North Carolina, 1998

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 27, 1998

May 27, 1998 · NWS ILM · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

Early afternoon thunderstorms developed across the coastal counties , causing hail and downburst winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
$31,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ILM wrote it up.

Early afternoon thunderstorms developed across the coastal counties , causing hail and downburst winds.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brunswick

When
May 27, 12:55 PM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Brunswick County, Ash
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.070, -78.530

Large tree downed on Big Neck Rd, damage to roof on Mill Branch Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pender

When
May 27, 1:10 PM EST to 1:15 PM EST
Where
Pender County, Hampstead
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.370, -77.720

Thunderstorm Wind, New Hanover

When
May 27, 1:40 PM EST
Where
New Hanover County, 7 mi N of Wilmington
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.330, -77.930

Tree downed on Sidbury Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pender

When
May 27, 1:45 PM EST to 2:10 PM EST
Where
Pender County, Hampstead to Burgaw
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.370, -77.720

Trees were downed on several residences in Hampstead, and one was downed on Penderlea Highway, 4 miles north of Burgaw.

Flash Flood, New Hanover

When
May 27, 1:50 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
New Hanover County, Wilmington
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.181, -77.866 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain caused flooding at intersection of Market and Bayshore Streets.

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.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 1998

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5647233, 5647234, 5647235, 5647236, 5647237.