North Carolina, 2024

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 26, 2024

May 26, 2024 · NWS GSP · 15 events in 9 counties and zones

Numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters moved across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening. Some storms produced severe weather in the form of isolated large hail and swaths of damaging wind gusts.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

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.

Numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters moved across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening. Some storms produced severe weather in the form of isolated large hail and swaths of damaging wind gusts.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 26, 2:00 PM EST, 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 2:00 PM EST, 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
300 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Temperatures remain above normal through Monday.  There is a risk of
strong to severe thunderstorms from this evening until the cold
front passes Monday evening.  Cooler and drier conditions return
tuesday through Friday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Sunday: Embedded shortwaves residing within the
mean flow of flat upper ridging will provide the upper forcing for
ascent needed to carry multiple waves of potential severe weather
across the area. A digging upper trough over the Midwest will
swing an attendant cold front towards the region, but won't reach
the area until the end of the forecast period. PWAT values ~1.50"
with height falls and increasing deep layer shear will support the
chance for multiple chances of severe weather as the CFWA resides
within a warm sector as stout southwesterly WAA filters into the
region. Here is the current forecast as far as how the next 24-36
hours will evolve:

Ongoing MCS continues to truck through the OH Valley and the
northern extent of the TN Valley. The trends continue to support the
southern flank of the bowing segment to graze the northern zones
of the CFWA, mainly locations along and north of I-40. Outflows
ahead of the line of convection will be the driving force for more
thunderstorms to develop south of I-40. The environmental parameters
support 2000+ J/kg of sbCAPE, increasing mid-level flow (35-40 kts)
allowing effective bulk shear (0-6 km) to keep the bowing segment
organized, while allowing for supercells to develop away from the
segment, which will most likely impact the NC mountains through
the Charlotte Metro. A few CAMs have a few developing across
the Upstate, where more instability is available. Large hail and
damaging winds will be the primary threat with any supercell that
forms. An isolated tornado can't be ruled out, but low-level shear
doesn't support strong tornadogenesis. The hail threat won't be
present with the southern flank of the bowing segment, but will have
a higher straight-line wind threat with DCAPE >1000J/kg, with a few
quick spin ups possible, especially if embedded supercells can
survive along the line. Expect this threat to begin within the next
hour or two across the northern mountains and push east through the
area by sunset, maybe a little later. In this case, the bowing
segment should survive all the way through the area despite dealing
with terrain as MCS Maintenance upticks through the evening.
Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to near 90 ahead of the
expected convection, making it one of the hottest days of the year
so far. One thing to note, a second bowing segment is developing
across west-central TN, behind the first and CAMs are struggling to
pick up on it. Worried this might be a surprise in the area, but
will need to monitor its evolution over the next few hours.

The aforementioned bowing segment is just one of possibly three
rounds of severe weather during the near term. A second round is
likely to occur overnight as the ongoing convection over the Midwest
currently travels eastward and maintains itself as it encroaches the
region late overnight through mid-morning Monday. The environment
doesn't support a persistent MCS through the CFWA, especially
east of the mountains. Deep layer shear will increase slightly and
elevated instability will be available when the second MCS moves
across the area. If a strong cold pool can be generated, then
there will be a surprise run across the CFWA Monday morning, with
straight line damaging winds being the primary threat. The one good
thing is that most of this activity is rather progressive and will
lower the hydro threat, but localized flash flooding can't be ruled
out. With convective debris and another round of storms overnight,
expect overnight lows to remain 5-10 degrees above normal.

Last, but not least, the third round that's possible during peak
heating on Monday, but will need a few factors to come together
for it to reach its full potential. This one will be dependent
on how much the environment recovers from the second round of
convection and if the atmosphere regenerate more instability. As
of now, CAMs do exactly that, with dewpoints in the uppers
60s to near 70 and instability quickly redeveloping by peak
heating, ahead of an incoming cold front. Deep layer shear will
remain elevated (35-45 kts) and curved hodographs would support
rotating supercells on Monday. The question will be if we can tap
into any surface instability to take advantage of the otherwise
really good kinematics in place. If instability becomes realized
Monday afternoon, all three hazards will be possible (large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes) with upscale growth by the time the
storms get into the eastern zones and east of the CFWA. The only
thing about this forecast is that it will remain uncertain until
we see what happens with the second round of convection that's
expected overnight. Decided to lower temperatures slightly for
Monday as convective debris will be hard to shake off, especially
during the morning hours. As a result, afternoon highs on Monday
will be at or slightly above normal.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 135 PM Sunday...Upper heights remain nearly zonal Tue which
will help maintain dry conds and temps warming about 5-7 degrees abv
normal. Surface td/s will mix out deeper than Mon and expect lower
RH values making for a rather nice feeling day. Heights and
thicknesses begin to drop Tue night thru Wed and with a cP airmass
mixing in, don't envision a good chance of precip associated with
incoming mlvl s/w Wed afternoon. So, kept the fcst dry and again
another nice feeling day with low RH and highs closer to normal. Dry
conds continue thru the overnight periods and really no good chance
of dense fog as sfc tdd/s generally average arnd 10 F across the
fcst area.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 145 PM Sunday...No sigfnt changes were made to the ext range
fcst. Still expect a mostly dry period as the mean h8-h5 flow aligns
w/ly to nw/ly and continues to reinforce a cP airmass building down
the east coast. The latest GFS swings a rather strong h5 s/w thru
the pattern Fri, but moisture looks too limited to introduce precip.
The going showery activity was maintained Sat as another ulvl wave
approaches from the west which will have a better llvl GOM
connection. Deep convection looks limited with this system, however,
as the wave runs into a strong ridging aloft possibly subduing tstm
development. Temps will remain arnd normal levels each and a limited
fog potential continues each night due mainly to sfc dryness.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: VFR conditions expected until showers and
thunderstorms develop and introduces associated restrictions. Wind
should remain light south to southwesterly with a few low-end gusts.
Scattered thunderstorms develop in the afternoon hours so all
terminals get a TEMPO for the restrictions with timing based on the
HRRR, mainly in the evening. For KCLT and KHKY, there is an outside
shot at a severe thunderstorm. Expect for cloud debris to hang out
through the evening and into the overnight. Another round of shower
and storms with associated restrictions is forecasted to move into
the area and tried to time this out with a PROB30 for all TAF sites.
Guidance continues to spill MVFR cigs across the area in association
with the second round of activity. Winds remain south to
southwesterly through the period unless influenced by storms or
outflow boundaries. A third round of showers and thunderstorms will
be possible during peak heating Monday and will likely disrupt
aviation operations once again, but the extent of this will depend
on how the second round of storms evolves overnight into the mid-
morning hours. Expect some form of cloud cover as cloud debris will
linger due to the multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Outlook: A unsettled pattern will linger into the early part of
the week, allowing for diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances each
day and at least patchy fog development each night/morning. Drier
weather is expected by midweek.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...CAC
SHORT TERM...SBK
LONG TERM...SBK
AVIATION...CAC
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 2:08 PM EST, 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
308 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ068>072-082-508-510-SCZ008>014-019-
101>109-271915-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Cleveland-Lincoln-
Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-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-
308 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and into the
evening. A few isolated severe storms possible, especially in the
North Carolina foothills and Piedmont. A cold front moves into the
area overnight and brings another chance for thunderstorms before
daybreak. The main threats will be damaging winds, cloud-to-ground
lightning and hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms is expected Monday,
with a few strong to severe storms possible east of the North
Carolina mountains. The main threats will be from strong-to-damaging
wind gusts, large hail, and cloud-to-ground lightning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

NCZ035>037-056-057-502-504-506-271915-
Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Greater Caldwell-Greater Burke-
Eastern McDowell-
308 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 317 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and
western North 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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible Monday
with a few strong to severe east of the NC mountains. Main threats
will be strong gusty winds, cloud-to-ground lightning and hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

NCZ033-048>053-501-503-505-271915-
Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-
Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains-McDowell Mountains-
308 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 317 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North 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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible Monday
with a few strong to severe east of the NC mountains. Main threats
will be strong gusty winds, cloud-to-ground lightning and hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

NCZ058-059-062>065-507-509-271915-
Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Henderson-Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains-
308 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A line of thunderstorms is expected to approach western North
Carolina from east Tennessee this evening. Embedded strong to severe
thunderstorms will pose a threat of strong to damaging wind gusts.
Isolated large hail will also be possible. A cold front approaches
the area overnight and is expected to bring another line of storms
into the mountains before sunrise. Some of these storms could also be
severe with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. Localized
flooding could develop, especially early Monday in locations that
receive heavy rainfall with both rounds of storms. Though the threat
is low, an isolated, brief tornado cannot be ruled out with either
round of storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible Monday
with a few strong to severe east of the NC mountains. Main threats
will be strong gusty winds, cloud-to-ground lightning and hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

Lane

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 2:43 PM EST, 10 minutes before
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The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Buncombe

When
May 26, 2:53 PM EST to 3:08 PM EST
Where
Buncombe County, 0.41 mi NNE of Leicester to 2.03 mi SE of Weaverville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.655, -82.696

Multiple sources reported multiples trees and power lines blown down from Leicester, across Alexander, to Weaverville.

Hail, Buncombe

When
May 26, 3:15 PM EST
Where
Buncombe County, 3.41 mi SSE of Stocksville
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.685, -82.525

Public reported nickel size hail on Water Leaf Drive.

Hail, Yancey

When
May 26, 3:51 PM EST
Where
Yancey County, Burnsville
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.920, -82.300

Media relayed photo of ping pong ball size hail from the Burnsville area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yancey

When
May 26, 3:52 PM EST
Where
Yancey County, 0.7 mi SW of Green Mtn
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.993, -82.259

Law enforcement reported three trees blown down near Green Mountain.

Hail, Madison

When
May 26, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Madison County, 0.89 mi NE of Barnard
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.840, -82.740

Spotter reported nickel to quarter size hail between Marshall and Hot Springs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macon

When
May 26, 5:17 PM EST
Where
Macon County, 2.36 mi SSW of Aquone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.170, -83.640

Public reported several trees blown down around Nantahala Lake.

Hail, Macon

When
May 26, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Macon County, 1.13 mi E of Rainbow Spgs
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.100, -83.550

Public reported dime to quarter size hail on W Old Murphy Rd near Highway 64.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When
May 26, 5:55 PM EST
Where
Madison County, Marshall
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
35.800, -82.680

County comms reported trees blown down and blocking multiple roads in Marshall and vicinity.

Thunderstorm Wind, Burke

When
May 26, 6:58 PM EST to 7:08 PM EST
Where
Burke County, 0.45 mi E of Glen Alpine to 2.72 mi E of Morganton
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
35.729, -81.792

County comms reported multiple trees blown down in Glen Alpine, with one tree on a home that caused a collapsed roof. Multiple trees were also blown down around Morganton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alexander

When
May 26, 7:15 PM EST to 7:22 PM EST
Where
Alexander County, 0.38 mi SSE of Taylorsville Arpt to 1.65 mi SE of Taylorsville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.925, -81.197

Fire dept reported multiple trees and power lines blown down in Taylorsville and vicinity.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When
May 26, 7:32 PM EST
Where
Catawba County, 4.84 mi WSW of Propst Xrds
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.611, -81.463

Ham radio operator reported trees blown down across the road near the intersection of Old Shelby Rd and Rhoney Farm Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When
May 26, 7:37 PM EST to 7:42 PM EST
Where
Iredell County, 3.93 mi NNE of Scotts to 3.27 mi SW of Turnersburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.881, -80.989

Fire dept reported trees blown down near the intersection of Abner Rd and Liberty Hill Rd and a tree down on a house on Jennings Rd near I-77.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rowan

When
May 26, 7:53 PM EST to 8:14 PM EST
Where
Rowan County, 0.4 mi E of Cleveland to 1.68 mi ESE of China Grove
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
35.731, -80.673

Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown across western Rowan County, from Cleveland to China Grove.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catawba

When
May 26, 7:53 PM EST
Where
Catawba County, 0.89 mi SW of Claremont
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.710, -81.160

Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines in the Claremont area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iredell

When
May 26, 8:01 PM EST
Where
Iredell County, 0.69 mi N of Mooresville Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.630, -80.900

Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines.

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: 1186672, 1186688, 1186687, 1186675, 1186686, 1186676, 1186685, 1186677, 1186678, 1186680, 1186679, 1186681, 1186683, 1186684, 1186682.