Drought, Elbert
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM EST to December 31, 11:59 PM EST
- Where
- Elbert forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 34.117, -82.840 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Much needed rainfall, especially early in the month resulted in slight improvement of exceptional drought conditions across northeast Georgia in December. However, monthly rainfall totals were still below normal levels, while final yearly totals were more than 20 inches below normal in most locations.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Much needed rainfall, especially early in the month resulted in slight improvement of exceptional drought conditions across northeast Georgia in December. However, monthly rainfall totals were still below normal levels, while final yearly totals were more than 20 inches below normal in most locations. Levels were well below normal on all area streams, with some streams observing near-record low discharge rates. Reservoirs were several feet below target elevations, and all communities continued to observe at least voluntary water restrictions, while a few communities in the mountains and foothills had instituted mandatory restrictions.
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 Nov 30, 10:08 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1008 PM EST Wed Nov 30 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move swiftly east across the region this evening.
Drier and cooler conditions will return tonight through Thursday and
persist through Saturday. Moisture should return from the west for
the latter half of the weekend and possibly linger into early next
week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 10pm Wednesday: Temperatures have begun to decline across the
area, though continued cloud cover has kept things warmer than model
guidance so far this evening. As cloud cover continues to erode
tonight and after midnight, temperatures should decline more rapidly.
Line of convection ahead of a surface trough/deep upper wave has
exited the area and any chance for severe weather has exited with
it. Upper wave and front will pass through the mountains tonight
leading to dryer and cooler temperatures for Thursday. High surface
pressure builds in from the west behind current system leading to
fairly benign weather with clear skies on Thursday and High Temps.
dropping 5 to 10 degrees on Thursday and another 5 degrees on Friday
to near normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of Noon EST Wednesday: Zonal flow will be in place aloft across
the eastern CONUS Thursday night through Friday. Meanwhile, shallow
NW flow moisture may persist along the TN border in the northern
mountains into Friday, but will carry no PoPs given the weak WNW
upslope character and very shallow moisture. Cold temperatures would
support flurries or snow, however, if more moisture arrives than
progged. Otherwise, surface high pressure will gradually build east
toward the Appalachian chain and keep profiles dry across the region.
A broad but shallow ridge will then develop through Saturday across
the southeast. Although model differences persist with the expected
upstream low pressure development across TX and the western gulf
coast, there is good agreement on little if any upglide moisture
returning through 00Z Sunday. Will thus keep the forecast dry
through Saturday afternoon. Temperatures Friday through Saturday
will be near to just below climo, slightly cooler Saturday than
Friday.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 230 PM EST Wednesday...the medium range portion of the
forecast continues to be plagued with uncertainty among the global
models. The extended period kicks off 00z Sunday with our area under
a weak upper ridge, with a surface high centered over the OH River
Valley and an upper low over the Baha Peninsula. A plume of moisture
associated with a gulf surface low begins to extend into the CWA
overnight Saturday, with pops ramping up to the chance category by
Sunday morning.
Models diverge at this point on the handling of the progression and
depth of the upper low as it ejects out of the desert Southwest,
which has fairly significant implications as far as pops/QPF in our
area. As WPC mentioned in today's extended discussion, the faster
ECMWF has displayed poorer run-to-run consistency than the GFS, so
confidence is generally higher in the 12Z GFS solution and the
forecast is weighted more heavily toward it and its ensemble mean,
which is also in relatively good agreement on the handling of the
upper low.
The first possible round of rainfall, associated with a gulf low and
weak front, will arrive Sunday night and last into Monday morning.
There may be a brief lull in the precip Monday during the day before
the upper low ejecting from the desert southwest develops a surface
reflection and frontal structure, and ramps up rain chances Tuesday
once again. Another lull in pops in anticipated Wednesday before
another frontal system arrives Thursday, though confidence in this
lull is low enough that low-end chance pops are carried through the
entire extended period. Bottom line...next week looks like it will
favor a rather wet pattern, though QPF totals are uncertain for the
time being. The temperature forecast is also uncertain to say the
least at the moment, though there is a good feeling that the medium
range will begin with temps about 5 degrees below normal. A
moderating trend back to average seems like the most likely solution
for the rest of the extended period at this point, though there are
some hints at much colder air arriving over the area towards the end
of the next work week, with some mixed precip possible over the
higher terrain. This will of course be re-evaluated in future
forecast cycles.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Line of heave showers is exiting the area
and is east of KCLT at this time. The following 24 hours will be
free of precipitation and have reduced winds as surface pressure
increases behind a major frontal passage tonight. Skies will also clear by
Thursday morning. 850mb winds of 40 to 50 kts will continue the
wind gusts up to 20 kts at higher elevation, but these should
decline to unnotable values by Thursday morning. Winds will
generally be southwesterly around 10kts through thursday. Chances
for fog in mountain valleys seems remote due to much dryer air and
some wind overnight.
Outlook: Dry high pressure returns in the wake of the front for
Thursday thru Saturday.
Confidence Table...
03-09Z 09-15Z 15-21Z 21-00Z
KCLT Med 76% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 98% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KHKY High 88% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGMU High 100% High 94% 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:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...HG
NEAR TERM...WJM
SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...LEV
AVIATION...WJMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 708 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-020015- 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- 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-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 708 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .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. HG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
641 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0605 PM TSTM WND DMG CLOVER 35.11N 81.23W
11/30/2016 YORK SC 911 CALL CENTER
SEVERAL CLUSTERS OF TREES DOWN AROUND CLOVER.
&&
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
659 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW PINEVILLE 35.13N 80.94W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC 911 CALL CENTER
TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK OVERTURNED BY WIND AROUND 2300
BLOCK OF WESTINGHOUSE BLVD.
&&
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
704 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNW PINEVILLE 35.13N 80.92W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC 911 CALL CENTER
POWERLINES DOWN NEAR I-77 OVERPASS.
&&
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
724 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 E PIEDMONT 34.71N 82.38W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
WOODMONT HIGH SCHOOL GYM REPORTED WIND DAMAGE.
&&
JPTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
756 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 SW CHARLOTTE 35.13N 80.92W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC SOCIAL MEDIA
DAMAGE TO MICROSOFT BUILDING LOCATED JUST OFF ARROWWOOD
RD.
&&
JPTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1135 PM EST WED NOV 30 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM TSTM WND DMG CLARKESVILLE 34.61N 83.52W
11/30/2016 HABERSHAM GA 911 CALL CENTER
NUMEROUS TREES REPORTED DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY.
0412 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W ELBERTON 34.11N 82.88W
11/30/2016 ELBERT GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED A COUPLE OF TREES DOWN.
0414 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 ENE SANDY SPRINGS 34.60N 82.70W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC COUNTY OFFICIAL
SCHOOL OFFICIAL REPORTS LARGE LIMB DOWN BLOCKING LEBANON
ROAD.
0415 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 E SANDY SPRINGS 34.60N 82.69W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC TRAINED SPOTTER
DEBRIS REPORTED ON I-85 AT MILE MARKER 21.
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 E PIEDMONT 34.71N 82.38W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
WOODMONT HIGH SCHOOL GYM REPORTED WIND DAMAGE.
0440 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WSW SIMPSONVILLE 34.72N 82.30W
11/30/2016 E0.00 MPH GREENVILLE SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAR PICKED UP AND SPUN AROUND ON WEST GEORGIA RD.
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SE SANDY SPRINGS 34.58N 82.73W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC SOCIAL MEDIA
DAMAGE TO A ROOF AND POWER LINES DOWN AT DENVER DOWNS.
TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 S ANDERSON 34.45N 82.63W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREE DOWN ON HICKORY LN
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE BELTON 34.49N 82.48W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREE DOWN ON CLAMP RD
0445 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 SSE ANDERSON 34.43N 82.58W
11/30/2016 ANDERSON SC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREE DOWN ON MARTIN DR
0450 PM TORNADO SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON BUILDINGS IN SIMPSONVILLE, LARGE
TREE UPROOTED ON CURTIS ST NEAR CITY PARK, LARGE TREE
DOWN ON HEDGE ST BLOCKING THE ROAD BEHIND SIMPSONVILLE
METHODIST CHURCH, AWNING RIPPED OFF OF BUILDING, AND
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES IN DOWNTOWN SIMPSONVILLE
0450 PM TORNADO SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN, SHUTTERS BLOWN OFF, AND BACKYARD PLAYSETS
DESTROYED IN SOUTHERN SIMPSONVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
RADAR.
0452 PM TORNADO 3 ENE SIMPSONVILLE 34.75N 82.22W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTS NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES SNAPPED AT
THE INTERSECTION OF E GEORGIA RD. AND LEE VAUGHN RD.
0455 PM TORNADO SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
POWER LINES DOWN STARTED A FIRE IN SIMPSONVILLE
0455 PM TORNADO SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
SIDING TORN OFF OF HOME IN MORNING MIST SUBDIVISION
0455 PM TSTM WND DMG SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
POWER LINES DOWN HAVE STARTED A FIRE IN SIMPONVILLE
0455 PM TORNADO SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE AT BAILEYS HEATING AND AIR
0458 PM TSTM WND GST SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 E0.00 MPH GREENVILLE SC AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE OAK TREE DOWN AT SOUTH ST. AND COLLEGE ST.
0458 PM TSTM WND GST SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 E0.00 MPH GREENVILLE SC AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE LIMBS DOWN AT SOUTH ST. AND WOODSIDE RD.
0500 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW FOUNTAIN INN 34.71N 82.21W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
POWER LINES DOWN AT HIGHWAY 14 AND HOWARD DRIVE.
0500 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E GREENWOOD 34.19N 82.11W
11/30/2016 GREENWOOD SC 911 CALL CENTER
POWER LINE BLOWN DOWN ON CAMBRIDGE AVENUE NEAR EMERALD
FARM ROAD.
0505 PM TSTM WND DMG SIMPSONVILLE 34.73N 82.26W
11/30/2016 GREENVILLE SC AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREE BROKEN OFF 15 FT ABOVE THE GROUND ON SOUTH
ALMOND DRIVE
0530 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 E PLEASANT GROVE 35.64N 81.52W
11/30/2016 BURKE NC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN AT ADDRESS 7904 NC 18.
0530 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S TAYLORSVILLE 35.89N 81.17W
11/30/2016 ALEXANDER NC BROADCAST MEDIA
A TREE IS BLOCKING OLD LANDFILL RD NEAR TAYLORSVILLE.
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W HICKORY 35.74N 81.38W
11/30/2016 CATAWBA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE ON 2ND AVE. NW NEAR HICKORY
REGIONAL AIRPORT
0535 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 S TAYLORSVILLE 35.84N 81.19W
11/30/2016 ALEXANDER NC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN IN WITTENBURG COMMUNITY IN THE VICINITY OF
NC-16 AND FRIENDSHIP CHURCH RD.
0548 PM TSTM WND GST 5 S LONGVIEW 35.65N 81.38W
11/30/2016 E60.00 MPH CATAWBA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
WIND GUSTS OVER 60MPH BREAKING OFF TREE LIMBS NEAR THE
MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF NC-127 AND
DEERFIELD LN.
0605 PM TSTM WND DMG CLOVER 35.11N 81.23W
11/30/2016 YORK SC 911 CALL CENTER
SEVERAL CLUSTERS OF TREES DOWN AROUND CLOVER.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 N STATESVILLE 35.89N 80.89W
11/30/2016 IREDELL NC TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN ON HWY 21 NORTH OF STATESVILLE
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW PINEVILLE 35.13N 80.94W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC 911 CALL CENTER
TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK OVERTURNED BY WIND AROUND 2300
BLOCK OF WESTINGHOUSE BLVD.
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNW PINEVILLE 35.13N 80.92W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC 911 CALL CENTER
POWERLINES DOWN NEAR I-77 OVERPASS.
0640 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 SW CHARLOTTE 35.13N 80.92W
11/30/2016 MECKLENBURG NC SOCIAL MEDIA
DAMAGE TO MICROSOFT BUILDING LOCATED JUST OFF ARROWWOOD
RD.
&&
MOOREThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, December 2016
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: 671504, 671505, 671506, 671507, 671508, 671509.