Showers and thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a stationary front across the North Carolina Piedmont throughout the day. One storm produced brief damaging winds across Union County during the morning, while flash flooding developed across Rowan County during the afternoon.
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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a stationary front across the North Carolina Piedmont throughout the day. One storm produced brief damaging winds across Union County during the morning, while flash flooding developed across Rowan County during the afternoon.
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 Aug 31, 8:15 AM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
915 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
The Bermuda High building into the area will largely limit afternoon
to evening thunderstorms by mid-week and produce seasonably hot
conditions that will last through the end of the work week.
Unsettled and cooler weather may return by this weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 855 AM: Following a remarkable spate of early morning
convection across the I-77 corridor, activity continues to blossom
in the eastern third of the CWA. These cells are firing ahead of
a shortwave axis seen on water vapor imagery and with the modest
LLJ preceding it. Though the HRRR has not initialized it well, it
looks likely that decent coverage of heavy rain producing cells
will continue into the NC side of the Charlotte metro until the
shortwave axis clears the area later this morning. A weak warm
front will effectively remain over the area thru today, bringing
a plume of 1.75-2.0" precipitable water. Minimal heating by the
middle of the day looks likely to lead to at least one more round
of storms, and a weak convergence zone remaining across the NC
zones should encourage new rounds of showers and storms into
evening. Forecast soundings in this area show substantially
deep warm cloud depth. The HREF probability of exceeding 3"
in 3 hrs has a 50pct bullseye encompassing the nrn foothills/nw
Piedmont at 00Z Tuesday, which is right around what our 3 hr flash
flood guidance is currently. The passage of the convection this
morning will probably lay down enough rain to lower the FFG even
more. Some places up in the nrn part have had excessive rain in
the past week. The overnight Day 1 Excessive Rain Outlook brought
the Slight Risk farther southwest in NC. Many ingredients for an
elevated risk of flash flooding appear to have come together, and
with the early morning activity having primed portions of the CLT
metro, we chose to expand the Flash Flood Watch issued on the mid
shift (for the nrn mtns, foothills, Piedmont zones) into Lincoln,
Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus counties. Union NC was left out
mostly because they missed out on the early morning activity. Not
going to rule out a few severe storms in the I-77 corridor either,
within a plume of 1000-2000 J/kg sfc-based CAPE may develop. The
isolated tornado risk mentioned by SPC in the D1 outlook will be
mainly associated with the morning activity due to the enhanced
shear associated with the LLJ, but sufficient deeper shear will
persist thru the day to support a Marginal Risk for damaging
wind and perhaps hail later on. Activity will carry on into the
evening as a short wave passes to the north. Most of the precip
will diminish or lift off to the northeast in the late evening
hours. High temps might stay a few degrees below normal owing to
extensive cloud cover. Low temps will remain mild.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
As of 1215 AM Monday: The main story Tuesday through Thursday night
will be the building heat. A rather stagnant pattern will be in
place Tuesday through Thursday night as a nearly stationary Bermuda
High pinwheels off the Southeast coast. Weak shortwave energy
passing to the north will largely not affect apparent weather in our
area as long as we are under the protection of the Bermuda high.
Showers and thunderstorms and associated cloud cover will decrease
in coverage and become more diurnally focused as any lingering wedge
or boundaries and associated upglide dissipates Tuesday with the
ridge dominating the weather Wednesday and Thursday. High
temperatures will respond in kind with widespread highs in the low to
mid 90s outside of the mountains and peak heat index values near 100
for portions of the I-85 corridor and points south.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 1245 AM Monday...A progressive polar jet with embedded energy
associated with a trough over the Great Lakes will finally begin to
break down the Bermuda High this weekend. A 1025 continental high
pressure system on the heals of a weak cold front will press from
the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Mid-Atlantic by this weekend,
likely providing enough oomph to push the boundary at least into the
forecast area. A separate frontal boundary near the Gulf Coast may
active towards southern areas, providing additional lift and
moisture over the feature as well as a short-lived wedge that may
take shape as the surface high presses offshore. The net result is
increases showers and thunderstorms with the initial front late
Friday, continued into the weekend with less in the way of thunder
owing to the extensive cloud cover and retreating wedge. One more
hot day is likely Friday, especially east of the mountains, before
temperatures tumble to near to below normal over the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /13Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: The first group of thunderstorms should exit
to the east early this morning. In behind this activity, a ceiling
restriction was indicated by the guidance, but it has been slow
to materialize. MVFR will probably hold on at KCLT for an hour or
two in the wake of the recent storms, but even if it breaks up,
it should be temporary and should fill back in with only minimal
heating. Meanwhile, a low cloud ceiling upstream over north Georgia
will most likely be what advects in and brings the ceiling down
across the remainder of the TAF sites. Convectively speaking,
after the morning activity moves out, we could be in something
of a lull for the better part of the morning outside of the nrn
foothills/NW Piedmont. Prefer to hold onto my PROB and TEMPO for
the better chances of storms in the late afternoon and evening
hours even though showers cannot be ruled out at any time during
the day. The ceiling restriction should gradually lift and scatter
during the middle part of the day, with VFR after that outside of
storms. Wind direction will be all over the place, but mainly E/SE
for most of the day. This evening, another round of showers and
thunderstorms is expected, particularly over the NC part of the fcst
area. This will be handled with PROB30s for the time being. Once
that activity moves out in the early morning hours Tuesday, more
low cloud restrictions should be expected, perhaps widespread IFR.
Outlook: More typical coverage of diurnal showers/storms is expected
Tuesday into late week. Early morning low cloud/fog restrictions
will also be possible over the mountain valleys most days.
Confidence Table...
13-19Z 19-01Z 01-07Z 07-12Z
KCLT High 91% High 100% High 94% High 80%
KGSP High 80% High 98% High 99% Med 79%
KAVL High 83% High 95% High 84% Med 65%
KHKY Med 79% High 80% High 80% Med 77%
KGMU Med 79% High 98% High 98% Med 73%
KAND High 83% High 100% High 100% Med 75%
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
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for NCZ033-035>037-049-
050-056-057-069>072-501>506.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...65
NEAR TERM...PM/08
SHORT TERM...65
LONG TERM...65
AVIATION...PMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 931 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020 NCZ048-053-065-068-082-507>510-SCZ003-006>009-012>014-011345- Madison-Buncombe-Henderson-Cleveland-Union NC-Rutherford Mountains- Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Greenville Mountains- Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Laurens-Union SC- Chester- 931 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms developing today, and possibly continuing into tonight, will pose a risk of cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential downpours. A handful of storms could produce damaging wind gusts. Isolated flash flooding is also possible particularly where heavy rain has fallen recently. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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. NCZ033-035>037-049-050-056-057-069>072-501>506-011345- Avery-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Yancey-Mitchell-Catawba-Rowan-Lincoln- Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell- Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell- 931 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE 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. Flash Flood Watch. Also, scattered thunderstorms producing cloud-to-ground lightning are expected today. A few storms could produce damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ051-052-058-059-062>064-SCZ001-002-004- 005-010-011-019-011345- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Swain-Haywood-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens- Anderson-Abbeville-Greenwood- 931 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms developing today, and possibly continuing into tonight, will pose a risk of cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential downpours. Isolated flash flooding is also possible particularly where heavy rain has fallen recently. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. 8
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
514 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
NCZ036-057-071-072-311000-
Rowan NC-Iredell NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
514 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN CABARRUS...SOUTHEASTERN IREDELL...NORTH CENTRAL
MECKLENBURG AND SOUTHWESTERN ROWAN COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM EDT...
At 513 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning 8 miles north of Huntersville, or near Davidson,
moving east at 20 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Kannapolis, Huntersville, Cornelius, Mooresville, Davidson, China
Grove, Landis, Enochville, Lake Norman and Ramsey Creek Park.
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...
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 3549 8048 3543 8092 3553 8096 3553 8094
3555 8096 3555 8095 3557 8096 3559 8093
3561 8094 3562 8093 3575 8057
TIME...MOT...LOC 0913Z 252DEG 16KT 3554 8087
RMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
519 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
NCZ071-072-311000-
Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
519 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT WESTERN
CABARRUS AND CENTRAL MECKLENBURG COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM EDT...
At 519 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning near Uptown Charlotte, or near Central Charlotte,
moving east at 15 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Uptown Charlotte, Downtown Concord, Central Charlotte, Northeast
Charlotte, Southwest Charlotte, East Charlotte, Northwest Charlotte,
West Concord, Mint Hill and Harrisburg.
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...
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 3520 8050 3519 8050 3521 8055 3516 8061
3511 8092 3529 8099 3544 8058
TIME...MOT...LOC 0919Z 252DEG 15KT 3523 8090
RMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
551 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
NCZ071-072-311030-
Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
551 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT CABARRUS
AND EAST CENTRAL MECKLENBURG COUNTIES UNTIL 630 AM EDT...
At 550 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning 6 miles east of Uptown Charlotte, or near Reedy
Creek Park, moving east at 15 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Downtown Concord, Northeast Charlotte, East Charlotte, West Concord,
Mint Hill, Harrisburg, Mt Pleasant, University City, Reedy Creek Park
and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In addition to intense lightning, wind gusts up to 50 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.
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 3521 8048 3520 8050 3519 8053 3521 8055
3518 8058 3515 8076 3534 8082 3549 8042
3538 8038
TIME...MOT...LOC 0950Z 252DEG 15KT 3526 8074
RMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
557 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
NCZ057-072-311045-
Rowan NC-Cabarrus NC-
557 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH INTENSE LIGHTNING WILL IMPACT NORTH
CENTRAL CABARRUS AND SOUTHWESTERN ROWAN COUNTIES UNTIL 645 AM EDT...
At 557 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
intense lightning 5 miles northwest of Kannapolis, or near
Enochville, moving east at 15 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Kannapolis, Salisbury, China Grove, Spencer, Landis, Enochville,
Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith and Gold Hill.
In addition to intense lightning, wind gusts up to 50 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.
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 3547 8071 3563 8076 3574 8046 3572 8042
3573 8039 3572 8039 3551 8031
TIME...MOT...LOC 0957Z 256DEG 14KT 3556 8068
RMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1001 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
NCZ082-311445-
Union NC-
1001 AM EDT Mon Aug 31 2020
...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN
UNION COUNTY UNTIL 1045 AM EDT...
At 1000 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a thunderstorm with
torrential rainfall 6 miles northeast of Monroe, or near Unionville,
moving east at 15 mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph, half inch hail and very heavy rainfall rates
up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in these areas.
LAT...LON 3496 8030 3495 8054 3513 8058 3517 8046
3516 8044 3517 8042 3516 8041 3518 8037
3517 8036 3518 8033 3517 8032 3519 8030
3520 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 1400Z 258DEG 12KT 3506 8048
CSHThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:09 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Fire dept reported trees blown down near the intersection of Unionville Rd and Sikes Mill Rd.
Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed along Jump and Run Branch on the north side of Salisbury after 2 to 4 inches of rain fell over the basin in just a couple of hours. Numerous roads were inundated as was an apartment building on Wellington Hills Circle.
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, August 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: 919499, 919508.