Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 70, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 9, 2003Wilson County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 9, 2003, 7:53 PM EDT for Wilson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 37 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: May 9, 2003, 7:53 PM EDT (23:53 UTC)
Expired: May 9, 2003, 8:30 PM EDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Wilson County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:54 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
May 9, 7:20 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 129 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1522 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1058 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 86 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

958 
WUUS52 KRAH 092353
SVRRAH
NCC195-100030-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
753 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 830 PM EDT

* AT 753 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELM CITY...OR ABOUT 6
  MILES SOUTH OF NASHVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH. QUARTER
  SIZED HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS
  STORM.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  ELM CITY
  WILSON
  WILLBANKS
  SARATOGA
  STANTONSBURG

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD PREPARE
FOR DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...PREFERABLY
INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE
WARNING. PREPARE TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE 
SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED.

LAT...LON 3585 7782 3580 7801 3540 7768 3551 7751

$$

DGS

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 May 9, 2:00 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 2:00 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
200 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

HEAT WILL CONTINUE FOR ONE MORE DAY THEN A DOWN TURN IN TEMPS
EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SHORT TERM FORECAST CHALLENGE CENTERS ON PROBABILITY OF CONVECTION
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT DRIFTED SOUTH INTO NORTHERN
PIEDMONT LATE LAST NIGHT AS RETURNED NORTH INTO VA.  MCS OVER
WV/WESTERN VA SHOULD DRIFT SE ALONG THIS BOUNDARY.  THUS...SHOULD SEE
SCATTERED CONVECTION MOVE INTO THE FAR N/NE COUNTIES OF FORECAST AREA
IN THE 22-02 TIME FRAME.  AS PER LATE MORNING UPDATE...WILL PLACE
HIGHEST POPS (40-50%) IN THE FAR N-NE AND DWINDLE DOWN TO EITHER
ISOLATED/NO POP IN THE SOUTH.

FOR SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...HIGHEST POPS AGAIN (HIGH CHANCE) WILL BE
IN THE FAR NORTH DUE TO PROXIMITY OF WESTERLIES OVER NORTHERN MID
ATLANTIC WHICH WILL BE FAVORED AREA FOR CONVECTIVE COMPLEX TO TRAVEL
FROM OH VALLEY. TAIL END OF COMPLEX CROSSES NORTHERN HALF OF FORECAST
AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON. MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE STRONGER OVER SOUTH
HALF...SO WILL LIMIT CONVECTIVE POPS TO EITHER SLIGHT CHC/SMALL CHC.
CONVECTION MAY BE STRONG/ISOLATED SEVERE OVER FAR N/NE SAT AS WIND
PROFILE/STRUCTURE SUGGEST DAMAGING DOWNBURSTS.

WESTERLY FLOW PROCEEDING FRONT SUN WILL LIMIT MOISTURE ADVECTION AND
TRANSPORT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS. MODEL PROGS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT IN
DEPICTING A LESS WET MOISTURE AXIS CROSSING CENTRAL NC SUN AFTERNOON.
SUPPORT UPSTAIRS IS NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE AS WELL. SINCE FRONT
CROSSING REGION DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY...WILL MAINTAIN CHC POPS FOR
NOW. MAY RAISE HIGHS SUN A DEGREE OR TWO FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST. WILL
GO WITH BREEZY SW FLOW SUNDAY.

FRONT CLEARS AREA SUN NIGHT WITH MUCH DRIER/COOLER AIR ADVECTING IN.
LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES SUGGEST HIGHS MON 10-12 DEGREES COOLER COMPARED
TO SUN. THICKNESS PROGGED TO DROP 50-55 M BETWEEN 12Z SUN-12Z MON. WILL
LIKELY TRIM FORECAST HIGHS MON ABOUT 3 DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST.

EXTENDED....TUESDAY-FRIDAY WILL FEATURE TEMPS SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL
WITH RAIN CHANCES MINIMAL THROUGH WED/THU.  W-NW FLOW IN THE MID/UPPER
LEVELS WILL SEND REINFORCING SHOTS OF SEASONABLY COOL DRY AIR INTO
CAROLINAS TUE-THU. SOME QUESTION AS TO TIMING OF RETURN FLOW LATE NEXT
WEEK. DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WILL FORECAST CLOUDINESS THU/FRI BUT REFRAIN
FROM MENTIONING RAIN.

.RAH...NONE.

WSS

Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 5:15 AM EDT, 14 hours 38 minutes before

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-091050-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
515 AM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...LATE TODAY INTO TONIGHT
THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE TODAY
INTO EARLY TONIGHT. THE MAJOR THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND AND
POSSIBLY LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN
LATE SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL INCREASE THE
THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON SUNDAY. AGAIN...THE MAJOR THREATS
WILL BE FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY INTO EARLY TONIGHT. THE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 200 PM AND LINGER AT LEAST THROUGH
SUNSET.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 9, 7:00 PM EDT, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
700 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0745 PM    12 SW WARRENTON           NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/03   WARREN

Local storm report, May 9, 7:16 PM EDT, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
716 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0715 PM    5 NE NASHVILLE            NC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/09/03   NASH

Local storm report, May 9, 7:23 PM EDT, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
723 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0720 PM    5 NW LOUISBURG            NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/09/03   FRANKLIN                       TREES DOWN ACROSS NORTHERN
                                          FRANKLIN COUNTY FROM 0710
                                          PM THROUGH 0720 PM.

Local storm report, May 9, 7:34 PM EDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
734 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0720 PM    1 N NASHVILLE             NC   TORNADO
05/09/03   NASH                           PUBLIC REPORTED BRIEF
                                          TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NORTH OF
                                          NASHVILLE. NO DAMAGE
                                          REPORTED.

Special weather statement, May 9, 7:46 PM EDT, 7 minutes before

NCC069-077-083-145-181-185-100015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
746 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR FRANKLIN...GRANVILLE...HALIFAX...PERSON...
VANCE AND WARREN COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELED. THERE IS NO LONGER A
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN THESE AREAS.

14

Local storm report, May 9, 7:47 PM EDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
747 PM EDT FRI MAY 9 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0735 PM    ROCKY MOUNT               NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/09/03   EDGECOMBE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 9, 5:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville, Vance	37 min
May 9, 5:39 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Granville, Vance	36 min
May 9, 6:14 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Vance	31 min
May 9, 6:17 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Warren	28 min
May 9, 6:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville	25 min
May 9, 6:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin	31 min
May 9, 6:39 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Vance	21 min
May 9, 6:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Nash	38 min
May 9, 6:58 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin, Vance	32 min
May 9, 7:07 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Nash	38 min
May 9, 7:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe	54 min
May 9, 7:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Nash	16 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2003 Every 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.