Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS Raleigh, NC

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
335 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A SERIES OF MID LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS WILL CROSS CENTRAL
NC THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BRINGING ROUNDS OF SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CENTRAL NC. MUCH COOLER AIR WILL SETTLE OVER
THE REGION FOR THE LATER HALF OF THE WORK WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 335 PM TUESDAY...

ANOTHER POTENTIALLY ACTIVE PERIOD OF AFTERNOON-EVENING SCATTERED
CONVECTION. UNLIKE MONDAY WHEN SHEAR WAS RATHER WEAK...THE
INTRODUCTION OF MID LEVEL JET IN THE 15000-18000FT LAYER WILL
ENHANCE EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR VALUES AROUND 50KTS. WHILE SBCAPE
VALUES MAY NOT BE AS ROBUST AS MONDAY AFTERNOON (~3500 J/KG)...STILL
EXPECT RESPECTABLE VALUES IN THE 2000-2500 J/KG RANGE (PER 12Z GFS)
IN SPITE OF THE DELAY IN SOLAR HEATING DUE TO EXTENSIVE MORNING
CLOUDS/AREAS OF RAIN.

THE APPROACH OF A S/W EXITING THE TN VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON SHOULD
AID IN THE INITIATION OF SCATTERED CONVECTION IN THE WESTERN
PIEDMONT PRIOR TO 20Z/4 PM. EXPECT STORM STRUCTURE TO BE MULTI-
CELLULAR INITIALLY WITH A MARGINAL HAIL THREAT. AFTER 22Z...AS MID
LEVEL SHEAR INCREASES AND LOWER ATMOSPHERE REACHES MAX
INSTABILITY...SHOULD SEE STORMS EVOLVE INTO BROKEN LINE SEGMENTS
WITH BOWING SEGMENTS EXHIBITING DAMAGING WIND POTENTIAL. THIS SEVERE
WEATHER THREAT SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE AFTER 2Z AS ATMOSPHERE
BEGINS TO STABILIZE THOUGH DYNAMICS ALOFT WILL SUPPORT SCATTERED
CONVECTION THROUGH THE COASTAL PLAIN WELL INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

AFTER 06Z...ADDITIONAL SHOWERS SHOULD DEVELOP OVER THE NW THIRD OF
THE FORECAST AREA AS ANOTHER S/W DROPS SEWD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC
FROM THE OH VALLEY.

LOW LEVEL WLY FLOW WILL BEGIN TO ADVECT A DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR MASS
INTO THE REGION LATE TODAY AND MORE SO TONIGHT. THIS WILL BE MADE
EVIDENT AS SFC DEWPOINTS LOWER INTO THE MID 50S N THE NW LATE THIS
EVENING...WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 50S ACROSS THE ENTIRE PIEDMONT PRIOR
TO DAYBREAK. MIN TEMPS MID 50S NW TO LOWER 60S SE.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 335 PM TUESDAY...

L/W TROUGH BEGINS ITS AMPLIFICATION ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. WITH A
PAIR OF DECENT S/WS DIVING SEWD ACROSS THE OH VALLEY INTO THE SE
U.S. THE LEAD S/W WILL CROSS OUR REGION LATE WED AM-WED
AFTERNOON...FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE COOL POOL
OF AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THESE FEATURES WILL INCREASE MID LEVEL
LAPSE RATES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 6.5 DEG C/KM.  IN CONJUNCTION
WITH AFTERNOON HEATING AND AVAILABLE MOISTURE...THIS SHOULD LEAD TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW TOPPED CONVECTION. PLAN TO KEEP COVERAGE NO
MORE THAN 40-50 PERCENT AND MAINLY LIMITED TO THE NE HALF OF THE
FORECAST AREA. WITH FREEZING LEVEL BETWEEN 8500-9500 FT...CELLS THAT
GROW UP TO 18K-20K FT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE SMALL HAIL.
SLIGHTLY COOLER HIGH TEMPS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY UNDERNEATH THE
AMPLIFYING UPPER TROUGH. HIGH TEMPS LOW-MID 70S.

THREAT FOR SHOWERS PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH COVERAGE BEST
IN THE NW THIRD OF THE CWA. MIN TEMPS LOW-MID 50S.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 220 PM TUESDAY...

A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED BUT RELATIVELY SHORT-LIVED OMEGA BLOCK WILL
DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN CONUS AS A STRONG SHORTWAVE OVER THE
NORTHERN GREAT LAKES DIVES SOUTH THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY TO BOTTOM
OUT OVER ATLANTIC COAST ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. INITIAL SURGE OF
COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL BE EARLY THURSDAY...PRODUCING SHOWERS...
ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER OF THE STATE... THURSDAY AND
THURSDAY NIGHT. HIGHS THURSDAY WILL TOP OUT IN THE MID 60S ACROSS
THE NORTH TO AROUND 70 SOUTHEAST. LOWS WILL BOTTOM OUT IN THE LOW TO
MID 40S THURSDAY NIGHT. THE CUTOFF LOW ROTATES AROUND AND BEGINS TO
LIFT OUT OF THE UPPER TROF THURSDAY NIGHT AND SHOWERS WILL BE FEWER
IN NUMBER AND FOCUSED ON THE NORTHEAST FRIDAY...AND ENDING IN THE
FAR NORTHEAST BY SATURDAY MORNING. HIGHS FRIDAY WILL REMAIN WELL
BELOW NORMAL...FROM MID 60S ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER TO VERY LOW
70S ACROSS THE SOUTH.

A SECOND SHORTWAVE DIVING SOUTH IN THE AMPLIFIED NORTHWEST FLOW
PUSHES A DRY AND WEAK FRONT BRIEFLY SOUTH OF THE AREA LATE SUNDAY.
THE MAIN IMPACT FROM THIS SHORTWAVE...HOWEVER...WILL BE TO SHIFT THE
OMEGA BLOCK EASTWARD...ALLOWING THE WEST RIDGE LOBE OF THE BLOCK TO
EDGE EAST OVER THE AREA...WITH AN ACCOMPANYING WARMING TREND...
EARLY NEXT WEEK. ALL TOLD...DRY WEATHER SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
WITH HIGHS WARMING FROM THE MID 70S SATURDAY TO LOWER 80S SUNDAY AND
MONDAY...TO MOSTLY MID 80S TUESDAY. MORNING LOWS WILL FOLLOW THE
TREND...FROM LOW 50S SATURDAY MORNING TO THE LOWER 60S BY TUESDAY
MORNING.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 145 PM TUESDAY...

VARIABLE AVIATION CONDITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL NC...WAVERING BETWEEN
VFR AND MVFR DUE TO CEILINGS...WILL PERSIST THROUGH MOST OF THE
AFTERNOON...WITH A GENERAL TREND TOWARD VFR BY EVENING. AS THE
ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE DUE TO AFTERNOON HEATING AND THE
APPROACH OF AN MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE...SCATTERED-NUMEROUS SHOWERS
AND A FEW STRONG/SEVERE STORMS WILL ERUPT BY MID AFTERNOON IN THE
WESTERN PIEDMONT...SPREADING EAST BY 22Z-00Z. THE STRONGER STORMS
WILL PRODUCE LARGE AND WIND GUSTS AROUND 50-55KTS. THE THREAT FOR
STORMS WILL DECREASE AFTER 01Z THOUGH A FEW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST
WELL INTO THE NIGHT.

AVIATION CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN HIGHLY VARIABLE AS AN AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE ALOFT WILL CAUSE PERIODS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER AND ATTENDANT
SUB VFR CEILINGS THROUGH FRIDAY. VFR PARAMETERS ASSOCIATED WITH AN
AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN TO CENTRAL NC FOR THE WEEKEND.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...WSS
NEAR TERM...WSS
SHORT TERM...WSS
LONG TERM...MLM
AVIATION...WSS

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
257 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-040930-
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-
257 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 140 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING SOME SUPERCELLS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL UP TO TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER...ARE
EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NC THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
635 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

NCZ086-088-032330-
CUMBERLAND   NC-HOKE   NC-
635 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN
CUMBERLAND AND SOUTHEASTERN HOKE COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

AT 635 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
RAEFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FAYETTEVILLE...RAEFORD...ANTIOCH...HOPE MILLS...ROCKFISH...BOWMORE AND
SILVER CITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS
50 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

&&

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3496 7936 3511 7887 3486 7873 3485 7892
      3490 7894 3495 7904 3485 7917 3484 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 245DEG 25KT 3494 7918

30

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
641 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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

0625 PM     HAIL             3 SSE ELLERBE           35.03N 79.73W
05/03/2016  E1.00 INCH       RICHMOND           NC   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR GREEN LAKE ROAD AND
            COUNTRY LANE

&&

KRD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
659 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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

0650 PM     HAIL             2 NW FLOWERS            35.67N 78.38W
05/03/2016  E1.00 INCH       JOHNSTON           NC   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

KRD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
708 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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

0655 PM     HAIL             2 NW HOPE MILLS         35.00N 78.98W
05/03/2016  E1.00 INCH       CUMBERLAND         NC   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR HIGHWAY 162 AND
            FISHER ROAD

&&

KRD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
718 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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

0710 PM     HAIL             KENLY                   35.59N 78.13W
05/03/2016  E1.50 INCH       JOHNSTON           NC   PUBLIC

&&

KRD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
723 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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

0645 PM     HAIL             ROCKFISH                34.98N 79.07W
05/03/2016  E1.00 INCH       HOKE               NC   PUBLIC

&&

KRD