Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening within an unseasonably warm and humid air mass. Several severe thunderstorms developed across the foothills and Piedmont, producing locally damaging winds and hail up to 2-inch diameter.
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 to numerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening within an unseasonably warm and humid air mass. Several severe thunderstorms developed across the foothills and Piedmont, producing locally damaging winds and hail up to 2-inch diameter.
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 Mar 1, 3:57 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
357 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross the area tonight, followed by cool high
pressure that gradually builds in from the northwest through the end
of the week. The high will slide east of the area late in the
weekend, allowing return flow to bring above normal temperatures
back in for early next week. Another cold front approaches from the
west midweek.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 400 PM EST: Updated mainly temperature and dewpoint grids to
reflect a slightly slower progression of CAA this evening, but
otherwise nothing significant yet. Pops and wx grids still look good
and reflect severe potential well still, with a Severe Thunderstorm
Watch in place across the entire area.
Otherwise, the approaching strong cold front has reached a line from
Nashville, TN to Jackson, MS this afternoon. Deep convection ahead
of this front has developed in the rich, mid 60s dewpoint air from
far northern AL to southeast TN, with increasing support from upper
divergence associated with a 140+ kt jetlet at 300 mb. The plume of
abundant low level theta e will stretch toward the southwest part of
our forecast area through mid to late afternoon. In addition, the
more northern parts of the line advancing across TN will likely pose
a severe wind threat to the TN/NC border counties this afternoon as
well. Gusty southwest winds will continue throughout the forecast
area through late afternoon as deep mixing from the warm
temperatures will reach closer to the 40 to 50 kt low level jet
moving overhead. Warm advection gusts should be sub-advisory, but an
SPS has been issued for gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range.
The convective threat will them ramp up from the west and southwest
after 20Z for all of our area. Convection-allowing models indicate
discrete cellular development firing well southeast of the main
activity through the late afternoon hours. Still anticipate the best
mountain timing from the mainly frontal band mainly 19Z to 23Z, with
foothills timing generally 22Z to 01Z, and lower piedmont mainly 00Z
to 03Z. A pocket of fairly steep lapse rates will cross the region
with the deeper convection, permitting the capping inversion to
dissipate. It appears that best overlap of instability and shear
will affect northeast GA, the extreme southern NC mountains, and the
western SC Upstate around 21z and this is where the tornado threat
will be highest. Consensus SBCAPE values should reach 1000+ J/kg
during the peak. Sfc to 3 km bulk shear is expected to exceed 50 kt,
with sfc to 6 km values 70+ kt. A damaging wind threat will be
supported throughout the entire area through early evening as these
convective features translate east.
Cold advection winds behind the front should pick up with the
arrival of an embedded 50 kt jet from 06Z onward. A wind advisory
will be posted for the higher terrain from the French Broad Valley
northward along the Blue Ridge. The gradient will slowly relax
through Thursday as dry high pressure stretches from the southern
plains to southern Appalachians. Max temps will be some 15 to 20
degrees cooler than today in most areas, more in the higher terrain.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 200 PM EST Wednesday: The ulvl pattern remains broadly
cyclonic through the period...with a strong s/w swinging by north of
the area early Fri. This wave will have little if any effect on the
FA as the sfc trof reflection is weak and very limited wrt to
moisture. The GFS does produce weak upslope -shra arnd daybreak
Fri...however all other op models remain quite dry during this time.
So...little change will be made to the PoP grids thru the
period...meaning dry conds thru Sat evening.
There will be a couple non/precip concerns however. As high pressure
builds in Fri afternoon....the p/grad will increase and a measure of
llvl CCA will enable gusty high elev mtn winds likely reaching adv
levels into the early evening. Dry cP air mixing in will also make
for low RH values Fri/Sat afternoons creating possible fire-wx
concerns. Winds should not be an issue...yet a FDS may be needed
across NE GA and the Upstate depending on fuel moisture levels.
Another concern will be for frost/freeze outside the mtns. Thu night
looks okay...even with mins reaching frost temps...as sfc winds look
to remain mixed keeping td/s rather low. Mins on Fri night should
easily reach freezing or below across the majority of the non/mtns
as the cP sfc high settles in. A freeze watch may be issued on Thu
if the cold guidance trend continues. With the expected airmass
mix...max temps will remain arnd or a bit below normal thru the
period in mostly sunny skies.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 145 PM EST Wednesday: Models are in pretty good agreement on
the overall pattern to start out the medium range. An upper trough
will exit off the East Coast Saturday night thru Sunday, then a
large ridge builds in late Sunday thru Tuesday, becoming fairly
amplified. Models begin to diverge with the next trough that will
cross the Rockies and reach the Great Lakes by Tuesday night. The
12z GFS is much deeper than the 12z EC/CAN. This results in a slower
timing of the next cold front. But the 12z EC has come in a little
slower than the previous run, closer to the GFS on the front's
arrival late Tuesday. However, the EC has the upper trough quickly
dampening into zonal flow, it hangs the front up across the area
Wed-Thu. I opted to stay close to the WPC, which has PoPs ramp up a
little quicker than the GFS, but not as slow as the EC. And the
stalled front on the 12z EC is a new development, so I have PoPs
taper off by early Wednesday for now. Temps will start out seasonably
cool early Sunday, but warm back up to about 10-15 deg above normal,
with highs in the lower 70s expected across most of the Piedmont by
Monday.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Only change to the KCLT TAF for the 21z AMD
was to increase wind gusts in the TEMPO group (associated with
TSRA). Any vertical mixing would bring down the strong winds aloft
and 45kt gusts seem reasonable. Otherwise, a strong cold front with
attendant strong to severe convection continues to approach the
southern Appalachians from the west this afternoon. Mainly lower VFR
cigs are expected ahead of the system with MVFR cigs and possibly
IFR vis developing under the heaviest showers and thunderstorms.
Still anticipate peak thunderstorm activity across KAVL 20Z to 23Z,
across the foothill sites 21Z to 01Z, and around KCLT 22Z to 02Z.
Southwest wind gusts above 30kt at times will toggle WNW to NW
throughout the region with fropa from 02Z west to 06Z east. NW gusts
post fropa will continue into the early overnight and strengthen at
KAVL through Thursday morning with the peak of the cold advectiion.
Outlook: Drier conditions will set up behind the front from Thursday
through the weekend into early next week. A reinforcing front will
cross the region Friday, but with very limited moisture.
Confidence Table...
21-03z 03-09Z 09-15Z 15-18Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
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...Wind Advisory from 8 PM this evening to noon EST Thursday for
NCZ033-049-050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...ARK
NEAR TERM...HG/TDP
SHORT TERM...SBK
LONG TERM...ARK
AVIATION...HG/TDPHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 317 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 GAZ010-017-NCZ048-051-052-058-059-062>064-SCZ001>003-022030- Rabun-Habersham-Madison-Swain-Haywood-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon- Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains- Greenville Mountains- 317 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 59 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. ..Thursday...High winds possible. Gusty northwest winds will continue across the mountains into Thursday morning. ..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... Skywarn spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail...damaging winds...tornadoes or flash flooding to our office. NCZ033-049-050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509-022030- Avery-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Henderson-Caldwell Mountains- Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains-Rutherford Mountains- Polk Mountains- 317 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 59 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. ..Thursday...High winds possible. Gusty northwest winds will continue across the mountains into Thursday morning. ..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... 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>014-019-022030- 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- 317 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 59 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .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...Frost/freeze possible. Temperatures are expected to drop to near or below freezing early Saturday morning. With the early start to the growing season, a Freeze Warning may be needed. ..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... Skywarn spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail...damaging winds...tornadoes or flash flooding to our office. Krentz
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
522 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0521 PM HAIL ST. STEPHENS 35.76N 81.27W
03/01/2017 E1.25 INCH CATAWBA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
TPALMERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
527 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 PM HAIL CONOVER 35.71N 81.22W
03/01/2017 E1.50 INCH CATAWBA NC SOCIAL MEDIA
&&
TPALMERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
530 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017
NCZ036-056-504-012300-
Iredell NC-Greater Burke NC-Catawba NC-
530 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CATAWBA...CENTRAL IREDELL AND
SOUTHEASTERN BURKE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM EST...
At 530 PM EST, Trained weather spotters reported strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from 7 miles north of Newton to 7 miles
southwest of Hickory to 13 miles southeast of Morganton, and moving
east at 65 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Hickory, Statesville, Newton, Conover, Maiden, Troutman, Claremont,
Catawba, Lake Norman State Park and South Mountains State Park.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail 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.
Dime to nickel size hail can cause considerable damage to vehicles.
Consider moving vehicles to a covered storage area before the storm
arrives.
&&
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EST for
western and the Piedmont of North Carolina.
LAT...LON 3567 8077 3556 8103 3557 8167 3559 8172
3580 8118 3580 8113 3578 8111 3580 8109
3578 8073
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 260DEG 57KT 3577 8117 3564 8138 3557 8159
08PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
534 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL TOCCOA 34.58N 83.32W
03/01/2017 M0.50 INCH STEPHENS GA BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORTED BY WNEG RADIO
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
538 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM HAIL CORNELIA 34.51N 83.53W
03/01/2017 E1.00 INCH HABERSHAM GA BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORTED BY WCON RADIO
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
541 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0536 PM HAIL 4 NW STATESVILLE 35.82N 80.93W
03/01/2017 E1.75 INCH IREDELL NC 911 CALL CENTER
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON MILLERS FARM ROAD.
&&
KRENTZThe Greer radar (KGSP), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:43 UTC.
12 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in the Westminster area.
Public reported 3/4 inch hail in the Pickens area.
Public reported quarter size hail in the Six Mile area.
Public reported (via Social Media) ping pong ball size hail in the Pickens area associated with a second storm.
EM reported widespread trees blown down across northern Oconee County, with more than two dozen roads blocked. Several outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed, while at least one home received siding damage (near Big Brown Dr and Old Highway 11).
Public reported ping pong ball size hail along Dacusville Highway.
Public reported (via Social Media) nickel to quarter size hail in the Travelers Rest area.
Public reported quarter to half dollar size hail in the Salem area.
Public reported multiple trees blown down in Pickens, especially off Glassy Mountain St.
Public reported (via Social Media) trees blown down across the train tracks in Easley and power lines blown down off Saluda Dam Rd on the north side of town.
Numerous sources reported multiple trees and power lines blown down throughout central Greenville County, from west Greenville, across the southern part of the city to the Eastside. A power pole snapped and fell on a home in the Judson Mill area. A tree fell through a mobile home in the Taylors area. Some buildings on the Eastside experienced minor roof damage, including at Bob Jones University. A 58 mph wind gust was measured by the ASOS at the Greenville Downtown airport at 6:55 PM EST.
Public reported (via Social Media) quarter to golf ball size hail on the east side of downtown Greenville, especially in the area centered around Cleveland Park.
Public reported (via Social Media) 2-inch diameter hail in the Hickory Tavern area.
Spotters reported quarter to golf ball size hail along Highway 252 from west of Laurens into the city.
Spotter reported trees and power lines down throughout the city of Laurens, from around Stagecoach Rd, through the city and east to the around the Laurens County hospital. One tree fell and significantly damaged a home on Stuart St in Laurens.
Public reported (via Social Media) trees on power lines near Lyman Lake.
Highway Patrol reported at least a dozen trees blown down across the central part of Spartanburg County. Some screen porches were also damaged at the Pelham Medical Center in Greer.
The NWS in Columbia relayed a media report of golf ball size hail in Clinton.
Public reported (via Social Media) multiple trees down, with a limb puncturing a garage door.
FD reported 3/4 inch hail.
EM reported metal sheeting was ripped from a building in Great Falls.
Cocorahs observer reported 3/4 inch hail.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, March 2017
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: 683199, 683226, 683225, 683228, 683198, 683227, 683230, 683223, 683203, 683206, 683218, 683233, 683234, 683235, 683237, 683221, 683222, 683236, 689965, 683239, 689968, 683238.