Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 12, 2016

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 12, 2016
Start: 2016-05-12T13:22
End: 2016-05-12T18:59
Location: North Carolina

May 12, 2016 · NWS GSP · 7 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across the mountains during early afternoon and pushed southeast across the foothills and Piedmont from mid afternoon into the evening. A couple of isolated severe storms occurred across the Piedmont.

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: $8,000
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.

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 May 12, 1:20 PM EST, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 12, 1:20 PM EST, 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
220 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move into the southern Appalachians from the west
tonight and then move east across the piedmont of the Carolinas on
Friday. Drier air will spill into the region Friday afternoon into
Saturday. A reinforcing cold front arriving from the northwest
Saturday night will bring even cooler and drier high pressure to the
area Sunday into Monday. Moist southerly flow will return through
mid week along with steadily increasing shower and thunderstorm
chances.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 220 PM EDT, convection has developed mainly along the mountain
ridge and eastern escarpment of the southern Appalachians this
afternoon - as depicted well by recent HRRR runs. A secondary area
of more isolated coverage is developing in lower piedmont sections
where LAPS SBCAPE values are already 1500 to 2000 J/kg. The
convection-allowing models have the escarpment activity
moving/developing quickly east across the foothills and out over the
I-77 corridor through late afternoon. Then, the secondary line of
activity from northern GA through eastern TN will likely work over
the mountains through early evening and possibly sharpen up once
again along I-77. A third band of convection along the approaching
cold front over western TN will likely become robust across
central/eastern TN this evening as better upper support east of the
approaching 500 mb trough axis arrives. This activity should reach
the spine of the southern Appalachians between 02Z and 04Z and then
weaken and diminish in coverage as it moves east of the mountains
overnight. All of this activity will require relatively high PoPs,
certainly for mountain sections, with solid scattered coverage east
of the mountains as well. Expect mild mins overnight except for
falling western mountain temperatures in the early morning hours
post fropa.

The cold front will slowly cross the foothills and piedmont portions
of the forecast area Friday morning. Upper jet divergence and one
final shot of upper level DPVA will also cross the forecast area
Friday morning and this upper support may catch up to the
pre-frontal instability along and east of I-77 by late morning. Will
bring back thunder chances across these areas through at least Noon
or perhaps into the early afternoon. West to northwest flow and
strong deep layer drying will develop behind the front through late
Friday. Breezy conditions are likely in the mountains post fropa
Friday as a narrow window of cold advection overlaps mixing.
However, winds should remain below advisory criteria. Max temps will
be a couple of categories cooler than today.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 200 PM Thursday...This upcoming weekend looks relatively quiet
and seasonably cool, as a long wave upper trough digs across the
eastern CONUS. A reinforcing cold front will approach the area from
the NW on Saturday, with dry WLY flow ahead of it. Other than a few
upslope showers near the TN border, expect dry wx for the region.
Temps will be near normal in the mtns and a category above in the
piedmont.

Significantly lower thicknesses will spill in from the NW for
Sunday, resulting in slightly below normal temps. Breezy to windy
conditions are expected in the mtns from Saturday afternoon into
Sunday within decent 850 mb CAA.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 230 PM Thursday...the eastern CONUS upper trough will lift NE
on Monday, allowing upper ridging to begin across the Southeast. The
upper pattern remains somewhat flat thru much of next week, but with
general troughing over the west and ridging along the East Coast. At
the surface, high pressure will slide off the Mid-Atlantic coast on
Monday, while a low pressure system tries to organize over the
Southern Plains. The medium range guidance generally agrees on a
warm front, extending east of the low, activating across the Gulf
states, while a weak wedge lingers across the Carolinas. This should
set up a more unsettled wx pattern for the CWFA, with max temps
returning to near normal and min temps above normal by the middle of
next week.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT, radar coverage remains fairly sparse around the airfield
but LAPS CAPE values of 1500 to 2000 J/kg indicate that the airmass
is primed for convection with any nearby triggering
boundaries/outflows. Will keep TEMPO TSRA timed mainly 19Z to 23Z at
this point but another round of convection could arrive later this
evening with activity developing from northern GA to eastern TN. A
third round of showers and thunderstorms may reach the Interstate 77
corridor late tonight but with a weakening trend given the more
limited nocturnal instability. Finally, upper level support may
catch up to the passing front by Noon on Friday to generate one last
round of scattered SHRA/TSRA with fropa. Anticipate mainly S to SW
winds for much of the period, but with winds toggling NW late in the
period with fropa.

Elsewhere, thunderstorms triggering along the Blue Ridge will keep
TEMPO TSRA going at KAVL for a few hours past issuance time.
Development should hold off until around 19Z at most of the foothill
sites and TEMPOs timed 19Z to 23Z appear about right for these
locations. Another round of convection may arrive from the west
through the evening hours with yet another round of weakening
SHRA/TSRA possible overnight just ahead of the approaching cold
front. MVFR conditions will be limited mainly to the heaviest
downpours and also possible at KAVL and KHKY early Friday with
better low level moisture. Expect a drying trend with a sharp
northwesterly wind shift Friday morning. Gusts of 20 to 25 kt are
likely at KAVL Friday morning with mixing and cold advection.

Outlook: A cold front will move east of the area Friday afternoon
with drying expected through Saturday. A reinforcing cold front will
cross the region Saturday night with cooler and drier conditions
expected Sunday through Monday. Southerly flow and moisture will get
slowly reestablished through the middle of next week. Diurnal
thunderstorms will become possible again - especially over the
mountains.

Confidence Table...

            18-24Z        00-06Z        06-12Z        12-18Z
KCLT       High 100%     High 100%     High 100%     High  98%
KGSP       High 100%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAVL       High 100%     High 100%     High  80%     High  97%
KHKY       High 100%     High 100%     High  94%     High  82%
KGMU       High 100%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAND       High 100%     High 100%     High 100%     High  90%

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
SHORT TERM...ARK
LONG TERM...ARK
AVIATION...HG

Hazardous weather outlook, May 12, 4:59 AM EST, 8 hours 23 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 AM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-131000-
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-
559 AM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO
DEVELOP ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA TODAY
AND TONIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS. SOME OF THESE
STORMS MAY PRODUCE LARGER HAIL AND STRONG DOWNBURST WINDS.

.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...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

JPT

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 12, 9:43 AM EST, 3 hours 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1043 AM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

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

0310 PM     HAIL             3 ENE CAESARS HEAD      35.12N 82.56W
05/11/2016  E1.25 INCH       GREENVILLE         SC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            OBSERVED AT JONES GAP STATE PARK

&&

Local storm report, May 12, 10:38 AM EST, 2 hours 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1138 AM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

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

0200 PM     HAIL             4 SW WESTMINSTER        34.62N 83.14W
05/11/2016  E1.00 INCH       OCONEE             SC   PUBLIC

            OBSERVED AT HWY 123 AND JENKINS BR RD.

&&

Special weather statement, May 12, 11:50 AM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1250 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

NCZ053-064-065-121715-
BUNCOMBE NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-HENDERSON NC-
1250 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN
TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTH CENTRAL BUNCOMBE AND NORTHWESTERN HENDERSON
COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...

AT 1249 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12
MILES NORTHWEST OF HENDERSONVILLE...OR NEAR B.R. PARKWAY-MOUNT PISGAH
TO THE NC ARBORETUM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ARDEN...MILLS RIVER...FLETCHER...ETOWAH...MOUNTAIN HOME...BILTMORE FOREST...
BENT CREEK...ASHEVILLE AIRPORT...SKYLAND AND MOUNT PISGAH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 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 3537 8240 3528 8268 3540 8277 3541 8275
      3543 8275 3543 8276 3557 8254
TIME...MOT...LOC 1649Z 242DEG 21KT 3540 8265

MOORE

Local storm report, May 12, 11:57 AM EST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1257 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

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

0319 PM     HAIL             3 E CAESARS HEAD        35.11N 82.56W
05/11/2016  M1.00 INCH       GREENVILLE         SC   COCORAHS

            OBSERVED ALONG OIL CAMP CREEK RD.

&&

Special weather statement, May 12, 12:40 PM EST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
140 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

NCZ051-058-121815-
SWAIN NC-GRAHAM NC-
140 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL SWAIN
AND NORTHEASTERN GRAHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...

AT 139 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES NORTH OF ROBBINSVILLE...OR OVER FONTANA VILLAGE...MOVING EAST AT
10 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TOWN OF SANTEETLAH...FONTANA VILLAGE...FONTANA LAKE...SMOKY
MOUNTAINS-TWENTYMILE CREEK...LAKE SANTEETLAH...SMOKY MOUNTAINS-FONTANA
AREA...STECOAH AND CHEOAH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 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 3533 8386 3547 8390 3556 8373 3538 8366
TIME...MOT...LOC 1739Z 253DEG 10KT 3544 8381

MOORE

Special weather statement, May 12, 1:19 PM EST, 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
219 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

NCZ048-053-121845-
BUNCOMBE NC-MADISON NC-
219 PM EDT THU MAY 12 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN MADISON
AND NORTHEASTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM EDT...

AT 219 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARSHALL...OR NEAR WEAVERVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEAVERVILLE...MARS HILL...WOODFIN AND BARNARDSVILLE.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 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 3584 8242 3582 8241 3582 8239 3576 8233
      3575 8233 3574 8232 3564 8260 3576 8267
      3591 8248
TIME...MOT...LOC 1819Z 230DEG 20KT 3573 8255

MOORE

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Buncombe

When: May 12, 1:22 PM EST
Where: Buncombe County, 0.69 mi S of Jupiter
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.760, -82.600

Public reported 3/4 inch hail along Eller Ford Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: May 12, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 3.06 mi SE of Casar
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.490, -81.590

Ham Radio operator reported a couple of trees blown down, a flag pole bent at a 90 degree angle, and siding off a home near the intersection of Casar-Belwood Rd and Hull Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleveland

When: May 12, 5:05 PM EST to 5:14 PM EST
Where: Cleveland County, 0.69 mi N of Stubbs to 1.69 mi W of Oakgrove
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 35.340, -81.480

County comms reported multiple trees blown down on the east side of Shleby, including on N Post Rd, Oak Grove Rd, and Borders Rd. Public reported trees down and shutters off a home northeast of Shelby.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When: May 12, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Iredell County, 0.89 mi SE of Barium Spgs
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.710, -80.890

Newspaper reported a tree was blown down on a home on Patterson St.

Hail, Mecklenburg

When: May 12, 6:44 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 84.29 mi ESE of Shumon
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.090, -80.850

Public reported quarter size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: May 12, 6:49 PM EST to 6:53 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 3.15 mi WSW of Matthews to 1.49 mi SSE of Hoods
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.100, -80.780

Media and the public reported numerous trees blown down from around the Highway 16/51 intersection across Matthews near the Union County line.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: May 12, 6:59 PM EST
Where: Union County, 0.89 mi NW of Stouts
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.080, -80.660

Media reported numerous trees blown down in the Indian Trail area.

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

Every storm in North Carolina in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, May 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: 638738, 638740, 638741, 639224, 638739, 638742, 638743.