A line of thunderstorms moved across northeast Georgia in advance of a cold front during the evening. Wind damage occurred with the line as it moved across the mountains.
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.
A line of thunderstorms moved across northeast Georgia in advance of a cold front during the evening. Wind damage occurred with the line as it moved across the mountains.
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 Jan 11, 2:11 PM EST, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
211 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong low pressure system with its associated cold front will
cross the southern Appalachians tonight bringing storms and heavy
rain. After brief drying on Sunday, unsettled weather returns for
the first half of the week. Cooler and dry high pressure will be in
control Thursday and Friday. Another wet system arrives next
Saturday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 210 PM EST Saturday: Shower coverage continues to increase
this afternoon in the moist southerly flow across the area. Expect
the coverage to expand into the evening ahead of the approaching
squall line and associated cold front. Gusty S to SW winds will
continue as well, with the highest winds over the higher elevations
of the Wind Advisory area.
Conditions are looking more favorable for severe storms this
evening. CAM guidance shows favorable muCAPE, shear, and helicity
values developing as the squall line approaches. This guidance shows
streaks of updraft helicity moving in as well. The system is very
dynamic, a strong lead short wave does cross the area providing
plenty of forcing even with the main short wave passing to our NW.
there is also quite a bit of divergence as the right entrance region
of an upper jet moves in. This will provide plenty of forcing for
ascent. Despite the clouds and showers across the area, there is no
sign of any cold air damming developing with very anomalously high
temps and dew points in place and gusty southerly winds. When it's
warm, humid, and windy in January, bad things can happen. After
coordinating with SPC, the Slight Risk of severe storms will be
expanded east into our area to give some lead time for a potential
Watch. There are still some timing differences with the squall line
with some guidance faster than others. A couple of runs even show
the initial line weakening and a second line along the front
strengthening. This the faster, stronger initial line scenario is
better. This brings the squall line into the CWFA around 00Z, into
the I-26 corridor by 03Z, and into the I-77 corridor by 06Z. This
could even be a little slow. Will leave the Wind Advisory as is for
now, as the strongest gradient winds will be over the higher
elevations. Stronger winds into the High Wind Warning criteria will
likely be associated with the squall line itself and can be
addressed with Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Given the strength of
this system and amount of shear and helicity, an isolated tornado is
possible as well. There will still be quite a bit of QPF across the
southern Escarpment and Southwestern NC mountains. However, given
the fast movement of this system, do not expect any widespread
flooding problems. Isolated flooding will be possible.
Weak high pressure builds in behind the front Sunday. The pressure
gradient relaxes quickly given the weakness of the high. Winds
should drop off quickly, even across the mountains. Expect clearing
skies during the morning. The front stalls to our south with waves
of low pressure moving along it. This will bring moisture and clouds
back into the area south of I-85 during the afternoon along low
precip chances. Highs will be 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 130 PM Sat: Longwave central-CONUS trough and western Atlantic
high pressure will remain in place into midweek. Between these
features, a wavering, weak baroclinic zone will maintain generally
unsettled weather for our FA. This will begin Sunday night as
southwesterly flow atop the old cold front brings it northward again,
and weak isentropic lift occurs overhead; slight elevated instability
could produce the occasional rumble of thunder. The lift over the
front strengthens later Monday, and especially Monday night, in
advance of a low pressure system that will move from the northern
Plains toward the northeast, within the so-called wave train. Models
differ somewhat in how the eastward movement of that low affects the
area but depict the next shortwave in the train soon following
behind. The consensus suggests a drying trend between the lows, and
a decline in PoPs, to end the short range.
Max temps will remain 15 to 20 degrees above normal, with mins on the
order of 25 above normal--close to if not warmer than normal maxes.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 200 PM Sat: The ill-defined baroclinic zone will remain across
the region until one more shortwave crosses the Upper Midwest. This
suggests warm and wet conditions will continue for the FA until cold
front sweeps through sometime Thursday. Though temps will trend down
immediately following the fropa, downsloping will keep them
substantially above normal for one more day. A narrow upper ridge and
strong sfc high then move into the eastern CONUS, setting up dry wx
and more seasonable temps for the region Thu night and Fri. A
full-latitude trough sweeping across the Plains will induce deep
cyclogenesis around that time. As this new system nears the area
Friday night and moisture spreads back in from the west/southwest, it
is not out of the question high elevations will experience mixed
wintry precip.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Tricky forecast with a wide variety of MVFR
to IFR cigs and VFR to IFR vsby depending on whether a shower is
affecting a terminal. Have tried to cover the current conditions
with general deterioration in cigs and vsby as shower coverage
increases ahead of an approaching cold front. Gusty southerly winds
will continue through the afternoon. MVFR to IFR conditions continue
through the evening with a chance of TSRA as the front moves
through. Stronger and gustier SW winds are expected. Conditions
improve behind the front as precip and low clouds end and any vsby
restriction dissipates. Gusty SSW wind continues behind the front
then diminishes toward daybreak. VFR and generally light winds
expected for the bulk of the day Sunday.
Outlook: Moisture, precip, and associated restrictions will return
from the south Sunday night and persist thru at least the first half
of next week.
Confidence Table...
19-01Z 01-07Z 07-13Z 13-18Z
KCLT High 95% High 97% High 93% High 100%
KGSP Med 78% High 86% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 82% Med 77% High 100% High 98%
KHKY High 84% Med 66% High 100% High 100%
KGMU Med 74% High 86% High 100% High 100%
KAND High 80% High 84% 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...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Sunday for GAZ010-017.
NC...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Sunday for NCZ033-048>053-058-059-
062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...RWH
SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...08
AVIATION...RWHHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508- 510-SCZ001>014-019-121045- 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- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood- 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to cross the area tonight along a cold front. Very gusty winds are expected to accompany the line of showers and storms, with isolated damaging winds possible. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Occasional cloud to ground lightning and very heavy rainfall can occur with any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-501-503-505-121045- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains- McDowell Mountains- 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... 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. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. This is expected to enhance the already gusty winds that will be in place across the mountains, and could bring locally damaging winds to the valley floors. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Occasional cloud to ground and very heavy rainfall can occur with any storm. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. GAZ010-017-NCZ062>065-507-509-121045- Rabun-Habersham-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains- 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia 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...Sunday through Friday. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. This is expected to enhance the already gusty winds that will be in place across the mountains, and could bring locally damaging winds to the valley floors. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Heavy rain falling on top of an already wet ground from today's shower activity could result in localized flooding of streams, creeks, and poorly drained areas of the southern North Carolina mountains this evening. Finally, occasional cloud to ground lightning can occur with any storm. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. Lane
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W ROBBINSVILLE 35.32N 83.86W
01/11/2020 GRAHAM NC 911 CALL CENTER
GETTING REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.
&&
OUTLAWThe Greer radar (KGSP), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:07 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported numerous trees blown down throughout Rabun County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, January 2020
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: 871141.