WILL CUT DOWN ON THE COVERAGE. HOWEVER...THIS WILL NOT REALLY BE
INDICATED YET...BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM WEDNESDAY...GUIDANCE FOR THE MEDIUM RANGE IS IN GOOD
AGREEMENT AS FAR AS SYNOPTIC SCALE FEATURES. THE PERIOD BEGINS
SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION BILL BEING
ABSORBED INTO THE MEAN FLOW AND INTERACTING WITH SOME TYPE OF
BOUNDARY OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY. THE BEST FORCING/MOISTURE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS APPEAR TO REMAIN TO THE NORTH OF THE
FORECAST AREA...SO IMPACTS FROM IT ON THE LOCAL AREA APPEAR QUITE
MINIMAL. WEST/SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL BE MAINTAINED OVER THE AREA
HOWEVER...SO POP CHANCES WILL BE ELEVATED JUST ABOVE CLIMO FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. A WEAK BOUNDARY ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH WILL SAG INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES EARLY NEXT
WEEK...BUT WILL BECOME STATIONARY JUST NORTH OF OUR AREA. IMPACTS
FROM IT AGAIN ARE EXPECTED TO BE MINIMAL...WITH THE BIGGER FACTOR
BEING THE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME ATLANTIC SURFACE RIDGE DRIVING DIURNAL
POPS. ANOTHER STRONG H5 RIDGE WILL BE SWEPT INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN
CONUS BY MID-WEEK...AND ANOTHER HOT REGIME WITH SOMEWHAT SUPPRESSED
DIURNAL CONVECTION APPEARS LIKELY BY MID/LATE NEXT WEEK. HIGH
TEMPERATURES EARLY IN THE PERIOD WILL DROP FROM SHORT TERM
LEVELS...THOUGH WILL STILL STAY WELL ABOVE AVERAGE. MAX TEMPS COULD
ONCE AGAIN REACH ALMOST 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL BY THE END OF NEXT
WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE TAF
CYCLE WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF AFTERNOON TSRA...AND FOG AT
KAVL.  ALL TAFS FEATURE LIGHT AND SOMEWHAT VARIABLE SW WINDS UNDER
SCT/BKN LOW VFR CU.  WX IS INTRODUCED AT ALL SITES OVER THE NEXT FEW
HOURS...EITHER IN THE FORM OF PREVAILING VCTS...OR BY MVFR TSRA
TEMPO GROUPS WHERE PROBS ARE THE GREATEST.  PRIMARY CONCERNS FOR ANY
TSRA THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE DAMAGING MICROBURST WINDS AS AREA DCAPES
ARE RATHER IMPRESSIVE...THUS ALL TEMPOS HAVE VRB GUSTS INCLUDED.
BEYOND THAT EXPECTING LOW VFR TO SCT TO HIGH LEVEL CIRRUS THROUGH
THE NIGHT.  GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO FAVOR MTN VALLEY FOG OVERNIGHT
THUS TAF REMAINS COMPLEMENTARY AT KAVL WHERE MVFR VISB IS CARRIED
THROUGH MID MORNING.  WINDS WILL VEER NW AND REMAIN LIGHT/CALM OVERNIGHT
BEFORE INCREASING BENEATH BUILDING CU LATE IN THE PERIOD.

OUTLOOK...NEAR NORMAL COVERAGE OF AFTN CONVECTION IS EXPECTED FOR
THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK WITH SCT COVERAGE OVER THE MTNS AND
ISOLATED OVER THE PIEDMONT. MORNING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO FOG AND/OR
STRATUS ARE POSSIBLE... PARTICULARLY WHERE HEAVY RAIN FELL THE
PREVIOUS DAY...AND IN MTN VALLEYS.

CONFIDENCE TABLE...

            19-01Z        01-07Z        07-13Z        13-18Z
KCLT       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KGSP       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%
KAVL       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH  96%     HIGH 100%
KHKY       HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     HIGH 100%     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

&&

.CLIMATE...
RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 17TH...

 GSP  101 1887
 CLT  100 1943
 AVL   92 1936

RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR THURSDAY JUNE 18TH...

 GSP  101 1887
 CLT   99 1944
 AVL   94 1944

RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY JUNE 19TH...

 GSP  103 1887
 CLT  102 1944
 AVL   92 1931/1933

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...LEV
NEAR TERM...CDG
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...LEV
AVIATION...CDG
CLIMATE...CDG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 17, 5:34 AM EST, 9 hours 14 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
634 AM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

GAZ010-017-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-501>507-509-
SCZ001>003-181045-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-
MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
POLK MOUNTAINS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
634 AM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND
NORTHEAST GEORGIA...AND THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS AND NORTHWEST
PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. WHILE THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE FROM
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...A
COUPLE OF STORMS COULD BECOME BRIEFLY SEVERE...PRODUCING LOCALIZED
DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

..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.
..TUESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ068>072-082-508-510-SCZ004>014-019-181045-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-
CABARRUS-UNION-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-
ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
634 AM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S AND MODERATE LEVELS OF
HUMIDITY WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 99 TO 104 THIS
AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF THE PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA...SOUTH CAROLINA...AND SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA. STAY IN
AN AIR-CONDITIONED AREA AND OUT OF THE SUN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU DO GO OUTSIDE...DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...AND WEAR LIGHT
COLORED AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING.

IN ADDITION...ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. WHILE THE
PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE FROM FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...A COUPLE OF STORMS COULD BECOME
BRIEFLY SEVERE...PRODUCING LOCALIZED DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY
LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

..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.
..TUESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

LANE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 1:28 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
228 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

NCZ503>506-171900-
EASTERN MCDOWELL NC-GREATER BURKE NC-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
BURKE MOUNTAINS NC-
228 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL BURKE
AND NORTHEASTERN MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...

AT 228 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRUCE PINE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAKE JAMES STATE PARK...LAKE JAMES...NORTH COVE...TABLE ROCK...LITTLE
SWITZERLAND...ASHFORD...WOODLAWN AND NEBO.

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.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...TRY TO
GET INDOORS OR INTO A HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. OTHERWISE...STAY AWAY FROM
OPEN AREAS AND ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. WHEN INDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING WIRED ELECTRONIC
DEVICES. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY APPLIANCES BEFORE THE STORM
APPROACHES.

&&

LAT...LON 3583 8176 3568 8185 3581 8211 3585 8209
      3585 8207 3586 8204 3588 8202 3588 8201
      3587 8200 3590 8198
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 296DEG 16KT 3584 8201

08
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 2:11 PM EST, 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
311 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

NCZ503>506-171945-
EASTERN MCDOWELL NC-GREATER BURKE NC-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
BURKE MOUNTAINS NC-
311 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WESTERN BURKE AND
NORTHEASTERN MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...

AT 311 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES NORTHEAST OF MARION...OR 4 MILES NORTH OF LAKE JAMES...MOVING
EAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MORGANTON...GLEN ALPINE...LAKE JAMES STATE PARK...LAKE JAMES...NORTH
COVE...TABLE ROCK...ASHFORD...OAK HILL AND NEBO.

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.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...TRY TO
GET INDOORS OR INTO A HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. OTHERWISE...STAY AWAY FROM
OPEN AREAS AND ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. WHEN INDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING WIRED ELECTRONIC
DEVICES. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY APPLIANCES BEFORE THE STORM
APPROACHES.

&&

LAT...LON 3588 8171 3586 8167 3564 8169 3571 8202
      3587 8200 3589 8198 3591 8174
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 274DEG 12KT 3580 8193

RWH
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 2:19 PM EST, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
319 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

NCZ035-036-171945-
ALEXANDER NC-IREDELL NC-
319 PM EDT WED JUN 17 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHWESTERN IREDELL
AND ALEXANDER COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...

AT 318 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
TAYLORSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TAYLORSVILLE...STONY POINT...LOVE VALLEY...VASHTI...SCOTTS...
MILLERSVILLE...HIDDENITE AND ELLENDALE.

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.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...TRY TO
GET INDOORS OR INTO A HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. OTHERWISE...STAY AWAY FROM
OPEN AREAS AND ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. WHEN INDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING WIRED ELECTRONIC
DEVICES. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY APPLIANCES BEFORE THE STORM
APPROACHES.

&&

LAT...LON 3605 8093 3578 8095 3582 8114 3583 8114
      3583 8116 3585 8128 3602 8127 3603 8117
      3603 8107 3604 8105
TIME...MOT...LOC 1918Z 274DEG 12KT 3593 8119

RWH

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, McDowell

When
June 17, 2:48 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, 1.78 mi NE of Pleasant Gardens
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.700, -82.060

Media reported nickel size hail west of Marion.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When
June 17, 2:52 PM EST to 2:56 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, 0.56 mi E of Marion to 1.12 mi W of East Marion
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.680, -82.010

EM reported a tree blown down in downtown Marion at Sotuh Gordon and East Court St. Media reported trees and power lines blown down near the intersection of School St and Virginia Rd.

Hail, McDowell

When
June 17, 3:11 PM EST to 3:20 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, Marion
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.680, -82.020

Spotters and the public reported up to quarter size hail with two slow-moving severe thunderstorms that affected the Marion area.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When
June 17, 3:16 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, 1.12 mi W of Providence
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.630, -82.070

Media reported trees blown down on Zion Hill Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell

When
June 17, 3:29 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, 0.89 mi NE of Pleasant Gardens
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.690, -82.070

Media reported trees blown down on Highway 70.

Hail, McDowell

When
June 17, 3:38 PM EST
Where
McDowell County, 2.82 mi NNE of Fero
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.660, -81.960

FD reported quarter size hail along I-40 just east of Marion.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 17, 6:23 PM EST
Where
Jackson County, Cullowhee
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.320, -83.180

Law enforcement reported numerous trees and power lines blown down on and in the vicinity of the Western Carolina University campus. The campus library and a couple of homes received minor roof damage from fallen trees.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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, June 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: 589588, 589591, 589589, 591340, 591342, 589590, 589594.