Hail in Georgia, June 30, 2016

Name: Hail in Georgia, June 30, 2016
Start: 2016-06-30T14:40
End: 2016-06-30T14:40
Location: Georgia

June 30, 2016 · NWS GSP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Scattered thunderstorms developed over the northeast Georgia Piedmont during the afternoon. One storm produced brief hail near Hartwell.

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.

Scattered thunderstorms developed over the northeast Georgia Piedmont during the afternoon. One storm produced brief hail near Hartwell.

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 30, 2:12 PM EST, 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 2:12 PM EST, 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
312 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
An upper trough will push a cold front through the region today and
tomorrow.  The front will stall just to the south of the area by
Saturday, but then will lift slowly back north late in the weekend
into the beginning of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 245 PM EDT...Water vapor imagery indicates a subtle impulse
shifting across the Tennessee Valley and upper Gulf Coast States.
This feature will intercept a moist and unstable airmass across our
forecast area late this afternoon and evening. SPC storm information
suggest SBCAPES between 1500 and 3000 j/kg with DCAPES on the order
of 1000 j/kg. Meanwhile left over stratus and breaks in the clouds
have left pockets of differential heating and meso convergent areas.
We would expect rapid thunderstorm formation in our southern
forecast area and mountains, then filling in as the rest of the day
wears on. Damaging winds and large hail main threat, although
torrential rain and frequent lightning will be noted.

We will continue the activity into the night time hours, somewhat
similar to Wednesday night, before activity wanes with passage of
the upper air feature and overturning of atmosphere.

The coverage of any fog and stratus overnight seems to be healthy,
although the winds may help mix things a bit.

For Friday we have gone with warmer temperatures, per guide, and
limited our thunderstorm chances to a narrow window in the
afternoon, and especially along the less side trough.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Thursday: Upper trough axis and surface cold front
will be pushing east of the area as we start the short term. The
frontal boundary will stall to our south on Saturday as the Canadian
upper low lifts northeast and a shortwave pushes off the Central
Rockies into the Central Plains. The surface system associated with
the Plains shortwave will stretch across the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys,
merging with the stalled Southeast front, and providing focus for
convection to pick back up again through the short term as flow
aloft transitions to zonal. The boundary will slide slowly back
north as the Plains shortwave pushes east, with modest instability -
800-1200 J/kg sbCAPE - returning to the area Saturday. Should see a
diurnal trend through Saturday night, but with the Plans shortwave
moving into the mid-Mississippi Valley on Sunday, should see an
enhancement to the diurnal pops for Sunday afternoon, with likely
pops over the mountains and healthy chance elsewhere. High temps
through the short term should be a couple of degrees above seasonal
normals, with a larger departure for overnight lows where the
increasing moisture will not allow for much of a cool-down overnight.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 300 PM EDT Thursday: Zonal flow will continue across the
Ohio/Tennessee Valleys as a subtropical ridge over the western
Atlantic continues to build west toward FL as the shortwave
continues to work its way east up the Ohio Valley. Several
differences continue in models' handling of this shortwave with the
GFS a little more robust especially with the associated surface low.
Should see a fairly significant increase in convection for
Independence Day. Along with the decent instability (sbCAPEs between
1000-2000 J/kg), we have some minimal low-level shear as well which
may help to organize convection. Overall and unfortunately, it looks
like a pretty wet and occasionally stormy day/evening, so residents
of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia may want to be
prepared for impacts to Independence Day festivities.

The wave pushes east on Tuesday, with the ECMWF keeping an open wave
and pushing it offshore early in the day, but the stronger GFS
closing it off and not pushing it through for another 24 hours.
Quite a bit of uncertainty here obviously but since the ECMWF keeps
a trailing front across our area anyway, both have similar sensible
weather impacts with enhanced diurnal convection continuing through
mid-week. As would be typical with enhanced summertime convection,
heavy rain and at least isolated severe storms will be possible.

The subtropical ridge continues to build westward, with intermittent
shortwaves riding along the northern edge of the ridge. Differences
between the operational guidance increase through the middle of next
week so have trended close to climo on pops, but with a slight
increasing trend for temperatures, rising into the mid-90s, as
thicknesses increase.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT and the SC Sites: Although left over stratus remains across
most of our TAF sites, the IFR ceilings have lifted to MVFR and low
VFR ceilings. As mixing continues near thunderstorms for the rest of
the afternoon and into tonight, believe ceilings will jump around
considerably, and potentially driven by meso scale features, until
the overall synoptic pattern takes over with waning convection later
this evening/overnight.

Judging by the various CAM models we have brought thunderstorm
chances into the CLT airfield during the evening. This is trying to
follow large scale features/development, and small scale
interactions. Since ceilings are near MVFR levels, it is possible
that tendency of bouncing in and out will continue through the
evening. We would expect greater restrictions to ceilings and
visibilites with storms near the airfield. We have mentioned some
variable gusty winds to take into account current active situation.

Any stratus and fog should lift to low VFR ceilings Friday morning.

For the remainder of our TAF sites, the biggest difference is in the
timing of convection, arrival and/or development. We have followed
continuity with lower ceilings at sites which were not yet mixed.
Otherwise would expect potential thunderstorms with reduced ceilings
and visibilities across the board.

Outlook: Diurnal convection expected Friday afternoon and Saturday.
Another series of fronts, and potential weak low pressure systems
riding along the fronts, appears on tap for Sunday through Tuesday.
This period may offer an enhanced thunderstorms possibilities.

Confidence Table...

            19-01Z        01-07Z        07-13Z        13-18Z
KCLT       High  95%     High  98%     High  87%     High 100%
KGSP       High 100%     High  97%     High  81%     High 100%
KAVL       High 100%     High  96%     Med   72%     High  96%
KHKY       High  97%     High  93%     High  81%     High 100%
KGMU       High 100%     High  97%     High  94%     High 100%
KAND       High 100%     High  96%     High  83%     High  92%

The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the schedule 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...TDP
NEAR TERM...TS
SHORT TERM...TDP
LONG TERM...TDP
AVIATION...TS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 30, 11:53 AM EST, 2 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1253 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-011700-
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-
1253 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. A FEW OF THESE
STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS THE
MAIN THREAT. CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND BRIEF
HEAVY RAINFALL COULD OCCUR WITH ANY OF THE STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

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

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 12:53 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
153 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

SCZ011-301815-
ABBEVILLE SC-
153 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTY
UNTIL 215 PM EDT...

AT 151 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM WITH
HEAVY RAINFALL 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ABBEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ABBEVILLE.

HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
RATES UP TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL CAN CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES.
CONSIDER MOVING VEHICLES TO A COVERED STORAGE AREA BEFORE THE STORM
ARRIVES.

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 MAY ALSO RISE RAPIDLY. SEEK
HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3406 8246 3408 8248 3407 8250 3407 8253
      3413 8260 3422 8227 3417 8224 3411 8226
      3407 8232 3406 8236
TIME...MOT...LOC 1751Z 249DEG 6KT 3407 8244

JMP

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 1:12 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
212 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

SCZ011-301845-
ABBEVILLE SC-
212 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN
ABBEVILLE COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM EDT...

AT 211 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM WITH
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL NEAR ABBEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ABBEVILLE.

HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND EXTREME RAINFALL RATES
IN EXCESS OF 3 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL CAN CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES.
CONSIDER MOVING VEHICLES TO A COVERED STORAGE AREA BEFORE THE STORM
ARRIVES.

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 MAY ALSO RISE RAPIDLY. SEEK
HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3408 8247 3414 8260 3431 8231 3428 8231
      3425 8227 3421 8224 3416 8224 3414 8225
      3411 8226 3407 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 1811Z 233DEG 16KT 3420 8239

JMP

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 1:59 PM EST, 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
259 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

SCZ019-301930-
GREENWOOD SC-
259 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN GREENWOOD COUNTY
UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 259 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREENWOOD...OR 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NINETY SIX
HISTORIC SITE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NINETY SIX HISTORIC SITE...EPWORTH...KIRKSEY AND CALLISON.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

LAT...LON 3398 8205 3399 8215 3397 8217 3397 8218
      3416 8214 3413 8187 3411 8190 3410 8190
      3409 8192 3404 8194 3400 8199 3396 8201
      3395 8205
TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 281DEG 16KT 3406 8207

LANE

Local storm report, Jun 30, 2:08 PM EST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
308 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

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

0230 PM     HAIL             5 N ABBEVILLE           34.25N 82.38W
06/30/2016  E1.00 INCH       ABBEVILLE          SC   PUBLIC

&&

JMP

Special weather statement, Jun 30, 2:25 PM EST, 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
325 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

GAZ028-SCZ010-302000-
HART GA-ANDERSON SC-
325 PM EDT THU JUN 30 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL HART AND
SOUTHWESTERN ANDERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM EDT...

AT 325 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6
MILES EAST OF HARTWELL...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
IVA...STARR...LAKE HARTWELL...BROADWAY LAKE AND SADLERS CREEK STATE
PARK.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LAKE HARTWELL IS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUS BOATING CONDITIONS.
MOVE TO SHORE IMMEDIATELY.

&&

LAT...LON 3431 8289 3440 8289 3447 8255 3428 8263
      3427 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 270DEG 9KT 3434 8282

LANE

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:39 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hart

When: June 30, 2:40 PM EST
Where: Hart County, 0.9 mi NW of Hartwell
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.360, -82.940

Public reported penny size hail on Chandler St.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, June 2016

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: 646655.