A cold front moving across the region resulted in development of a line of scattered thunderstorms over western Nouth Carolina during the late afternoon and evening. A couple of the storms produced locally damaging wind gusts in addition to an EF1 tornado in Alexander 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.
A cold front moving across the region resulted in development of a line of scattered thunderstorms over western Nouth Carolina during the late afternoon and evening. A couple of the storms produced locally damaging wind gusts in addition to an EF1 tornado in Alexander County. Additionally, heavy rainfall resulted in some localized flooding in the southern mountains.
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 Mar 23, 6:51 PM EST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 751 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will move to the Carolina coast on Thursday. Cooler air will begin spilling into the region on Friday, with additional disturbances arriving over the weekend from the northwest to reinforce the cooler air across the area. Light snow showers will be possible across the higher ridges of the North Carolina mountains over the weekend. Expect warmer weather in the first half of next week ahead of the next cold front. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 6pm EDT Showers have been a bit widely scattered early this evening with with some more general convective showers over western NC. Development of stronger and possibly severe storms is possible generally near and southeast of the I85 corridor. Risk for severe development will end from west to east as frontal system progresses southeastward, and after dark as the boundary layer becomes more stable. Deep layer shear is quite strong, and combined with some CAPE will continue a risk for severe weather. Overnight, as postfrontal air impinges on the region, profiles will rapidly dry out. All the CAMs (with the exception of the bullish and likely overdone NAMnest) depict an end to rain by 01-03Z and steady clearing after midnight. Temperatures nonetheless look to stay 7-9 degrees above normal tonight. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 1215 PM EDT Wednesday: The expected trough passage may be a bit slower than previously anticipated, leading to a prolonged period of west to northwest flow atop the region Friday into the weekend. The upslope flow near the TN border will likely support at least isolated showers at times, especially north of I-40. Lowering heights/thicknesses will support well below normal temperatures especially across the mountains and may support a mixture with or changeover to snow at times at higher elevations. Still challenging to pin down the potential for accumulations at the highest elevations as guidance is struggling with the placement of a potent short-wave trough Saturday or Saturday night. Decent upper support and tightening surface pressure gradient will support gusty winds (possibly reaching advisory level across the mountains). If fuels dry out fast enough, the gusty winds and drying east of the mountains may support elevated fire danger. Despite continued wind into the overnight, Saturday night will be notably cold for this time of year with lows in the 30s except 20s above 3000 feet and in sheltered valleys. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 12 PM EDT Wednesday: Near normal forecast confidence takes a nose dive by mid week as guidance cannot decide how much phasing occurs with northern and southern stream jets over the central U.S. Short-wave ridging will support temperatures rebounding to at least to near normal early in the week. Although one more day of frosty morning lows is possible Monday, especially for northern areas. Prolonged dry conditions could lead to elevated fire conditions should low afternoon relative humidity values prevail. A warm front lifting north in response to building heights may brush the area with a myriad of mainly mid to high clouds Monday into Monday night. Cannot rule out a few sprinkles or showers focused across the northern mountains during this time. Otherwise, expect mostly sunny skies to prevail. Unsettled weather will likely return sometime mid-week (Wednesday or Thursday), but it may be short lived as the weather pattern becomes zonal and more progressive. Temperatures will likely peak above normal before the potential cold front passage midweek. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: Isolated areas of severe weather have been seen this evening with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Line currently just southeast of the mountains will decline in intensity after dark, with remnants moving southeast to TAF sites through 8Z. Current southerly to southwesterly wind gusts to 25kts will also decline after dark. KAVL and KHKY are the only 2 TAF sites likely to see thunder this evening, with other sites having possible lighter showers after dark. As strong upper system moves eastward, surface winds become more westerly on Thursday, and will again be gusty during the day. This will help to dry soundings, and IFR conditions will be prevalent by early Thursday morning and afterward. Outlook: Clearing should continue into Friday. Low-level moisture and NW flow will bring an increase in clouds and potentially some light precipitation into the forecast Friday evening into Saturday. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...DEO NEAR TERM...MPR/WJM SHORT TERM...Munroe LONG TERM...Munroe AVIATION...WJM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 403 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022 GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508- 510-SCZ004>014-019-242015- Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan- Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC- Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford- Eastern Polk-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville- Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC- Chester-Greenwood- 403 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through this evening. A few of these storms could become severe, with damaging winds and a brief tornado possible. Locally heavy rainfall is possible as well, and isolated flooding could result. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. 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-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509- SCZ001>003-242015- Rabun-Habersham-Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe- Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania- Henderson-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains- Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains-Oconee Mountains- Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- 403 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through the evening. Main threats will be gusty winds, heavy rain, and cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. CAC
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
616 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
GAZ017-232245-
Habersham GA-
616 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Habersham
County through 645 PM EDT...
At 615 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Clarkesville, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Turnerville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3474 8353 3473 8351 3473 8345 3469 8340
3460 8359 3466 8364
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 237DEG 35KT 3466 8355
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
630 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
SCZ011-012-019-232300-
Laurens SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
630 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Laurens, northeastern Abbeville and northwestern Greenwood Counties
through 700 PM EDT...
At 630 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles north of Abbeville, or near Due West, moving northeast at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Ware Shoals, Due West, Donalds, Waterloo, Hodges, Shoals Junction,
Cokesbury, Hickory Tavern, Princeton and Mountville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3423 8239 3435 8251 3453 8224 3455 8224
3457 8221 3437 8197
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 227DEG 25KT 3435 8237
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
631 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
GAZ010-SCZ001-232300-
Rabun GA-Oconee Mountains SC-
631 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Rabun and
west central Oconee Counties through 700 PM EDT...
At 630 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Clayton, or near Tiger, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Clayton, Tiger, Lake Rabun, Lakemont, Mountain City, Black Rock
Mountain State Park, Tallulah Falls, Seed Lake and Long Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3495 8334 3479 8319 3475 8340 3474 8342
3475 8343 3473 8345 3473 8350 3480 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 238DEG 44KT 3483 8338
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
641 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
NCZ053-065-232315-
Buncombe NC-Henderson NC-
641 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Henderson and eastern Buncombe Counties through 715 PM EDT...
At 641 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Downtown Asheville, or near Bent Creek, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Downtown Asheville, East Asheville, Arden, West Asheville, North
Asheville, Black Mountain, Fletcher, Swannanoa, Fairview In Buncombe
County and Biltmore Forest.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3561 8227 3560 8229 3559 8229 3556 8226
3555 8221 3536 8266 3545 8277 3575 8244
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 229DEG 36KT 3548 8261
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
651 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
GAZ010-NCZ062>064-SCZ001-232315-
Rabun GA-Transylvania NC-Southern Jackson NC-Macon NC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
651 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN
RABUN...SOUTHEASTERN MACON...SOUTHWESTERN TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTHEASTERN
JACKSON AND NORTH CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT...
At 650 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a thunderstorm with
torrential rainfall 14 miles northeast of Clayton, or near Highlands,
moving northeast at 30 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Highlands, Cashiers, Lake Toxaway, Gorges State Park, Lake Glenville,
Scaly Mountain, Sapphire, Bad Creek, Wolf Mountain and Pine Mountain.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3525 8310 3527 8302 3509 8284 3490 8321
3503 8335
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 230DEG 23KT 3502 8321
KRENTZSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
717 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
NCZ033-050-501>506-232345-
McDowell Mountains NC-Caldwell Mountains NC-Burke Mountains NC-
Greater Burke NC-Greater Caldwell NC-Eastern McDowell NC-Avery NC-
Mitchell NC-
717 PM EDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
McDowell, southeastern Mitchell, southwestern Caldwell, southeastern
Avery and northwestern Burke Counties through 745 PM EDT...
At 717 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles north of Marion, or 7 miles northwest of Lake James, moving
northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Gamewell, Crossnore, Table Rock, Linville Falls, B.R.
Parkway-Linville Falls To Grandfather, Lake James, Lake James State
Park, B.R. Parkway-Little Switzerland To Linville, Edgemont and
Pineola.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3611 8185 3586 8155 3570 8202 3581 8215
3582 8213 3583 8213
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 230DEG 49KT 3581 8200
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
KRENTZThe Greer radar (KGSP), 91 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:02 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency manager reported trees blown down at Roby Conley Rd and on Green St Loop.
County comms reported several tributaries of the French Broad River overflowed their banks in the Brevard area after 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell. Several roads were inundated, including Wilson Rd and Barclay Rd.
A stream gauge reported flooding developed along Mud Creek after 3 to 4 inches of rain fell in the Hendersonville area in about a 24-hour period. Impacted roads included an access road at the intersection of S Church St and S Main St and Kanuga Rd at Erkwood Dr.
County comms reported trees and power lines blown down throughout the Morganton area, including at the intersection Of Propst Rd and Highway 64, and Sanford Rd at Tate St, and on Lenoir Rd and Kirksey Dr.
NWS storm survey found the path of an EF1 tornado that began with tree damage near Hidden Valley Rd just north of Gus Pennell Lane. The tornado moved northeast, crossing Lambert Fork Rd and All Healing Springs Rd, Archie Mountain Lane, Gil Childers Rd, and Dandelion Dr. Damage was primarily confined to snapped small trees and large limbs, uprooted larger trees, and a couple of destroyed outbuildings along this section of the path, although minor roof damage occurred to at least one frame home and the porch was removed from a manufactured home on Dandelion Dr. The tornado continued northeast uprooting or snapping numerous trees as it crossed the Lower Little River along Mount Olive Church Rd, roughly paralleling Mount Olive Church Rd before lifting around Russell Gap Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2022Warnings in North Carolina, March 2022
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: 1017203, 1017222, 1017208, 1017205, 1016964.