High Wind and Strong Wind in North Carolina, February 24 to 25, 2019

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in North Carolina, February 24 to 25, 2019
Start: 2019-02-24T12:00
End: 2019-02-25T11:00
Location: North Carolina

February 24 to 25, 2019 · NWS GSP · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Strong west to northwest winds developed across the northern mountains of North Carolina in the wake of a cold front. Although winds became very gusty immediately after the cold front passed during the afternoon, the damaging winds primarily occurred during the evening and overnight hours, when many trees and power lines were blown down.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 1
Property damage: $45,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 Feb 24, 10:15 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 10:15 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1015 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move rapidly east across the region this morning,
ushering in drier but windy conditions the rest of the day through
tonight. Dry high pressure will dominate the southeast on Monday and
Tuesday. The weather pattern will become a bit more unsettled
Wednesday through Friday, but with fairly uncertain moisture return
into the region that will keep shower chances minimal. Another
vigorous cold front may reach the area from the west toward next
weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 1015 AM: Minor adjustments made to temperatures/sky
cover/winds to coincide with latest trends, as the rest of the near
term forecast remains on track. A Flood Watch remains in effect for
the southern portions of the NC mountains through noon, where
ongoing flooding, especially along area rivers and streams,
continues. The rainfall has ended across the FA this morning, as
seen from latest radar imagery. After a few days of expansive cloud
cover, breaks in the clouds are allowing for the sun to shine in
some places already.

Otherwise, the high pressure that fostered our ongoing cold-air
damming event is now centered off the Northeast coast, and as a cold
front impinges on the area this morning, the CAD will gradually
erode. Temps appear to already be rebounding at a couple of mtn obs
sites, post-wedge. The erosion will come as a low-level wind shift
occurs with the front, providing the necessary CAA and/or
downsloping that will scour out the low clouds and fog. With all the
precip gone across the FA, the fcst is dry for the remainder of the
near term; a couple of mesoscale sources do try to develop some
sprinkles on the ensuing upslope flow along the Tenn border this
aftn, but soundings suggest moisture is too shallow to buy into this
idea. Max temps will be dramatically warmer compared to the past 2
days as insolation and downsloping do their thing. Much of the
Piedmont should easily approach 70, with upper 50s to lower 60s in
the mtn valleys and foothills. Mins tonight will fall to daily
normal values, if not slightly below.

A tight gradient flow will persist into tonight with sfc high
pressure building in, as previously expected. In the northern
mtns/foothills, sustained winds and gusts will support a High Wind
Warning until 12z Monday. A Wind Advisory is now in effect at all
elevations of the mtn zones. Latest thermodynamic profiles suggest
some gusting will reach advisory criteria in these zones through
tonight, so with the AM package, the Advisory was extended until
12z Monday as well. Furthermore, the max temps now expected over
much of the NC Piedmont suggested slightly deeper mixing than was
previously thought possible, so gust potential looks a little
greater. With soils being soaked across that area, this raises
the likelihood of some trees falling. Thus we decided to add most
of the NC Piedmont into the Wind Advisory, and carry it through
midnight tonight in collaboration with neighboring WFOs.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 245 AM EST Sunday: The pressure gradient will relax rather
quickly across the region on Monday, but with breezy to windy
conditions continuing along I-40 and north through the morning
hours. It's possible that an extension to the High Wind Warning, or
a northern mountain Wind Advisory, will be needed for Monday
morning, but that decision can be made later once we assess how the
current wind hazard suite is performing.

Otherwise, anticipate a quiet short term period to start the week,
as sprawling high pressure builds from the upper Midwest over the
Great Lakes and across the eastern seaboard Monday through Tuesday.
Anticipate mainly zonal flow aloft on Monday, and then deep layer
WNW flow on Tuesday, with little more than passing high clouds at
times. At or below climo temperatures on Monday will rebound to one
to two categories above climo on Tuesday.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 245 AM EST Sunday: Various short wave impulses will likely
cross the region from the west Wednesday through Friday, but
differences in model timing, and in moisture availability, will make
the forecast period quite uncertain. The GFS does feature several
different waves of moist upglide in the Wed. to Fri. period, while
the ECMWF/CMC camp and ensemble mean are drier with more westerly
flow and less upglide and forcing in that period. Will generally cap
PoPs in the slight chance range for this period given the
uncertainty, with a small uptick to low end chance on Friday.

Stronger height falls should sweep from the Rockies to the central
CONUS Friday night through Saturday. In response, and despite the
mid week differences, the numerical models come together a bit
better by late week/early weekend, bringing a cold front to the
southern Appalachians from the west Friday night, and a cold fropa
across the region on Saturday. Will feature the highest chance PoPs
of the period in this Friday night through Saturday time frame.
Maximum temperatures should remain within about a category of
climatology, with mins 5 to 10 degrees above climo throughout.

&&

.AVIATION /15Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: CAD is in its final stages across the
region. Development of downsloping and cold-advective flow with
a cold front is expected to scour low cigs in the first couple
hours of the period. Strong flow just above the wedge still
warrants a LLWS mention early on, but it can be dropped with
the cigs as winds pick up at the sfc. Still can't totally rule
out a short period of IFR to LIFR vsby and/or cigs at KCLT/KGSP,
so that is mentioned in a TEMPO. Following erosion of cigs, the
only impactful wx will be very gusty westerly (eventually NW-ly)
winds setting up within brisk gradient as dry high pressure builds
back in, with VFR. The gusts should generally diminish after sunset
over the SC sites and KCLT, but at KAVL/KHKY some gusting likely
will continue into early Monday. Wind direction will be somewhat
variable around due W at KCLT tonight and Monday morning.

Outlook: Expect VFR to prevail into the middle of the week, as
dry high pressure migrates across the eastern CONUS. Unsettled
weather may return in the latter half of the week with the high
setting up offshore, initiating a moist return flow out of the Gulf.

Confidence Table...

            15-21Z        21-03Z        03-09Z        09-12Z
KCLT       High  89%     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  98%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KGMU       High  98%     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...Flood Watch until noon EST today for NCZ048-051>053-058-059-
     062>065.
     Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST Monday for NCZ048-051>053-058-059-
     062>065.
     High Wind Warning until 7 AM EST Monday for NCZ033-049-050-501-
     503-505.
     Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for NCZ035>037-056-
     057-068>072-502-504-506>510.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...HG
NEAR TERM...SGL/Wimberley
SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...HG
AVIATION...Wimberley

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 24, 8:41 AM EST, 3 hours 19 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
841 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ082-SCZ001>014-019-251345-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Union-Oconee Mountains-
Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-
Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood-
841 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062>065-251345-
Madison-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-
Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-
841 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST MONDAY...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North 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.

   Flood Watch.
   Wind Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Wind Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-251345-
Avery-Yancey-Mitchell-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains-
McDowell Mountains-
841 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST MONDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North 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.

   High Wind Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   High Wind Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-502-504-506>510-251345-
Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-
Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-
Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-
841 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and
western North 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.

   Wind Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

SGL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Transylvania

When: February 24, 12:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Transylvania forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.202, -82.798 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Avery

When: February 24, 5:00 PM EST to February 25, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Avery forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.077, -81.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, McDowell Mountains

When: February 24, 5:00 PM EST to February 25, 11:00 AM EST
Where: McDowell Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 35.681, -82.049 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Mitchell

When: February 24, 5:00 PM EST to February 25, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Mitchell forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.013, -82.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Yancey

When: February 24, 5:00 PM EST to February 25, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Yancey forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 35.899, -82.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern McDowell

When: February 24, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern McDowell forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.681, -82.049 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

EM reported a tree was blown down on a vehicle on I-40 near Ashworth Rd, injuring one occupant.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, February 2019

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 807906, 807875, 807876, 807877, 807878, 807879.