Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed ahead of a frontal system throughout the afternoon and evening across western North Carolina. Several of the storms produced brief large hail and damaging winds, while an EF1 tornado developed in Swain 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 ahead of a frontal system throughout the afternoon and evening across western North Carolina. Several of the storms produced brief large hail and damaging winds, while an EF1 tornado developed in Swain 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 6, 9:23 AM EST, 3 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1023 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A complex frontal system brings today the threat of thunderstorms, some severe. Showers and isolated thunderstorms linger Saturday. Cooler and drier high pressure moves in Sunday through mid week. Moisture and precipitation chances return by the end of the work week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1000 AM: Band of showers with embedded t-storms extends from E TN to middle GA attm and is just entering the CWA. This appears forced by a prefrontal convergence axis and plume of weak WAA. Low stratus has remained over much of the area preceding this line, with moisture trapped under a shallow inversion. Very low ceilings and even some pockets of fog remain in the eastern zones. Starting to get some clearing over the southern CWA, although that area will soon be blanketed by the higher decks coming in with the band of precip. So, altogether, the big question remains how much we will destabilize. RAP/HRRR continue to depict inversion eroding by 16z, presumably as a result of mixing, but still a bit skeptical that will occur as fast as suggested. Dynamic features remain in play as previously expected. Shear parameters will remain favorable for severe weather, and mid-afternoon arrival of shortwave and DPVA remain well timed to make the most of whatever instability does develop. CAMs do agree fairly well on timing of an initial wave of convection this afternoon. 12z cycle runs have transitioned to showing more discrete storms as opposed to the squall line depicted on some earlier runs. This makes sense in light of relatively weak midlevel wind profiles, but also could reflect less instability than previously progged. Still anticipating a severe thunderstorm threat across the entire fcst area, with wind and hail the primary concerns and isolated tornadoes also possible. Wind threat may prove less expansive than would be expected with an organized squall line, but expectation of strong updrafts and midlevel dry air still warrants a mention of that threat. We remain under Enhanced Risk per 13z update to SPC Day 1 outlook. The fast progression of the front should limit flooding potential, however rain rates will be high under the stronger storms and flash flooding is always possible in any areas with training convection. The front should be moving east of our fcst area just after 00z, with most of the convective activity done for our CWA by that time. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 255 AM EDT Friday: The upper low tracks slowly to our north Saturday as short wave rotates around the low and across our area. The low moves off the Carolina coast Sunday and stalls there. The associated surface low is a little farther east through the period. Still, there will be deep moisture rotating through the area Saturday before drying moves in Saturday night. The moisture and forcing will keep categorical to likely precip chances across much of the area during the day. Weak instability will lead to isolated thunderstorms as well. Right now, nothing looks to be severe or with heavy rainfall. A dry forecast is expected Sunday and Sunday night with a ridge surface and aloft building in and a dry air mass. Highs will be 5 to 10 degrees below normal. Lows Saturday night will be around 5 degrees below normal, then dropping a few degrees Sunday night. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday: All eyes will remain on the upper low and surface cyclone through the medium range. These systems stall off the Carolina coast then slowly retrogrades back to the GA/FL coast through the period. Until then, a ridge surface and aloft develop over the area before weakening by the end of the period. Expect a mainly dry forecast Monday through Wednesday as deep moisture remains off shore, even with a developing northeast flow. Moisture begins to increase Thursday as the low reaches the GA/FL coast and an easterly flow develops. Have isolated to low end scattered showers developing with better precip chances holding off until Friday. Temperatures will be cooler over the eastern sections of the forecast area than over the mountains for portions of the period as clouds and lower thickness values will be more likely to the east. Lows start out around 5 degrees below normal then slowly rise to around 5 degrees above normal. Highs will start out about 5 degrees above normal across the mountains and 5 below normal elsewhere. Highs rise a few degrees through Wednesday then drop a few on Thursday. && .AVIATION /15Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: The period will start off with a mix of VFR, MVFR, and IFR cigs this morning thanks to a moist, light SWLY to SELY low-lvl flow. This does appear to be in a gradually decaying state although a mention remains warranted until 15-16z. More precip will gradually move in from the west over the next few hours with winds increasing from the S/SW ahead of an approaching cold front. Most of the guidance still has at least one (or more) bands of thunderstorms moving east across the region during the aftn/early evening. Some of the storms could be severe with strong wind gusts and hail. I kept TEMPOs for the main band/line of thunderstorms with VCSH otherwise. Once the thunderstorms move east conditions should improve to VFR by 00z or just after, but winds will remain gusty and from the SW. Outlook: Lingering showers with a passing disturbance may continue well into Saturday before drying high pressure arrives on Sunday and lingers into early next week. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...RWH NEAR TERM...JPT/Wimberley SHORT TERM...RWH LONG TERM...RWH AVIATION...JPT/Wimberley
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 155 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-071800- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander- Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba- Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-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-Cherokee-York- Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Central Greenville- Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 155 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 ...TORNADO WATCH 186 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Numerous to widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across the area through the afternoon. Damaging straight-line winds and hail area also possible in addition to the tornado threat. The severe weather threat will diminish by evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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. Wimberley
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
114 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
NCZ068-504-506-508-061745-
Greater Rutherford NC-Cleveland NC-Greater Burke NC-
Eastern McDowell NC-
114 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
McDowell, northeastern Rutherford, northwestern Cleveland and
southern Burke Counties through 145 PM EDT...
At 113 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles north of Forest City, or 4 miles north of Bostic, moving
northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Morganton, Forest City, Glen Alpine, Bostic, Casar, South Mountains
State Park, Ellenboro, Spindale, Lake James State Park and Lake
James.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3531 8179 3540 8198 3578 8185 3567 8147
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 210DEG 32KT 3543 8184
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
HGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
130 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
NCZ071-082-SCZ009-014-061815-
Union NC-Mecklenburg NC-York SC-Chester SC-
130 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern
Mecklenburg, southwestern Union, Chester and southeastern York
Counties through 215 PM EDT...
At 129 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles south of York to 9 miles southwest of
Chester. Movement was northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Rock Hill, Chester, South Charlotte, Southwest Charlotte, Fort Mill,
Pineville, Tega Cay, Newport, Waxhaw and Lesslie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8080 3494 8078 3508 8091 3501 8091
3492 8086 3490 8088 3484 8087 3482 8090
3479 8088 3470 8086 3456 8118 3457 8136
3493 8131 3521 8078 3482 8071
TIME...MOT...LOC 1729Z 232DEG 41KT 3486 8121 3459 8129
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
133 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
NCZ068>071-SCZ009-061800-
Gaston NC-Cleveland NC-Lincoln NC-Mecklenburg NC-York SC-
133 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Lincoln,
northwestern Mecklenburg, southeastern Cleveland, Gaston and north
central York Counties through 200 PM EDT...
At 133 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Gastonia, or near Kings Mountain, moving northeast at
45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea 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...
Gastonia, Huntersville, Kings Mountain, Mt Holly, Bessemer City,
South Gastonia, Dallas, Stanley, Lowell and Ranlo.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3511 8134 3515 8138 3516 8137 3517 8139
3525 8147 3555 8107 3555 8096 3553 8094
3553 8095 3550 8096 3549 8094 3550 8092
3537 8080
TIME...MOT...LOC 1733Z 232DEG 41KT 3523 8134
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
147 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
NCZ035-056-068-069-502-504-061815-
Cleveland NC-Lincoln NC-Greater Burke NC-Greater Caldwell NC-
Alexander NC-Catawba NC-
147 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Catawba,
Alexander, northwestern Lincoln, eastern Caldwell, north central
Cleveland and southeastern Burke Counties through 215 PM EDT...
At 147 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southeast of Morganton, or 7 miles east of South Mountains
State Park, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Hickory, Taylorsville, Lenoir, St. Stephens, Longview, Sawmills,
Granite Falls, Valdese, Bethlehem and Hudson.
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.
Conditions are favorable for development of a very brief, weak
tornado. Be prepared to take immediate action if a tornado is sighted
or a Tornado Warning is issued.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for western and
the Piedmont of North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3604 8140 3602 8135 3600 8133 3603 8127
3603 8122 3598 8100 3549 8147 3558 8166
3603 8148 3607 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 1747Z 209DEG 47KT 3560 8152
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
206 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM HAIL POLKVILLE 35.42N 81.65W
05/06/2022 E0.50 INCH CLEVELAND NC 911 CALL CENTER
PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL.
&&
DEOSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
213 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
NCZ036-057-071-072-061845-
Rowan NC-Iredell NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
213 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Cabarrus, southeastern Iredell, northwestern Mecklenburg and
southwestern Rowan Counties through 245 PM EDT...
At 213 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles west of Huntersville, or 6 miles southwest of Ramsey Creek
Park, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Huntersville, Kannapolis, Cornelius, Mooresville, Davidson, China
Grove, Landis, Enochville, Coddle Creek Reservoir and Paw Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Conditions are favorable for development of a very brief, weak
tornado. Be prepared to take immediate action if a tornado is sighted
or a Tornado Warning is issued.
If on or near Lake Norman, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for the Piedmont
of North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3527 8094 3532 8099 3535 8097 3535 8096
3536 8092 3538 8096 3536 8097 3537 8099
3539 8095 3543 8096 3545 8094 3549 8095
3550 8096 3553 8096 3553 8094 3554 8095
3574 8075 3555 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 225DEG 32KT 3539 8096
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HGThe Greer radar (KGSP), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:21 UTC.
9 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported 10 to 20 trees, a few of them large blown down along J M Craig Road. A few of the trees were quite large and uprooted. A tree limb punctured the wall of an old sawmill.
NWS storm survey found the short path of a weak tornado in the Deep Creek area north of Bryson City. The tornado touched down along Lollis Lane just north of Toot Hollow Rd and moved northeast, crossing Mitchell Mountain Rd and Folkestone Rd before lifting just west of Deep Creek Cemetery Rd. Damage occurred to three homes, with a large part of the roof removed from one of the homes. Damage otherwise consisted of minor roof damage, damage to siding and doors, and a few broken windows. Multiple trees were also blown down along the path. Additional sporadic tree damage was found along W Deep Creek Rd just east of the tornado track, but was due to straight line winds.
Cocorahs observer reported pea to quarter sized hail.
Public reported golf ball size hail.
Public measured (reported via Social Media) 2.5 inch diameter hail near Mooresboro.
Public reported baseball size hail on Gantts Grove Church Rd.
Media reported golf ball size hail.
Spotter reported nickel size hail near Shelby.
Public reported quarter to golf ball size hail in multiple locations across western Lincoln County.
Spotter reported quarter size hail.
Public reported a large tree fell on a vehicle in Gastonia.
Public reported multiple trees blown down across Avery County.
County comms reported numerous trees blown down between Waxhaw and Monroe.
Spotter reported 3/4 inch hail.
Public reported (via Social Media) several trees blown down on Baton School Road.
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, May 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: 1029871, 1029878, 1029881, 1029883, 1029884, 1029885, 1029886, 1029887, 1029889, 1029888, 1029873, 1029891, 1029875, 1029890, 1029877.