3 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Sep 18, 1:55 PM EST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 255 PM EDT THU SEP 18 2003 CONTINUE WIND ADVISORY/WARNINGS IN SOUTH HALF TO LATE EVENING AND IN THE NORTH TO MIDNIGHT. EXCELLENT HURRICANE FORECASTS FROM TPC. STORM PERHAPS TO BE SLIGHTLY WEST OF OFFICIAL TRACK BASED ON PRESSURE TENDENCIES. WINDS OVER MOST OF OUR AREA FIGHTING AGAINST SYSTEMS TRANSLATION TO THE NORTH. SURFACE AIR IS QUITE STABLE AND STRONGER WINDS ALOFT NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE AN EASY TIME PUSHING TO THE SURFACE. SOME TROPICAL STORM FORCE GUSTS IN OUR EASTERN PARTS SINCE NOON AND GOLDSBORO AT SUSTAINED 40 MPH. EXPECT WINDS TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE IN OUR SOUTH BY LATE AFTERNOON TO BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA BY LATE EVENING. WILL CONTINUE IN THE NORTH TO MIDNIGHT...THOUGH THIS PERHAPS A BIT LONG. EXTENDED THE FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE GOLDSBORO AND CONSIDERING MOTION OF SYSTEM AND BANDING...CURRENT FLOOD WATCH LOOKS GOOD. SOME RISK TO COUNTIES ON THE SOUTHEAST EDGE AND TRAINING OF BANDS A RISK...HOWEVER FLOOD WATCH COVERS PRIMARY THREAT AREA AND WILL STAND. WILL ACCELERATE RAIN OUT OF THE AREA TONIGHT FOR A DRY FRIDAY. WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH AT SUNRISE THEN DECREASING. WEAK DRY FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT. LITTLE CHANGE TO THE EXTENDED. CHANCE OF RAIN TUESDAY THEN A COOL SHOT WEDNESDAY BEFORE A SLOW RECOVERY IN TEMPERATURES BEGINS. .RAH...INLAND TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING FOR THE NORTHEAST PIEDMONT...COASTAL PLAIN...EASTERN SANDHILLS TO MIDNIGHT NORTHEAST AND 9 PM SOUTHEAST ...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT NORTHWEST...9 PM SOUTHWEST. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN...NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST PIEDMONT UNTIL MIDNIGHT. RLH
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-181200- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 600 AM EDT THU SEP 18 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY ALL ARE ADVISED TO STAY INFORMED OF THE LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANE ISABEL. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO CROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. ISABEL WILL CAUSE STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN. AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NEAR BURLINGTON...SILER CITY...SANFORD...AND FAYETTEVILLE EAST. WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT WEST. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NEAR ROXBORO...WAKE FOREST...AND WILSON NORTHEAST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO HIGH WINDS AND FLASH FLOODING CAUSED BY HURRICANE ISABEL. RFG
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-181800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1115 AM EDT THU SEP 18 2003 ...HURRICANE ISABEL BRINGING STRONG WINDS AND RAIN TO CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA... ...AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT FROM NEAR BURLINGTON...SILER CITY...SANFORD...AND FAYETTEVILLE EAST. WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT TO THE WEST... ...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NEAR ROXBORO...WAKE FOREST...TO WILSON AND LOCATIONS NORTHEAST... BANDS OF RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE WEST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN BETWEEN A QUARTER AND A HALF INCH PER HOUR...HOWEVER THE INTENSITY OF THE RAIN HAS BEEN INCREASING AS STRONGER BANDS APPROACH FROM THE EAST. BRIEF PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN MAY PRODUCE OVER A HALF INCH OF RAIN IN AN HOUR...ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS ALONG AND EAST OF I-95. WINDS HAVE BEEN GUSTING TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE IN SOME LOCATIONS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN...WITH A 48 MPH GUST RECORDED AT GOLDSBORO AND 39 MPH GUSTS RECORDED AT ROCKY MOUNT AND ROANOKE RAPIDS. WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 40 MPH AND GUSTS TO NEAR 60 MPH POSSIBLE IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN PIEDMONT. THESE WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF BLOWING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES. FARTHER WEST...THE TRIAD AREA AND WESTERN SANDHILLS CAN EXPECT TO SEE SUSTAINED WINDS INCREASING TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. AT THESE SPEEDS...WINDS CAN OVERTURN LOOSE OBJECTS OUTDOORS AND BRING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND WEAKENED TREES. MOTORISTS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD USE CAUTION AS DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BE HAZARDOUS WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND RAIN...ESPECIALLY THOSE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. DGS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
1154 AM EDT THU SEP 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1145 AM 5 NASHVILLE NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 NASH TREES DOWN ON SEVERAL
ROADS IN COUNTY INCLUDING
OLD BELLY ROAD AND NEWBERRY
ROAD.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
1206 PM EDT THU SEP 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1145 AM 5 NASHVILLE NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 NASH TREES DOWN ON SEVERAL
ROADS IN COUNTY INCLUDING
OLD BELLY ROAD AND NEWBERRY
ROAD.
1155 PM SMITHFIELD NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 JOHNSTON NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
THROUGHOUT COUNTY,
ESPECIALLY NEAR SMITHFIELD.
MANY TREES DOWN ON
POWERLINES AND SOME ARE ON
FIRE.
1200 PM WILSON NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WILSON NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
THROUGHOUT COUNTY. TREES
DOWN ON WIGGINS MILL
RD...HAYES RD AND LAMB RD.
1200 PM GOLDSBORO NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAYNE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES
DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY.
SOME POWER OUTAGES NOTED IN
GOLDSBORO.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
100 PM EDT THU SEP 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1200 PM WILSON NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WILSON ROOF BLOWN OFF MOBILE HOME
ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN ON
PACKHOUSE RD.NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-182100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 205 PM EDT THU SEP 18 2003 ...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA... ...AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT FROM NEAR BURLINGTON TO FAYETTEVILLE AND LOCATIONS EAST. WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT TO THE WEST... ...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NEAR ROXBORO TO WILSON AND LOCATIONS NORTHEAST... WINDS OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN PIEDMONT HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AS THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISABEL MOVES CLOSER. SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH. IN THE SANDHILLS AND WESTERN PIEDMONT...WINDS HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH. EXPECT WINDS IN THIS AREA TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. WINDS WILL BLOW DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...AND OVERTURN LOOSE OBJECTS OUTDOORS. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION AS DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BE HAZARDOUS WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND RAIN...ESPECIALLY THOSE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN HAVE REACHED TWO INCHES...WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN HALIFAX...EDGECOMBE...AND WILSON COUNTIES. LOCATIONS IN THE PIEDMONT AND SANDHILLS HAVE RECEIVED AROUND ONE INCH SO FAR. BANDS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FROM EAST TO WEST ACROSS THE AREA...WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN. AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BEFORE 500 PM. SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...LOW LYING AREAS...AND DIPS IN ROADS MAY BEGIN TO FLOOD ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. DGS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH, NC
208 PM EDT THU SEP 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1215 PM GARNER NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAKE LARGE PINE TREES DOWN ON
I-40 AND GARNER ROAD.
1230 PM GOLDSBORO NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAYNE SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN
GOLDSBORO.
0130 PM CARY NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAKE TREE DOWN ON HIGHHOUSE
ROAD AND CARY PARKWAY.
0140 PM CARY NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAKE TREE DOWN ACROSS TRAFFIC
LIGHTS ON MAYNARD ROAD.
0200 PM RALEIGH NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 WAKE TWO LARGE OAK TREES DOWN
ON POOLE ROAD.
0205 PM OXFORD NC WIND DAMAGE
09/18/03 GRANVILLE TREE DOWN ON ROUTE 158
NEAR OXFORD.The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:36 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooded roads were impassable in Roanoke Rapids.
Town Creek flooded over highway 111 near Tarboro.
Low lying areas around the county were flooded along with some roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, September 2003
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: 5337990, 5337991, 5336766.