Special Weather Statement, NWS Raleigh, NC

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
216 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH
WEDNESDAY KEEPING THE WEATHER UNSETTLED. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN
FROM THE OHIO VALLEY REGION THIS WEEKEND BRINGING HOTTER AND DRIER
CONDITIONS.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 215 PM TUESDAY...

A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS SET UP OVER WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
THIS AFTERNOON WITH A BAGGY 500 MB TROUGH ALOFT. A VORT MAX
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL SWING THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING
AND BE THE MAIN DRIVING FORCE ASSOCIATED WITH CONVECTION. AS
EXPECTED CONVECTION IS BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD AS DAYTIME HEATING
CONTINUES. CURRENTLY ONE BOUNDARY SET UP OVER THE I-95 CORRIDOR AND
A SECOND OVER THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT WHERE A MESO-LOW HAS SHOWN UP IN
THE SURFACE OBSERVATION. ONE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS ALREADY
BEEN ISSUED IN THIS VICINITY. WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING QUARTER
SIZE HAIL. NOT EXPECTING WIDESPREAD SEVERE ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON
BUT CERTAINLY A FEW WARNINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE MAIN THREAT
FROM HAIL AND THE SECONDARY THREAT BEING WINDS. LOW LEVEL LAPSE
RATES ARE STRONG...ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST WHERE WE SAW CONVECTION
FIRST START TO BLOSSOM. THE MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE NOT NEARLY AS
IMPRESSIVE THOUGH ONLY ABOUT 5 TO 5.5 DEGREES. WITH MIXED LAYER CAPE
1000-1500 J/KG...THE INSTABILITY WILL CERTAINLY BE THERE BUT
EFFECTIVE SHEAR IS NON-EXISTENT AT THIS TIME. THE GREATEST THREAT
FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL BE IN THE NORTHEAST AS PW VALUES HERE ARE OVER
1.5 INCHES WITH 1-1.5 INCHES ELSEWHERE IN THE CWA. STRAIGHT AND
SHORT HODOGRAPHS AT THE CURRENT TIME BECOME LONGER AND MORE CURVED
LATER THIS EVENING (AFTER 0Z) AS THE VORT MAX GETS CLOSER TO THE
AREA BUT THE TIMING WILL BE OFF AS HEATING WILL BE GONE FOR THE DAY.
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON WILL REACH THE LOWER TO MID 80S WITH HIGHER
TEMPS IN THE EAST AND THE LOWEST TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIAD. WINDS AT
MOST STATIONS WILL BECOME VARIABLE AS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES DISTURB AN
ALREADY WEAK SOUTHERLY FLOW. PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL
PREVAIL ACROSS THE CWA. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT EXPECT CONVECTION TO WIND
DOWN DURING THE PERIOD FROM 0-3Z. THERE IS A VERY MINIMAL RISK FOR
SOME FOG OR LOW STRATUS FROM 9-12Z BUT THERE IS LOW CONFIDENCE IN
THIS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME. LOWS OVERNIGHT WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE
60S.

FOR WEDNESDAY THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ASSOCIATED VORTICITY MAXIMUM
WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM SOUTHWEST
TO NORTHEAST. ONCE AGAIN SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL
INCREASE WITH DAYTIME HEATING. DYNAMIC TROPOPAUSE MAPS SHOW A
SHORTWAVE DISTURBANCE CENTERED AT THE 400 MB LEVEL CROSSING THROUGH
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA BETWEEN 18Z WEDNESDAY AND 00Z THURSDAY. CROSS
SECTIONS OF OMEGA SHOW THE BEST LIFTING BETWEEN 15 AND 18Z
WEDNESDAY. A SIMILAR SETUP TO TUESDAY AS FAR AS INSTABILITY AND
SHEAR GO WITH CAPE APPROACHING 1000-1500 J/KG DURING PEAK HEATING
AND ABOUT 10 KNOTS OF BULK SHEAR. COVERAGE SHOULD BE BETTER IN THE
EAST VS THE WEST DUE TO THE TRACK OF THE LOW BUT SHEAR COULD BE A
LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THE SOUTHWEST MAKING THAT AREA MORE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO SEVERE STORMS...DESPITE LESS COVERAGE. THEREFORE WE COULD AGAIN
SEE A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS WELL.
WINDS WILL BE 5-10 KNOTS OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE A DEGREE OR TWO LESS ACROSS THE BOARD THAN ON
TUESDAY AFTERNOON...YIELDING A BIT WEAKER LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES
ALTHOUGH THEY STILL WILL BE PLENTY SUFFICIENT TO INITIATE
CONVECTION. HIGH TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON LOW 80S NORTH TO
MID 80S SOUTH. LOWS THURSDAY MORNING WILL BE IN THE LOWER 60S WITH
THE COOLEST TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIAD.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 125 PM TUESDAY...

THE ONLY CHANGES TO THE FORECAST FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WILL BE TO
DECREASE POP FRIDAY AND RAISE TEMPS EVEN MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY
FORECAST. MODELS ARE IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT IN BUILDING MID AND
UPPER LEVEL HEIGHTS QUICKLY OVER THE OHIO VALLEY... NEW ENGLAND...
CENTRAL APPALACHIANS AND MID-ATLANTIC STATES THIS PERIOD. IN FACT...
THE MID LEVELS ARE FORECAST TO WARM WHICH WILL INTRODUCE MID LEVEL
CAPPING TO SUPPRESS CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT BEGINNING FRIDAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION 20-30 POP FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY WITH THE GRADUAL DISSIPATION OF THE CURRENT
UPPER TROUGH AND RESIDUAL LOW LEVEL BOUNDARY. EXPECT INCREASING
SUNSHINE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND WARMING TEMPS. HIGHS THURSDAY
SHOULD REACH THE LOWER TO MID 80S... WARMING INTO THE MID TO UPPER
80S FRIDAY. LOWS WILL BE IN THE MID 60S.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 125 PM TUESDAY...

HIGH CONFIDENCE FORECAST FOR DRY AND HOTTER CONDITIONS. MODELS BUILD
THE CORE OF THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE CENTRAL
APPALACHIANS THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. WE WILL RAISE HIGHS
INTO THE LOWER 90S EXCEPT NEAR 90 FOR THE NW PIEDMONT EACH DAY.

THE BREAK DOWN OF THE UPPER RIDGE IS EXPECTED BY MID TO LATE NEXT
WEEK. HOWEVER... TUESDAY STILL LOOKS HOT AND LIKELY DRY WITH HIGHS
AGAIN IN THE LOWER 90S EXCEPT UPPER 80S NW.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 130 PM TUESDAY...

CONVECTION HAS ALREADY STARTED AT EASTERN SITES THIS AFTERNOON AND
THERE IS HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COVERAGE WILL INCREASE AS
TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE LOW TO MID 80S THIS AFTERNOON. SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE MOST PART WILL REMAIN SUB-SEVERE BUT ADVERSE
AVIATION CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE IF STORMS ENTER THE VICINITY OF
THE AIRFIELDS. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SHOULD END BETWEEN
1-3Z AT MOST SITES. WINDS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE LIGHT AT 5-10 KNOTS
AND MAINLY OUT OF THE SOUTH. WHILE CLOUD COVERAGE WILL INCREASE AS
CONVECTION INCREASES...CEILINGS SHOULD REMAIN VFR FOR MOST OF THE 24
HOURS TAF PERIOD. THERE WILL HOWEVER BE A BRIEF CHANCE FOR SOME
IFR/LIFR CEILINGS FROM 9-12Z AT ALL STATIONS BUT CONFIDENCE IS VERY
LOW IN THIS AT THIS TIME. ALONG WITH THE LOW CEILINGS SOME MVFR
VISIBILITIES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME. FOR
WEDNESDAY EXPECT WINDS TO REMAIN LIGHT OUT OF THE SOUTH. THERE WILL
ONCE AGAIN BE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON BUT HAVE LEFT THEM OUT OF THE TAFS AT THIS TIME.

LOOKING AHEAD HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE IN FOR THE END OF THE WEEK AND
REMAIN OVERHEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. AVIATION CONDITIONS SHOULD
REMAIN LARGELY VFR DURING THIS TIME.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...BADGETT
NEAR TERM...ELLIS
SHORT TERM...BADGETT
LONG TERM...BADGETT
AVIATION...ELLIS

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
417 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-230830-
PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-
ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-
JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON-
RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-
417 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS
OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT LATE IN THE AFTERNOON... SPREADING
EASTWARD ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA INTO THE EVENING
HOURS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED
WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL
ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE RISK OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE
GREATEST OVER THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT AND SANDHILLS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN EXPECTED ON
WEDNESDAY. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE FROM
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN... SMALL HAIL... AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
230 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0159 PM     HAIL             ROCKINGHAM              34.94N  79.76W
05/22/2012  E0.75 INCH       RICHMOND           NC   PUBLIC

            DIME SIZED HAIL

&&

EVENT NUMBER RAH1200254

SEC

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
302 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0243 PM     HAIL             6 E OLIVIA              35.37N  79.01W
05/22/2012  E0.75 INCH       HARNETT            NC   PUBLIC

            PENNY SIZED HAIL

&&

EVENT NUMBER RAH1200255

SEC

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
305 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ011-027-028-222000-
EDGECOMBE-HALIFAX-NASH-
305 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS SECTIONS OF NASH...HALIFAX
AND EDGECOMBE COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT...

AT 305 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
GLENVIEW...OR ABOUT 13 MILES NORTH OF ROCKY MOUNT...MOVING EAST AT 10
MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...WHITAKERS...ENFIELD.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HALF INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO
SAFETY. MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE
FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM
YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

&&

LAT...LON 3603 7787 3620 7793 3632 7757 3631 7756
      3631 7749 3632 7748 3632 7747 3609 7739
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 254DEG 10KT 3614 7779

WSS

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
313 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ028-043-078-222015-
EDGECOMBE-WAYNE-WILSON-
313 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS SECTIONS OF WILSON AND
EDGECOMBE COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT...

AT 313 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
STANTONSBURG...OR ABOUT 14 MILES WEST OF FARMVILLE...MOVING EAST AT
10 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...SARATOGA.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HALF INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO
SAFETY. MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE
FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM
YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

&&

LAT...LON 3575 7753 3557 7782 3554 7782 3554 7783
      3555 7794 3572 7795 3579 7753
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 267DEG 7KT 3564 7783

WSS

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
321 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ042-077-088-089-222015-
CUMBERLAND-HARNETT-JOHNSTON-SAMPSON-
321 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS SECTIONS OF
SAMPSON...HARNETT...JOHNSTON AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM
EDT...

AT 321 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
LINDEN...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF LILLINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
10 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...LINDEN...BUIES
CREEK...ERWIN.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH.

HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN EXITS 325 AND 328.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 95 BETWEEN EXITS 70 AND 81.

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO
SAFETY. MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE
FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM
YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

&&

LAT...LON 3552 7857 3528 7843 3516 7887 3533 7896
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 245DEG 9KT 3528 7882

WSS

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
322 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCZ089-222000-
SAMPSON-
322 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SAMPSON COUNTY THROUGH 400
PM EDT...

AT 322 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 6 MILES
NORTH OF GARLAND...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLINTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE CLINTON AND TURKEY.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3492 7848 3516 7822 3507 7815 3489 7814
      3485 7816 3477 7839
TIME...MOT...LOC 1922Z 235DEG 12KT 3489 7838

77