Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 35, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 13, 2019Franklin County, Nash County, Wake County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 13, 2019, 10:13 AM EDT for Franklin County, Nash County, Wake County, North Carolina. It was in force for 32 min. 10 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 13, 2019, 10:13 AM EDT (14:13 UTC)
Expired: May 13, 2019, 10:45 AM EDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Franklin County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wake County, NC

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 13, 10:13 AM EDT	TORNADO	4 Ne Knightdale, NC	EF-2 TORNADO CONFIRMED NEAR KNIGHTDALE TO NEAR BAILEY, NC ON MAY 13, 2019. ESTIMATED WIND SPEED OF 115 MPH. MAX PATH WIDTH OF 385 YARDS AND PATH LENGTH OF 17.40 MILES.
May 13, 10:15 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ne Knightdale, NC	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN, SOME ON HOMES. POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN.
May 13, 10:16 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nw Wendell, NC	TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS FOLLOWING DAMAGE ON EDGEMONT RD IN LOWRY MEADOW SUBDIVISION (NEAR HWY 64) IN WENDELL. JUST OUTSIDE SUBDIVISION, 1 LARGE, MATURE TREE ON ROOF; INSIDE SUBDIVISION, 1 ROOF PARTIALLY TORN OFF. ONE ROOF COMPLETELY REMOVED OFF AN OUTBUILDING.
May 13, 10:20 AM EDT	TORNADO	4 Ne Knightdale, NC	AERIAL FOOTAGE FROM WRAL CLEARLY SHOWS A DAMAGE PATTERN IN THE FALLEN TREES THAT CONFIRMS A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN. AN NWS SURVEY TEAM IS EN ROUTE TO THE DAMAGE AREA TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE AND DETERMINE WIND STRENGTH, PATH LENGTH, AND WIDTH.
May 13, 10:24 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ne Wendell, NC	TREE DOWN ON HOUSE. MULTIPLE TREES DOWN.
May 13, 10:24 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ne Wendell, NC	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN.
May 13, 10:24 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ne Wendell, NC	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 4 NE WENDELL. MULTIPLE TREES DOWN.
May 13, 10:25 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ssw Pilot, NC	SPOTTER REPORTED MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS DOWN AT EAST GANNON (HWY 97) AND N. INDUSTRIAL IN ZEBULON. TRAFFIC ON EAST GANNON IS BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES.
May 13, 10:30 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sse Pilot, NC	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN. SOME STRUCTURES DAMAGED IN THE BRANTLEY RD. AREA.
May 13, 10:33 AM EDT	TORNADO	4 Nnw Middlesex, NC	POSSIBLE TORNADO DOWNED NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER-LINES AND CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOMES AND BARNS ON MASSEY AND BRANTLEY ROADS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 0 minutes after it went out.

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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 153 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 76 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 899 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 93 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: -0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

653 
WFUS52 KRAH 131413
TORRAH
NCC069-127-183-131445-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0035.190513T1413Z-190513T1445Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1013 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Nash County in central North Carolina...
  East central Wake County in central North Carolina...
  South central Franklin County in central North Carolina...

* Until 1045 AM EDT
    
* At 1013 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located near Zebulon, or 13 miles east of Raleigh,
  moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Zebulon, Bailey, Knightdale, Wendell, Rolesville, Spring Hope,
  Middlesex and Pilot.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3596 7805 3579 7804 3578 7806 3577 7825
      3579 7824 3582 7826 3577 7834 3576 7850
      3592 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 1413Z 272DEG 40KT 3583 7842 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

BLAES

2 follow-up statements

239 
WWUS52 KRAH 131431
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1031 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

NCC069-183-131440-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-190513T1445Z/
Wake NC-Franklin NC-
1031 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WAKE AND SOUTH CENTRAL
FRANKLIN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3596 7805 3579 7804 3578 7806 3577 7824
      3577 7825 3579 7824 3582 7826 3595 7818
TIME...MOT...LOC 1430Z 271DEG 31KT 3582 7825 

$$

NCC127-131445-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-190513T1445Z/
Nash NC-
1031 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN NASH COUNTY...
    
At 1030 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Zebulon, or 19 miles southwest of Nashville, moving
east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely. 

Locations impacted include...
Bailey, Spring Hope and Middlesex. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3596 7805 3579 7804 3578 7806 3577 7824
      3577 7825 3579 7824 3582 7826 3595 7818
TIME...MOT...LOC 1430Z 271DEG 31KT 3582 7825 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

BLAES

200 
WWUS52 KRAH 131442
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1042 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

NCC127-131452-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-190513T1445Z/
Nash NC-
1042 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN NASH COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
1045 AM EDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 400 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.

LAT...LON 3596 7805 3579 7804 3578 7806 3577 7824
      3577 7825 3579 7824 3582 7826 3595 7818
TIME...MOT...LOC 1442Z 272DEG 40KT 3581 7809 

$$

BLAES

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 13, 6:45 AM EDT, 3 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 6:45 AM EDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
645 AM EDT Mon May 13 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will slowly drift east of the Appalachians overnight,
crossing central NC on Monday. Strong and persistent High pressure
will bring dry and seasonably cool weather Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 330 AM Monday...

Latest surface analysis reveals a cold front draped west to east
just south of the VA/NC border, expected to continue descending
southward in backdoor type fashion through early this morning.
Behind this boundary, cooler northeasterly winds in continue to
allow a rather robust stratus deck to form and migrate southward,
with ceilings in the 200 to 400ft in nature prevalent. This boundary
is likely to continue descending southward through mid morning hours
before stalling across south-central NC, relying on the western
extent of the front (and true dewpoint boundary) to be propelled
eastward thanks to a strengthening shortwave trough currently
sliding southeast through the Ohio River Valley. This should provide
for a last ditch effort for an isolated shower or rumble of thunder
as the front slides through during the afternoon hours, with a CAA
regime gaining control gradually behind the boundary.

Temperatures will remain near to slightly below seasonable this
afternoon thanks to abundant cloud cover through peak heating and
the arrival of cooler northwesterly flow by sunset across the
northwest. Expect highs in the low to mid 70s (northwest) to low 80s
(southeast). Winds will be gusty at times, primarily in the
afternoon/early evening hours. Overnight lows will dip into the
upper 40s to lower 50s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 330 AM Monday...

Continental polar high pressure filters in behind the front on
Tuesday, allowing for much cooler and drier air to filter into
central NC. This prolonged period of northerly/northwesterly flow
will greatly limit afternoon high temperature potential, keeping
daytime highs only in the upper-60s (northwest) to low 70s
(southeast), roughly 10 degrees below normal for this time of year.
Precipitation chances will also remain near zero, thanks to
persistent subsidence, a strong CAA regime, and constant downsloping
conditions east of the Appalachians. Thus, other than a bit of upper-
level cloud litter, expect a return of spring-like conditions
including mostly clear skies, cool temperatures, and a light breeze
across the region. Lows Tuesday night will dip into the mid to upper
40s.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 320 AM Monday...

...Dry and Tranquil Weather Expected This Week...
...Summer-like Temperatures Return For The Weekend...

Positioned in the deep NWLY flow between the upper ridge across the
central US and the closed low and corresponding upper trough
lingering over the NE US, dry tranquil weather is expected through
the remainder of the week. A series of shortwaves diving SE down the
back-side of the eastern US trough will attempt to push a pair of
weak back-door cold fronts into the area late week. Given the lack
of significant moisture transport and appreciable support/forcing
aloft, getting measurable precip/convection into the area will prove
difficult. Thus will keep the forecast dry.

Unseasonably cool below normal temps associated with the negative H5
anomalies to start the week will moderate to near normal by the end
of the work week and then well above normal with most areas warming
into the upper 80s/near 90 over the weekend as the upper level ridge
builds into the area from the west.

&&

.AVIATION /11Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 645 AM Monday...

24 hour TAF period: Shower coverage continues to intermittent at
best across much of central North Carolina early this morning,
leaving only intermittent sprinkles and lowering CIGs/VSBYs across
the central terminals. Ceilings will rise quickly after sunrise,
leaving primarily VFR conditions across central NC by 15z/11am.
Can't rule out an isolated shower/storm Monday afternoon as a cold
front slides west to east, but coverage remains too low to include
in the TAF at this time. High pressure filters into the region by
00z/8pm monday, helping to retain predominant VFR parameters, even
into the overnight hours Tuesday.

Looking ahead: Expect VFR conditions to prevail through the
remainder of the period as high pressure remains firmly in control.
The one exception may be some lowering CIGs/VSBYs prior to dawn
each morning late in the work week as boundary layer moisture
increases ahead of a dry passing shortwave on Thursday. Only minor
and short-lived impacts likely.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JJM
NEAR TERM...JJM
SHORT TERM...JJM
LONG TERM...CBL
AVIATION...JJM

Hazardous weather outlook, May 13, 4:56 AM EDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
456 AM EDT Mon May 13 2019

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-140900-
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-
456 AM EDT Mon May 13 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 13, 9:37 AM EDT, 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
937 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

NCZ025-026-041-042-131430-
Johnston NC-Franklin NC-Durham NC-Wake NC-
937 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WAKE...NORTH CENTRAL
JOHNSTON...SOUTHEASTERN DURHAM AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES
UNTIL 1030 AM EDT...

At 936 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
RDU International, or near Cary, moving east at 35 mph.

Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Wake Forest, Zebulon, Bunn, Rdu International,
Morrisville, Knightdale and Wendell.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle. Wind gusts as high as
40 mph are capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around
trash cans, and other light outdoor objects.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 7826 3579 7824 3577 7825 3575 7823
      3575 7822 3573 7821 3571 7828 3571 7844
      3576 7889 3594 7891 3600 7815
TIME...MOT...LOC 1336Z 264DEG 32KT 3586 7880

WSS

Local storm report, May 13, 10:05 AM EDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1005 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

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

0954 AM     HAIL             4 E RDU INTERNATIONAL   35.88N 78.71W
05/13/2019  E1.00 INCH       WAKE               NC   PUBLIC

            QUARTER-SIZE HAIL.

&&

NP

Local storm report, May 13, 10:09 AM EDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1009 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

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

1002 AM     HAIL             3 NNW RALEIGH           35.86N 78.68W
05/13/2019  E0.88 INCH       WAKE               NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT CREEDMOOR RD.
            AND W. MILLBROOK RD. IN NORTH RALEIGH.

&&

Local storm report, May 13, 10:12 AM EDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1012 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2019

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

1009 AM     HAIL             4 NNW NEW HOPE          35.87N 78.58W
05/13/2019  E0.25 INCH       WAKE               NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RECEIVED REPORT OF PEA SIZE HAIL AT TRIANGLE
            TOWN CENTER IN NE RALEIGH.

&&

TDH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 12, 8:20 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Guilford	55 min
May 12, 9:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Davidson	60 min
May 12, 9:32 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford	43 min
May 13, 9:37 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wake	53 min
May 13, 9:43 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Franklin, Wake	47 min
May 13, 9:57 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Wake	48 min
May 13, 10:22 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Johnston, Nash, Wilson	21 min
May 13, 10:35 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wake	40 min
May 13, 10:46 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Edgecombe, Nash	59 min
May 13, 11:17 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Wilson	58 min
May 13, 11:31 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson	44 min
May 13, 12:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Chatham	54 min
May 13, 12:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Wake	39 min
May 13, 1:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wake	49 min
May 13, 1:55 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Johnston, Wayne, Wilson	35 min
May 13, 2:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wayne, Wilson	18 min
May 13, 2:36 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wayne, Wilson	9 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

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.