A broken line of low-topped heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front moved from northeast Georgia into upstate South Carolina around sunrise, and moved across the area throughout the morning. The showers and storms produced areas of strong-to-damaging wind gusts, while multiple EF0 tornadoes also occurred.
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 broken line of low-topped heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front moved from northeast Georgia into upstate South Carolina around sunrise, and moved across the area throughout the morning. The showers and storms produced areas of strong-to-damaging wind gusts, while multiple EF0 tornadoes also occurred.
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 Dec 29, 6:51 AM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 651 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will cross the area this morning into this afternoon bringing the potential for severe storms and locally heavy rainfall. High pressure will briefly dry things out on Monday, before another round of light showers arrives Tuesday. Much colder and drier conditions expected Wednesday thru the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 600 AM EST Sunday... Key Messages: 1) Strong to Severe Storms Expected this Morning and Afternoon Ahead of a Strong Cold Front 2) Tornado Watch in Effect through 1pm EST 3) Moderate to Heavy Downpours May Lead to Nuisance Flooding through this Afternoon, Mainly Along the Blue Ridge Escarpment 4) Winds Increase through this Afternoon Ahead of the Front Becoming Gusty Main change this update is that a Tornado Watch was issued this morning for NE GA, the SC Upstate, and the NC Piedmont and portions of the NC Foothills and is in effect through 1pm EST. Otherwise, patchy to locally dense fog continues this morning across the forecast area, especially east of the mountains thanks to cold air damming. Not anticipating the need for a Dense Fog Advisory this morning heavier rain ahead of an approaching cold front will push across the forecast area throughout the early morning hours and will help scour out any remaining dense fog through daybreak. Light to moderate rain also continues lifting north across the western half of the forecast area this morning. Lows this morning will end up ~20 degrees above climo thanks to thick low clouds and precip. Attention now turns to the severe weather potential this morning into this afternoon as a strong cold front pushes across the forecast area. Already seeing some thunderstorms pushing into the southern NC mountains this morning ahead of the front. Winds will gradually increase ahead of the front this morning and early afternoon becoming gusty. Opted not to issue a Wind Advisory as any locations that could see gusts flirt near advisory criteria will be confined to the higher elevations of the NC mountains. The front will gradually erode the wedge through the morning hours, allowing us to gradually destabilize through the day. Although SBCAPE looks minimal through the morning, 40-50 kts of deep layer shear and a few hundred J/kg of MUCAPE will allow strong to severe storms to develop. This afternoon deep layer shear increases to 50-60 kts ahead of the front and 200-500 J/kg of SBCAPE looks to develop (thanks to the eroding wedge). Thus, the severe threat will continue through the afternoon hours as the front progresses east. The primary hazard with any severe storm that develops is damaging wind gusts but there will be a secondary isolated tornado threat as well. Additionally, locally heavy rainfall may lead to some nuisance flooding, mainly along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where an additional 1.5-3.0 inches of rain is likely to fall through early this afternoon. CAMs agree that a strong line of convection will develop ahead of the frontal boundary so the strongest winds are expected to be directly along the leading edge of the line of storms. The 06Z HRRR and NAMNest show the line of convection pushing across the forecast area early this morning into early this afternoon before exiting the eastern edge of the CWA around roughly noon to 1pm. If this timing holds, then the bulk of the severe weather threat should end prior to peak heating. However, both models depict another line of convection developing directly along the frontal boundary late this afternoon into early this evening (during prime peak heating hours). Thus, another round of isolated strong to severe storms could develop behind the main line of convection but confidence on this is low as a residual cold pool is likely to develop behind the bulk of the morning convection. Wind gusts should gradually taper off late this afternoon into this evening behind the front. Highs this afternoon will climb into the mid 50s to mid 60s thanks to strong S/SW'ly flow ahead of the front. Drier conditions are expected this evening into tonight behind the front for most locations, although some NW flow rain showers look to develop along the NC/TN border. Lows tonight will be noticeably cooler but will still end up ~10-15 degrees above normal. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 144 AM EST Sunday: Quiet conditions will continue Monday as a potent upper trough pulls away to the northeast and an ill-defined ridge of high pressure overspreads the Southeast U.S. Temperatures will climb into low 60s outside the high terrain amid clear skies and perhaps some weak downslope flow early in the day. Monday night, cloud cover will increase again as deep-layer southwesterly flow develops ahead of the next upper wave. This feature will drift across the Carolinas on Tuesday and into Tuesday night, spurring another round of rainfall beginning before dawn Tuesday. Tuesday morning, temperatures will be warm enough even in the mountains that we can expect an all-rain forecast...but Tuesday night, locations along the NC-TN state line can expect a brief transition to snow as temps fall below freezing. Elsewhere, lows will remain in the upper 30s or even low 40s...and rain will be rapidly vanishing anyway. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 203 AM EST Sunday: The upper pattern will remain fairly dynamic through the end of the week, with a series of upper speed maxes pushing across the region Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Generally speaking, it'll be too dry for any impact to the western Carolinas, apart from ushering in much colder temperatures. The exception will be Friday night, when a lobe of moisture dipping off the Cumberland Plateau into the Tennessee Valley may produce a round of NW flow snow along the NC-TN border. For now, totals still look sub-advisory in all but the most aggressive ensemble solutions. Temperatures will fall below normal beginning Wednesday night...with highs only in the low 50s through Friday, and as low as the mid 40s on Saturday...and lows in the 20s every night, even outside the mountains. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: Cold air damming is gradually eroding ahead of a strong cold front as of 12Z. Some lingering LLWS will be a concern for the terminals through late this morning as the wedge gradually erodes. LIFR to IFR restrictions are returning as of 12Z as +SHRA/TSRA track towards the terminals. Heavier showers and thunderstorms will continue pushing east throughout the morning and early afternoon hours. Thus, have TEMPOs and PROB30s at the terminals this morning into this afternoon to account for TSRA and associated restrictions. Gusty to strong and variable winds are expected with any strong thunderstorms or heavy showers that develop. Winds will start out SE'ly this morning before turning SW'ly this afternoon into this evening ahead of the front. Winds will turn WNW'ly at KAVL early this evening behind the front. Wind speeds will gradually increase ahead of the front through early this afternoon, becoming gusty. Winds will peak early afternoon before gradually tapering off late this afternoon into this evening. Drier conditions are expected to develop behind the front late this afternoon/early evening so VFR conditions will return during this timeframe as well. Outlook: Dry high pressure returns briefly on Monday before another cold front brings showers and associated restrictions back on Tuesday. Elevation dependent rain/snow showers linger across the mountains Tuesday, possibly moving over KAVL with brief restrictions. Dry high pressure returns for Thursday. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...MPR NEAR TERM...AR SHORT TERM...MPR LONG TERM...MPR AVIATION...AR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 617 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-503-504- 507>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-301130- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell- Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus- Union-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-Rutherford Mountains- Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-York- Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood-Oconee Mountains- Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee- Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-Southern Greenville- Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 617 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 724 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, Piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and Upstate South 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. Tornado Watch. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will track across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia this morning into early this afternoon ahead of a strong cold front. Damaging wind gusts will be the main hazard, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Additionally, moderate to heavy downpours may lead to isolated nuisance flooding, mainly along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501-502-505-506-301130- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-McDowell Mountains- Eastern McDowell- 617 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will track across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia this morning into early this afternoon ahead of a strong cold front. Damaging wind gusts will be the main hazard, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Additionally, moderate to heavy downpours may lead to isolated nuisance flooding, mainly along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. AR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
558 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
GAZ010-017-NCZ062-291145-
Rabun GA-Habersham GA-Macon NC-
558 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN HABERSHAM...
NORTHWESTERN RABUN AND WESTERN MACON COUNTIES THROUGH 645 AM EST...
At 558 AM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hayesville to 5 miles east of Cleveland.
Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Clayton, Mountain City, Tiger, Dillard, Sky Valley, Lake Burton,
Nantahala Lake, Black Rock Mountain State Park, Burningtown, and
Kyle.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3530 8349 3490 8326 3475 8363 3480 8368
3482 8365 3488 8366 3491 8363 3492 8360
3494 8360 3495 8355 3499 8355 3500 8348
3500 8352 3502 8352 3504 8356 3513 8362
3514 8365 3515 8365 3515 8373 3516 8374
TIME...MOT...LOC 1058Z 240DEG 32KT 3504 8381 3463 8367
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
TWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
636 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
GAZ028-029-291215-
Elbert GA-Hart GA-
636 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ELBERT AND SOUTHERN HART COUNTIES
THROUGH 715 AM EST...
At 636 AM EST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 3 miles northeast of Carnesville to 11 miles
southwest of Hartwell to 3 miles northwest of Lexington. Movement was
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Elberton, Bowman, Bobby Brown State Park, Russell State Park, Nancy
Hart State Park, Middleton, Lake Strom Thurmond, Lake Russell, Dewy
Rose, and Broad River Campground.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 PM EST for northeastern
Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 8261 3397 8264 3399 8265 3397 8278
3401 8294 3403 8294 3404 8298 3410 8304
3415 8306 3417 8310 3422 8308 3425 8310
3436 8282 3427 8275 3415 8272 3413 8268
3409 8264 3407 8265 3403 8260 3396 8257
TIME...MOT...LOC 1136Z 258DEG 34KT 3439 8317 3428 8312 3391 8313
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
TWThe Greer radar (KGSP), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:02 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported scattered trees blown down throughout Pickens County.
County comms reported scattered trees blown down throughout Abbeville County.
County comms reported a tree blown down at Oak Forest Dr and Chinquapin Rd and another tree down on a house on nearby Creek Rd East. Multiple trees were also blown down on the north side of the city of Greenwood near the intersection of Montague Ave and Cobb Rd. This was shortly before a gust of 53 mph was measured at the Greenwood County airport.
Highway patrol reported a tree blown down along Keeler Mill Rd and another tree down on Mountain Creek Rd.
Emergency manager reported multiple trees blown down along with damage to some roofs and a porch near the shore of Lake Greenwood.
Emergency manager reported scattered trees blown down throughout Laurens County.
NWS damage survey determined that a weak tornado touched down in a wooded area along the middle Tyger River, just east of Jug Factory Rd where large limbs were snapped off trees. The tornado tracked to The northeast and crossed Sloan Rd, were a large tree was uprooted and additional large limbs snapped. The tornado reached peak intensity as it crossed Holly Springs Church Rd and Bradley Dill Rd, where additional trees were uprooted and more limbs snapped. The tornado dissipated in a wooded area just east of the end of Cooper Rd.
NWS damage survey found the path of an EF0 tornado that began along Monument Rd, just north of Blackstock Rd, where several large limbs were snapped. The tornado moved quickly north-northeast, uprooting several trees and snapping a number of large limbs along Battlefield Rd and the remainder of Monument Rd. The tornado continued into a heavily wooded area where it dissipated.
Emergency manager reported a tree was blown down on a house in the Boiling Springs area.
County comms reported a few trees and power lines blown down across roads, mainly to east And northeast of the city of Union.
NWS damage survey found the path of an EF0 tornado that touched down on the eastern end of County Landfill Road where several large limbs were snapped and a tree blown down. The tornado moved north-northeast, crossing Old Ferry Rd, were several trees were uprooted. The tornado reached peak intensity as it crossed SC Highway 49 and moved along Phillip Church Rd, where a number of trees were uprooted and large limbs snapped. The tornado crossed Black Bottom Rd, where several trees were downed before it weakened as it crossed SC Highway 9. The tornado downed several large limbs as it crossed Bailey Town Rd before dissipating.
NWS damage survey found the path of a third weak tornado in Union County on 29 December 2024. This tornado began along John Hart Rd near the intersection of Lee Rd, where numerous large limbs were snapped. The tornado traveled northeast, downing a a couple of trees along Mitchell Creek. The tornado crossed Mud Bridge Rd, where additional large limbs were snapped before the tornado apparently dissipated just north of Harley Dr.
Law enforcement reported scattered trees blown down across Cherokee County.
County comms reported numerous trees blown and minor roof damage to a few homes throughout York County.
NWS damage survey found the path of en EF0 tornado that began along Highway 161 just south of the intersection with Highway 55 where several trees were uprooted. The tornado moved northeast, crossing Wilmoth Rd, Beamguard Rd and Highway 55 where additional trees were uprooted and large limbs snapped. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing Knox Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2024Warnings in South Carolina, December 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: 1225644, 1225643, 1225645, 1225648, 1225646, 1225647, 1225672, 1225673, 1225732, 1226260, 1225675, 1225674, 1225649, 1225650, 1225676.