Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 161, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 22, 2003Forsyth County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 22, 2003, 5:36 PM EDT for Forsyth County, North Carolina. It was in force for 39 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 22, 2003, 5:36 PM EDT (21:36 UTC)
Expired
Jul 22, 2003, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Forsyth County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:36 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 32 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 323 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -114 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
323 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1031 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-74 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

620 
WUUS52 KRAH 222136
SVRRAH
NCC067-222215-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
535 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  FORSYTH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 615 PM EDT

* AT 535 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WINSTON-SALEM...MOVING    
  NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH  ARE LIKELY WITH    
  THIS STORM.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  WINSTON-SALEM
  WALKERTOWN
  KERNERSVILLE
  
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
GO INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3607 8044 3594 8029 3618 7994 3634 8014

$$

PWB

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 22, 2:52 PM EDT, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 2:52 PM EDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
250 PM AM EDT TUE JUL 22 2003

MSTR CONT TO INCREASE THRU THE COLUMN THIS AFTN. PWAT INCREASED OVER
A HALF INCH IN THE PAST 25 HOURS AND SHOULD BE JUST UNDER 2 INCHES
BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. WILL KEEP SHRA/TSTMS IN THE 50-70 POP RANGE
FOR TNT AS FRONT BEGINS TO APPROACH THE TRIAD BY MORNING AND THEN
BECOME STATIONARY.

WED...UPPER TROUGH CONT TO DIG S AND IS BECOMING RATHER CONCERNING.
CENTRAL NC AND THE COASTAL PLAIN WILL FALL UNDER THE RIGHT REAR QUAD
OF A NEXITING JET STREAK LIFTING NORTH ON THE E SIDE OF THE UPPER
TROUGH. ETA SUGGEST BEST UPPER DIVRG WILL BE IN THE EAST HOWECER
MODELS HANG THE SURFACE BNDRY UP TO THE W ACROSS THE WESTERN
PIEDMONT. A STRONG H5 VORT WILL SWING AROUND THE BASE OF THE UPPER
TROUGH LATE IN THE AFTN WED ENHANCING LIFT ACROSS THE AREA. WIND
PROFILES SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE DECENT SPEED SHEAR IN THE LOW
LEVELS AND COULD SUPPORT LINES OF STORMS AS WELL AS TRAINING STORMS
RESULTING IN SOME HIGH WINDS AND FLOODING. PWAT WILL BE JUST UNDER 2
INCHES WED AND STORMS WILL EASLIY PRODUCE RAINFALL RATES OF 2 INCHES
PER HOUR. GFS BRINGS A DRY SLOT INTO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT WED AFTN
AND ETA GUIDANCE HAS ALSO BACKED OFF ON POPS A LITTLE SO WILL BACK
OFF ON CURRENT CATEGORICAL POPS AND GO WITH A 60-70 POP FOR WED
MONTIONING NUMEROUS SHRA/TSTMS FROM RALEIGH EAST WITH LOWER POPS
ACROSS THE WESTERN PIEDMONT.

ETA BRINGS THE DRY SLOT ACROSS THE PIEDMONG DURING THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS WED WITH A CONT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS IN THE EASTERN
PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAIN. GFS HOLDS THE MSTR IN A LITTLE LONGER
AND KEEPS SFC BNDRY IN THE PIEDMONT. WILL KEEP SHRA/TSTMS IN THE
FCST FOR WED NIGHT WITH BEST CHANCE FROM THE TRIANGLE EAST.

THU...MODELS DIFFER QUITE A BIT FOR THU. ETA TAKES SFC BNDRY TO THE
COAST WITH DRIER WLY WINDS SETTING UP ACROSS THE AREA WHERE THE GFS
CONT TO KEEP THE SFC BNDRY IN THE WESTERN PIEDMONT WITH MSTR
CONTINUING OVER THE EASTERN PIEDMIONT AND ESPECIALLY THE COASTAL
PLAIN.

FRI THRU SUN...HIGH PRES BUILDS IN FROM THE W WITH TEMPS CLIMBING
BACK TO AROUND 90.  LITTLE TO NO MENTION OF RAIN SO FAR FOR THE
WEEKEND.

MON AND TUE...AN UPPER TROUGH AGAIN DIGS S ACROSS THE EAST BRINING
ANOTHER CHANCE OF SHRA/TSTME FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.RAH...NONE.

ORROCK/HUMBLE
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 22, 5:50 AM EDT, 11 hours 46 minutes before
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-221230-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
550 AM EDT TUE JUL 22 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A SOUTHWESTERLY WIND FLOW WILL PUMP MOISTURE FROM THE GULF STATES
INTO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH TEMPERATURES PEAKING IN THE UPPER 80S TO
LOWER 90S... AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S... THE ATMOSPHERE
WILL BECOME UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND LASTING THROUGH THE EVENING. THERE
IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT A FEW STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE PRIMARY
THREAT WILL BE FROM LARGE HAIL... BUT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OVER 60
MPH WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

IN ADDITION... SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL... ESPECIALLY WHERE TWO OR MORE STORMS PASS OVER THE SAME
AREA. ISOLATED LOCATIONS MAY SEE OVER TWO INCHES THROUGH TONIGHT.
SUCH TOTALS MAY PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AND URBAN AREAS WHERE
DRAINAGE IS POOR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT...
AND STALL OVER WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. STRONG
SOUTHWESTERLY JETS OF WIND IN BOTH THE LOWER AND UPPER LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL COMBINE WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE IN PLACE TO PRODUCE
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND STORMS. SOME OF THESE STORMS TONIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE... WITH THE MAIN
THREAT BEING STRONG STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND HAIL. THE FRONT WILL
REMAINED STALLED AND WEAKEN OVER THE STATE THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF THE SPOTTER NETWORKS MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 12 NOON
TODAY.

GIH

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 22, 5:15 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
NCZ021>024-038-039-222215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
515 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2003

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE
WINSTON-SALEM... LEXINGTON... HIGH ROCK AREAS...

AT 514 PM EDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
EAST NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH OUT OF SURRY... YADKIN... AND IREDELL
COUNTIES. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE CLEMMONS AREA BEFORE 530
PM... AND WINSTON-SALEM BEFORE 545 PM. IN ADDITION... THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE INTO MUCH OF DAVIDSON COUNTY INCLUDING HIGH ROCK LAKE
AND LEXINGTON BETWEEN 530 PM AND 600 PM. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING... VERY HEAVY RAIN FOR 20 TO 30
MINUTES... AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

EVERYONE IN THE PIEDMONT TRIAD REGION... INCLUDING THE
AFOREMENTIONED LOCATIONS SHOULD BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER INDOORS
WHEN THUNDER IS FIRST HEARD. IF A WARNING IS ISSUED... SEEK SHELTER
IN AN INTERIOR ROOM... AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT GREENSBORO... ASHEBORO... AND BURLINGTON
BETWEEN 545 PM AND 645 PM.

BADGETT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 21, 8:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson58 min
Jul 22, 5:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson54 min
Jul 22, 7:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance50 min
Jul 22, 7:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson39 min
Jul 22, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHOrange, Person45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.