Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 4, 1997

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 4, 1997
Start: 1997-07-04T21:05
End: 1997-07-04T23:45
Location: North Carolina

July 4, 1997 · NWS RAH · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

5 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davidson

When: July 4, 9:05 PM EST
Where: Davidson County, Thomasville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.880, -80.080

TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN THOMASVILLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAIRGROVE AND OLD HIGHWAY 109.

Thunderstorm Wind, Randolph

When: July 4, 9:30 PM EST
Where: Randolph County, Asheboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 35.700, -79.830

A LARGE TREE FELL ON A RESIDENCE IN ASHEBORO. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ROOF AND WALLS.

Hail, Durham

When: July 4, 10:23 PM EST
Where: Durham County, 5 mi SE of Durham
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.970, -78.850

QUARTER SIZE HAIL FELL 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DURHAM NEAR THE AIRPORT.

Hail, Wake

When: July 4, 10:35 PM EST
Where: Wake County, 5 mi NE of Raleigh Durham Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.920, -78.720

QUARTER SIZE HAIL FELL ALONG LUMLEY ROAD AND INTERSTATE 540.

Hail, Franklin

When: July 4, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Youngsville
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 36.030, -78.480

FRANKLIN COUNTY 911 CENTER REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN YOUNGSVILLE.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When: July 4, 11:10 PM EST
Where: Johnston County, Smithfield
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.500, -78.350

TREES WERE UPROOTED IN SMITHFIELD WITH NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES REPORTED.

Hail, Nash

When: July 4, 11:17 PM EST
Where: Nash County, Red Oak
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.050, -77.900

Hail, Halifax

When: July 4, 11:31 PM EST
Where: Halifax County, Enfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.180, -77.670

GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL FELL IN ENFIELD.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When: July 4, 11:45 PM EST
Where: Wilson County, Elm City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.800, -77.870

TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 301 IN ELM CITY.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5614963, 5614964, 5614965, 5614966, 5614967, 5614968, 5614969, 5614970, 5614971.