Isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains during the late afternoon and evening. A couple of the storms became briefly strong to severe, producing gusty to damaging winds.
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.
Isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains during the late afternoon and evening. A couple of the storms became briefly strong to severe, producing gusty to damaging winds.
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 Jul 14, 5:03 PM EST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
603 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
A weak frontal boundary will approach the southern Appalachians
tomorrow and stall over the area, enhancing rain and thunderstorm
chances this weekend and through early next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 550 PM: Cu field east of the mtns has not shown any increasing
trend. The a small area across the Lakelands remains a few congestus
and showers. Convection sliding in the region from TN is trending a
little weaker over the high terrain, but should stay going during
the daylight hours. I will adjust PoPs according to the recent
trends. Later this evening, convection should continue to arrive
from the west. However, a nicely formed boundary/sea breeze should
arrive from the east. CAMs do not show occurring east of the mtns,
but we will be watching. Overall, ending a hot day across the
western Carolinas and NE GA. Highs ranged from 100 at Clemson, 97 at
CLT, and 70 at Mt. Mitchell.
At 200 PM Thursday: Low amplitude upper troughing will amplify from
the great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico today and tonight. A weak
shortwave is expected to move through the base of the trough on
Friday, while a surface trough persists along the eastern seaboard,
and a weakening cold from approaches from the northwest.
Instability will be sufficient to support convection across our area
this afternoon and evening, however weak shear will be not be
conducive for organized convection. Instability is expected to be
similar on Friday, and deeper moisture will be available for better
precipitation production. With less steering flow on Friday, heavier
rainfall may accompany slower moving storms. Temperatures will run
above normal both tonight and Friday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 200 PM EDT Thursday, a series of vorticity maxima aloft will
move into and across the region Friday night through Sunday while
rounding a broad trough over the area. The first fairly prominent
shortwave should move into the southern appalachians Friday night
and possibly lead to decent scattered coverage of convection across
the region through the nighttime hours into Saturday morning.
Additional upper waves will arrive Saturday into Sat night, likely
augmented by improving upper jetlet divergence. Meanwhile, surface
high pressure centered over the midwest this weekend will slowly
push a cold front into the region from the northwest. Profiles ahead
of this frontal zone should gradually moisten through Saturday night
given a fairly persistent SW fetch in the 850 mb flow. The surface
boundary may stall across the area through Saturday with possible
surface wave development along the front Saturday night that could
slow or halt clearing/drying on Sunday. Moderate instability is
expected during the peak heating period Saturday afternoon but mid
level flow will increase only marginally with the upper waves. This
should keep the severe weather threat marginal despite the upper
forcing in the Friday night through Saturday night periods. Heavy
rain from training cells will be possible, but dry antecedent
conditions will keep the hydro threat minimal.
The 500 mb trough will slip east of the forecast area on Sunday and
upper heights will gradually rise from the west through the latter
half of the day. Mid level drying is also expected behind the wave
through Sunday, but with some model uncertainty. The surface front
could hang up over the southeast half to keep PoPs going through
late day. Expect temps above climo throughout, especially at night.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 200 PM Thursday...the extended period begins 00Z Monday with
a large upper ridge beginning to amplify over the central CONUS.
Monday will feature a generally drying influence from this high
before a trough deepens over the east coast on Tuesday. Large-scale
cyclonic flow, upper divergence, and a trail of shortwaves poised to
propagate along the periphery of the upper ridge into the mid-
Atlantic will favor a return to a more typical summertime convective
pattern of afternoon shower and thunderstorm development though next
Wednesday. Though guidance disagrees on when the upper ridge over
the central plains will break down, it appears that some eventual
flattening of the ridge will occur towards the end of next week, and
its warming and drying influence may be allowed to spread eastward
into our CWA. Both min and max temps will be near normal through the
middle of next week.
&&
.AVIATION /22Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT: VFR, although model time heights hint at some low clouds
around dawn, and some MVFR vsbyss will be present to the northwest
around the same time. Convective chances are high enough this
afternoon to warrant a mention of thunderstorms. Winds will favor
the SW, veering NW Friday morning.
Elsewhere: Thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening
in NC, and perhaps briefly at SC sites this afternoon. IFR to LIFR
cig and vsby restrictions are probable at KAVL late tonight, and model
guidance suggest daybreak vsby restrictions at KHKY and KAND as
well. Thunder chances ramp up again on Friday morning in NC. Winds
will favor the SW this afternoon, veering NW this evening in NC, and
NW at KGSP/KGMU Friday morning.
Outlook: Fairly typical midsummer weather with PM showers and
thunderstorms expected to continue. A frontal boundary pushing in
this weekend will enhance the daily coverage thereof. Each day,
AM fog and low stratus will be possible in the mountain river
valleys and also in locations that receive heavy rainfall in the
preceding PM.
Confidence Table...
22-04Z 04-10Z 10-16Z 16-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL Low 55% Low 55% Low 30% Low 56%
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:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...LEV
NEAR TERM...JAT/NED
SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...LEV
AVIATION...JATHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 311 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-151915- 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- 311 PM EDT THU JUL 14 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 WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. COVERAGE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE A BIT HIGHER OVER WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THAN OVER UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA. GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. ONE OR TWO OF THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .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... SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. GERAPETRITIS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
418 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016
NCZ505-142045-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS NC-
418 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTY
UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
AT 417 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPRUCE PINE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NORTH COVE AND ASHFORD.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
LAT...LON 3589 8191 3583 8197 3582 8197 3581 8199
3580 8198 3579 8199 3585 8206 3586 8203
3588 8202 3588 8201 3587 8200 3589 8198
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 301DEG 6KT 3586 8200
LANESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 458 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 NCZ052-142115- HAYWOOD NC- 458 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HAYWOOD COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM EDT... AT 458 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF WAYNESVILLE...OR NEAR CLYDE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LAKE JUNALUSKA AND CLYDE. HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. LAT...LON 3551 8301 3557 8301 3561 8286 3551 8286 TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 268DEG 12KT 3555 8293 LANE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
511 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016
NCZ058-142145-
GRAHAM NC-
511 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN GRAHAM COUNTY UNTIL 545
PM EDT...
AT 510 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14
MILES WEST OF ROBBINSVILLE...OR 11 MILES WEST OF TOWN OF
SANTEETLAH... MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TOWN OF SANTEETLAH...LAKE SANTEETLAH...FONTANA VILLAGE...TAPOCO AND
DEALS GAP.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LAKE SANTEETLAH 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 3537 8401 3541 8402 3546 8396 3545 8394
3546 8392 3546 8388 3545 8386 3545 8382
3525 8384 3522 8395 3523 8400 3527 8401
3529 8403 3531 8402 3531 8404 3535 8404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 273DEG 23KT 3535 8407
LANESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 518 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 NCZ052-053-142145- HAYWOOD NC-BUNCOMBE NC- 518 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL BUNCOMBE AND EAST CENTRAL HAYWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM EDT... AT 517 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF WAYNESVILLE...OR 4 MILES NORTH OF CANTON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LEICESTER...ENKA...AND CANTON. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3554 8290 3562 8294 3570 8266 3556 8262 TIME...MOT...LOC 2117Z 256DEG 20KT 3559 8283 LANE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 549 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 NCZ051-058-142215- SWAIN NC-GRAHAM NC- 549 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL SWAIN AND NORTHEASTERN GRAHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM EDT... AT 548 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF ROBBINSVILLE...OR NEAR FONTANA VILLAGE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... FONTANA LAKE...FONTANA VILLAGE...SMOKY MOUNTAINS-TWENTYMILE CREEK... SMOKY MOUNTAINS-FONTANA AREA AND STECOAH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FONTANA LAKE 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 3540 8386 3548 8385 3548 8359 3534 8363 TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 278DEG 16KT 3543 8378 LANE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 552 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 NCZ053-142215- BUNCOMBE NC- 552 PM EDT THU JUL 14 2016 ...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL BUNCOMBE COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM EDT... AT 551 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE LEADING EDGE OF A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTH OF MARSHALL TO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... ASHEVILLE...WOODFIN...WEAVERVILLE...BILTMORE FOREST...BENT CREEK...AND UNC-ASHEVILLE. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. 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 3578 8255 3550 8242 3546 8264 3569 8275 TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 243DEG 14KT 3568 8268 3551 8261 LANE
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:01 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported (via Social Media) a tree fell on a vehicle.
Spotter reported a few trees blown down on Fairway Noll Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 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: 650092, 651526.