Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 83, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 26, 20248 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 2024, 10:32 PM EDT for 8 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 43 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
May 26, 2024, 10:32 PM EDT (02:32 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2024, 11:15 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Alamance County, NC, Chatham County, NC, Durham County, NC, Harnett County, NC, Johnston County, NC, Lee County, NC, Orange County, NC, Wake County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:35 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 26, 6:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 218 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 00:00Z on 2024-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 441 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 00:00Z on 2024-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 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
441 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1192 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

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 May 26, 9:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 9:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
930 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will approach late today and move through the region
Monday night. Dry high pressure will settle into the region toward
the middle of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 930 PM Sunday...

The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 11 PM for our
northwestern counties. Satellite and radar imagery reveals a well-
defined MCV northeast of Mount Airy over far south-central VA. As
such, the strongest storms are currently along and east of this
feature, stretching from the northeast/northwest Piedmont and
southwest to just northwest of Charlotte. Based on latest trends,
the main severe risk looks to be across the northern and northwest
Piedmont. However, a strong line also exists just northwest of
Stanly County and this is roughly moving ESE. Damaging straight line
winds appear the main risk into late this evening. As the late
evening wears on, it is difficult to say how the storms may hold
together as they track into the Triangle, Sandhills, and Coastal
Plain. Most CAMs have the storms either splitting to the north and
south of the Triangle, though this will be something to watch for.
Certainly convective inhibition will play a role as the night wears
on, limiting overall storm coverage. We do think that the storms
should start to dissipate after midnight as the MCV pushes to the
east. However, upstream convection currently over MO/IL/KY is
forecast to reach portions of the southern Appalachians by early Mon
and could reach the Triad toward sunrise, though convective
inhibition will keep most activity sub-severe until the better
chance comes Mon aftn/eve. Lows should dip into the mid 60s to
around 70, with some patchy fog possible.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT/...
As of 316 PM Sunday...

There is decently high uncertainty wrt to thunderstorms on Monday.
An upstream MCS is forecast to interact with the mountains early
Monday morning. Most guidance suggests the mountains should eat this
up before reaching our western areas. However, there is will still
likely be some ongoing showers (and perhaps a little thunder)
through about mid-morning across the western to central Piedmont
associated with this decaying MCS. Lingering cloudiness may persist
through late Monday morning, however clouds should clear enough in
the afternoon to support the development of scattered thunderstorms.
The spatial extent for afternoon showers/storms will largely depend
on 1) where outflow boundaries set up from the upstream morning
convection and 2) where mid-level vorticity/MCV features traverse.
The recent RAP runs suggest mid-level features could maximize along
and south of the NC/SC border Monday afternoon. It's therefore not
surprising that latest HRRR runs tends to focus late afternoon
convection across our Sandhills/Southern Coastal Plains (and moreso
active in central SC). Additional weaker perturbations are depicted
further north into central VA maximizing over the Chesapeake Bay. As
such, some high-res guidance (eg. NamNest, ARW) depict a bit more
activity further north across our central to northern
Piedmont/Coastal Plain Monday afternoon associated with these
perturbations.

Any storms that do develop Monday afternoon will have increasing
effective shear to work with (up to 30 to 40 kts). As such, severe
thunderstorms will be possible with any stronger storms that fire. In
fact, guidance is pretty riled up about some stronger mid-level
lapse rates (~7.5 to 8 C/km) developing across our far southern
areas eastward towards the coast. Additionally, model-derived
hodographs, HREF max/min helicity neighborhood probabilities, and
model-derived STP values all support the potential for rotating
storms (and possible tornadoes) from roughly US-1 east across the
inner/outer banks Monday afternoon and evening. Given this
potentially juicy parameter space, it's no shock that the SPC has
outlined our area in a 15% probability for severe hail and wind
(supported by strong mid-level lapse rate potential), with a smaller
area of up to 5 % probability for tornadoes across locations east of
Raleigh. The overall mean-layer flow should be strong enough to
preclude any widespread flooding concerns, however, can't rule out
isolated urban flash flooding with any heavier downpour.

Rain chances should diminish late Monday night into the overnight
hours. Persistent swly flow will promote highs in the mid to upper
80s/lower 90s.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 155 PM Sunday...

By Tuesday morning, a cold front should be along the coastline of
the Carolinas or immediately offshore. This should keep a slight
chance of thunderstorms in the forecast along the I-95 corridor, but
by nighttime, a several day period of dry weather should begin. The
front will slowly push east, and a surface high will establish
itself over southwestern Ontario Wednesday morning. The high will
expand to the southeast through the rest of the week, with the
center reaching West Virginia by Saturday morning. An upper ridge
along the East Coast will begin to break down on Saturday, and a
shortwave could bring some isolated showers across western counties
Saturday afternoon/evening, although this scenario is only shown in
ensembles and not by deterministic models. A stronger shortwave
appears likely to move across the Appalachian mountains Sunday and
bring a chance of showers to all locations. Surprisingly, the GFS is
showing a decent cap on Saturday and Sunday, so do not have
lightning in the weekend forecast.

Temperatures will trend downward through the beginning of the
period, with highs ranging from the mid 70s to the low 80s on
Friday. High temps will then rebound for the weekend, returning into
the 80s. Thursday and Friday nights will be the coolest, with
widespread lows in the 50s.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 734 PM Sunday...

Main forecast challenge in the near-term will be the threat of
showers and storms with upstream convection over western NC and VA.
The radar trends the last few hours have brought high confidence in
TSRA reaching GSO/INT, roughly between 00 and 02z, with lesser
confidence at RDU/FAY/RWI. As such, greatest restrictions are
expected at GSO/INT. Confidence remains low on how the storms
upstream will hold together as they track ESE toward RDU/FAY and
perhaps RWI as well. As such, the TEMPO groups were retained but for
the MVFR range. Shower/storm activity should wane after 05-06z as
the storm complex pushes east of the terminals. Guidance indicates a
low-end chance of sub-VFR stratus or low VIS at GSO/INT Mon morning.
Otherwise, another upstream MCS in the Midwest could bring -SHRA in
the morning on Mon, most favored at GSO/INT/RDU. A better chance of
storms appears in the aftn/eve period ahead of a cold front.
However, confidence is low on where storms may develop. Right now,
guidance would suggest the best chance would be along/east of US-1.
Hence, we introduced PROB30 groups at RDU/FAY/RWI. Ahead of any
storms, southwest winds Mon afternoon will gust to 25-30 kt.

Outlook: A broken line of showers and storms may impact the
terminals Mon evening, with the highest chance at RDU/FAY/RWI.
Activity should move out by early Tue, with VFR persisting much of
the upcoming week.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...Badgett
NEAR TERM...Kren
SHORT TERM...Luchetti
LONG TERM...Green
AVIATION...Kren
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 6:18 PM EDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
618 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

NCZ007>009-021>025-038>040-272230-
Person-Granville-Vance-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham-
Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-
618 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 321 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...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...Monday through Saturday.

There is a Slight risk, level 2 of 5, of severe storms Monday.
Scattered to numerous showers and storms are possible, with the
greatest threats in the late afternoon through the evening. Some
storms may be severe, with damaging straight line winds, hail,
and isolated tornadoes as the primary threats.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

NCZ010-011-026>028-041>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-272230-
Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-
Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-
Cumberland-Sampson-
618 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a Marginal risk, level 1 of 5, of severe storms today into
tonight. A broken line of storms may cross the area late this
afternoon through this evening. Some storms may be severe, with a
primary threat of damaging straight line winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

There is a Slight risk, level 2 of 5, of severe storms Monday.
Scattered to numerous showers and storms are possible, with the
greatest threats in the late afternoon through the evening. Some
storms may be severe, with damaging straight line winds, hail,
and isolated tornadoes as the primary threats.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 8:19 PM EDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
819 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

NCZ022-023-270115-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-
819 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ALAMANCE AND GUILFORD COUNTIES
THROUGH 915 PM EDT...

At 818 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Pine Hall to 6 miles northeast of High
Point. Movement was east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon,
McLeansville, Summerfield, Gibsonville, and Stokesdale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
parts of central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 7926 3596 7926 3599 7998 3607 8004
      3626 8004
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 262DEG 33KT 3627 8005 3602 7993

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

JD
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:01 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
901 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

NCZ021-022-038-039-270145-
Guilford NC-Forsyth NC-Randolph NC-Davidson NC-
901 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT FORSYTH...DAVIDSON...NORTHWESTERN
RANDOLPH AND GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM EDT...

At 900 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Enon to Mocksville to near Cleveland. Movement
was east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Lexington, Randleman,
Thomasville, Kernersville, Clemmons, Bermuda Run, and Huntsville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
portions of central North Carolina.

&&

LAT...LON 3611 8050 3614 8044 3623 8043 3626 8023
      3624 7953 3599 7960 3568 7994 3566 8031
      3572 8033 3574 8046 3583 8049 3584 8039
      3588 8042 3589 8037 3596 8038 3599 8042
      3601 8042 3606 8046 3604 8049 3608 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 0100Z 263DEG 48KT 3616 8045 3591 8053 3571 8075

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

JD
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:43 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 26, 10:17 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 26, 10:22 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 26, 10:25 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 8:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance, Guilford56 min
May 26, 9:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford44 min
May 26, 9:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph37 min
May 26, 9:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Guilford, Orange52 min
May 26, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph38 min
May 26, 9:39 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHGuilford99 min
May 26, 9:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHGranville, Person, Vance47 min
May 26, 9:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance107 min
May 26, 9:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Guilford, Lee, Moore, Orange and 1 more48 min
May 26, 10:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Orange43 min
May 26, 10:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAnson, Harnett, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond38 min
May 26, 10:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin, Granville, Warren65 min
May 26, 10:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin41 min
May 26, 10:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond and 1 more62 min
May 26, 11:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWilson41 min
May 26, 11:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHarnett, Johnston, Sampson, Wake, Wayne54 min
May 26, 11:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHalifax, Nash59 min
May 26, 11:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWilson59 min
May 26, 11:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHJohnston, Wayne, Wilson50 min
May 26, 11:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Sampson61 min
May 27, 12:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Halifax, Wilson66 min
May 27, 3:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Hoke, Scotland64 min
May 27, 3:46 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore44 min
May 27, 4:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHarnett, Johnston, Wake65 min
May 27, 7:17 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWarren43 min
May 27, 7:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham38 min
May 27, 8:00 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHChatham, Durham, Lee, Wake45 min
May 27, 8:13 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Harnett, Lee, Wake47 min
May 27, 3:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWake58 min
May 27, 3:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHalifax58 min
May 27, 3:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake40 min
May 27, 3:45 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHHalifax32 min
May 27, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatRAHEdgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Wilson39 min
May 27, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax53 min
May 27, 4:15 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax34 min
May 27, 4:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe25 min
May 27, 4:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin36 min
May 27, 4:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax24 min
May 27, 5:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHalifax28 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

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.