Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 22, 2003, 11:55 AM EST for Chatham County, Orange County, North Carolina. It was in force for 35 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
- Feb 22, 2003, 11:55 AM EST (16:55 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 22, 2003, 12:30 PM EST
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
Counties Chatham County, NC, Orange County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:55 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 9:45 AM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 70 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 483 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 705 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 845 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.5
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
868
WUUS52 KRAH 221655
SVRRAH
NCC037-135-221730-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1155 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EASTERN CHATHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
ORANGE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
* UNTIL 1230 PM EST
* AT 1155 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF PITTSBORO...OR ABOUT 7
MILES NORTHEAST OF SILER CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...
CARRBORO
CHAPEL HILL
FEARRINGTON
GOLDSTON
HILLSBOROUGH
PITTSBORO
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS
STORM. THESE WINDS BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND CAN DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES AND BUILDINGS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL
THE STORM HAS PASSED. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND
DAMAGE.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EST SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3620 7897 3593 7902 3565 7903 3556 7932
3584 7929 3586 7923 3591 7926 3618 7923
$$
DGSWhat 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 Feb 22, 10:00 AM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 22, 10:00 AM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1000 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003 UPDATE TO HEADLINE THE TORNADO WATCH AND TWEAK THIS AFTERNOONS WORDING. REMAINDER UNCHANGED. .RAH...TORNADO WATCH FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH 400 PM. MLM
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 22, 5:23 AM EST, 6 hours 32 minutes before
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-221220- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 523 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .HAZARDOUS WEATHER DETAILS... WIDESPREAD SHOWERS ALONG WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THE GREATEST OVER THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS WHERE THERE IS A MODERATE RISK...ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ALBEMARLE...CARTHAGE...SANFORD...LILLINGTON...TO SMITHFIELD TO ROCKY MOUNT WILSON. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THESE WINDS MAY GUSTS AS HIGH AS 55 TO 65 MPH...DOWNING TREE LIMBS AND POWERLINES AND POSSIBLY SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY SOME OF THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY LEAD TO SOME LOCALIZED AND URBAN FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY...POSSIBLY STARTING AS EARLY 11 AM IN THE TRIAD REGION. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT THREATENING WEATHER OF ANY KIND TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. RA
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Feb 22, 10:27 AM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
NCZ021-022-038-221700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1027 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM... ...VERY HEAVY SHOWERS MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING LATE THIS MORNING IN THE TRIAD AREA... THUNDERSTORMS AND VERY HEAVY SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 85 THROUGH NOON. THIS INCLUDES THE TRIAD AREA. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT UP TO AN INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN DURING THE PAST HOUR SOUTHWEST OF HIGH POINT IN THE THOMASVILLE AND LEXINGTON AREAS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL RANGE UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR THROUGH NOON TODAY. FLOODING WILL THUS BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS... INCLUDING WINSTON SALEM...GREENSBORO...HIGH POINT... THOMASVILLE AND LEXINGTON. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.
Special weather statement, Feb 22, 11:00 AM EST, 55 minutes before
NCZ007>010-022>026-038>042-073>077-083>086-088-221715- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1100 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM... AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AT 30 MPH AND AFFECT ASHEBORO...ANSONVILLE...WINSTON SALEM...GREENSBORO... PITTSBORO...SEAGROVE...AND ROXBORO BY NOON. WINDS GUSTS OF TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. VERY HEAVY SHOWERS MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN THE TRIAD AREA AS WELL AS ACROSS FORSYTH AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES. SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER ARE ALREADY BEING REPORTED ON ROADS ACROSS THE AREA. FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS... INCLUDING WINSTON SALEM...GREENSBORO...HIGH POINT... THOMASVILLE AND LEXINGTON. JO
Local storm report, Feb 22, 11:11 AM EST, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
1111 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1105 AM ALBEMARLE NC 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
02/22/03 STANLY NUMEROUS TREES AND
POWER LINES DOWN.
JOLocal storm report, Feb 22, 11:47 AM EST, 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
1147 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003
TIME(EST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1105 AM ALBEMARLE NC 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
02/22/03 STANLY NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND
POWER LINES.
1132 AM ASHEBORO NC TORNADO
02/22/03 RANDOLPH DAMAGE TO ASHEBORO MALL.
REPORTED BY FIRE DEPT.
JOSpecial weather statement, Feb 22, 11:55 AM EST, 0 minutes before
NCZ008>010-024>026-040>042-076-077-085-086-088-089-221855- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1155 AM EST SAT FEB 22 2003 ...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 4 PM... A LINE OF HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST TO THE TRIANGLE. THE LINE OF STORMS HAS A HISTORY OF DAMAGING WINDS. THE LINE SHOULD BE NEAR CHAPEL HILL AND SANFORD PRIOR TO 12:30 PM... DURHAM AND RALEIGH PRIOR TO 1 PM. OTHER AREAS AFFECTED WILL BE RAEFORD... LILLINGTON... LAURINBURG... CREEDMOOR AND OXFORD BY 1 PM. THIS WILL MOVE ACROSS ROCKINGHAM BETWEEN 12:30 AND 1 PM. WINDS MAY GUST TO 60 MPH AND RAINS WILL BE HEAVY ALONG THE LINE OF STORMS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE... SEEK REFUGE FROM THE STORM IN A STRONG BUILDING. BOATERS ON AREA LAKES SHOULD TAKE SHELTER. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR OTHER ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS. THESE ATTRACT LIGHTNING. DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. CLINE
The office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 10:39 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Stanly | 51 min |
| Feb 22, 11:09 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Montgomery, Randolph | 36 min |
| Feb 22, 11:21 AM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RAH | Forsyth, Guilford | 54 min |
| Feb 22, 11:36 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham | 24 min |
| Feb 22, 11:43 AM EST | Tornado Warning | RAH | Alamance, Randolph | 32 min |
| Feb 22, 12:05 PM EST | Tornado Warning | RAH | Durham, Orange | 25 min |
| Feb 22, 12:11 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RAH | Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford | 3 hr |
| Feb 22, 12:22 PM EST | Tornado Warning | RAH | Granville | 23 min |
| Feb 22, 12:26 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Lee, Moore | 34 min |
| Feb 22, 12:33 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Wake | 42 min |
| Feb 22, 12:39 PM EST | Tornado Warning | RAH | Vance | 36 min |
| Feb 22, 12:54 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Warren | 36 min |
| Feb 22, 1:57 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Nash | 33 min |
| Feb 22, 2:12 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Wilson | 33 min |
| Feb 22, 3:03 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Sampson | 27 min |
| Feb 22, 3:24 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Wayne | 36 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.