South Carolina, 2020

Damaging Wind in South Carolina, May 28, 2020

May 28, 2020 · NWS GSP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Isolated thunderstorms developed during the evening over upstate South Carolina. One of the storms produced brief damaging winds in the Pacolet area.

Where it happened

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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Isolated thunderstorms developed during the evening over upstate South Carolina. One of the storms produced brief damaging winds in the Pacolet area.

What forecasters said that day

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 28, 7:37 PM EST, 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 28, 7:37 PM EST, 42 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 28, 3:31 PM EST, 4 hours 48 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 28, 4:51 PM EST, 3 hours 28 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 28, 5:58 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
658 PM EDT Thu May 28 2020

NCZ035-502-282330-
Greater Caldwell NC-Alexander NC-
658 PM EDT Thu May 28 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN ALEXANDER AND EASTERN
CALDWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

At 658 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Taylorsville, or 6 miles east of Cedar Rock, moving
north at 25 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Cedar Rock, Ellendale, Kings Creek and Little River In Alexander
County.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3605 8139 3604 8137 3602 8134 3600 8133
      3601 8131 3601 8129 3603 8127 3603 8121
      3584 8122 3583 8144 3603 8148 3607 8141
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 177DEG 22KT 3591 8134

RWH
Special weather statement, May 28, 6:26 PM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 28, 6:36 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 28, 8:07 PM EST, 12 minutes before
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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Spartanburg

When
May 28, 8:19 PM EST
Where
Spartanburg County, 0.57 mi W of Pacolet
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
34.900, -81.760

Media reported trees blown down on power lines and across part of a house.

What these are

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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2020

Sources

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: 896790.