Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon across the North Carolina Blue Ridge. One of these quickly evolved into a severe supercell thunderstorm in McDowell County and tracked east/southeast to the Charlotte metro area, producing areas of large hail and damaging downbursts along its path, including a significant downburst in Cherryville.
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.
Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon across the North Carolina Blue Ridge. One of these quickly evolved into a severe supercell thunderstorm in McDowell County and tracked east/southeast to the Charlotte metro area, producing areas of large hail and damaging downbursts along its path, including a significant downburst in Cherryville. This was followed by a decaying line of strong to severe thunderstorms that moved into the area from east Tennessee during mid-to-late evening and produced additional localized damaging wind gusts.
The Greer radar (KGSP), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:15 UTC.
8 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency manager reported a tree and power lines blown down on Vein Mountain Rd.
Fire dept reported 3/4 inch hail.
Public and emergency manager reported quarter to golf ball sized hail in Casar.
Emergency manager reported the tops blown out of 9 trees.
Media and public reported quarter to half dollar size hail in the Fallston area.
Emergency management reported quarter size hail in the North Brook community.
NWS storm survey determined intense straight-line winds associated with a supercell thunderstorm winds caused a broad swath of damage through the city of Cherryville. Trees were uprooted, and large branches broken, along NC Highway 274 north of the city limits. The winds progressed southeast through Cherryville proper, and most of the damage was concentrated within the city. Numerous trees were uprooted, with a few falling on other trees, snapping their trunks. One home had a portion of its roof ripped off, and another metal building lost roof and/or wall panels. One known injury occurred when an individual tried to help people trapped in a car, and was thrown into the air as a tree fell, and suffered a laceration and a broken jaw. Winds associated with the damage were believed to be in the range of 65 to 85 mph. No indication of rotation or a tornado was observed by the survey team, with all damage attributed to straight-line winds. The damage swath ended along NC Highway 279 southeast of Cherryville.
Public reported (via Social Media) nickel to quarter size hail in the Long Shoals area.
Public reported (via Social Media) quarter size hail in the Dallas area.
Media and the public reported penny to quarter size hail in Uptown Charlotte.
Media reported a tree blown down and blocking part of the road at Sharon Amity Rd and Craig Ave and another downed tree blocking the road at Idlewild Rd and Cedarwild Rd.
County comms reported sporadic downed trees from Leicester Highway to the Enka area.
Public reported (via Social Media) a tree blown down across power lines in the Lincolnton area, with additional trees and lines down east of Iron Station.
Media reported multiple trees blown down along Dunn Commons Parkway.
Public reported nickel size hail along Court Dr.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1104939, 1104931, 1104932, 1104940, 1104933, 1104934, 1104941, 1104973, 1104935, 1104937, 1104944, 1104946, 1104942, 1104943, 1104936.