Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 5, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

April 13, 2004Carteret County, North Carolina

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 13, 2004, 2:05 PM EDT for Carteret County, North Carolina. It was in force for 40 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
Apr 13, 2004, 2:05 PM EDT (18:05 UTC)
Expired
Apr 13, 2004, 2:45 PM EDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Carteret County, NC

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:06 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

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 16 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2004-04-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1252 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2004-04-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 159 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1252 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
594 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
159 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
5.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

062 
WUUS52 KMHX 131805
SVRMHX
NCC031-131845-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
205 PM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEWPORT
HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CARTERET COUNTY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT

* AT 200 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
  OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 14 MILES SOUTH OF SALTER PATH...
  OR ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EMERALD ISLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 50 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  PINE KNOLL SHORES AROUND 215 PM...
  MOREHEAD CITY AND ATLANTIC BEACH AROUND 220 PM...
  BEAUFORT AROUND 225 PM...
  HARLOWE AND NORTH RIVER AROUND 230 PM...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE UNTIL IT PASSES.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOS WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY
IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3447 7700 3440 7680 3491 7649 3500 7674

$$

5

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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 13, 9:29 AM EDT, 4 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 9:29 AM EDT, 4 hours 36 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
930 AM TUE APR 13 2004

WE ARE ALREADY TO FCST VALUES NEAR THE COAST AND ANY PEAKS OF
SUNSHINE WILL GIVE US 75-80. THIS MORNINGS MODIFIED SOUNDING USING
77/69 IS RATHER TROUBLESOME WITH CAPE OVER 3000 J/KG, LI OF -9,
TOTALS 48, AND WBZ 10.5 K FT. WE WILL BE TAKING AN 18Z SOUNDING
TODAY BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL OF SVR WX AND HAVE NOTIFIED SPC.
WIDESPREAD SHRA/TSTMS SHOWN ON RADAR WILL BE MOVING INTO TO OUR CWA
BY 11 AM FROM THE S-SW. WILL MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS MAINLY TO TEMPS.

.MARINE...WINDS ARE A LIGHTER THAN FCST BUT EXPECT THEM TO INCREASE
TO FCST VALUES BY NOON OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. NO MAJOR CHANGES WILL
BE MADE TO CURRENT FCST.

...HIGH RIP CURRENT THREAT TODAY...

THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS 20-25KT AND 9 SEC 10FT SEAS WILL
PRODUCE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS TODAY ALONG AREA BEACHES.

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...SCA ALL COASTAL WATERS AND SOUNDS. HIGH RIP CURRENT THREAT FOR
ALL WATERS.

WS
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 5:03 AM EDT, 9 hours 2 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
503 AM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-140901-
BEAUFORT NC-CARTERET NC-CRAVEN NC-DUPLIN NC-GREENE NC-JONES NC-
LENOIR NC-MAINLAND DARE NC-MAINLAND HYDE NC-MARTIN NC-ONSLOW NC-
OUTER BANKS DARE NC-OUTER BANKS HYDE NC-PAMLICO NC-PITT NC-
TYRRELL NC-WASHINGTON NC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC BEACH...BAYBORO...BEAUFORT...
BELHAVEN...BEULAVILLE...BUXTON...CEDAR ISLAND...COLUMBIA...DUCK...
EMERALD ISLE...ENGELHARD...FRISCO...GREENVILLE...HARKERS ISLAND...
HATTERAS VILLAGE...HAVELOCK...JACKSONVILLE...KENANSVILLE...
KILL DEVIL HILLS...KINSTON...KITTY HAWK...LA GRANGE...MANNS HARBOR...
MANTEO...MOREHEAD CITY...NAGS HEAD...NEW BERN...
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH...OCRACOKE...ORIENTAL...PLYMOUTH...SNOW HILL...
SWANQUARTER...SWANSBORO...TRENTON...WALLACE...WARSAW...
WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMSTON
503 AM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY. SOME
STORMS COULD BE SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE HAIL, DAMAGING WINDS, AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE WITH
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.

THERE IS A HIGH THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

JAC

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 13, 11:38 AM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1138 AM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

NCZ095-098-131700-
CARTERET-ONSLOW-
1138 AM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ONSLOW AND CARTERET COUNTIES
UNTIL 100 PM EDT...

AT 1137 AM EDT...THERE WERE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY
RAIN OVER THE COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF ONSLOW AND CARTERET COUNTIES.
THESE STORMS ARE MOVING RAPIDLY NORTH AND WILL AFFECT CARTERET AND
ONSLOW COUNTIES THROUGH 100 PM. LOCATIONS TO BE AFFECTED BY THE
STORMS INCLUDE ATLANTIC BEACH...BEAUFORT...MOREHEAD
CITY...SWANSBORO...JACKSONVILLE AND SNEEDS FERRY.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND LOCALIZED
FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN ON AREA
ROADWAYS TO AVOID HYDROPLANING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
FURTHER UPDATES ON THE WEATHER SITUATION ACROSS THE AREA.

12
Special weather statement, Apr 13, 12:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1250 PM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-131800-
BEAUFORT NC-CARTERET NC-CRAVEN NC-DUPLIN NC-GREENE NC-JONES NC-
LENOIR NC-MAINLAND DARE NC-MAINLAND HYDE NC-MARTIN NC-ONSLOW NC-
OUTER BANKS DARE NC-OUTER BANKS HYDE NC-PAMLICO NC-PITT NC-
TYRRELL NC-WASHINGTON NC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC BEACH...BAYBORO...BEAUFORT...
BELHAVEN...BEULAVILLE...BUXTON...CEDAR ISLAND...COLUMBIA...DUCK...
EMERALD ISLE...ENGELHARD...FRISCO...GREENVILLE...HARKERS ISLAND...
HATTERAS VILLAGE...HAVELOCK...JACKSONVILLE...KENANSVILLE...
KILL DEVIL HILLS...KINSTON...KITTY HAWK...LA GRANGE...MANNS HARBOR...
MANTEO...MOREHEAD CITY...NAGS HEAD...NEW BERN...
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH...OCRACOKE...ORIENTAL...PLYMOUTH...SNOW HILL...
SWANQUARTER...SWANSBORO...TRENTON...WALLACE...WARSAW...
WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMSTON
1250 PM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE RAPIDLY NORTH ACROSS EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH 200 PM. LOCALLY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL
PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF
DITCHES AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO SLOW DOWN IN
THE DOWNPOURS TO AVOID HYDROPLANING. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER MOVE INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER TO AVOID GETTING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. WINDS GUSTING
TO 40 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS.

12
Special weather statement, Apr 13, 1:50 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
150 PM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-131900-
BEAUFORT NC-CARTERET NC-CRAVEN NC-DUPLIN NC-GREENE NC-JONES NC-
LENOIR NC-MAINLAND DARE NC-MAINLAND HYDE NC-MARTIN NC-ONSLOW NC-
OUTER BANKS DARE NC-OUTER BANKS HYDE NC-PAMLICO NC-PITT NC-
TYRRELL NC-WASHINGTON NC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC BEACH...BAYBORO...BEAUFORT...
BELHAVEN...BEULAVILLE...BUXTON...CEDAR ISLAND...COLUMBIA...DUCK...
EMERALD ISLE...ENGELHARD...FRISCO...GREENVILLE...HARKERS ISLAND...
HATTERAS VILLAGE...HAVELOCK...JACKSONVILLE...KENANSVILLE...
KILL DEVIL HILLS...KINSTON...KITTY HAWK...LA GRANGE...MANNS HARBOR...
MANTEO...MOREHEAD CITY...NAGS HEAD...NEW BERN...
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH...OCRACOKE...ORIENTAL...PLYMOUTH...SNOW HILL...
SWANQUARTER...SWANSBORO...TRENTON...WALLACE...WARSAW...
WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMSTON
150 PM EDT TUE APR 13 2004

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE RAPIDLY NORTH TO NORTHEAST ACROSS
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH 300 PM. LOCALLY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS
WILL PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF
DITCHES AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO SLOW DOWN IN
THE DOWNPOURS TO AVOID HYDROPLANING. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER MOVE INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER TO AVOID GETTING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. WINDS GUSTING
TO 40 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WILL BE MAINLY EAST OF A LINE FROM
SWANSBORO TO VANCEBORO TO WILLIAMSTON.

12

The office that day

Everything else NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 13, 11:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMHXOnslow41 min
Apr 13, 2:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX60 min
Apr 13, 2:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX60 min
Apr 13, 2:25 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX65 min
Apr 13, 2:27 PM EDTTornado WarningMHXCarteret33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2004Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2004

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.