A line of thunderstorms moved into western North Carolina from east Tennessee around noon, and moved across the mountains, foothills, and western Piedmont throughout the afternoon. The line of storms gradually expanded and strengthened through this time, producing areas of wind damage from the Blue Ridge to metro Charlotte.
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.
A line of thunderstorms moved into western North Carolina from east Tennessee around noon, and moved across the mountains, foothills, and western Piedmont throughout the afternoon. The line of storms gradually expanded and strengthened through this time, producing areas of wind damage from the Blue Ridge to metro Charlotte.
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 5, 9:56 AM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1056 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
An upper level disturbance will approach the southern Appalachians
from the west late today and drift east across the region tonight. A
pattern of warm and unstable air will then continue across the
region the rest of the week and into the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 1040 AM, an area of garden-variety convection is poised to
move into the western part of the forecast area over the next hour.
This activity originated across the TN Valley earlier this morning,
aided by a slow-moving mid-level short wave trough. However, as
convection moves farther away from this feature, it will become
increasingly reliant upon cell regeneration along a relatively weak
cold pool in order to maintain itself. The air mass across our area
is destabilizing quite nicely late this morning, esp across the
Piedmont, where dewpoints in the lower 70s, along with air temps
that were already pushing 90 were resulting in sbCAPE AOA 2000 J/kg.
This would seem to be good news for the rain-starved Piedmont areas.
However, dewpoints have tended to lower during the past couple of
afternoons thanks to relatively deep mixing and a very dry ground.
This may well be the case again today. Indeed, the latest HRRR
actually suggests this initial area of convection will begin to fall
apart shortly after entering the area. Therefore, pops will be
maintained in the likely range across the mtns, increased to likely
across the upper Savannah River Valley, but maintained in the chance
category east of those areas.
Deep layer shear is somewhat respectable for the time of year,
generally in the 15-25 kts range. High freezing levels should
preclude much of a severe hail threat, but a threat for damaging
microbursts will exist, especially if convection is able to attain
some degree of clustering/organization along outflows.
Very warm mid 90s plus max temps are expected over much of the
foothills and piedmont with heat index values peaking around 103 in
the lower piedmont. Will mention both the heat and marginal severe
threats in the HWO.
Convective coverage should slowly taper off tonight as the shortwave
moves gradually east. Low condensation pressure deficits are likely
in the mountains behind the shortwave and valley fog is expected.
Mild min temps some 5 to 8 degrees above climo will continue.
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
At 230 AM Tuesday: On Wednesday morning nearly zonal upper flow will
be over the souther tier of the USA, with the models showing vort
lobe crossing the southern Appalachians that is slightly more robust
in the GFS than the ECMWF. This feature slowly crosses our area
during the day, followed by a weaker vort lobe on Thursday. On
Thursday night an even weaker vort lobe reaches the southern
Appalachians.
At the surface, on Wednesday morning the remains of a cold front
will be stalled near the VA and NC border, then south along the blue
ridge into GA, while an upper trough will be in place of the eastern
seaboard. Low level moisture, instability, and modest shear will
support convective development. Although little will be left of the
front by Thursday, moisture will remain over the area, particularly
over the mountains. Model time heights show variation in the depth
of the moist layer and shear through the day, leaving some question
as to convective modes and precipitation amounts. Temperatures will
run around five degrees above normal.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At 230 AM Tuesday: On Friday and Saturday the models show
amplification of the upper patter taking place, resulting in a ridge
over the plains, and a trough over the eastern seaboard. By Monday
the upper ridge reaches the MA RIver Valley, while the trough Moves
off the east coast. The models show an upper vort lobe approaching
the Appalachians, but vary on its location and strength, with the
weaker GFS feature the northern Gulf States, and the stronger ECMWF
feature over eastern KY.
At the surface, the models show an upper trough remaining along the
eastern seaboard, with the ECMWF trough much more robust than that
of the GFS. Moisture will be present along the southern periphery of
the trough over the western Carolinas and northeast GA. A cold front
approaches from the northwest on Saturday, stalling over the our area
on Sunday and Monday. Instability appears to be present through the
period, perhaps a bit more subdued on Monday. Modest shear will be
present early on, decreasing toward the end of the forecast. Model
time heights show continue to show some variation with the depth of
moisture, leading to remaining uncertainty on convective modes.
Temperatures will continue to run around five degrees or so above
normal.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere, upstream radar is showing better convective
development around daybreak from central TN to northern AL and this
should move into the region through the day ahead of an approaching
shortwave. Profiles remain warm but the better forcing should yield
vicinity thunder most areas by afternoon with TEMPO/PROB conditions
expected by late day. Will feature the earliest timing at KAVL and
latest at KCLT. Otherwise, expect mainly SCT VFR cumulus with
heating and BKN lowering VFR under/near any TSRA. Winds will be
mainly SW with low end afternoon gusts with mixing, turning more NW
at KAVL toward evening. MVFR clouds may sneak into KAVL later
tonight on moist NW flow into the French Broad valley. Fog will be
spotty and dependent on which locations get rain today.
Outlook: A diurnal pattern of pulse thunderstorms will continue the
rest of the week. Fog and low stratus will be possible each morning
in the mountain river valleys and also in locations that receive
heavy rainfall from diurnal thunderstorms.
Confidence Table...
15-21Z 21-03Z 03-09Z 09-12Z
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% Med 64%
KHKY High 100% High 100% High 100% High 83%
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 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...HG
NEAR TERM...HG/JDL
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...HGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 501 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016 GAZ010-017-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068-069-501>510- SCZ001>003-060915- RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY- MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON- CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-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- 501 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016 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. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HOWEVER A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. .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... SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ070>072-082-SCZ004>014-019-060915- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION- GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG- CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 501 AM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST TODAY. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HOWEVER A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL APPROACH 100 TO 103 DEGREES DURING PEAK DAYTIME HEATING. .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... SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. 07
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1223 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
NCZ052-059-062-063-051715-
HAYWOOD NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC-SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-MACON NC-
1223 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT JACKSON...SOUTHERN HAYWOOD AND
CENTRAL MACON COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
AT 1222 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF SYLVA TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST
OF FRANKLIN...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FRANKLIN...SYLVA...WAYNESVILLE...CANTON...CULLOWHEE...LAKE
JUNALUSKA... CLYDE...MAGGIE VALLEY...BALSAM AND WEBSTER.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
LAT...LON 3533 8340 3533 8334 3540 8335 3550 8328
3555 8277 3547 8280 3544 8278 3542 8275
3541 8275 3539 8278 3532 8283 3531 8288
3529 8292 3524 8293 3519 8299 3517 8298
3516 8300 3513 8298 3510 8302 3516 8351
TIME...MOT...LOC 1622Z 268DEG 34KT 3545 8318 3522 8335
CDGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 1249 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016 NCZ048-052-053-051730- HAYWOOD NC-BUNCOMBE NC-MADISON NC- 1249 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MADISON... NORTHWESTERN BUNCOMBE AND NORTHEASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT... AT 1249 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF WAYNESVILLE...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF CLYDE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE...WEST ASHEVILLE...NORTH ASHEVILLE...WOODFIN... WEAVERVILLE...BILTMORE FOREST...UNC-ASHEVILLE...LEICESTER...ENKA AND CANTON. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. LAT...LON 3557 8299 3575 8299 3579 8254 3552 8254 TIME...MOT...LOC 1649Z 270DEG 18KT 3566 8290 CDG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
111 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
GAZ026-028-029-051815-
FRANKLIN GA-HART GA-ELBERT GA-
111 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT
SOUTHWESTERN HART...NORTHWESTERN ELBERT AND SOUTHERN FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...
AT 111 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH
INTENSE LIGHTNING 7 MILES SOUTH OF CARNESVILLE...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF
ILA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARTWELL...CARNESVILLE...ROYSTON...BOWMAN...CANON...FRANKLIN
SPRINGS... BOWERSVILLE...VICTORIA BRYANT STATE PARK...REED CREEK AND
VANNA.
IN ADDITION TO INTENSE LIGHTNING...PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO
40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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. DO NOT TAKE A SHOWER OR BATH. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
APPLIANCES BEFORE THE STORM APPROACHES.
&&
LAT...LON 3417 8310 3423 8308 3427 8312 3424 8317
3425 8320 3424 8325 3426 8330 3423 8335
3424 8335 3426 8334 3428 8336 3434 8336
3442 8289 3415 8289
TIME...MOT...LOC 1711Z 267DEG 22KT 3426 8327
CDGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
115 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
NCZ508-051800-
GREATER RUTHERFORD NC-
115 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY
UNTIL 200 PM EDT...
AT 115 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5
MILES NORTH OF RUTHERFORDTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... RUTHERFORDTON...FOREST
CITY...SPINDALE...ELLENBORO...BOSTIC...GREEN HILL...
SUNSHINE...UNION MILLS AND THERMAL CITY.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
LAT...LON 3538 8170 3535 8170 3532 8172 3538 8207
3550 8205 3554 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 272DEG 11KT 3544 8199
CDGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
117 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
NCZ052-064-065-051815-
HAYWOOD NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-HENDERSON NC-
117 PM EDT TUE JUL 5 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTHEASTERN
HAYWOOD AND WESTERN HENDERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...
AT 117 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES NORTH OF BREVARD TO 21 MILES NORTHWEST
OF PICKENS...AND MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... BREVARD...MILLS
RIVER...FLETCHER...ETOWAH...MOUNTAIN HOME...ROSMAN...DUPONT STATE
FOREST...LAKE TOXAWAY...GRAVEYARD FIELDS AND MOUNT PISGAH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
LAT...LON 3514 8259 3512 8266 3513 8268 3511 8270
3513 8298 3514 8298 3515 8299 3522 8295
3523 8293 3546 8279 3544 8278 3542 8274
3545 8270 3546 8267 3543 8258 3544 8255
3542 8254 3545 8253 3545 8247 3547 8241
TIME...MOT...LOC 1717Z 268DEG 11KT 3542 8276 3511 8297
CDGThe Greer radar (KGSP), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:17 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported (via Social Media) multiple trees blown down and power outages along Riverside Dr.
EM reported numerous trees blown down from Old Fort to Marion. Impacted roads included Old Fort Sugar Hill Rd, Bat Cave Rd, Greenlee Rd, and a couple of streets near downtown Marion. A tree fell on a home on Old Fort Sugar Hill Rd, while trees fell on 3 camping trailers and one automobile at Highway 70 and Riverside Park Dr.
EM reported multiple trees blown down and an outbuilding heavily damaged along Gilbert Byrd Rd.
County comms, the public, and spotters reported numerous trees and power lines blown down from the Glen Alpine area through the south part of Morganton. In Glen Alpine, the main area impacted was around Jamestown Rd, Mt Olive Church Rd, and Highway 70 near I-40. A home was reportedly blown off its foundation in this area. One tree fell on a home on Snowhill Church Rd. In Morganton, more than 20 trees fell near Enola Rd and I-40, with one tree on an automobile and other trees on two buildings. Other trees were uprooted or snapped on Parker Rd near the hospital.
Media reported 3/4 inch hail near Mount Olive Church Rd and Jamestown Rd.
Spotter reported multiple trees blown down near Lake Hickory.
Spotters reported a large tree blown down on power lines at N Modena St and E Harrison Ave in Gastonia and at Church St and Cedar St in McAdenville.
Public (via Social Media), multiple fire departments, and media reported the metal roof torn off a mobile homes and numerous trees blown down, with several roads closed across Salisbury and toward Granite Quarry. The hardest hit areas were the Country Club neighborhood and Catawba College. One large tree fell across the vehicles at this loation.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down across roads and many power outages in the south and east part of Charlotte.
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: 649028, 649029, 649030, 649035, 654305, 649036, 649037, 649043, 649044.