Scattered thunderstorms developed over the mountains during the afternoon and pushed southeast into the foothills and Piedmont during the evening. Storms developed into several clusters once they pushed south of I-85, with locally damaging winds reported in Anderson County.
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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed over the mountains during the afternoon and pushed southeast into the foothills and Piedmont during the evening. Storms developed into several clusters once they pushed south of I-85, with locally damaging winds reported in Anderson County.
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 29, 3:45 PM EST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
445 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
Weak high pressure currently in place over the Mid West will drift
slowly eastward toward the area by the end of the week. A slow
moving cold front will stall out south of the area before slowly
pushing northward and moving north of the area by the beginning of
next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 435 PM...Water vapor imagery shows a potent short wave
dropping quickly through Missouri, which will pass north of our
area during the evening. Convergence invof old front (or trough)
is also a factor for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening. SBCAPE remains close to 1000 J/kg, with DCAPE nearing
1k. Shear appears to be too weak to permit much organization to the
storms, but strong enough to allow them to persist much longer than
a pulse updraft. Activity is expected to progress southeastward
from its current location from Columbus to Mocksville. Outflow
boundaries are noted, but CAPE is smaller along/south of I-85 and
any new development along them should remain isolated.
Considering the orientation of the jet, surface features and
higher precipitable water values back to our southwest, we believe
isolated showers or t-storms will linger through the evening,
and perhaps past midnight.
The setup Thursday for storms appears even more favorable. The
deep New England upper level trough will drop a bit farther south
Thursday. Wind fields will respond with 0-6km bulk shear about
30 knots and CAPES very impressive from both the NAM and GFS. We
will probably be watching areas near any local frontal convergence,
differential heating and lobes of stronger winds aloft. Storms on
Thursday may develop into loose clusters during the afternoon. We
have followed consensus on the POPS Thursday with mid range values
until we can get a good handle on location and focus. Much of our
area Thursday is in the Marginal Risk for severe storms.
Temperatures tonight and Thursday are a blend of several sets of
guide, but look considerably close to MOS values. Finally would
expect some patchy fog in the valley prone areas, and those places
which have rain. However, if cloudiness thins tonight, then more
fog would be expected.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 215 PM EDT Wednesday: General troughiness will be in place
through the short term, with a shortwave spinning across southern
Canada and another pushing across the Gulf Coast. The weak cold
front that will be hanging around the area through the near-term
will slide just to our southeast as we push into the short-term,
with weak high pressure developing in the lee of the Appalachians.
Dewpoints should drop several degrees during the afternoon on Friday
with northwest surface flow in place across the mountains leading to
a bit of drying downslope winds, and thus should see a bit of a lull
in convection as a result, with a minimum of CAPE across the area.
However, as the NAM does still want to paint between 500-1000 J/kg
sbCAPE, have kept slight chance pops in through the afternoon.
The Canadian wave rotates slightly northeastward Friday night as the
Gulf Coast wave damps, leaving sort of an isolated vort max and
associated moisture field. The frontal boundary will slide slowly
back to the north and begin merging with an area of moisture
associated with a shortwave coming off the Central Rockies. Should
see a return to diurnal convection Saturday afternoon. Temperatures
will hover a degree or two above seasonal normals.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Wednesday: The aforementioned upper trough and
Canadian shortwave continue to lift out of the area through the
weekend, leaving mainly zonal flow across the area, but with this
elongated front stretching from the Plains to the Carolina coast
meandering around the area. The former Gulf Coast shortwave will
also continue to slide northeast toward the area as the Rockies wave
moves east and deepens over the mid-Mississippi Valley. All this
additional moisture should leave to slightly higher than climo pops
across the area for Sunday and Monday afternoons, with likely pops
across the mountains and northern tier (or wherever the front ends
up) and chances elsewhere. Probably not what area residents want to
hear for Independence Day festivities, but we'll continue to refine
the forecast as we move forward.
Uncertainty really increases into the beginning of the work week as
the operational models differ on how to handle that mid-Mississippi
shortwave as it traverses east. ECMWF wants to keep the flow more
zonal with a weaker wave/surface reflection while the GFS has more
of a bonafide trough and surface low/front pushing through by
Tuesday night. Both generally keep the more active weather to our
north across the Ohio Valley. ECMWF is also faster with the
subtropical ridge moving back in to dominate the area toward the
middle of next week. Have trended slightly warmer with afternoon
highs, inching toward the mid-90s by the end of the period, with
lows also remaining above climo, and near-climo pops.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Deep convection ongoing over WNC but
currently between TAF sites. Outflow boundaries are expected to move
S from these cells and impact KCLT and perhaps KGSP no later than
22z. Scattered showers may redevelop as these boundaries encounter
unstable air over the Upstate, but current mention of TS in TEMPO
looks good. Some activity could linger into the evening as well
due to dynamic lift coming from a jet streak aloft. Later in the
evening some patchy fog has also been introduced. We will continue
to monitor for timing issues. Bottom line, VFR with restrictions
to ceilings and visibilities in showers and thunderstorms. Also
a few hours of MVFR fog late tonight. We have added some IFR fog
restrictions to AVL late tonight, thinking they have a better
chance to break out of any cloudiness.
Outlook: Warm and moist conditions with daily thunderstorm chances
will be on tap Friday and Saturday. Another frontal system may
make a run toward our region Sunday and Monday, which could enhance
thunderstorm activity.
Confidence Table...
20-02Z 02-08Z 08-14Z 14-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 83% High 89%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 87% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% High 87% High 97%
KHKY High 100% High 100% Med 65% High 87%
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 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...Staarmann
NEAR TERM...TS/Wimberley
SHORT TERM...TDP
LONG TERM...TDP
AVIATION...TS/WimberleyHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 346 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-302000- 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- 346 PM EDT WED JUN 29 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 ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. ISOLATED LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. HOWEVER...THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ..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. ..TUESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 721 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016 NCZ082-300000- UNION NC- 721 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN UNION COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM EDT... AT 720 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTH OF WADESBORO TO 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF MONROE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... UNIONVILLE...WINGATE...MARSHVILLE AND NEW SALEM. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 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 3493 8031 3490 8041 3509 8053 3514 8028 TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 303DEG 10KT 3513 8007 3503 8041 LANE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
724 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
SCZ002-003-006-300000-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-GREATER GREENVILLE SC-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-
724 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND
NORTHWESTERN GREENVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM EDT...
AT 724 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13
MILES NORTH OF PICKENS...OR NEAR CAESARS HEAD STATE PARK...MOVING
EAST AT 20 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SLATER-MARIETTA...PLEASANT RIDGE STATE PARK...JONES GAP STATE PARK...
CAESARS HEAD STATE PARK...TRAVELERS REST AND CLEVELAND.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
LAT...LON 3495 8252 3496 8253 3497 8253 3497 8256
3504 8269 3511 8269 3516 8244 3491 8246
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 278DEG 18KT 3506 8263
LANESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 726 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016 SCZ011-019-300000- ABBEVILLE SC-GREENWOOD SC- 726 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL GREENWOOD AND SOUTHEASTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM EDT... AT 726 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ABBEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... PROMISED LAND. HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. LAT...LON 3407 8229 3413 8232 3419 8220 3407 8212 TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 255DEG 10KT 3411 8227 LANE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
730 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
NCZ082-300000-
UNION NC-
730 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN UNION COUNTY UNTIL
800 PM EDT...
AT 730 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13
MILES WEST OF MONROE...OR NEAR WAXHAW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MONROE...WEDDINGTON...WESLEY CHAPEL...WAXHAW...LAKE PARK...MINERAL
SPRINGS...MARVIN...INDIAN TRAIL...HEMBY BRIDGE AND JAARS.
HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
RATES UP TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR 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 3484 8059 3484 8079 3494 8078 3499 8083
3510 8062
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 246DEG 14KT 3494 8077
LANESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
734 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
NCZ508-300000-
GREATER RUTHERFORD NC-
734 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTY
UNTIL 800 PM EDT...
AT 734 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES NORTHEAST OF RUTHERFORDTON...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF
BOSTIC...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SUNSHINE AND UNION MILLS.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
LAT...LON 3535 8171 3544 8196 3553 8196 3554 8185
3555 8184 3558 8171
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 266DEG 14KT 3547 8188
LANESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
749 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
SCZ009-300015-
YORK SC-
749 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL YORK COUNTY UNTIL
815 PM EDT...
AT 749 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES EAST OF ROCK HILL...OR NEAR FORT MILL...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
LOCATIONS TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FORT MILL.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
LAT...LON 3493 8087 3494 8091 3502 8094 3503 8090
3501 8091 3501 8090 3497 8088 3496 8087
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 268DEG 6KT 3498 8089
LANEThe Greer radar (KGSP), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:03 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
EM reported a van and travel trailer were blown off the road on Highway 81. There were also a few trees blown down in the area.
Highway Patrol reported multiple trees blown down near Starr and along Highway 252 west of Honea Path.
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, June 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: 647046, 646527.