Flooding in South Carolina, May 16, 2018

Name: Flooding in South Carolina, May 16, 2018
Start: 2018-05-16T10:30
End: 2018-05-16T15:30
Location: South Carolina

May 16, 2018 · NWS GSP · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A moist southeast upslope flow into the Blue Ridge escarpment resulted in development of moderate to heavy rain that began around midnight on the 16th and continued for much of the next 18 hours. Total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches resulted in minor flooding across portions of Oconee County.

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: $4,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 16, 10:05 AM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 10:05 AM EST, 25 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 4:30 AM EST, 6 hours before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
530 AM EDT Wed May 16 2018

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-170930-
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-
530 AM EDT Wed May 16 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Numerous to widespread heavy rain showers and thunderstorms are
expected to continue impacting the area through tonight. In addition
to the potential for cloud-to-ground lightning, gusty winds, and
small hail, slow-moving or training cells could produce locally
excessive rainfall and flash flooding. While very heavy rainfall is
possible everywhere across the area, the best chance for flash
flooding will exist near the southern Blue Ridge escarpment.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

..Thursday...Heavy rain possible. Numerous to widespread showers and
thunderstorms are expected to continue through Thursday. At least a
localized flash flood threat is expected, especially in areas that
receive heavy rainfall through tonight.
..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 flash
flooding to our office.

Lane

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 16, 10:07 AM EST, 23 minutes before

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Oconee

When: May 16, 10:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Oconee County, 0.42 mi S of Mountain Rest to 3.45 mi WNW of Tamassee
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.864, -83.151

County comms reported flooding developed across northern Oconee County after moderate to heavy rain produced widespread 3 to 5 inch amounts in about 12 hours. Multiple streams overflowed their banks and covered roads west and north of Walhalla, including Camp Rd, Lay Mill Rd, Orr Dr, Duck Pond Rd, and Taylor Creek Rd.

Flood, Pickens

When: May 16, 10:30 AM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 3.21 mi SE of Nimmons to 3.1 mi SE of Nimmons
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $500
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.987, -82.840

County comms reported flooding developed along Eastatoe Creek and Mill Creek after 2 to 5 inches of rain fell across northern Pickens County in about 12 hours. Cleo Chapman Highway was flooded and closed at Mill Creek Rd.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Carolina in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, May 2018

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 757987, 760116.