North Carolina, 2024

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 15, 2024

May 15, 2024 · NWS GSP · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon along a frontal system. A few of the storms produced damaging wind gusts and large hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon along a frontal system. A few of the storms produced damaging wind gusts and large hail.

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caldwell

When
May 15, 1:23 PM EST to 1:38 PM EST
Where
Caldwell County, 2.15 mi SSW of Whitnel to 2.75 mi W of Granite Falls
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.850, -81.540

Utility equipment reported trees blown down on power lines in Cajah Mountain. Ham radio operators reported trees and power lines blown down along Horseshoe Bend Rd and Hickory Nut Ridge Rd in Cajah Mountain and along Dry Ponds Rd in Sawmills.

Hail, Caldwell

When
May 15, 1:25 PM EST
Where
Caldwell County, 0.89 mi SE of Whitnel
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.870, -81.520

Spotter reported quarter size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When
May 15, 2:10 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
Burke County, 1.2 mi W of (Hky)hickory Muni Ar to 0.13 mi ENE of Henry River
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
35.727, -81.401

County comms reported trees blown down along 39th St NW and on Henry River Rd.

Hail, Catawba

When
May 15, 2:26 PM EST
Where
Catawba County, 2.15 mi SSE of Hickory
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.700, -81.310

Public reported (via NSSL mPING) quarter size hail.

Hail, Catawba

When
May 15, 3:11 PM EST
Where
Catawba County, 0.69 mi S of Cotton Factory
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.570, -81.200

Fire dept reported 3/4 inch hail.

Hail, Union

When
May 15, 3:36 PM EST
Where
Union County, 0.69 mi S of Indian Trail
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.070, -80.680

Public reported 3/4 inch hail.

Hail, Union

When
May 15, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Union County, 1.83 mi WNW of Houston
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.960, -80.660

Public reported quarter size hail in the Mineral Springs area.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2024

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1186854, 1186826, 1186855, 1186822, 1186824, 1186882, 1186841.