Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across the southern North Carolina mountains during the late afternoon and evening. One of the storms produced golf ball size hail in Transylvania County.
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.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across the southern North Carolina mountains during the late afternoon and evening. One of the storms produced golf ball size hail in Transylvania County.
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 May 5, 1:35 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
235 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
The last in a series of weather disturbances will cross the area
tonight and Wednesday with showers and thunderstorms likely.
Temperatures will fall to below normal by Thursday, then cooling off
even more by the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 230 PM Tuesday: The latest satellite showed low to mid clouds
gradually filling in from the west with showers approaching the
mountains. The RAP has trended somewhat lower in instability in its
latest runs, but not enough to significantly change the overall
threat for severe thunderstorms this evening.
A staggered upper trough and surface low pressure system developing
just north of the region will support increase shower and
thunderstorm coverage this evening before pushing most of the
activity east of the area by midnight. Model guidance continues to
show isolated convection converging into a broken squall line east
of the mountains this evening, especially between I-85 and I-40. The
preferred mode of severe weather may begin with damaging hail with a
few isolated tornadoes as the main threats due to the more
discrete/isolated nature of convection late this afternoon into the
early evening across the mountains. The great threat then may become
wind later this evening, especially along and east of I-77 as model
guidance suggests further upscale grow into a full blown mesoscale
convective system in this general vicinity. The 12Z HREF continued
to show rotating updrafts which could support a few tornadoes east
of the mountains, however relatively high cloud bases may limit this
potential. Deep moist convection also supports localized flooding,
should training of cells occur.
The aforementioned upper trough passes over the region Wednesday,
bringing the first shot of unseasonably cold air this week with
showers focused across the mountains. The timing of the upper
disturbance may drastically limit diurnal warming across the high
terrain Wednesday, which is no easy feat in early May across the
Southeast. In fact, cold enough air wraps in that graupel or snow
may mix in with the rain above 4000 feet later Wednesday afternoon
or early evening with light accumulations possible above 5000 feet.
Gusty but probably below advisory levels northwest winds will also
accompany this system, making it feel even cooler then the daytime
temperatures reaching the 50s to 60s across the region (although
much cooler above 4000 feet).
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 115 PM EDT Tuesday: A large scale upper trof will continue to
swing east of the area to begin the period. Associated embedded vort
energy and upslope flow will maintain -shra across the wrn NC mtns
early on, before tapering off before sunrise Thu. A quiet day on tap
Thu as deep layered drying and a unseasonably cold cP sfc high
engulfs the region. Thus...will likely have frost/freeze concerns
over the NC mtns each night thru the period. Max temps on Thu will
struggle to reach normal levels...likely remaining below by a few
degrees as nw/ly weak CAA flow persists. On Fri...winds will back
sw/ly ahead of an incoming cold front and modify temps back to
normal, while increasing td/s as well. However, instability will be
negligible ahead of the front, so wont expect much more than -shra
most areas with possible low-accum -snsh over the higher mtn ridges
as the frontal zone crosses east Fri night.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 155 PM Tuesday: Not a lot going on in the ext range. The
latest guidance continues to show a non/seasonal 1024 mb sfc high
dominating the pattern underneath broad cyclonic flow aloft. Cross
sections show deep layered dry air with increasing llvl moisture
late in the period over the NC mtns. Thus...a few nice days with
fairly weak winds and high sunshine are in store, albeit a little on
the cool side. Max temps will begin the period abt 10 degrees below
normal and modify to arnd normal levels by Mon. Mins will remain
below normal due to good rad cooling cond each night...which will
likely continue frost/freeze issues.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At KCLT and Elsewhere: 18Z TAF set driven largely by the timing and
intensity of convection with the latest guidance trending lower in
instability and coverage especially south of I-85. MVFR to locally
LIFR cigs/vsbys possible in and just behind stronger thunderstorms.
A return to VFR is likely for non-mtn sites by sunrise Wed with
MVFR/low VFR cigs hanging on across some mtn sites with a return of -
shra. Can't rule out graupel or -sn mixing in across the mountains
with perhaps a few showers making it east of the mountains near the
end of the TAF period. Breezy northwest winds are likely by
Wednesday.
Outlook: Dry high pressure spreads back over the region on Thursday.
A cold front with precip and restrictions moves in Friday.
Confidence Table...
00-06Z 06-12Z 12-18Z 18-00Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 100% High 80% High 89% 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
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...65
SHORT TERM...SBK
LONG TERM...SBK
AVIATION...65Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 410 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020 NCZ035>037-052-053-056-057-059-063>065-068>072-082-501>510- SCZ001>014-019-062015- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan- Northern Jackson-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-Cleveland- Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Caldwell Mountains- Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains- Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford- Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains- Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens- Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville- Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood- 410 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 168 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina, and Upstate South 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Heavy rainfall is also expected with these thunderstorms, leading to the potential for isolated flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not 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-NCZ033-048>051-058-062-062015- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Madison-Yancey- Mitchell-Swain-Graham-Macon- 410 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Showers and scattered thunderstorms will gradually taper off from the west through the evening hours. Until then, some of the storms will become severe with damaging winds and large hail possible. Heavy rainfall is also expected with some of the storms leading to the potential for isolated flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not 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. HG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
252 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0240 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 ENE GREENVILLE 34.86N 82.31W
05/05/2020 GREENVILLE SC PUBLIC
TWO LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN AT MERRIFIELD DRIVE AND
GATEWAY STREET.
&&
SKRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
317 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
NCZ051-058-062-051945-
Graham NC-Swain NC-Macon NC-
317 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MACON...SOUTH
CENTRAL SWAIN AND CENTRAL GRAHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
At 317 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Robbinsville, moving east at 25 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Robbinsville, Bryson City, Town Of Santeetlah, Lake Santeetlah,
Nantahala Lake, Fontana Lake, Wesser, Stecoah, Burningtown and Kyle.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.
LAT...LON 3537 8388 3545 8346 3518 8343 3519 8371
3520 8371 3520 8373 3523 8369 3524 8369
3526 8371 3524 8375 3526 8379 3525 8387
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 263DEG 21KT 3529 8378
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
331 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
GAZ010-NCZ062-052000-
Rabun GA-Macon NC-
331 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN RABUN AND SOUTHEASTERN
MACON COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM EDT...
At 331 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Clayton, or 5 miles west of Dillard, moving east
at 20 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Clayton, Mountain City, Dillard, Sky Valley, Black Rock Mountain
State Park, Tiger, Lake Burton, Scaly Mountain and Otto.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and half inch hail will be possible in these
areas.
LAT...LON 3492 8359 3494 8360 3495 8355 3499 8355
3500 8348 3500 8352 3502 8352 3504 8356
3506 8356 3511 8323 3488 8322 3488 8324
3487 8324 3486 8325 3484 8325 3486 8361
3491 8361
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 267DEG 18KT 3497 8349
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 353 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020 NCZ063-064-052030- Transylvania NC-Southern Jackson NC- 353 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL TRANSYLVANIA AND EAST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... At 353 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16 miles southeast of Sylva, or 7 miles northwest of Lake Toxaway, moving east at 40 mph. Locations to be impacted include... Brevard, Rosman, Lake Toxaway, Looking Glass, Balsam Grove, Wolf Mountain and Connestee. Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these areas. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for western North Carolina...and Upstate South Carolina. LAT...LON 3532 8269 3511 8269 3514 8304 3526 8305 TIME...MOT...LOC 1953Z 269DEG 33KT 3522 8301 KRENTZ
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
401 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
NCZ052-059-063-064-052030-
Transylvania NC-Haywood NC-Southern Jackson NC-Northern Jackson NC-
401 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT TRANSYLVANIA...CENTRAL JACKSON
AND SOUTH CENTRAL HAYWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
At 400 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southeast of Sylva, or 4 miles north of Lake Glenville, moving
east at 50 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Brevard, Cullowhee, Rosman, Lake Toxaway, Graveyard Fields, Lake
Glenville, Looking Glass, Black Balsam Area, B.R. Parkway-Black
Balsam To Mount Pisgah and B.R. Parkway-Balsam Gap To Black Balsam
Area.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail will be possible in
these areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dime to nickel size hail can cause considerable damage to vehicles.
Consider moving vehicles to a covered storage area before the storm
arrives.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
western North Carolina...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3531 8322 3536 8267 3535 8267 3513 8268
3511 8270 3510 8269 3510 8270 3517 8323
3521 8322 3524 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 273DEG 44KT 3524 8314
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
405 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
SCZ001-002-005-010-052030-
Pickens Mountains SC-Greater Pickens SC-Anderson SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
405 PM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL ANDERSON...PICKENS
AND NORTHEASTERN OCONEE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
At 405 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles west of Pickens, or over Lake Keowee, moving east at 50 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Easley, Pickens, Powdersville, Liberty, Six Mile, Salem, Lake Keowee,
Devils Fork State Park, Keowee Toxaway State Park and Norris.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Lake Keowee is in the path of this storm. Cloud to ground lightning
and gusty winds will create dangerous boating conditions.
Move to shore immediately.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3477 8289 3479 8288 3481 8289 3482 8298
3495 8299 3500 8254 3498 8253 3498 8255
3497 8253 3492 8252 3488 8249 3483 8249
3483 8248 3482 8249 3477 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 266DEG 43KT 3487 8289
ARKThe Greer radar (KGSP), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:27 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Spotter reported golf ball size hail resulting in vehicle damage just outside of Dupont State Forest.
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, May 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: 893106.