A line of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms moved into northeast Georgia during the afternoon. Brief damaging wind gusts were reported in Franklin and Hart Counties.
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 line of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms moved into northeast Georgia during the afternoon. Brief damaging wind gusts were reported in Franklin and Hart Counties.
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 Feb 28, 2:26 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
226 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong cold front will move off the Carolina coast early
tonight. A brief period of cool and dry high pressure is expected
Thursday before unsettled conditions return Friday and linger into
early next week. Another significant weather system will be
approaching by the middle of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 212 PM EST Wednesday: Rain and some embedded thunder are
imminent as a linear convective feature rides across the NC-TN
state line this afternoon, beneath a potent upper shortwave now
analyzed over the Upper Ohio Valley and taking on a negative
tilt as expected. Observed soundings out ahead of this line at
CLT and GSP indicate a robust capping inversion (and a deeper
inversion than the RAP would have suggested earlier today), which
has thus far inhibited any prefrontal convection, even along the
Blue Ridge Escarpment, despite strong low-level WAA and a stout
prefrontal trough.
The core of the trough axis is already beginning to lift
northward, and the associated upper jet is displaced far enough
north of the forecast area so as to put us in the unfavorable
right exit region...such that deep-layer synoptic forcing will
remain shunted off to the north, and we'll be left to rely on
the frontal circulation itself for driving convection. Indeed,
guidance depicts a strong band of low-level convergence along the
advancing boundary this afternoon, alongside a very narrow ribbon
of frontogenetical forcing. This should be enough to break the
cap across most areas...but it means that convection will be more
or less confined to the immediate vicinity of the frontal zone.
Further, deep shear has so far remained almost parallel to the
advancing boundary, and while the latest runs of the HRRR and FV3
support some small boundary-orthogonal component and allow the
convection to get a little ways away from the boundary, this effect
won't be especially prominent (and wouldn't matter anyway, thanks
to the aforementioned cap). So, despite a plume of 100-400 J/kg
sbCAPE advertised across the forecast area...actually realizing
this instability will be difficult, and the severe risk will be
constrained by the likelihood of convection choking on its own
cold pool. Still can't rule out a stray severe wind gust as the
line descends into the Piedmont/Upstate zones, so long as the
line doesn't fall apart as it crosses the mountains. Gusts may
actually be more potent ahead of the front, as winds mix down
from a weak 850mb LLJ which will sharpen up over the Piedmont and
eastern Upstate.
In the immediate wake of the front, CAMs depict very strong
CAA as winds shift to the NW. So, once again, this will result
in widespread strong wind gusts. An impressive 4-6mb pressure
gradient will set up across Appalachians and jack winds up to Wind
Advisory criteria. Short-range ensemble probabilities actually
support a 50-70% chance of High Wind Warning criteria...but for a
very short period and over a small enough area as not to warrant any
product issuance. Rather, the existing Wind Advisory will remain
in place through 1 AM tonight, when the peak in gusts will come
to an end. Temperatures will drop to around or slightly below
freezing outside the mountains tonight as skies begin to clear.
A quick shot of low-amplitude ridging is expected for tomorrow,
with high temperatures some 20 degrees cooler than today's and
RHs falling into the upper 20s during the afternoon. It luckily
appears that there'll be little if any overlap between residual
wind gusts and those bone-dry RHs, so fire weather shouldn't be
a major issue, but will still need to be monitored closely.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 205 PM Wednesday: After a brief lull in activity, the short
term and beyond become more active with a consistently unsettled
pattern. By Thursday night, SW flow aloft pinches off a small ridge
and a developing disturbance begins to strengthen over the southern
plains. The continual SW response brings another round of
precipitation starting early Friday morning and continues through
most of the weekend. This will be due in part to the return moisture
flow from the Gulf and passing shortwaves. QPF response isn't much
but could bring a half an inch to the CWA, but will likely change.
Additionally, any lingering colder air across the mountains Thursday
night into Friday could prompt a brief window of mixed p-types
before transitioning to all rain by daybreak. The GFS modeled
sounding does show a warm nose over the higher elevations before
surface temps rise well above freezing. Confidence remains low to
any FZRA accumulations given the amount of warm air advected at the
mid-levels that could contribute to a warmer profile than is being
modeled. The high pressure moving eastward could develop an in-situ
CAD Friday, keeping temps cooler than modeled. Once daybreak occurs,
any winter precip types should quickly warm above freezing and
become all rain. Rain tapers off Saturday night and starts to dry
out again on Sunday, while maintaining a SW flow aloft. Temperatures
will be colder on Friday with the CAD and quickly rebound Saturday
to closer to normal.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 210 PM Wednesday: As the dominating SW flow continues over the
southeast, a strong upper low forms and lifts into central Canada.
The low could trigger a weak response to the south, enhancing the
chances for another round of precip toward the beginning of the work
week. This is where the GFS and EURO start to disagree. The GFS
shows a better QPF response to the shortwave on Monday, where the
EURO depicts the flow broadening and remaining mostly dry. By
Tuesday and into Wednesday, the EURO also hints at a low pressure
system forming over the northern Gulf and swinging south of the CWA.
On the other hand, the GFS has a shortwave activating a broad swath
of precip lining up with the WAA occurring into the southeast.
Either way, the pattern will remain unsettled as the season starts
to transition more into a spring regime. Guidance does agree on
thickness levels remaining all above freezing, indicating no winter
p-types in the extended period. SW flow keeps PWATS over an inch for
the entire period as well, providing adequate moisture for
precipitation to develop. But when or how organized the shower
potential could be is yet to be determined. Overall, minimal PoPs
will stay for now and temperatures should continue to warm through
the period.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: The big story remains the advancing
convective line, located across eastern TN just east of the NC-TN
state line as of 1730z. MVFR ceilings will briefly lift ahead of
this line, before visibility crashes in association with areas
of +SHRA. Expect this to be a fairly compact line of showers
and embedded thunder (confidence was too low for a TSRA mention
in the TAFs) so only 1-2 hours of precipitation advertised at any
of the terminals. Once the line passes, winds will immediately
shift to the NW and clearing to VFR will be imminent. May see some
pesky cirrus remain across the region for much of the overnight
and Thursday, although conditions will be drier and VFR.
Outlook: The pattern will turn wet again with rain and associated
restrictions early Friday. Unsettled weather will last through
the weekend.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Thursday for NCZ033-049-050-052-
053-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...MPR
SHORT TERM...CP
LONG TERM...CP
AVIATION...MPRHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 1020 AM EST Wed Feb 28 2024 NCZ033-049-050-053-065-501-503-505-507-509-291530- Avery-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Henderson-Caldwell Mountains- Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains-Rutherford Mountains- Polk Mountains- 1020 AM EST Wed Feb 28 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. A line of thunderstorms will cross the region today. A few of these storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, small hail, and cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-048-051-056>058-068>072-082- 502-504-506-508-510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-291530- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell- Davie-Madison-Swain-Catawba-Rowan-Graham-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston- Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke- Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford-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- 1020 AM EST Wed Feb 28 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A line of thunderstorms will cross the region today. A few of these storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, small hail, and cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ052-059-062>064-291530- Haywood-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania- 1020 AM EST Wed Feb 28 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. A line of thunderstorms will cross the region today. A few of these storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, small hail, and cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. Krentz
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
118 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
NCZ048>052-281845-
Haywood NC-Yancey NC-Swain NC-Madison NC-Mitchell NC-
118 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MADISON...NORTHEASTERN SWAIN...
NORTHWESTERN MITCHELL...NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD AND NORTHWESTERN YANCEY
COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EST...
At 118 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles south of Greeneville to 10 miles south
of Newport to 12 miles southwest of Gatlinburg. Movement was east at
65 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...
Marshall, Hot Springs, Smoky Mountains-Newfound Gap, Smoky
Mountains-Cataloochee, Smoky Mountains-Big Creek, Smoky
Mountains-Balsam Mountain, Smoky Mountains-Oconaluftee, Buladean,
Ramseytown, and Waterville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3615 8214 3589 8248 3561 8310 3559 8347
3567 8334 3566 8330 3576 8316 3578 8299
3588 8290 3593 8292 3595 8287 3593 8281
3600 8277 3606 8264 3603 8259 3597 8261
3595 8256 3601 8246 3611 8237 3616 8222
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 261DEG 55KT 3607 8283 3581 8320 3560 8366
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
156 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
NCZ033-048>050-053-501-503-505-281930-
Buncombe NC-McDowell Mountains NC-Yancey NC-Caldwell Mountains NC-
Burke Mountains NC-Avery NC-Madison NC-Mitchell NC-
156 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MCDOWELL...
SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...MITCHELL...NORTHWESTERN CALDWELL...AVERY...
NORTH CENTRAL BUNCOMBE...YANCEY AND NORTHWESTERN BURKE COUNTIES
THROUGH 230 PM EST...
At 155 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles west of Beech Mountain to 5 miles east
of Marshall. Movement was east at 60 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...
Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Marshall, Newland, Mars Hill, Blowing Rock
In Caldwell County, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Bakersville, and Beech
Mountain In Avery County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3621 8191 3619 8188 3619 8186 3616 8183
3611 8181 3612 8169 3612 8159 3576 8208
3576 8274 3615 8215 3611 8213 3610 8208
3613 8205 3612 8203 3625 8195 3626 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1855Z 261DEG 69KT 3620 8202 3582 8259
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
159 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
GAZ010-017-SCZ101-104-281930-
Rabun GA-Habersham GA-Greater Oconee SC-Oconee Mountains SC-
159 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN HABERSHAM...RABUN AND
WEST CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EST...
At 159 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southeast of Hiawassee, or 5 miles west of Lake Burton, moving
east at 60 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...
Clayton, Mountain City, Tiger, Tallulah Falls, Lake Rabun, Lake
Burton, Lakemont, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Black Rock Mountain
State Park, and Long Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8365 3484 8366 3488 8366 3490 8363
3491 8363 3499 8317 3466 8316 3468 8334
3469 8334 3468 8336 3470 8364 3473 8362
3476 8363 3479 8367 3480 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 263DEG 51KT 3481 8365
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
235 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
GAZ017-018-SCZ101-104-105-282000-
Stephens GA-Habersham GA-Greater Oconee SC-Greater Pickens SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
235 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT STEPHENS...CENTRAL HABERSHAM...
CENTRAL PICKENS AND OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EST...
At 234 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 4 miles north of Walhalla to 3 miles east of
Clarkesville. Movement was east at 55 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...
Clemson, Toccoa, Seneca, Walhalla, Pickens, Clarkesville, Easley,
Central, Liberty, and Westminster.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
If on or near Keowee, 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3455 8361 3487 8307 3488 8253 3450 8305
3454 8310 3451 8314
TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 266DEG 50KT 3484 8306 3461 8346
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
302 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
SCZ010-104>107-282030-
Greater Oconee SC-Central Greenville SC-Anderson SC-
Greater Pickens SC-Southern Greenville SC-
302 PM EST Wed Feb 28 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...
NORTHERN ANDERSON...CENTRAL PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN OCONEE COUNTIES
THROUGH 330 PM EST...
At 302 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Pickens to 5 miles south of Seneca.
Movement was east at 50 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...
Greenville Downtown, Anderson, Easley, Clemson, Seneca, Pickens,
Greenville Eastside, West Greenville, Greer, and Mauldin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3454 8309 3492 8275 3496 8222 3485 8223
3485 8222 3483 8219 3481 8218 3448 8247
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 269DEG 42KT 3487 8275 3460 8298
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ARKThe Greer radar (KGSP), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:28 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported a few trees blown down with a couple falling on power lines in Carnesville and vicinity.
County comms reported a few trees blown down with one on power lines in the vicinity of Hartwell.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, February 2024
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: 1164457, 1164458.