A cluster of thunderstorms moved into northeast Georgia during the evening. A few of the embedded cells produced brief damaging wind gusts.
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 cluster of thunderstorms moved into northeast Georgia during the evening. A few of the embedded cells produced brief damaging wind gusts.
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 Jul 2, 1:40 PM EST, 4 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
240 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Hot and humid conditions are expected to continue at least through
the first half of the week. Also expect chances for pop-up
thunderstorms in the afternoons. Temperatures are expected to remain
a few degrees above normal, with mostly light and variable winds. A
cold front is expected to drift south across our region by next
weekend which should cool temperatures a few degrees.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 230 PM Sunday: The upper synoptic pattern is shifting toward
a more typical summer pattern with broad and weakening flow aloft.
Today, an upper low across the upper Midwest and accompanying broad
trough will dip through the southeast, allowing for a wide swath of
DPVA along the trough axis. Along with continued low level WAA and
abundant sunshine, the atmosphere is destabilizing once again for
another round of convection this afternoon and evening. As the sun
continues to rapidly warm the area, instability increases with 2500-
3000 J/kg of SBCAPE and steep low and mid-level lapse rates nearing
8.3 and 7.0 C/km respectively. One limiting factor is the upper
shear as the sfc-6km shear is around 20kts. This may inhibit the
overall strength of the updrafts, but strong to severe thunderstorms
are still expected. CAM guidance once again has been disagreeing
with the initialization of convection across the region this
afternoon. SPC does have the northwestern half of the CWA in a
Slight risk for today, with the main hazards being damaging winds
and hail. Given the environmental parameters mentioned, confidence
is increasing that storms will develop this afternoon into the
evening hours. Aside from thunderstorms, another concern for a good
chunk of the CWA are the daytime high temperatures and associated
heat indices. With clearer skies this morning and only a few
scattered high clouds, temps are quickly climbing. Given the holiday
weekend and the higher chance for more folks to be outside, we went
ahead and issued a Heat Advisory in effect from noon through 8PM
tonight for heat index values around 105+. This is for the SC and NC
Piedmont. Overnight, temps should come back down and there is a
chance for another round of thunderstorms. CAM guidance hint at a
possible line of storms coming through the area in the wee morning
hours, well ahead of a cold front off the NW. Patchy fog could also
form in the mountain areas, but will highly depend on how much
precip falls from afternoon/evening storms. By Monday morning, any
fog that developed overnight should quickly dissipate. Partly cloudy
skies to start the week and another hot and muggy day. Highs are
expected to be in the low to mid 90s again, with heat indices likely
reaching 105+ in some of the southern areas. A Heat Advisory will be
in effect again for tomorrow. Another round of convection likely
Monday afternoon and evening. SPC has the southern tier of the CWA
in a slight risk for the area with the main threats being damaging
wind and hail.
&&
.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 230 PM Sunday: Ill-defined cold front still appears to
settle through most of the CWA by the morning of the 4th of
July. CAMs generally depict convection waning diurnally along
the front, although some activity may be maintained, or respawn,
after 00z especially where lift is enhanced by the shortwave
skirting by to our north. That looks more likely to occur in
central NC/VA to our northeast, but can't be completely ruled
out for portions of our CWA. Furthermore, some guidance depicts
the trailing, weaker wave in the Mid-South enhancing convergence
along the boundary in the predawn hours. This could result in
showers/storms creeping back into the western CWA at that time.
For the daytime hours, slightly drier low- to mid-level air will
arrive behind the front, partly the result of downsloping
westerly winds. This should allow dewpoints to mix out a bit
more Tuesday compared to Monday, and max temps a degree or two
cooler. Convectively, should be a seasonable pulse-storm
environment with weak shear and high sfc-midlevel theta-e
lapses, posing at least isolated damaging wind risk if storms
develop. A point of contention among guidance is whether
dewpoints mix out enough to preclude convective initiation; the
NAMs for one depict little to no coverage thru 00z Wed, but
global models depict QPF. Given the nearby boundary and that the
shortwave will creep in from the west overnight, not surprising
that some QPF lingers overnight in those models, and the NAM
follows suit early Wed morning.
The shortwave is expected to center over the southern Appalachians by
Wednesday afternoon; the boundary will remain ill-defined at that
time and its position/orientation may not change meaningfully.
However, PWATs tick upward on some guidance, and sfc dewpoints may
remain higher thru the day on account of somewhat more southerly
low-level winds (albeit weak). As a result we end up with somewhat
higher PoPs than Tuesday, with pulsey storms again the norm. Primary
threat may shift slightly more in favor of heavy rain or localized
flash flooding compared to microburst winds, but either way still
pretty typical for this time of year.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 130 PM Sunday: No appreciable change to the expectations
Thursday into next weekend. The weak front washes out into a very
weak convergence zone only evident as a swath of enhanced moisture
across the Southeast. Weakly cyclonic flow will continue aloft as
upper trough traverses the northern tier of the CONUS. The result is
that global models depict greater than typical coverage of mainly
diurnal convection each day, and accordingly PoPs will be above climo
throughout the CWA. Best overall chances still appear Friday into
Friday night, as the trough brings a seasonably weak cold front to
the Appalachians. Seasonable heat and humidity, with heat index
peaking near 100 in the warmest lower Piedmont locations each
afternoon.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: All terminals prevailing VFR through the end
of the TAF period. A few rounds of TS, the first being this
afternoon and into the evening hours. Likely time for development is
around 21/22z, therefore TEMPOs for TSRA at all sites starting at
22z, with KCLT at 23z. Depending on how much rain falls across the
mountains will determine the strength of fog/low stratus development
across the mountains. KAVL could see a few hours with lower VSBY and
improve before sunrise. A second round of convection could develop
overnight across the mountains and into the Piedmont, so PROB30 for
TSRA at all sites except KCLT. Tomorrow, skies looks to be generally
scattered with high and a few mid level clouds throughout the day.
For KCLT, PROB30 for another round of afternoon convection. Winds
will remain S/SW and light with an occasional 15kt gust possible
through the end of the TAF period.
Outlook: A weak cold front will move into the region early this week
and maintain a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the
afternoon and evening periods.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ018-026-028-
029.
Heat Advisory from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT Monday for GAZ029.
NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ068>072-082-
507>510.
Heat Advisory from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT Monday for NCZ071-072-082.
SC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ008>014-019-
101>109.
Heat Advisory from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT Monday for SCZ009-011-014-
019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...CP
SHORT TERM...Wimberley
LONG TERM...Wimberley
AVIATION...CPHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 643 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023 GAZ018-026-028-NCZ068-069-507>510-SCZ008-010-101>109-032245- Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Cleveland-Lincoln-Rutherford Mountains- Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-Anderson- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Central Greenville- Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 643 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 437 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, 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. Heat Advisory. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Another round of strong thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon, with a handful becoming severe. Damaging winds look to be the main threat with any severe storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ029-NCZ071-072-082-SCZ009-011-014-019-032245- Elbert-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-York-Abbeville-Chester- Greenwood- 643 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont 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. Heat Advisory. In addition, scattered strong thunderstorms are expected through this evening. Any of these storms will be capable of producing cloud-to- ground lightning, small hail, and gusty winds. Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop, capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. In addition, another round of strong thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon, with a handful becoming severe. Damaging winds look to be the main threat with any severe storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-501>506-032245- Rabun-Habersham-Avery-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey- Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke- McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell- 643 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 437 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina and western North 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Another round of strong thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon, with a handful becoming severe. Damaging winds look to be the main threat with any severe storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ070-SCZ012-013-032245- Gaston-Laurens-Union SC- 643 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont 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. Heat Advisory. In addition, scattered strong thunderstorms are expected through this evening. Any of these storms will be capable of producing cloud-to- ground lightning, small hail, and gusty winds. Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop, capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Another round of strong thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon, with a handful becoming severe. Damaging winds look to be the main threat with any severe storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. MPR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
618 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
NCZ053-505-022245-
Buncombe NC-McDowell Mountains NC-
618 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
McDowell and northeastern Buncombe Counties through 645 PM EDT...
At 618 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Downtown Asheville, or near Black Mountain, moving
northeast at 10 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...
Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Old Fort, Warren Wilson College, B.R.
Parkway-East Asheville To Craggy Gardens, B.R. Parkway-Craggy To
Little Switzerland and Montreat.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3573 8231 3573 8229 3572 8228 3570 8227
3570 8226 3571 8224 3560 8212 3553 8238
3562 8248 3576 8234
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 229DEG 7KT 3562 8236
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
625 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
GAZ010-NCZ062-022300-
Rabun GA-Macon NC-
625 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Rabun
and south central Macon Counties through 700 PM EDT...
At 625 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Clayton, or over Black Rock Mountain State Park, moving northeast at
10 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...
Clayton, Mountain City, Tiger, Dillard, Sky Valley, Black Rock
Mountain State Park and Scaly Mountain.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
northeastern Georgia...western North Carolina...and Upstate South
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3506 8330 3491 8318 3488 8321 3489 8322
3488 8322 3488 8324 3487 8324 3486 8325
3484 8325 3485 8327 3484 8327 3481 8345
3496 8353
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 243DEG 9KT 3491 8340
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
630 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
NCZ033-501-022300-
Caldwell Mountains NC-Avery NC-
630 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Caldwell and central Avery Counties through 700 PM EDT...
At 630 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Newland, moving east at 20 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...
Newland, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Beech Mountain In Avery County, Sugar
Mountain, Seven Devils, Grandfather Mountain State Park, B.R.
Parkway-Linville Falls To Grandfather, Minneapolis and Linville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
western North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3627 8189 3625 8190 3624 8190 3623 8191
3621 8191 3619 8188 3619 8186 3616 8183
3611 8181 3612 8170 3609 8168 3602 8203
3612 8206 3612 8203 3629 8192
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 253DEG 17KT 3612 8196
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
655 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
NCZ505-506-022330-
McDowell Mountains NC-Eastern McDowell NC-
655 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
McDowell County through 730 PM EDT...
At 655 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southwest of Marion, or over Old Fort, moving east at 15 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...
Marion, Old Fort, Sugar Hill, Pleasant Gardens, Glenwood, Fero,
Woodlawn, Montreat and Thermal City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
western North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3553 8195 3553 8198 3555 8200 3554 8203
3554 8219 3556 8226 3561 8228 3562 8227
3565 8229 3567 8228 3568 8229 3570 8229
3570 8226 3573 8219 3575 8218 3582 8201
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 252DEG 13KT 3562 8218
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
717 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
NCZ501-502-022345-
Caldwell Mountains NC-Greater Caldwell NC-
717 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Caldwell
County through 745 PM EDT...
At 717 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Blowing Rock, or near Blowing Rock In Caldwell County, moving east at
30 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...
Blowing Rock In Caldwell County, Grandfather Mountain State Park,
B.R. Parkway-Linville Falls To Grandfather and Upton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
western North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3612 8155 3610 8152 3610 8150 3609 8147
3609 8145 3607 8144 3607 8141 3605 8139
3604 8140 3602 8135 3600 8133 3606 8174
3607 8174 3611 8180 3612 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 275DEG 24KT 3610 8169
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
723 PM EDT Sun Jul 2 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0618 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSE Shingle Hollow 35.45N 82.06W
07/02/2023 Rutherford NC 911 Call Center
Trees down on Cove Road.
&&
MPRThe Greer radar (KGSP), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:25 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down between Baldwin and the Hall County line, with at least one tree on power lines.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down in and around Clayton, including on Stornoway Dr, Warwoman Rd, and Earls Ford Rd. A tree fell on a home on Stornoway Dr.
County comms reported multiple trees blown down on roads near Martin and Avalon.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2023
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: 1125016, 1125017, 1125018.