Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 164, NWS Raleigh, NC

December 24, 20205 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 24, 2020, 9:46 PM EST for 5 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 74 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Dec 24, 2020, 9:46 PM EST (02:46 UTC)
Expired: Dec 24, 2020, 11:00 PM EST
In force: 74 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Edgecombe County, NC, Halifax County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wayne County, NC, Wilson County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:47 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 24, 2:19 PM EST	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 146 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: 507 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 647 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 498 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 533 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.8
Supercell composite: 11.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Dec 24, 7:25 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 7:25 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 24, 2:26 PM EST, 7 hours 20 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
226 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

NCZ011-027-028-042-043-078-088-089-251930-
Halifax-Nash-Edgecombe-Johnston-Wilson-Wayne-Cumberland-Sampson-
226 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY...
...TORNADO WATCH 518 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST 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.

   Tornado Watch.
   Wind Advisory.

Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes will be possible. The timing
of the severe threat appears to be two fold. The first will arrive
between 300 PM and 600 PM, when the potential for scattered severe
thunderstorms will be possible. The main hazards will be damaging
wind and the threat of tornadoes. Finally, a line of thunderstorms,
capable of producing widespread damaging wind gusts to 60 mph, can be
expected between 700 PM and 1000 PM. This will be the strong cold
front pushing through the region at that time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Very cold air is expected Friday night. Lows will dip to near 20
at most locations.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

NCZ007>009-021>025-038>040-073>076-083-084-251930-
Person-Granville-Vance-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham-
Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Anson-Richmond-
226 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a risk of severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and
early evening. An intense line of showers and isolated thunderstorms
will accompany a strong cold front. The timing of the front should
be between 500 PM and 800 PM. Brief wind gusts to 50 to 60 mph will
be possible, along with heavy rainfall as the line moves through. An
isolated tornado will be possible, mainly east of the Triad.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Very cold air will arrive Friday and last into the weekend. Lows in
the teens are expected Friday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

NCZ010-026-041-077-085-086-251930-
Warren-Franklin-Wake-Harnett-Scotland-Hoke-
226 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...TORNADO WATCH 518 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST 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.

   Tornado Watch.

Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes will be possible. The timing
of the severe threat appears to be two fold. The first will arrive
between 300 PM and 600 PM, when the potential for scattered severe
thunderstorms will be possible. The main hazards will be damaging
wind and the threat of tornadoes. Finally, a line of thunderstorms,
capable of producing widespread damaging wind gusts to 60 mph, can be
expected between 700 PM and 1000 PM. This will be the strong cold
front pushing through the region at that time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Very cold air will arrive Friday and last into the weekend. Lows in
the teens are expected Friday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 24, 4:50 PM EST, 4 hours 56 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
450 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

NCZ089-242245-
Sampson NC-
450 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
SOUTHEASTERN SAMPSON COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM EST...

At 449 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking an area of showers and
strong thunderstorms 9 miles northwest of Harrells, or 13 miles south
of Clinton, moving north at 50 mph.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Heavy rain and minor flooding will also be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Clinton, Harrells, Garland and Ivanhoe.

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, potted plants, lawn furniture and other light outdoor
objects.

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning, especially in urban areas where prolonged heavy rain
can quickly lead to flooding.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EST for central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3458 7826 3461 7831 3463 7832 3464 7831
      3465 7832 3467 7832 3470 7837 3475 7839
      3478 7843 3481 7845 3483 7847 3503 7839
      3497 7815 3490 7815 3474 7820 3471 7813
      3472 7811 3471 7811 3468 7816 3455 7825
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 201DEG 43KT 3481 7834

23

Special weather statement, Dec 24, 5:36 PM EST, 4 hours 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
536 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

NCZ011-028-043-078-242330-
Edgecombe NC-Halifax NC-Wayne NC-Wilson NC-
536 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN
WAYNE...EDGECOMBE...EASTERN HALIFAX AND EASTERN WILSON COUNTIES
UNTIL 630 PM EST...

At 535 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking an area of showers and
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Garysburg to
near Bowdens. Movement was northeast at 20 mph.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Heavy rain and minor flooding will also be possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, Tarboro, Halifax, Mount Olive, Scotland Neck,
Walnut Creek, Enfield, Princeville and Pinetops.

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, potted plants, lawn furniture and other light outdoor
objects.

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning, especially in urban areas where prolonged heavy rain
can quickly lead to flooding.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EST for central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3609 7729 3600 7741 3593 7736 3583 7740
      3557 7782 3543 7783 3538 7780 3518 7783
      3515 7789 3519 7802 3518 7809 3643 7759
      3640 7754 3634 7759 3632 7757 3632 7744
      3624 7738 3621 7738 3616 7727
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 245DEG 15KT 3647 7752 3507 7808

23

Local storm report, Dec 24, 6:53 PM EST, 2 hours 53 minutes before

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Local storm report, Dec 24, 8:27 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Dec 24, 8:30 PM EST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
830 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

NCZ041-042-077-086-088-250230-
Johnston NC-Hoke NC-Harnett NC-Wake NC-Cumberland NC-
830 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...A LINE HEAVY SHOWERS WILL AFFECT HARNETT...WESTERN CUMBERLAND...
SOUTH CENTRAL WAKE...WESTERN JOHNSTON AND NORTHEASTERN HOKE COUNTIES
UNTIL 930 PM EST...

At 828 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a line of heavy rain
showers near Fort Bragg, moving northeast at 65 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these showers.

Locations impacted include...
Raleigh, Fayetteville, Smithfield, Lillington, Fort Bragg, Garner,
Clayton, Dunn, Angier and Benson.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EST for central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3495 7903 3495 7904 3507 7920 3518 7911
      3517 7910 3519 7910 3581 7855 3561 7827
      3491 7896
TIME...MOT...LOC 0128Z 217DEG 59KT 3509 7905

26

Local storm report, Dec 24, 9:41 PM EST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
941 PM EST THU DEC 24 2020

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

0925 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SW RALEIGH            35.77N 78.70W
12/24/2020  M1.62 INCH       WAKE               NC   COCORAHS

            ACCUMULATION SINCE 8:00 AM.

&&

NTL

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 24, 8:30 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston	60 min
Dec 24, 8:47 PM EST	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett and 6 more	3 hr
Dec 24, 8:58 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Cumberland, Franklin, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Nash and 5 more	62 min
Dec 24, 9:06 PM EST	River Flood Warning	RAH	Johnston	32 hr
Dec 24, 9:06 PM EST	River Flood Warning	RAH	Johnston	3 days
Dec 24, 10:35 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Alamance, Anson, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville and 11 more	85 min
Dec 24, 10:45 PM EST	River Flood Warning	RAH	Halifax, Northampton	5 days
Dec 24, 11:56 PM EST	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Durham	3 hr
Dec 25, 12:05 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Anson, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett and 10 more	85 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2020 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.