Alert archive / North Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2016

Special Weather Statement, NWS Wilmington, NC

July 15, 2016Columbus County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this special weather statement at Jul 15, 2016, 3:39 PM EDT for Columbus County, North Carolina. It was in force for 51 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
Jul 15, 2016, 3:39 PM EDT (19:39 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 2016, 4:30 PM EDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC

County Columbus County, NC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:43 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 134 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 2016-07-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1507 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 2016-07-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -24 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1507 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-72 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1085 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Jul 15, 3:17 PM EDT, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 3:17 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
317 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A ridge of high pressure along the coast will continue to break
down tonight, allowing a cold front near the Great Lakes to move
south into Virgina. The front will remain stalled across Virginia
this weekend as it slowly weakens. This will create slightly
cooler temperatures and good thunderstorm chances over the
weekend. High pressure will build back into the area beginning
next Monday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
As of 315 PM Friday...An unstable and uncapped airmass across the
eastern Carolinas is producing thunderstorms this afternoon, some
strong to severe. Activity developed first in the South Carolina
sandhills and more recently along the seabreeze front. Shear is weak
but instability is large with model analysis CAPE as large as 2000
J/kg inland and 4000 J/kg at the coast. Model vorticity and water
vapor satellite imagery do not show any significant disturbances
aloft, implying this convective activity is entirely supported by
diurnal destabilization and should decay rather quickly this
evening. Forecast PoPs as high as 80 percent across the Pee
Dee counties for the next 1-2 hours drop to 20 percent by 8 PM.

Weakened Bermuda High pressure well offshore plus the Piedmont
Trough over the interior Carolinas will maintain a warm and humid
southwest flow across the area overnight. A disturbance aloft will
pass across southern North Carolina between midnight and 3 AM. I
have PoPs ramping back up to 30 percent late this evening and
remaining there overnight, anticipating scattered showers or storms
following this feature eastward. Forecast lows are in the mid-upper
70s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 315 PM Friday...Surface low pressure will pass well north of
the U.S./Canadian border this weekend, but will drag a cold front as
far south as Virginia. The associated upper level trough has pushed
the Bermuda High well offshore, and as shortwave disturbances aloft
rotate through the mean trough position, waves of showers and
thunderstorms should be the result. Although diurnal destabilization
will certainly help increase the coverage and intensity of
thunderstorms through the weekend, this won't be an entirely
diurnally driven event. The best confluence of instability with
upper level energy should occur on Saturday where we have forecast
PoPs as high as 70 percent. SPC again has us in a marginal severe
weather risk Saturday, mainly for strong downburst winds.

Precip and clouds will help hold high temps down significantly
compared to the past few days, and highs on Saturday and Sunday
should only reach the upper 80s to around 90. Overnight lows may
also be a bit cooler due to the convective overturning of the
atmosphere and rainfall: 73-76 degrees.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 315 PM Friday...Daytime temperatures will be quite
seasonable through the period while nighttime lows will average a
bit on the mild side. The bigger story could end up being the
degree to which the weather is unsettle for a good portion of the
long term. Monday finds the area between two upper ridges and a
piedmont trough at the surface. This is usually a good setup for
not only more convective activity than 'normal' for July but also
vorticity-laden flow that can keep storms in the forecast
overnight. This not only holds true into Tuesday through Thursday
but even moreso as the weakness in the height field is
strengthened by increasing troughiness into the Northeast. From
there models start to diverge a bit. Eastern troughiness will
continue and our weather will likely stay unsettled Friday. Some
models have the trough progressing a bit which could mean a
similar forecast as the days prior. The GFS has been fairly
insistent that the trough continues to deepen and thus locally
rain chances increase even further.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 18Z...Thunderstorms developing inland in force as we
expected and this will be the theme of the forecast. Expect VFR
conditions to go downhill to brief IFR conditions during the
activity. Regarding timing, started at 18z inland and just a
little later based on trends at the coast. Some uncertainty
overnight as some global as well as high resolution guidance
paints another round of convection. I addressed by adding some
VCSH and MVFR prevailing inland.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK...VFR in isolated Aftn/Eve tstms with some
periods of MVFR/IFR in stronger thunderstorms mainly Saturday and
Sunday.

&&

.MARINE...
NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 315 PM Friday...The two features on the weather map
influencing our weather include the Bermuda High (now well offshore)
and the Piedmont Trough over the interior Carolinas. Southwesterly
flow is well established in between these two systems. Outside of
temporary thunderstorm outflows southwesterly winds should continue
through the night. Near the coast the seabreeze has increased wind
speeds to a solid 15 knots with gusts of 20 knots or more. In a
typical summer day seabreeze winds increase in speed until 6 PM,
however fairly widespread thunderstorm activity inland should
destroy the inland-to-offshore temperature contrasts that fuel the
seabreeze, allowing winds to die away more quickly this evening.
Having said that, just the synoptic gradient should support winds
near 15 knots overnight with 3-4 foot seas.

SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 315 PM Friday...Low pressure well north of the U.S./Canadian
border will drag a cold front as far south as Virginia this weekend.
While our wind directions won't change, the upper level weather
pattern will promote more showers and thunderstorms than we've seen
in days. This storminess should develop even across the coastal
waters especially Saturday and Saturday night. Outside of storms
southwesterly winds 10-15 knots are expected through the period with
2-3 foot seas.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 315 PM Friday...Though the pattern aloft will be one that
is conducive to fairly unsettled/stormy weather the surface
features in place will keep wind and wave conditions pretty
typical for July. Southwesterly flow resulting from the piedmont
trough and Bermuda high will be fairly steady as will seas
generally in the 2 to 3 ft range.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...None.
NC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...SHK
NEAR TERM...TRA
SHORT TERM...TRA
LONG TERM...MBB
AVIATION...SHK
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:36 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
336 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-053>056-161945-
ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER-
INLAND NEW HANOVER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK-
COASTAL BRUNSWICK-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-
WILLIAMSBURG-INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY-INLAND GEORGETOWN-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
336 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS
AFTERNOON. HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING IS
ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY. THE
BIGGEST THREAT IS STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ250-252-254-256-161945-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SURF CITY TO CAPE FEAR NC OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE FEAR NC TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SC OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET TO MURRELLS INLET SC OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MURRELLS INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT
20 NM-
336 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

9

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:40 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:53 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 15, 3:05 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
305 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCZ032-151945-
FLORENCE SC-
305 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR FLORENCE COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM EDT...

AT 305 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
SARDIS...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF LAKE CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF UP 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...LAKE CITY...TIMMONSVILLE...PAMPLICO...QUINBY...SARDIS...
NEW HOPE...EVERGREEN...FRIENDFIELD...MARS BLUFF...CLAUSSEN...
EFFINGHAM...CARTERSVILLE...HYMAN...SCRANTON...COWARD...OLANTA...
CENTRAL CROSSROADS...
HEALTH SOUTH REHABILITATION HOSPITAL AND MCLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL
CENTER.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 20 NEAR MILE MARKER 141.
 INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 148 AND 166...
AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 169 AND 175.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THUNDERSTORMS CAN POSE A VARIETY OF THREATS INCLUDING GUSTY WINDS...
SMALL HAIL...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. IT
IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS PASS.

&&

LAT...LON 3425 7978 3425 7976 3429 7971 3429 7968
      3431 7967 3430 7962 3423 7955 3418 7957
      3413 7952 3408 7954 3404 7951 3400 7952
      3396 7948 3387 7982 3389 7985 3388 7994
      3395 7997 3399 7989 3408 8003 3408 8006
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 232DEG 35KT 3396 7991

MBB
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 3:39 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
339 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

NCZ096-099-109-152030-
INLAND BRUNSWICK NC-BLADEN NC-COLUMBUS NC-
339 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN BLADEN...COLUMBUS AND
CENTRAL BRUNSWICK COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...

AT 339 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
OVER NAKINA...OR 11 MILES SOUTH OF WHITEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF UP 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WHITEVILLE...ROWAN...TABOR CITY...BETHEL...LAKE WACCAMAW...
NORTHWEST...SANDYFIELD...COUNCIL...WILLIAMS...HALLSBORO...FREELAND...
OLD DOCK...PIREWAY...MOLLIE...DULAH...KELLY...BUGHILL...CLARENDON...
RIEGELWOOD AND REDBUG.

THIS INCLUDES US ROUTE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 395 AND 424.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO MINOR FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3457 7826 3455 7826 3454 7827 3450 7825
      3447 7818 3440 7825 3437 7823 3437 7821
      3435 7820 3436 7816 3437 7815 3436 7814
      3437 7814 3435 7807 3398 7866 3418 7889
      3462 7831
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 225DEG 31KT 3417 7866

MBB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 15, 2:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMColumbus46 min
Jul 15, 4:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBladen37 min
Jul 15, 4:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen19 min
Jul 15, 2:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMMarlboro34 min
Jul 15, 2:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMGeorgetown23 min
Jul 15, 2:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMMarlboro63 min
Jul 15, 2:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMDarlington35 min
Jul 15, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMHorry67 min
Jul 15, 2:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDarlington, Marlboro34 min
Jul 15, 3:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMFlorence40 min
Jul 15, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMHorry23 min
Jul 15, 3:36 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILMGeorgetown, Williamsburg114 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in North Carolina, 2016Every special weather statement in 2016

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.