Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 28, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2008, 5:18 PM EDT for Harnett County, Johnston County, Wake County, North Carolina. It was in force for 33 min. 15 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 20, 2008, 5:18 PM EDT (21:18 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2008, 5:51 PM EDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Harnett County, NC, Johnston County, NC, Wake County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:21 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 5:19 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | 4 N Fuquay-Varina, NC | QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF BASS LAKE ROAD AND SALEM RIDGE ROAD. |
| May 20, 5:20 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND AN ESTIMATED 60 MPH WIND GUST |
| May 20, 5:22 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT DWIGHT ROWLAND ROAD AND HWY 42. |
| May 20, 5:23 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | 6 E Fuquay-Varina, NC | NICKEL HAIL AT OLD STAGE RD. AND HWY 42. |
| May 20, 5:24 PM EDT | HAIL 0.75 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT OLD BARON DRIVE AND OLD LIVERPOOL DRIVE. |
| May 20, 5:24 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | |
| May 20, 5:30 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | 4 Wnw Coats Crossroads, NC | QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT 2-CLAUDE RD. AND HONEYCUTT RD. |
| May 20, 5:32 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | 5 Ne Angier, NC | NICKEL SIZE HAIL ON MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH RD. |
| May 20, 5:35 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | 9 Sse Garner, NC | NICKEL SIZE HAIL 9.6 MILES SSE OF GARNER. |
| May 20, 5:39 PM EDT | HAIL 0.75 | 6 Sse Garner, NC | PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR MILE MARKER 320 ON I-40 |
| May 20, 5:41 PM EDT | HAIL 0.75 | 5 Wsw Clayton, NC | PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT CORNWALLIS RD. AND HWY 42. |
| May 20, 5:44 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | 4 N Coats Crossroads, NC | QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED SHILOH ROAD AND HOLLY DRIVE. |
| May 20, 5:47 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | 6 Nnw Coats Crossroads, NC | QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT HWY 42 AND HWY 50. |
| May 20, 5:57 PM EDT | HAIL 1.25 | 6 Nw Smithfield, NC | 1.25 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY A SPOTTER ON ALTAVISTA ROAD...SOUTHEAST OF CLAYTON. |
| May 20, 6:00 PM EDT | HAIL 0.88 | 4 E Smithfield, NC |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
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 20, 1:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 149 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
- 1458 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 56 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 290 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 276 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS52 KRAH 202118
TORRAH
NCC085-101-183-202215-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0028.080520T2118Z-080520T2215Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
518 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN HARNETT COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
* UNTIL 615 PM EDT
* AT 512 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO OVER FUQUAY-VARINA...OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF CARY...MOVING
EAST AT 36 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
COATS CROSSROADS...
SMITHFIELD...
SELMA...
PINE LEVEL...MICRO...
PRINCETON...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN A SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM OR IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM
FLYING DEBRIS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR WALLS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3542 7894 3574 7878 3560 7811 3532 7822
3532 7827 3530 7829 3528 7831 3527 7836
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 280DEG 31KT 3559 7872
$$
BLAES2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS52 KRAH 202126
SVSRAH
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
526 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
NCC063-069-077-183-202136-
/O.EXP.KRAH.SV.W.0137.000000T0000Z-080520T2130Z/
WAKE NC-DURHAM NC-FRANKLIN NC-GRANVILLE NC-
526 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN GRANVILLE...
SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN...SOUTHEASTERN DURHAM AND NORTHERN WAKE
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 530 PM EDT...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE WARNING
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.
IF YOU EXPERIENCED SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING
WINDS PLEASE PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG TO YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3585 7886 3610 7880 3601 7827 3575 7836
3575 7838 3573 7840
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 290DEG 41KT 3581 7834
$$
VINCENT000
WWUS52 KRAH 202150
SVSRAH
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
549 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
NCC057-123-151-167-202215-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0146.000000T0000Z-080520T2215Z/
STANLY NC-MONTGOMERY NC-RANDOLPH NC-DAVIDSON NC-
549 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAVIDSON...SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH...MONTGOMERY AND
STANLY COUNTIES...
AT 548 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM RICHFIELD TO OAKBORO...OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF ALBEMARLE TO 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
ALBEMARLE...MOVING EAST AT 65 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... ALBEMARLE...BADIN...
BADIN LAKE...NEW HOPE...ELDORADO...NORWOOD...MOUNT GILEAD...TROY...
STEEDS...PEKIN...SEAGROVE...STAR AND BISCOE.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF ON OR NEAR BADIN LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OF
INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 15 MILES
FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE
CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW.
DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM
REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE IN RALEIGH.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3517 8010 3519 8010 3517 8013 3518 8024
3521 8025 3518 8029 3518 8042 3551 8025
3551 8019 3566 8029 3555 7977 3517 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 277DEG 57KT 3547 8021 3524 8033
$$
WSSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Granville, Person | 61 min |
| May 20, 2:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Vance, Warren | 65 min |
| May 20, 3:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Franklin, Vance, Warren | 48 min |
| May 20, 3:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Guilford, Randolph | 31 min |
| May 20, 3:32 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Sampson | 37 min |
| May 20, 3:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Durham, Orange, Person | 56 min |
| May 20, 3:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Guilford, Randolph | 30 min |
| May 20, 3:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash | 37 min |
| May 20, 3:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Durham, Franklin, Granville, Vance, Wake | 62 min |
| May 20, 4:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange | 46 min |
| May 20, 4:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly | 25 min |
| May 20, 4:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Franklin, Halifax, Nash | 64 min |
| May 20, 4:32 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Durham, Franklin, Granville, Wake | 58 min |
| May 20, 4:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Randolph | 40 min |
| May 20, 4:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake | 48 min |
| May 20, 4:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Guilford, Randolph | 30 min |
| May 20, 4:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Davidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly | 30 min |
| May 20, 4:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Wilson | 39 min |
| May 20, 5:03 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Wake | 30 min |
| May 20, 5:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Guilford, Orange and 1 more | 47 min |
| May 20, 5:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly | 42 min |
| May 20, 5:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Durham, Wake | 41 min |
| May 20, 5:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Davidson, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly | 36 min |
| May 20, 5:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Lee, Randolph | 45 min |
| May 20, 5:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Johnston | 36 min |
| May 20, 5:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond | 64 min |
| May 20, 6:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly | 41 min |
| May 20, 6:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Wayne, Wilson | 29 min |
| May 20, 6:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Hoke, Scotland | 43 min |
| May 20, 6:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Wake | 42 min |
| May 20, 6:32 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland | 43 min |
| May 20, 6:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson | 32 min |
| May 20, 6:57 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Moore | 63 min |
| May 20, 7:04 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Cumberland | 26 min |
| May 20, 7:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Johnston, Sampson, Wayne | 35 min |
| May 20, 7:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Sampson | 42 min |
| May 20, 7:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Sampson | 41 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.