Scattered thunderstorms developed over western North Carolina during the afternoon. One of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts 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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed over western North Carolina during the afternoon. One of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts in Alexander 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 Aug 3, 1:44 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 244 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A weak cold front will stall across the Piedmont of the Carolinas tonight and linger through Sunday. The boundary should continue to provide a focus for showers and thunderstorms, while cooling temperatures back closer to average. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Four is forecast to track into the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and will drift north toward the Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. The eventual track and timing of this system will determine our weather through the middle of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 147 PM EDT Saturday: It's a beautiful Saturday across the forecast area. Temperatures are in the upper 80s in most places, and an extensive cu field has developed east of the NC mountains. A few showers have already broken out over the Blue Ridge, as a vigorous upper trough escapes the upper Ohio Valley and heads toward Appalachia. A surface front is now analyzed along or just east of the NC Blue Ridge Escarpment, which looks reasonable based on mesoanalysis data and CAM guidance. This boundary will provide triggering for this afternoon's convective prospects, putting the Piedmont and Upstate zones most under the gun for active weather later. Guidance indicates that a plume of 2500+ J/kg sbCAPE will be in place across the eastern third of the forecast area over the next few hours as convection really fires up, in an environment already juiced up with 25kts of deep shear. As described in previous discussions, the intrusion of dry air aloft from the western side of the front will promote an increase in DCAPE, which is already analyzed at 800-900 J/kg over I- 77, and is only progged to increase as the afternoon wears on, attaining a max value of 1100-1200 J/kg over the eastern zones...more than enough to justify the Marginal/Slight Risk for Severe Weather per SPC. Heavy rain remains somewhat of a concern, as steering flow will be out of the SSW, nearly parallel to the orientation of the stalling frontal boundary. Having said that, the dry air intrusion aloft will markedly lower PWs compared to previous days...with even the higher end of the 12z HREF distribution only calling for 1.8-1.9". This along with the highly-localized nature of any hydro issues that develop only reinforces the earlier decision to forego a Flood Watch for this evening. More to the point, 3- and 6-hour probability-matched mean QPF forecasts from the morning ensembles just can't square up with FFGs...so flood risk should remain limited. High temperatures will barely make it to 90 this afternoon for most locations. Tonight, convection may linger well past sunset. The latest HRRR, FV3, and NSSL-WRF all depict a second wave of showers and thunderstorms spinning up over the NC Piedmont around sundown and pushing east of I-77 through midnight. Once whatever festering convection lets up, it'll be a mostly-quiet night. Lows will fall into the lower 70s or even 60s in some spots across the NC Foothills and of course the mountains, and another round of mountain valley fog and low stratus will develop before sunrise. Some locations outside the mountains which wind up receiving a lot of rain this afternoon may get patchy fog in the morning, too. Tomorrow's convection remains somewhat of a question mark...as although earlier forecasts indicated decent convective coverage, the latest cycle of hi-res guidance has come in with a more diffuse remnant frontal boundary than depicted prior, resulting in less initiation Sunday afternoon and lower overall coverage. What storms do develop will have another DCAPE-rich environment to work with, and so will need to be watched closely. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 145 PM Saturday: The short term forecast is really up in the air, thanks to current TD 4. The latest forecast is significantly slower with what is expected to be TS Debby. By 12z Monday, the center is expected to be near the Big Bend area of FL, but guidance already diverging on that, with NAM and Canadian trending west with landfall near Apalachicola. From there, the steering flow in the upper levels becomes weak, and Debby will slow down somewhere over southern GA on Monday, with a general drift to the east, possibly reaching the GA coastal waters early Tuesday. With this track, our forecast area may actually see fairly quiet weather, as subsidence overspreads north of the tropical circulation. With that said, there are ensemble members that drift the low further north before stalling, and we could see at least peripheral rain bands from the system. Plus a stalled frontal boundary (though washing out) may be enough to focus some deep convection, along with the usual terrain-induced activity. Will go with the NBM PoPs for now, but they may be overdone, given the slower motion of the approaching tropical system. Temps will be near normal. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 230 PM Saturday: The entire medium range forecast continues to be highly uncertain, as models are now trending toward a stalled tropical system somewhere near coastal SC, with a possible drift inland mid to late in the week. This could result in a prolonged period of rain working into the forecast area from SE to NW. Even if Debby ends up being a hurricane at its peak intensity, the expected drift across northern FL and southern GA should weaken it, and so the wind threat should be low, making excessive rainfall the biggest threat. With that said, this is a relatively new trend in the guidance, so will continue to stick close to the national blend of models for the PoPs. The NBM has already trended higher in PoPs and lower in max temps, which is to be expected if a remnant tropical system ends up close to the area. Once guidance seems to lock into a solution and confidence increases, we may see some large shifts in the forecast either way. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: VFR conditions at all the terminals this afternoon except KHKY, where a pesky MVFR cloud deck has lingered well into the day. Some showers are already spinning up over the NC-TN border, and are progged to move east through the afternoon hours. All the guidance depicts some version of this activity shifting eastward through the evening hours...with especially numerous coverage over the I-77 corridor east of a diffuse frontal boundary. Multiple rounds of convection may be a concern, especially if the latest HRRR is to be believed, as it maintains convection well past sundown. By midnight, the show should be over regardless, and the mountain terminals can expect another round of hefty flight restrictions...with the statistical guidance as well as the NBM hitting the mountain valleys pretty hard with IFR to LIFR ceilings again before daybreak. Additional convection is possible on Sunday, but coverage should be much more sparse compared to today, and initiation may be delayed...such that mention didn't make it into any of the 18z TAFs. Outlook: Drier conditions will return early next week before an unsettled and very-low-confidence pattern arrives Tuesday and beyond. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...ARK NEAR TERM...MPR SHORT TERM...ARK LONG TERM...ARK AVIATION...MPR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 212 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 GAZ010-017-018-026-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507- 509-SCZ101>105-041815- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-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-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens- 212 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, the mountains of western North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected across the area this afternoon and evening. The main threats from any storm will be cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential rainfall. A few of these storms may also produce damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A tropical system may impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia early next week. The track this system takes as it moves northward will determine what impacts it may have on our area. Check hurricanes.gov for the latest updates on this system. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ008-009-012>014-019-108-109-041815- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston- Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Cherokee-York-Laurens-Union SC-Chester- Greenwood-Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 212 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 592 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Piedmont 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. In addition to the threat of severe thunderstorms, expected is torrential rainfall that's likely to produce areas of nuisance flooding as well as localized flash flooding. In particular, multiple storms may move over the same location in succession, leading to a handful of hydro issues. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A tropical system may impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia early next week. The track this system takes as it moves northward will determine what impacts it may have on our area. Check hurricanes.gov for the latest updates on this system. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. GAZ028-029-NCZ502-504-506-508-510-SCZ010-011-106-107-041815- Hart-Elbert-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell- Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk-Anderson-Abbeville- Central Greenville-Southern Greenville- 212 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected across the area this afternoon and evening. The main threats from any storm will be cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential rainfall that's likely to produce areas of nuisance flooding as well as localized flash flooding. In particular, multiple storms may move over the same location, leading to a handful of hydro issues. In addition, some of these storms may also produce damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A tropical system may impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia early next week. The track this system takes as it moves northward will determine what impacts it may have on our area. Check hurricanes.gov for the latest updates on this system. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. MPR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
409 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
NCZ057-032045-
Rowan NC-
409 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ROWAN COUNTY THROUGH 445
PM EDT...
At 408 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Salisbury, or near Granite Quarry, moving northeast 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 hail damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Salisbury, Spencer, Granite Quarry, Faith, and High Rock Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
the Piedmont of North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3555 8051 3562 8060 3574 8046 3572 8042
3573 8039 3572 8038 3572 8034 3571 8032
3570 8033 3568 8033 3567 8031 3563 8029
3563 8027
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 236DEG 25KT 3563 8048
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
412 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
NCZ505>508-032045-
McDowell Mountains NC-Greater Rutherford NC-Rutherford Mountains NC-
Eastern McDowell NC-
412 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MCDOWELL AND
NORTHWESTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM EDT...
At 412 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles southwest of Marion, or 7 miles northeast of Lake Lure, moving
east at 20 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...
Lake Lure, Shingle Hollow, Sugar Hill, Thermal City, Glenwood, Fero,
and Union Mills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3541 8191 3547 8222 3552 8220 3553 8217
3554 8220 3562 8217 3565 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 271DEG 17KT 3552 8213
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
417 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0226 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW Greenwood 34.19N 82.16W
08/03/2024 Greenwood SC Utility Company
Several trees down in Greenwood, some of
which fell on power lines/utility equipment.
&&
TWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
444 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0218 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Chester 34.72N 81.23W
08/03/2024 Chester SC Utility Company
Tree down across power lines.
&&
TWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
453 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
NCZ053-065-032145-
Buncombe NC-Henderson NC-
453 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN HENDERSON AND
SOUTHEASTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM EDT...
At 453 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Hendersonville, or near Mills River. This storm
was nearly stationary.
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...
Arden, Mills River, Fletcher, Mountain Home, Bat Cave, Asheville
Airport, Skyland, B.R. Parkway-Mount Pisgah To The Nc Arboretum,
Fairview In Buncombe County, and B.R. Parkway-Nc Arboretum To East
Asheville.
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 3536 8268 3548 8266 3552 8229 3538 8227
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 284DEG 4KT 3541 8262
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
455 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
NCZ035-036-032145-
Iredell NC-Alexander NC-
455 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ALEXANDER AND NORTH CENTRAL
IREDELL COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM EDT...
At 455 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 4
miles west of Taylorsville, moving northeast at 15 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...
Taylorsville, Love Valley, Hiddenite, Little River In Alexander
County, Vashti, Millersville, and Ellendale.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
the Piedmont of North Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3598 8090 3583 8120 3590 8134 3603 8123
3604 8119 3603 8117 3604 8114 3604 8111
3603 8110 3603 8107 3606 8098
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 225DEG 14KT 3591 8125
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:07 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Fire dept reported a tree blown down along Three Forks Church Rd and another tree blown down on Highway 16 S.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 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: 1211242.