A couple of waves of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across upstate South Carolina during the afternoon and the evening. A few of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts and even a brief tornado.
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 couple of waves of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across upstate South Carolina during the afternoon and the evening. A few of the storms produced brief damaging wind gusts and even a brief tornado.
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 3, 1:03 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 203 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front crosses the area tonight, bringing temperatures back to near normal for Sunday and Monday under partly cloudy skies. Dry high pressure builds in Tuesday, then another unsettled pattern likely develops by midweek. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 157 PM EDT Saturday: The obvious concern for the afternoon is the severe tstm potential, given the Day 1 Outlook Slight Risk over the eastern third of the fcst area. Got a bit of a late start with the persistent cloud cover, but enough thin spots exist to allow for destabilization to the tune of 1000-2000 J/kg of sfc-based CAPE uncapped. The rapid development of storms that we have seen early this afternoon suggest that perhaps storms will release the CAPE and limit the numbers of strong/severe storms, unlike yesterday. The main area of concern will continue to be the area east of the mtns, and in particular the I-77 corridor and to the east, where large hail and damaging wind gusts are the main concern. Don't be surprised if the SPC issues a Svr Watch for that area...or not. Either way it will be active. Meanwhile, the western third of the fcst area will be blanketed by a remnant wide band of light rain and extensive clouds. Note the HRRR continues to move this off to the east thru late afternoon and allow for the redevelopment of showers and storms in a band off to the west, forced by the mid-level DPVA ahead of a strong short wave. This could bring a wind threat into the mtns this evening if it comes together as in the model. Temps will be seasonally warm, but will nudge the highs down a few degrees because of the cloud cover and early storms. Otherwise...instability of the surface-based variety will be maintained into the evening and first part of the overnight as lobes of DPVA slide east of I-26 and subtly improve lapse rates there. Although sbCAPE itself declines sharply after sunset, the thinking at this time is that strong enough low-level flow should be present over the eastern zones to make MLCAPE a better metric for instability...and as the low- and mid-level kinematics continue to improve ahead of the front, shear over the eastern third of the forecast area may even increase, if not remain at their previous levels, during the late evening and early overnight period. Thus, severe risk will continue for the eastern zones into the first part of Saturday night, and a second wave of convection is expected during this timeframe with a semi-organized QLCS makes tracks across the area leading up to midnight. A separate issue during this timeframe will be the increasing risk of localized flash flooding along the I-77 corridor...where soundings depict almost (but not quite) boundary-parallel shear vectors. Moisture will have had all day to pile up here, with PWs as high as 1.4-1.5"...or somewhere in the 90th to 95th percentile of NAEFS climatology. Despite this, the bulk of hi-res guidance doesn't depict especially impressive QPF response (perhaps because the system's overall motion is still fast enough to prevent it), with the 00z HREF keeping 6-hour totals just a hair under 2" across the I-77 corridor...and so no flood watch appears necessary, as these totals would keep flooding issues isolated and localized enough not to justify it. All in all, the frontal boundary should finally push things east of the CWA by the wee hours of Sunday morning, resulting in markedly decreasing PoP and an end to both the severe and heavy rain threat. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of Noon Saturday... Key messages: 1. Isolated/scattered showers will be possible Monday near the TN border. 2. Otherwise, Dry thru Tuesday, with temps around or a little below normal. An upper low will spin over the Ohio Valley Monday, and begin to drift northeast toward the eastern Great Lakes Tuesday. The low's proximity may allow for some instability and isolated to scattered diurnal showers along/near the TN border Monday aftn. The rest of the forecast area will see mostly sunny skies and temps will be a category or two below normal. Tuesday looks dry, as the low drifts away, and a west-east axis of sfc high pressure builds in on the south side of the low. Temps return to near normal under mostly sunny skies and comfortable humidity levels. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of Noon Saturday... Models are in decent agreement on the pattern thru the medium range. They have converged on another upper low cutting off...this time over the Ozarks region, then drifting southeast into the Lower MS Valley. A deep trough is progged to dig thru the Northeast, and may interact with this low, but the latest GFS and ECMWF keep the southern low spinning thru the weekend in a Rex block. This will likely set up an unsettled wx pattern for the forecast area starting Wednesday. An area of sfc low pres will form over the Lower MS Valley and activate a warm front across the Southeast. Gulf moisture will spread over the front and produce areas of showers off and on thru Friday. There will be some diurnal component to the activity, but there may some shower chances continuing at night. At this point, it doesn't look like a heavy rain/flood threat, but locally heavy rainfall cannot be ruled out. Severe chances will also be muted with generally elevated CAPE and marginal bulk shear. Max temps will be near to slightly below normal, while lows will generally be a few degrees above normal under plenty of cloud cover. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... At KCLT and elsewhere: The immediate concern is the TSRA around KCLT for the first hour of the fcst, after which there should be a lull of a few hours before the next round. Meanwhile, scattered tsra will develop east of the mtns thru the afternoon, which will be covered by a TEMPO group. Expect prevailing VFR and temporary MVFR low cloud ceilings around storms. Wind should remain light S to SSW in general, gusty near storms. Meanwhile, across the mtns, a band of weakening light rain will slowly diminish as it moves east. Model guidance fires up another batch of thunderstorms late this afternoon and early this evening over the east, suggesting another TEMPO for KCLT. Late tonight, a second weakening band of remnant convection is expected to move in from the west, which will be covered with a PROB30. MVFR to IFR ceiling is expected with that feature. The low levels will remain juicy, thus the restrictions will persist into the late morning. Light S winds should prevail. Outlook: Unsettled weather and associated restrictions may continue into early Sunday across parts of the area. In the wake of a cold front after dawn Sunday, drier weather and predominately VFR conditions are expected to return. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. NC...None. SC...None. && SYNOPSIS...ARK NEAR TERM...MPR/PM SHORT TERM...ARK LONG TERM...ARK AVIATION...PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 519 AM EDT Sat May 3 2025 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065- 068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-040930- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander- Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba- Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania- Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union- Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke- McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-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- 519 AM EDT Sat May 3 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, Piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Thunderstorms will pose a risk of severe weather at times this afternoon through around midnight, in the form of damaging wind gusts and large hail. Multiple rounds of storms are possible at a given location. Some localized flash flooding is also possible, particularly in areas that experience more than one round of heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. Wimberley
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
139 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
SCZ009-014-031815-
York SC-Chester SC-
139 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN CHESTER AND SOUTHEASTERN
YORK COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT...
At 139 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles southwest of Lancaster, or near Great Falls, moving north at 55
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...
Fort Lawn, Lesslie, Catawba, Great Falls, Fishing Creek Reservoir,
and Rock Hill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 8089 3464 8090 3460 8089 3456 8087
3454 8088 3455 8103 3496 8097 3496 8087
3492 8086 3490 8088 3487 8088 3484 8087
3483 8090 3479 8088 3475 8088 3470 8086
TIME...MOT...LOC 1739Z 195DEG 47KT 3460 8095
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
202 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
SCZ011-019-031830-
Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
202 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN ABBEVILLE AND
NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM EDT...
At 201 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Abbeville, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch 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...
Hodges, Donalds, Abbeville, Shoals Junction, Cokesbury, Due West,
Ware Shoals, and Lake Greenwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3408 8237 3415 8250 3442 8233 3435 8217
3433 8217 3433 8215 3432 8213 3431 8212
3431 8211 3430 8209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 212DEG 28KT 3417 8236
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ARKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
226 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
NCZ071-082-031915-
Union NC-Mecklenburg NC-
226 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MECKLENBURG AND
UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT...
At 226 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Lancaster, or near Buford, moving northeast at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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...
Indian Trail, Trinity, Lake Park, Wesley Chapel, Monroe, Mint Hill,
Jaars, Wingate, Matthews, and Stallings.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8075 3507 8079 3526 8065 3518 8050
3518 8048 3481 8032
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 222DEG 25KT 3479 8067
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
TWThe Greer radar (KGSP), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:30 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported a home along Lake Greenwood in the Waterloo area sustained damage to siding, thrown patio furniture, and a bent flag pole. Multiple tree limbs were also blown down.
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage near Keowee Springs Golf Course, and additional trees on power lines on Highway 137 north of Six Mile.
NWS storm survey found the path of an EF0 tornado that touched down along Adger Rd near the intersection of Highway 135 and moved ENE across the south side of Easley. The tornado crossed several residential neighborhoods where numerous large limbs were snapped and several pine trees were uprooted. The tornado dissipated over a neighborhood near Crestview Rd.
Public reported trees blown down at Kennedy Dr and Daisy Dr, and trees down on power lines and causing an outage on Douglas Dr.
NWS employee estimated a 50 kt wind gust.
Utility company reported trees blown down on power lines and causing an outage near the intersection of Lightwood Knot Rd and Cunningham Rd in Reidville. Public reported multiple trees blown down on Castleford Rd in Moore.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2025Warnings in South Carolina, May 2025
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: 1266898, 1266896, 1266900, 1266897, 1267662, 1266899.