North Carolina, 2020Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 31, 2020
July 31, 2020 · NWS GSP · 8 events in 7 counties and zones
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters developed across western North Carolina during the evening. Several of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts and/or heavy rainfall.
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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $110,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters developed across western North Carolina during the evening. Several of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts and/or heavy rainfall. A small area of flash flooding developed in downtown Asheville.
Thunderstorm Wind, Madison
- When
- July 31, 6:20 PM EST to 6:43 PM EST
- Where
- Madison County, 1.96 mi ENE of Spring Creek to 0.26 mi WSW of Marshall
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 35.813, -82.819
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down from the western part of the county into the Marshall area.
Thunderstorm Wind, McDowell
- When
- July 31, 6:38 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- McDowell County, 1.12 mi W of Greenlee to 3.46 mi N of Dysortville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 35.670, -82.120
Emergency manager reported trees blown down on Burnette Rd at Highway 70, on Sugar Hill Rd, and on Deer Park Rd off Pinnacle Church Rd.
Flash Flood, Buncombe
- When
- July 31, 7:30 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
- Where
- Buncombe County, 0.24 mi ENE of Kennworth to 0.24 mi E of Kennworth
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 35.581, -82.566
Media reported flash flooding developed along a small tributary of the French Broad River in Asheville's River Arts district in Asheville after 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over a small area in less than an hour. A medical facility on Depot St was inundated with up to a foot of water, causing damage to equipment. Several vehicles were also submerged on Depot St.
Thunderstorm Wind, Burke
- When
- July 31, 7:53 PM EST
- Where
- Burke County, 2.48 mi NNE of Icard
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 35.765, -81.440
Media reported trees and power lines blown down on Cape Hickory Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, Alexander
- When
- July 31, 8:05 PM EST
- Where
- Alexander County, 3.93 mi SW of All Healing Spgs
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 35.890, -81.320
Media reported trees blown down and blocking Antioch Church Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba
- When
- July 31, 8:23 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
- Where
- Catawba County, 4.29 mi NNW of Oyama to 1.78 mi NE of Conover
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 35.790, -81.290
Public reported (via Social Media) a tree blown down on 46th Ave NE in Hickory. Ham radio operator reported multiple trees blown down along Rockbarn Rd NE in Conover.
Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell
- When
- July 31, 8:28 PM EST
- Where
- Iredell County, 3.5 mi S of Statesville Rhyne Ar
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 35.900, -80.990
Spotter reported multiple trees blown down and blocking Pisgah Church Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell
- When
- July 31, 8:44 PM EST
- Where
- Iredell County, 0.89 mi NE of Statesville
- Measured
- 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 35.790, -80.890
County comms reported a tree blown down on a house in the Statesville area.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- 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.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, July 31, 20201 death · 1 injured · $5,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 events
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Montana, July 31, 20201 death · 1.75 in hail · 2 events
- Flash Flood in American Samoa, July 31, 2020$200,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds in Maryland, July 31, 2020$62,000 · 55 kt wind · 15 events
- Damaging Winds in Mississippi, July 31, 2020$69,000 · 55 kt wind · 11 events
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 31, 2020$46,000 · 55 kt wind · 10 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, July 31, 2020$34,000 · 1.25 in hail · 4 events
- Damaging Winds in Tennessee, July 31, 202050 kt wind · 19 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 31, 20201.75 in hail · 17 events
- Damaging Winds in Tennessee, July 31, 2020$11,000 · 50 kt wind · 5 events
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, July 31, 20206 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, July 31, 202064 kt wind · 6 events
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: 913684, 913686, 915980, 913687, 913688, 913691, 913689, 913692.