Isolated thunderstorms developed over the North Carolina foothills during the afternoon and moved slowly south. By evening, several storms organized into a small cluster over northern Spartanburg County and produced very heavy rain and a brief period of 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 North Carolina foothills during the afternoon and moved slowly south. By evening, several storms organized into a small cluster over northern Spartanburg County and produced very heavy rain and a brief period of 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 21, 3:22 PM EST, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
422 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
Bermuda high pressure and upper level ridging will remain in control
of the weather over the next few days. This will result in well
above normal temperatures...before a weak cold front pushes in from
the north early next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 420 PM: Convection becoming sparse across the Piedmont, but
good coverage continuing from the Blue Ridge south to the Upper
Savannah River Valley. Expect this activity to linger through the
afternoon then taper off during the early evening. With very high
DCAPE values across the area, cannot rule out an isolated severe
thunderstorm until the convection dissipates.
Otherwise...a broad upper ridge will remain centered over the
southern plains through Friday while a trough axis lingers just off
the Atlantic coast. Patchy fog development is possible wherever rain
falls and also the lower mountain river valleys - particularly from
the French Broad Valley and valleys farther southwest.
A little less in the way of upper energy moving southward east of
the ridge into the Carolinas is expected on Friday. Convection will
develop later in the day and primarily over the higher ridges mid
afternoon - with some survival into the adjacent foothills or
perhaps piedmont toward evening. Better insolation, weak downsloping
flow, and less moisture in profiles should lead to higher temps
Friday afternoon than Thursday. More dewpoint mixout is possible as
well, so heat index values should be capped around 100 in the
hottest areas.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At 130 PM Thursday: On Friday night and upper ridge will build east
front the plains across the southern Appalachians, completely
covering our area by late Sunday. Before this ridge overspreads the
area, weak lobes of vorticity may move southeast over the mountains
on the west side of a coastal trough. The models show modest
instability and weak shear each day, supportive of convection, but
not organized storms. Weak steering flow may support locally heavy
rainfall however, especially if cell can train over the same areas.
Temperatures will warm from around 3 degrees above normal to around
6 degrees above normal. Lingering moisture will allow apparent
temperatures to approach 102 degrees in the upper Savannah River
Valley on Friday, and 100 to 105 degrees from the foothills to the
Piedmont on Saturday.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 115 PM Thursday...Not much change needed to the going fcst.
Strong ulvl ridging will continue into Mon then slowly break down as
a couple H5 s/w trofs swing across the Glakes region. This will
bring a sfc front into the fcst area late Mon or early Tue. With
little flow aloft this front will become stationary and reinforced
somewhat on Thu as another weak bndry settles in from the north. As
far as the sensible wx goes...sct to num afternoon showers and
thunderstorms will be the norm...esp across the higher terrain...as
enhanced llvl lift provides broad focusing in a moderately unstable
yet low sheared environment. Max temps were brought down a degree or
two most locale Mon with increasing cloud cover possible...however
heat index values shud still reach adv levels across the srn half of
the CWFA. With weakening in the upper heights and lessening deep
layered subs...max temps will return closer to normal levels Tue
through the period.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT: Cannot rule out another cell affecting the airfield this
afternoon, but chance too low to include. Will AMD if any cells do
approach. Will keep VCSH to cover. Will hold onto continued light
southerly flow. VFR conditions will then continue overnight through
Friday with light SE to SW surface winds. Profiles will be a bit
drier on Friday and no convection will be mentioned through 18Z.
Elsewhere: Scattered thunderstorms will threaten the mountain and
foothill airfields through the afternoon hours, with chances best
around KAVL and KAND. Will hold onto VCTS at all sites going forward
through at least 22Z. Expect light southerly winds throughout,
except turning NW at KAVL overnight. Fog will be possible overnight
at any location where rain falls late today, but with chances best
in the mountain river valleys. The MOS is hitting KAVL especially
hard, but it has not performed well of late. Will still feature IFR
fog after 09Z but not hit dense fog hard yet. Will keep locations
dry through 18Z Friday with a later start to convection expected.
Surface winds will become more S to SW but remain less than 10 kt
throughout, with persistent NW flow at KAVL.
Outlook: Expect typical midsummer weather with scattered afternoon
and evening showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Morning
fog and low stratus will be possible each day in the mountain
valleys and also in locations that receive heavy rainfall the
preceding afternoon/evening.
Confidence Table...
20-02Z 02-08Z 08-14Z 14-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% High 86% High 100%
KHKY High 100% High 100% Med 74% High 100%
KGMU High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAND High 100% High 100% High 83% 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
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORDS FOR SATURDAY (07-23)
MAX TEMPERATURE MIN TEMPERATURE
STATION HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
KAVL 95 1983 69 1974 71 2015 50 1966
1952 1938 1999
1934 1983
KCLT 101 1987 73 1880 78 1991 56 2007
1952
KGSP 102 1952 74 1974 79 1934 59 1966
1947
RECORDS FOR SUNDAY (07-24)
MAX TEMPERATURE MIN TEMPERATURE
STATION HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
KAVL 96 1983 68 1985 71 1934 52 1966
1895
KCLT 100 1983 73 1938 78 2010 59 1947
1952 1883
KGSP 101 1952 70 1985 79 2010 59 1904
RECORDS FOR MONDAY (07-25)
MAX TEMPERATURE MIN TEMPERATURE
STATION HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
KAVL 92 2010 68 2000 70 2012 51 1895
2005 2011
1987 2010
KCLT 101 2010 69 2000 79 2010 62 1947
KGSP 100 1995 72 2000 77 2010 57 1911
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...SBK
NEAR TERM...HG/RWH
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...SBK
AVIATION...HG/RWH
CLIMATE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 313 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509- SCZ001>003-221915- RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA- HENDERSON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS- PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 313 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH THE HIGHEST COVERAGE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND GUSTY WINDS. A FEW STORMS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO 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...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE. GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508- 510-SCZ004>014-019-221915- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN- CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION-GREATER CALDWELL- GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK- GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG- CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 313 PM EDT THU JUL 21 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. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH THE HIGHEST COVERAGE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND GUSTY WINDS. A FEW STORMS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ..FRIDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ..SATURDAY...EXCESSIVE HEAT POSSIBLE. HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE FORECAST TO RANGE FROM NEAR 100 DEGREES TO NEAR 108 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE IN THE PIEDMONT. ..SUNDAY...EXCESSIVE HEAT POSSIBLE. ..MONDAY...EXCESSIVE HEAT POSSIBLE. ..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. 07
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 632 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 SCZ007-212315- SPARTANBURG SC- 632 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL SPARTANBURG COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM EDT... AT 632 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SPARTANBURG. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... SPARTANBURG AND USC UPSTATE. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && LAT...LON 3495 8192 3489 8198 3493 8209 3502 8199 TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 131DEG 1KT 3494 8198 CDG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
634 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
SCZ007-212315-
SPARTANBURG SC-
634 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL SPARTANBURG COUNTY
UNTIL 715 PM EDT...
AT 634 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11
MILES NORTH OF SPARTANBURG...OR NEAR MAYO. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY
STATIONARY.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MAYO AND CHESNEE.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3508 8203 3519 8192 3519 8190 3514 8185
3510 8183 3510 8184 3504 8189
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 131DEG 1KT 3511 8191
CDGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 637 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 NCZ508-212315- GREATER RUTHERFORD NC- 637 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM EDT... AT 637 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FOREST CITY...OR NEAR ELLENBORO. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... FOREST CITY...ELLENBORO...BOSTIC...CAROLEEN...HENRIETTA...HARRIS AND CLIFFSIDE. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. LAT...LON 3538 8181 3530 8172 3522 8180 3527 8192 TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 131DEG 1KT 3530 8181 CDG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
639 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 S FLAT ROCK 35.22N 82.44W
07/21/2016 HENDERSON NC 911 CALL CENTER
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON GREEN RIVER RD.
TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&
LVISINSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 643 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 NCZ068-212315- CLEVELAND NC- 643 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL CLEVELAND COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM EDT... AT 643 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING 14 MILES NORTH OF SHELBY...OR NEAR CASAR. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... BELWOOD AND CASAR. IN ADDITION TO INTENSE LIGHTNING...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 3554 8157 3548 8151 3541 8158 3550 8167 TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 049DEG 1KT 3549 8158 CDG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 700 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 SCZ007-212330- SPARTANBURG SC- 700 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN SPARTANBURG COUNTY UNTIL 730 PM EDT... AT 659 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF SPARTANBURG...OR NEAR WELLFORD. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... LYMAN...WELLFORD...INMAN...USC UPSTATE...DUNCAN AND BOILING SPRINGS SC. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && LAT...LON 3500 8195 3491 8205 3497 8221 3510 8205 TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 143DEG 2KT 3497 8206 CDG
The Greer radar (KGSP), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:29 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down on River Bend Rd and Rainbow Lake Rd near Fingerville. Highway Patrol reported a tree blown down at Sugar Ridge Rd and Clark Rd in Boiling Springs.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in South 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 653193.