Gusty winds developing in advance of a cold front caused a tree to fall in Statesville, killing a man and damaging several vehicles.
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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.
Gusty winds developing in advance of a cold front caused a tree to fall in Statesville, killing a man and damaging several vehicles.
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 Apr 9, 12:42 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
142 PM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross our area from the northwest on this morning,
with cool and very dry high pressure spreading over the region
for Friday and Saturday. Low pressure with abundant moisture is
expected to affect our region on Sunday and Monday before high
pressure returns by the middle of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 140 PM Thursday: Main update for the 18Z TAF issuance along
with minor adjustments made to temperatures/winds to coincide with
latest trends as the rest of the near term forecast remains on
track. Gusty winds have picked up across the area as expected as the
cold front continues to push through the Carolinas. Otherwise,
conditions remain dry with latest radar imagery quiet. A Red Flag
Warning and Wind Advisory remain in effect for portions of the area
through this evening. A Special Weather Statement remains in effect
for portions of the NC Piedmont and northeast Georgia regarding the
increased fire danger for this afternoon. Current temperatures are
in the upper 70s to lower 80s, cooler across the mountains.
Previous discussion: Heights will steadily fall as an upper
shortwave crosses the region this morning and pushes a cold front
across the fcst area, with dry Canadian high pressure spreading over
the region in its wake. Expect low-lvl winds to turn WLY to NWLY
behind the front and become quite gusty. Deep mixing today will tap
into stronger winds aloft generating wind gusts likely reaching
Advisory level over the higher terrain. Thus, a Wind Advisory has
been issued from 10am until 8pm today for the Northern Mtns
including Madison and Buncombe Counties. The deep mixing will also
lead to significant drying during the day with RH values likely
approaching fire danger criteria over much of the fcst area. Highs
will be near normal across the mountains and up to 10 degrees above
normal over the lower terrain. The considerably cooler air won't
advect into the area until later tonight and tomorrow.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 111 am Thursday: All of our weather concerns are of the
non-precipitating variety for the end of the week. We should be
under a cool and dry NW flow aloft that supports a large continental
sfc high building in Friday and moving past on Saturday. Actually,
it will be very dry on Friday, with afternoon RH making it down
at least into the low 20 pct range, and probably down into the
teens. Some residual winds aloft should be able to mix down into the
early afternoon, meaning that we will probably have Fire Weather
concerns thru the afternoon, possibly Red Flag conditions in some
locations. Temps will be well below normal under a sunny bright
sky. The sfc high should be located overhead at daybreak Saturday,
providing for excellent radiational cooling conditions that will
allow for temps to fall down into the mid/upper 30s across the area
east of the mtns, with freezing temps over the higher terrain. This
raises the strong possibility of frost across at least the NC
foothills and NW Piedmont, but right now the fcst keeps temps above
32F outside the mtns. We will continue to monitor this situation
as well. We should see some rebound in temps on Saturday as the
high moves off to the east, while high clouds begin to stream in
from the SW ahead of the next weather system in the afternoon.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 1224 AM Thursday: The hits just keep on coming through
the first part of the medium range. The model guidance has not
substantially changed with the overall plan that would have a srn
stream system getting picked up and kicked out to the northeast on
Saturday night/Sunday/Sunday night, with the same timing differences
noted in previous model cycles. The important details remain
murky. Either way, still a good bet that moisture return will be
well underway Saturday evening with precip spreading up from the
southwest in the pre-dawn hours. Once the moisture comes in, it
should do so with a vengeance as the Gulf will be wide open. The
GFS suggests PW climbing above 1.5 inches which is well above the
top end of the sounding climatology, so needless to say this system
looks wet. Both models suggest a heavy rain threat on Sunday/Sunday
night as all manner of strong forcing and deep moisture is brought
to bear, with the potential for a few inches widespread across
the region. Fortunately, it has been fairly dry in the last week
or two so perhaps some of this can be tolerated. The chance of
severe thunderstorms looks to be on an increasing trend, which
is also worrisome, with the guidance now suggesting the passage
of a triple-point sfc low over the srn Appalachians during peak
heating on Sunday in the case of the GFS. If that were to happen,
it would be less likely that any weak wedge or cool pool would be
able to hold on, which could expose the area east of the mtns to
at least a high shear/low CAPE environment if not more. We will
continue to monitor this potential over the next day or two. This
system should exit quickly late Sunday night/Monday morning, so
precip chances diminish then. We might get one above normal day
before the long-wave upper trof to our west allows for a cooler
high pressure air mass to start building in to bring us back down
below normal. Confidence is really stretched thin beyond that,
with a weak system sheared out and caught up in the fast cyclonic
flow that would come through Tuesday or Wednesday. Looks like less
of a chance of high elevation snow in this cycle. Thursday should
be dry again with temps slightly below normal.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
At KCLT and Elsewhere: Expect VFR through the valid TAF period with
the main concern for the period being the gusty west-west
northwesterly winds. Latest guidance continues to suggest a lull in
gusts this evening before returning Friday morning. Winds at KAVL
will remain northwesterly with the highest gusts of all TAF sites.
Some of the guidance is suggesting much higher gusts than in going
TAF fcst Friday morning, but for now have kept on the lower side of
guidance. The Wind Advisory is only in effect for the northern
mountains, which does not include any TAF sites attm.
Outlook: Precipitation and flight restrictions return this weekend.
Otherwise expect VFR.
Confidence Table...
17-23Z 23-05Z 05-11Z 11-12Z
KCLT High 100% 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 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGMU High 100% 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 are available at
the following link:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
.A cold front will cross the area this morning. Windy and very gusty
conditions are expected to develop behind the front while dry air
mixes in from the northwest. Temperatures will remain warm leading
to very low relative humidity values throughout the afternoon. These
conditions will combine with low fuel moisture levels to produce
critical fire weather conditions.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for South Carolina. Fire Danger
statements are also in effect for Northeast Georgia and the non/mtns
of North Carolina.
Dry and windy conditions will continue Friday and fire weather
conditions may reach high risk levels during the afternoon.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ033-048>050-
053-501-503-505.
SC...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ001>014-
019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PM
NEAR TERM...JPT/12
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...PM
AVIATION...12
FIRE WEATHER...SBKHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 SCZ001>014-019-101115- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood- 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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. Red Flag Warning. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms may come over the mountains and reach the Upstate and northeast Georgia in the pre-dawn hours. Damaging winds would be the primary threat. Later developments will determine if, when, and where a severe thunderstorm watch would be issued. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A few severe thunderstorms could be ongoing across the region at daybreak. The storms are expected to move quickly to the east and out of the area by late morning as a strong cold front moves through. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. NCZ051-052-058-059-062>065-507-509-101115- Swain-Haywood-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson- Transylvania-Henderson-Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains- 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ033-048>050-053-501-503-505-101115- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Caldwell Mountains- Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains- 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-101115- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert- 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia. .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. Fire Danger Statement. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-510-101115- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston- Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke- Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk- 706 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 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. Fire Danger Statement. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
941 AM EDT THU APR 9 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW GREENVILLE 34.78N 82.43W
04/09/2020 GREENVILLE SC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREE DOWN ON HOME ON OAKVALE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BY
RADAR.
&&
LACORTEThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Gusty winds developing in advance of a cold front caused a tree to fall on Mulberry St in Statesville, killing a 61-year-old man and damaging several vehicles.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Iredell | 2020-04-09 | 61 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 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: 889119.