South Carolina, 2019

Flash Flood in South Carolina, June 7, 2019

June 7, 2019 · NWS GSP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across portions of Upstate South Carolina from afternoon into the evening in the vicinity of a frontal boundary. A series of showers and storms moving repeatedly over Cherokee County produced around 4 inches of rain in just a couple of hours, resulting in flash flooding.

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
$1,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across portions of Upstate South Carolina from afternoon into the evening in the vicinity of a frontal boundary. A series of showers and storms moving repeatedly over Cherokee County produced around 4 inches of rain in just a couple of hours, resulting in flash flooding.

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 Jun 7, 8:55 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 7, 8:55 PM EST, 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 7, 8:17 PM EST, 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
917 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ048-051>053-057>059-062>065-070>072-
082-SCZ001>014-019-090130-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Madison-Swain-Haywood-
Buncombe-Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-
Transylvania-Henderson-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-
Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-
Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-
Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood-
917 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will continue into the evening across the
area. Some of these storms will become strong with very gusty winds.
Any of the storms could produce locally heavy rainfall and frequent
cloud to ground lightning. More widespread heavy rain showers will
develop overnight and the threat of isolated flooding will gradually
increase.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

An active pattern will set up across the region through the weekend
and into early next week. With multiple days of moderate to heavy
rainfall, the threat of flash flooding will increase.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

NCZ033-035>037-049-050-056-068-069-501>510-090130-
Avery-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Yancey-Mitchell-Catawba-Cleveland-
Lincoln-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-
Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-
Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-
917 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

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

   Flash Flood Watch.

Numerous thunderstorms will continue into the evening across the
area. Some of these storms will become strong with very gusty winds.
Any of the storms could produce locally heavy rainfall and frequent
cloud to ground lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

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

   Flash Flood Watch.

An active pattern will set up across the region through the weekend
and into early next week. With multiple days of moderate to heavy
rainfall, the threat of flash flooding will increase.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

PM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 7, 5:23 PM EST, 3 hours 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
623 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

SCZ013-014-072330-
Union SC-Chester SC-
623 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT
SOUTHWESTERN CHESTER AND SOUTHEASTERN UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM
EDT...

At 623 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning 16 miles southeast of Union, or 4 miles south of
Carlisle, moving east at 15 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Carlisle, Chester State Park, Tuckertown and Leeds.

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.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3445 8155 3446 8155 3460 8157 3468 8122
      3456 8122 3457 8142 3453 8143 3450 8142
      3449 8143 3450 8144 3449 8144 3449 8148
      3445 8153
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 265DEG 17KT 3453 8147

RM
Special weather statement, Jun 7, 5:33 PM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
633 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

SCZ010-011-072315-
Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-
633 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT
SOUTHEASTERN ANDERSON AND ABBEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT...

At 633 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated the leading edge of a cluster
of thunderstorms with intense lightning along a line extending from
12 miles south of Anderson to 15 miles southwest of Abbeville, and
moving east at 30 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Abbeville, Belton, Honea Path, Calhoun Falls, Due West, Iva, Lake
Secession, Donalds, Starr and Lowndesville.

In addition to intense lightning, wind gusts up to 40 mph and very
heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Frequent lightning is occurring with these storms. 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 storms approach.

&&

LAT...LON 3407 8264 3409 8264 3413 8267 3414 8271
      3436 8278 3458 8243 3438 8229 3434 8233
      3432 8231 3428 8231 3422 8225 3416 8224
      3411 8226 3406 8233 3406 8244 3408 8248
      3407 8253 3402 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 261DEG 25KT 3434 8261 3402 8256

CSH
Special weather statement, Jun 7, 6:15 PM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
715 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

SCZ011-019-080000-
Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
715 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN
ABBEVILLE AND GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM EDT...

At 714 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated the leading edge of a cluster
of thunderstorms along a line extending from 11 miles southeast of
Anderson to 8 miles north of Abbeville to 9 miles southwest of
Greenwood, and moving east at 30 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Greenwood, Ware Shoals, Ninety Six, Due West, Donalds, Cokesbury,
Hodges, Lake Greenwood State Park, Greenwood State Park and Ninety
Six Historic Site.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches
per hour will be possible in these areas.

LAT...LON 3402 8224 3400 8226 3429 8241 3437 8249
      3448 8232 3440 8224 3437 8218 3433 8217
      3431 8212 3430 8208 3424 8201 3424 8198
      3419 8192 3416 8191 3413 8188 3400 8223
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 264DEG 24KT 3443 8247 3430 8234 3407 8222

CSH
Special weather statement, Jun 7, 7:19 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
819 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

SCZ002-005-080100-
Pickens Mountains SC-Greater Pickens SC-
819 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY
UNTIL 900 PM EDT...

At 819 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pickens, moving northeast at 10 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Pickens, Dacusville and Pumpkintown.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3494 8276 3506 8262 3503 8259 3502 8259
      3501 8260 3501 8257 3496 8253 3494 8252
      3486 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 237DEG 10KT 3490 8269

RM
Special weather statement, Jun 7, 7:42 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
842 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

NCZ068-SCZ008-080115-
Cleveland NC-Cherokee SC-
842 PM EDT Fri Jun 7 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CLEVELAND AND
NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM EDT...

At 841 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gaffney, moving northeast at 10 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Shelby, Gaffney, Blacksburg, Patterson Springs, Earl and Grover.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph, pea size hail and very heavy rainfall rates
up to 2 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3506 8167 3515 8177 3530 8153 3513 8144
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 237DEG 14KT 3511 8166

RM
Local storm report, Jun 7, 8:46 PM EST, 14 minutes before
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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Cherokee

When
June 7, 9:00 PM EST to 10:30 PM EST
Where
Cherokee County, 0.9 mi S of Grassy Pond to 2.02 mi N of Grassy Pond
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
35.117, -81.670

County comms reported flash flooding developed after around 4 inches of rain fell in the area between Gaffney and the North Carolina border in just a few hours. Multiple roads were reported flooded due to either small stream or poor drainage flooding. One vehicle was stalled in flood water.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, June 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 841295.