Becoming Severe Weather Ready in the Western Carolinas and Northeast Georgia

Severe Thunderstorm Safety

The main severe weather threat in the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia is damaging thunderstorm winds. Remember that downbursts can produce wind speeds and damage similar to a tornado. For this reason, it is important to take National Weather Service warnings for severe thunderstorms seriously. Perhaps the greatest hazard associated with downbursts in this region is that of trees falling on automobiles and structures. Over the past 10 years, there have been 7 deaths associated with thunderstorm winds across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia, each fatality being the result of a falling tree. Most of the monetary structural damage associated with downbursts in this area is from falling trees. Dead and diseased trees are especially susceptible to being downed by severe thunderstorm winds. You should strongly consider having these trees removed from your property, especially if they are located on the west side of your home.

The safest place to be during a severe

severe thunderstorm is on the lowest level of a well-constructed building, in an interior room. Avoid any rooms that may be damaged by falling trees. If you are in an automobile, the safest course of action is to abandon it for sturdy shelter. If shelter is not available, you should attempt to seek out an open area, away from trees and power lines. If strong winds develop, try to turn your vehicle so that your back is to the wind. The strong wind will typically be from the west or northwest.

If you live in a manufactured home, you should strongly consider leaving the home for nearby sturdier shelter if the home is not securely tied down.

Large hail is mainly a threat to crops and property, rarely causing deaths or even significant injuries to people. However, crop and property damage losses number in the billions of dollars across the country during a typical year. You should always seek shelter indoors during a hailstorm, as injuries from very large and/or wind-driven hail can occur. Although your first priority should always be the safety of

Table 1. Reports of hail larger than baseball size across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia since 1986.
County	Nearest City	Date	Max Hail Size
Davie-NC	Mocksville	June 4, 1993	Grapefruit
Cabarrus/Rowan-NC	Kannapolis	May 7, 1998	Softball
Catawba-NC	Newton	June 3, 1998	Softball
Spartanburg-SC	Spartanburg	August 20, 1999	Grapefruit
Burke-NC	Morganton	May 24, 2000	Softball
Oconee-SC	Westminster	April 28, 2002	Teacup
Abbeville-SC	Calhoun Falls	May 6, 2003	Grapefruit
Anderson-SC	Iva	March 15, 2008	Grapefruit
York-SC	Clover	April 9, 2011	Softball
Greenville-SC	Tigerville	May 10, 2011	Teacup
Union-SC	Union	May 23, 2014	Teacup
Spartanburg-SC	Greer	March 21, 2017	Teacup