Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 9, 2023Johnston County, Wayne County, Wilson County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 9, 2023, 3:25 PM EDT for Johnston County, Wayne County, Wilson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 50 min. 2 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 9, 2023, 3:25 PM EDT (19:25 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 2023, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Johnston County, NC, Wayne County, NC, Wilson County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:28 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 9, 3:50 PM EDTHAIL 0.7Micro, NC
May 9, 3:52 PM EDTHAIL 11 Ese Micro, NC

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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 27 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 9, 2:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 156 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2023-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 272 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2023-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 136 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
272 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1147 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

883 
WUUS52 KRAH 091925
SVRRAH
NCC101-191-195-092015-
/O.NEW.KRAH.SV.W.0039.230509T1925Z-230509T2015Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
325 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Wayne County in central North Carolina...
  Southwestern Wilson County in central North Carolina...
  Eastern Johnston County in central North Carolina...

* Until 415 PM EDT.

* At 324 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Clayton, or
  12 miles north of Smithfield, moving southeast at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Smithfield, Clayton, Fremont, Micro, Selma, Pine Level, Kenly,
  Princeton, Pikeville and Nahunta.

This includes Interstate 95 near Mile Marker 92, and between Mile
Markers 93 and 114.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3531 7820 3550 7840 3566 7852 3571 7847
      3571 7846 3578 7833 3574 7821 3573 7821
      3573 7819 3570 7809 3554 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 307DEG 22KT 3570 7840 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

BLAES
3 follow-up statements
852 
WWUS52 KRAH 091933
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
333 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

NCC101-191-195-092015-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-230509T2015Z/
Wayne NC-Wilson NC-Johnston NC-
333 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT
FOR NORTH CENTRAL WAYNE...SOUTHWESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN
JOHNSTON COUNTIES...

At 333 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles east of
Clayton, or 10 miles north of Smithfield, moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Fremont, Micro, Kenly, Pikeville, Buckhorn Reservoir, Nahunta and
Flowers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground
lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from
windows.

&&

LAT...LON 3543 7806 3556 7827 3564 7837 3570 7837
      3574 7821 3573 7821 3573 7819 3570 7809
      3554 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 301DEG 25KT 3567 7830 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

BLAES
217 
WWUS52 KRAH 091945
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
345 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

NCC101-191-195-092015-
/O.CON.KRAH.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-230509T2015Z/
Wayne NC-Wilson NC-Johnston NC-
345 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT
FOR NORTH CENTRAL WAYNE...SOUTHWESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN
JOHNSTON COUNTIES...

At 345 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles northeast of
Smithfield, moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Fremont, Micro, Kenly, Pikeville, Nahunta and Buckhorn Reservoir. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Prepare immediately for large hail and deadly cloud to ground
lightning. Seek shelter inside a well-built structure. Stay away from
windows.

&&

LAT...LON 3543 7806 3555 7824 3561 7829 3567 7827
      3570 7821 3570 7817 3569 7813 3568 7807
      3554 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 307DEG 27KT 3561 7822 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

BLAES
702 
WWUS52 KRAH 092012
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
412 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

NCC101-191-195-092021-
/O.EXP.KRAH.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-230509T2015Z/
Wayne NC-Wilson NC-Johnston NC-
412 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WAYNE...
SOUTHWESTERN WILSON AND NORTHEASTERN JOHNSTON COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT
415 PM EDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However small hail 
is still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
central North Carolina.

LAT...LON 3543 7806 3555 7824 3561 7829 3567 7827
      3570 7821 3570 7817 3569 7813 3568 7807
      3554 7792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 307DEG 22KT 3551 7807 

$$

BLAES

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 May 9, 3:06 PM EDT, 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 3:06 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 303 PM
EDT Tue May 9 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will drop south across North Carolina through this
evening. High pressure over the Great Lakes will build into the OH
Valley and mid-Atlantic on Wednesday and off the coast Wednesday
night. &&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 303 PM Tuesday...

...Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for portions of the northern
Piedmont and Coastal Plain from 3 to 10 pm tonight...

Sfc analysis this afternoon depicted a quasi-stationary front draped
across NE NC up into the Richmond, VA vicinity. Further north,
showers and a few storms have started to fire across central VA
associated with a passing upper level short wave currently
traversing the PA/MD vicinity.

Here across central NC, mostly nwly sfc flow continues this
afternoon, as dew points have remained mostly in the lower 60s.
Areas east of US-1 have observed some destabilization over the past
several hours. Expect this to continue, with MLCAPE forecast to
reach ~500 to 1000 J/kg by mid-afternoon.  CAMs continue to pinpoint
the highest coverage in storms across the northern Coastal Plain
associated with the southwestward collapse of the aforementioned
front. Storms in this area will have access to the strongest deep
layer shear (30 to 40 kts) and thus best chance to potentially
organize. Additionally, increasing effective SRH along the leading
edge of the advancing cold front could induce a few super-cellular
structures in this vicinity as well. However, forecast hodographs
are not overly curved, and thus still believe the main threats from
any severe storms this afternoon would be hail and damaging wind
gusts (DCAPE in this vicinity will increase to ~1000 J/kg). For
those in the Triangle vicinity, a remnant outflow boundary from this
morning's mountain convection has migrated just to the north.  This
boundary will also force scattered thunderstorms over the next
several hours. Any storm in this vicinity could also become strong
to severe and potentially produce hail and damaging wind gusts.

For those across the western Piedmont, a few scattered
showers/storms may develop, however, deep-layer shear will not be as
strong in this vicinity, and thus storms may struggle to
deepen/organize.

Any lingering showers/storms this evening will mostly push east of
the area by ~03Z.  Overnight lows will cool off a bit into the upper
40s (NE) to mid 50s (SW) as the aforementioned cold front pushes
through the area overnight.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 150 PM Tuesday...

With mid and upper level ridging across the Deep South/MO Valley and
a trough across New England, central NC will be under the influence
of a northwest flow aloft. The cold front moving across NC this
evening will stretch from west to east across AL and GA around
daybreak Wednesday. Cool and dry surface high pressure centered
across OH/PA on Wednesday morning will shift southeast across the
mid-Atlantic and move off the Carolina coast by Thursday night. This
will result in fair weather and noticeably cooler temperatures with
highs in the mid to upper 70s which is about 1 to 4 degrees below
average. Other than a few mid or high clouds, skies will be mainly
clear on Wednesday and Wednesday night. With light winds and a dry
air mass on Wednesday night, expect good radiational conditions.
Have undercut guidance on Wednesday night with forecast lows in the
upper 40s to lower 50s, some of the typically colder spots will have
lows in the mid to possibly lower 40s. -Blaes &&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 225 PM Tuesday...

The upper air pattern at the start of the long term period will
feature a mid and upper level ridge extending from FL northwest into
the TN and OH Valleys. The ridge axis will shift east a bit and will
extend just west of the southern Appalachians on Friday morning. The
closed upper low across TX this afternoon will open up, ride around
the ridge and approach the southern Appalachians on Friday night.
This pattern will support generally fair weather across central NC
but with a varying and increasing amount of mid and high clouds.
There is a small chance that some convection across the OH and TN
Valleys on Friday could make it into the western Piedmont before
diminishing on Friday night. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s on
Thursday will warm into the lower to mid 80s on Friday. Lows will
range in the mid 50s to around 60 both nights.

The forecast becomes less clear for the weekend into early next week
but a somewhat more unsettled pattern appears to be developing but
it is not clear how unsettled it will turn out to be. The upper
level ridge axis relaxes a bit over the weekend allowing the main
westerlies to shift south and a series of mid and upper level
troughs to move across the region. A cold front enhanced by the
initial short wave trough approaches from the north late Saturday
supporting a chance of showers/storm across the northern half of the
area late Saturday afternoon and Saturday night with dry conditions
across the south. The front will likely linger just to the north on
Sunday as a warm front before another front sweeps southeast across
the area on Monday and south of the region on Tuesday. Still
difficult to provide details but in general, a limited threat of
showers and storms across the north on Saturday and Saturday night,
better albeit mid range chance PoPs areawide on Sunday into Monday
with limited PoPs across the south on Tuesday. Highs on Saturday will
warm into the upper 80s to around 90 and the mid 80s near the VA
border on Sunday to the lower 90s across the south on Sunday. Highs
will range a great deal on Monday but dependent on the placement of
the front with a best guess of highs near 80 near the VA border to
the lower 90s near the SC border. Cooler areawide on Tuesday with
highs in the lower to mid 80s. -Blaes
&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 111 PM Tuesday...

VFR conditions are expected to continue for much of the 24 hr TAF
period.  However, showers and a few storms will be possible this
afternoon/early evening which could cause brief sub-VFR conditions
primarily at KRWI/KRDU/KFAY.  A stray shower or storm could form in
the vicinity of KINT/KGSO, but overall, the storm threat appears
better further east.  Sfc flow will turn nely late tonight as a
backdoor cold front pushes across the area through tomorrow morning.
Models have hinted at both 1) a few hour surge in nely sfc flow (15
to 20 kt gusts) and 2) a brief period of potential MVFR ceilings
primarily at KRWI/KFAY/KRDU. However, any lingering MVFR ceilings
will quickly scattered out as drier air advects into our area
through early Wednesday morning.

Outlook: VFR conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon through
Saturday. The chance for showers/storms and associated sub-VFR
conditions then return Sunday and Monday as another front arrives.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...Blaes
NEAR TERM...Luchetti
SHORT TERM...Blaes
LONG TERM...Blaes
AVIATION...Luchetti
Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 3:04 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
304 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

NCZ007-021>025-038>040-073>077-083>086-088-101000-
Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham-Davidson-Randolph-
Chatham-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-
Hoke-Cumberland-
304 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A few storms through this evening could become strong, with isolated
wind gusts over 40 mph and pea sized hail, mainly along and east of
Highway 1.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed through mid evening.

NCZ008>011-026>028-041>043-078-089-101000-
Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Wake-Johnston-
Wilson-Wayne-Sampson-
304 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 205 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 9, 2:53 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
253 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

NCZ010-011-026>028-041>043-078-092000-
Edgecombe NC-Nash NC-Johnston NC-Franklin NC-Warren NC-Wake NC-
Halifax NC-Wayne NC-Wilson NC-
253 PM EDT Tue May 9 2023

...Scattered thunderstorms will continue to develop and become more
numerous across Wake, Franklin, Nash counties and the spread into
Edgecombe, Wilson, and Johnston counties through 400 PM EDT...

At 252 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm just
east of Raleigh and near Nashville, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Nashville, Louisburg, Wilson, Wake
Forest, Zebulon, Scotland Neck and Elm City.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 95 between Mile Markers 105 and 159.

LAT...LON 3609 7730 3600 7741 3590 7734 3582 7735
      3583 7739 3581 7742 3580 7747 3557 7782
      3544 7783 3577 7862 3594 7855 3613 7840
      3628 7806 3624 7738 3621 7738 3617 7729
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 290DEG 30KT 3583 7850

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

BLAES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 9, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Wilson67 min
May 9, 3:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Nash, Wilson46 min
May 9, 4:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWayne46 min
May 9, 4:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWilson57 min
May 9, 4:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHWayne22 min
May 9, 4:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHMontgomery, Moore, Richmond62 min
May 9, 5:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin60 min
May 9, 5:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHVance, Warren55 min
May 9, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGranville, Halifax, Vance, Warren62 min
May 9, 5:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Wilson56 min
May 9, 6:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren, Wilson60 min
May 9, 6:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHEdgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren, Wilson2 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.