Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed in advance of a cold front across Upstate South Carolina during the afternoon. One severe storms produced isolated wind damage in Union 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 to numerous thunderstorms developed in advance of a cold front across Upstate South Carolina during the afternoon. One severe storms produced isolated wind damage in Union 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 May 24, 2:00 PM EST, 0 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
300 PM EDT Wed May 24 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
An area of low pressure to our west will push a warm front northward
through the area tonight. Unstable conditions south of the front
will lead to showers and thunderstorms producing heavy rain. A few
more showers may occur Thursday before drier and warmer conditions
return to end the work week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 240 PM EDT Wednesday: Atmosphere freely convecting across most
of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Storms not quite
severe yet, but the SPC Mesoscale Analysis shows sfc based CAPE in
the 1000-2000 J/kg range and sufficient effective bulk shear and
storm relative helicity to support supercellular structures. Only
problem right now might be the lack of a cap, which is allowing too
many cells to develop instead of concentrating more of the available
energy into a fewer number of stronger storms. Still expect storms
to get better and better organized over the next hour or two. The
1630 UTC update to the Day1 Outlook brought the Enhanced Risk across
most of the area east of the Blue Ridge and that seems wise. The
best tornado risk appears to be the I-85 corridor. Entire TOR Watch
still looks good.
Situation appears very dynamic over the next 12 hours as a deep
upper low drops down across the mid-MS Valley region to the TN
Valley region through the overnight hours. All manner of mid/upper
forcing will be brought to bear with excellent upper divergence as a
140+ kt jet streak lifts out of the upper trof and a strong short
wave also rotates around and lifts NE across the fcst area. Once the
initial round of supercellular convection moves on out, we could
still get some redevelopment closer to the actual cold front as seen
on upstream radars over middle TN and nrn AL. Severe weather will be
less likely with this activity as it will be moving in as the
instability will be on the wane. Cannot rule out flooding in any
areas that have repeat storms, given the wet soil conditions, so the
Flood Watch will be left in place for the time being. Convection
should pare back to the mtns late tonight once the main wave lifts
out and the upper divergence also moves NE.
On Thursday, the upper low will rotate past our area and then off to
the Mid-Atlantic region. We retain enough instability with cold air
aloft and enough forcing with the cyclonic flow that some shower
activity can be expected. Thunderstorms will probably be confined to
the Carolina Piedmont. Temps should be below normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Wednesday: The sharp trough, and associated upper
level low pressure system, we have been dealing with will shift to
the east of our forecast area (FA) Thursday evening. The last of the
convection should be ending Thursday evening in the NC mountains.
As the upper low lifts northeast into New England we will remain in
a broad northwest flow aloft. Meanwhile high pressure from the Gulf
of Mexico will build north into the Tennessee Valley. Moisture will
be on a downward swing, and with the high pressure system close
enough, we should have a dry Friday.
The upper flow will deamplify Friday night and Saturday, with
ripples of energy riding east/southeast from the Mississippi Valley
into parts of the southeast. At the same time, a weak frontal
boundary will try to drop south (from Kentucky and Virginia), but
will encounter the southern end of the westerlies and halt.
Nevertheless there appears to be a boundary of sorts (depending on
model preference) which allows some moisture to pool and
precipitation to develop. The GFS is the fastest, with the NAM and
European Models slower. Since the Gulf of Mexico is cutoff from this
scenario, we have sided with the slower precipitation guide Friday
night, limited late in the NC mountains. We will have chance, or
small chance, pops Saturday, perhaps reaching down to near the SC/NC
state line and NE Georgia.
Interestingly the SB Capes from both the GFS and NAM are hefty for
Saturday. However, a stout cap is in place. Therefore without a
strong trigger it might be difficult to realize the instability.
In the temperature department our thermal profile signals a warming
trend into Saturday, which we will follow.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 215 pm EDT Wednesday: the extended fcst picks up at 00z on
Sunday with flattening upper ridging over the southeast and another
broad upper trof digging down over the Western Great Lakes. The long
range models still have some lobes of mid to upper lvl shortwave
energy passing just to our north on Sunday, however the main trof
will be slow to progress eastward and isn't expected to move over
the fcst area until late Tues into early Wed. At the sfc, a cold
front will approach the CWFA early Sunday but is not expected to
move thru the CWFA until Monday. It appears to become stationary
just to our SE by early Tues and lingers over the area until another,
more robust cold front pushes thru the CWFA on Wed into early Thurs.
As for the sensible fcst, no significant changes were made. We still
have solid chances for convection on Sunday and Monday, and slight
to solid chances on Tuesday and Wednesday with the highest POPs
generally over the higher terrain. Temps will remain above climatology
thru the period with a slight cooling trend towards the end of the
period.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Ceiling continues to lift from MVFR to VFR as
boundary layer warms early this afternoon. Meanwhile, convection was
firing across most of the region though not at any TAF sites. Think
most locations will end up VFR prevailing with MVFR in convective
elements, and that is how we will play it. Winds could be strong and
gusty inside storms as well. The timing of the best chance is
generally through 00Z, but a second round could happen this evening
from the west closer to the front. Several of the storms could be
severe, and a Tornado Watch remains in effect for the entire fcst
area through 22Z. In the wake of the convection, ceiling should come
up to VFR for several hours, before dropping back down in the early
morning hours. Winds should be southerly through the evening hours,
and then with a switch to SW or WSW in the early morning hours (NW
in the Mtns).
Outlook: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue on
Thursday afternoon as the upper trough passes. Drying is expected to
finally occur Thursday night through Saturday.
Confidence Table...
19-01Z 01-07Z 07-13Z 13-18Z
KCLT Med 66% High 87% Med 75% High 91%
KGSP High 88% High 100% High 100% High 91%
KAVL High 87% High 96% Med 73% High 100%
KHKY Low 58% Med 76% Med 70% High 93%
KGMU Med 73% High 100% High 95% High 100%
KAND High 88% 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...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for GAZ010-017-
018-026-028-029.
NC...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for NCZ033-
035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510.
SC...Flash Flood Watch until 10 PM EDT this evening for SCZ001>014-
019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JPT
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...TS
LONG TERM...JPT/Wimberley
AVIATION...PMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1047 AM EDT Wed May 24 2017 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-251500- 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- 1047 AM EDT Wed May 24 2017 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 262 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flash Flood Watch. Numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop today. Conditions are favorable for some of these storms to produce severe weather, in the form of damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and very heavy rain. A few of the severe storms will be organized enough to produce a tornado. The most likely time for any severe weather will be through mid afternoon over the mountains, during the early to mid afternoon over northeast Georgia, the western upstate of south carolina, and the foothills of North Carolina, and then the mid to late afternoon over the western Piedmont of North Carolina and the Charlotte metro area. The threat for severe weather will end from the west in the late afternoon and early evening. .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... Skywarn spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. PM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1257 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
SCZ011-241745-
Abbeville SC-
1257 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ABBEVILLE COUNTY UNTIL 145 PM
EDT...
At 1257 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles southwest of Abbeville, or near Calhoun Falls, moving northeast
at 30 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Abbeville, Calhoun Falls, Due West and Lake Russell.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for northeastern
Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3407 8264 3409 8264 3413 8267 3436 8242
3418 8224 3414 8225 3411 8226 3408 8231
3406 8234 3406 8244 3408 8248 3407 8250
3407 8253 3402 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1657Z 233DEG 26KT 3406 8259
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
101 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
NCZ051-059-062-241745-
Swain NC-Northern Jackson NC-Macon NC-
101 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MACON...NORTHERN
JACKSON AND SOUTHEASTERN SWAIN COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM EDT...
At 101 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles south of Bryson City, moving east at 35 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Sylva, Bryson City, Cherokee, Cullowhee, Balsam, Webster, Dillsboro,
B.R. Parkway-Smoky Mountains To Balsam Gap, B.R. Parkway-Balsam Gap
To Black Balsam Area and Smoky Mountains-Balsam Mountain.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and pea size hail 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.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for western North
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3557 8316 3555 8316 3551 8318 3551 8316
3549 8315 3549 8314 3546 8313 3546 8310
3544 8308 3541 8304 3540 8304 3538 8302
3537 8299 3535 8298 3522 8348 3539 8357
TIME...MOT...LOC 1701Z 247DEG 31KT 3534 8344
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
135 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
SCZ011-012-019-241815-
Laurens SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
135 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT WESTERN
LAURENS...NORTHEASTERN ABBEVILLE AND NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES
UNTIL 215 PM EDT...
At 135 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning 11 miles north of Abbeville, or near Shoals
Junction, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Laurens, Clinton, Ware Shoals, Gray Court, Donalds, Cokesbury,
Hodges, Shoals Junction, Due West and Waterloo.
In addition to intense lightning, wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea
size hail 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.
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.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for Upstate South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3437 8242 3448 8232 3454 8224 3458 8224
3474 8209 3472 8208 3472 8207 3470 8207
3470 8206 3466 8200 3466 8198 3451 8180
3424 8227
TIME...MOT...LOC 1735Z 224DEG 21KT 3434 8231
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
158 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
GAZ029-SCZ010-011-241845-
Elbert GA-Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-
158 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN ELBERT...
SOUTHEASTERN ANDERSON AND NORTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 245
PM EDT...
At 158 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northeast of Elberton, or near Russell State Park, moving
northeast at 35 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Anderson, Homeland Park, Belton, Honea Path, Iva, Lake Secession,
Starr, Lowndesville, Russell State Park and Lake Russell.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail 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.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for northeastern
Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3411 8267 3421 8286 3428 8282 3429 8277
3432 8279 3459 8262 3445 8235
TIME...MOT...LOC 1758Z 212DEG 31KT 3423 8272
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
238 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
SCZ007-008-013-241915-
Cherokee SC-Union SC-Spartanburg SC-
238 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG...
SOUTHERN CHEROKEE AND NORTHWESTERN UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...
At 237 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles west of Union, or 8 miles west of Buffalo, moving northeast at
35 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Gaffney, Union, Pacolet, Buffalo, Jonesville, Pacolet Mills, Croft
State Park, Cross Keys, Saratt and Cross Anchor.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and dime size hail will be possible in these
areas.
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for Upstate South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3471 8197 3507 8168 3492 8147 3490 8148
3489 8147 3486 8147 3460 8181
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 220DEG 30KT 3472 8184
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
239 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
NCZ503>510-241915-
Greater Rutherford NC-McDowell Mountains NC-Burke Mountains NC-
Greater Burke NC-Polk Mountains NC-Eastern McDowell NC-
Rutherford Mountains NC-Eastern Polk NC-
239 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MCDOWELL...NORTHERN
RUTHERFORD...NORTHEASTERN POLK AND SOUTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTIES UNTIL
315 PM EDT...
At 239 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles north of Columbus, or 6 miles southeast of Chimney Rock State
Park, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Marion, Lake James State Park, Lake James, Chimney Rock State Park,
South Mountains State Park, Nebo, Green Hill, Mill Spring, Thermal
City and Pleasant Gardens.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and dime size hail 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.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for western North
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3563 8163 3527 8212 3537 8228 3539 8226
3541 8227 3553 8219 3553 8217 3554 8219
3583 8199
TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 219DEG 29KT 3539 8215
KRENTZThe Greer radar (KGSP), 54 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:58 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nws storm survey found multiple trees blown down around Shady Hill Dr off Timberlake Rd.
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, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 704507.