Hail and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, May 18, 2006

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, May 18, 2006
Start: 2006-05-18T17:29
End: 2006-05-18T18:05
Location: North Carolina

May 18, 2006 · NWS RAH · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

4 hail, 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
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 forecasters said that day

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 May 18, 1:50 PM EST, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 1:50 PM EST, 3 hours 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
250 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...

THROUGH TONIGHT: SHORT RANGE THREAT OF SEVERE HAIL STILL LOOKS
REASONABLE. DYNAMIC LIFT APPEARS TO BE IMPROVING AS A STRONG
VORTICITY MAXIMUM DIVES DOWN INTO THE MID LEVEL TROUGH BASE... AND
THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF THE DIVING 100+ KT UPPER JET APPROACHES.
LATEST LAPS SOUNDINGS SHOW CAPES NEAR 800 J/KG WITH INCREASING DEEP
LAYER SHEAR TO NEAR 40 KT. LAPSE RATES IN THE PRIME HAIL GROWTH
REGION OF -10C TO -30C ARE CLOSE TO 7 C/KM... THUS HAIL APPEARS
LIKELY WITH ANY STORM THAT GETS AN INTENSE CORE TO ABOVE 16 KFT.
WILL GO WITH LIKELY POPS THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO MID
EVENING... TAPERING OFF BY MIDNIGHT OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER AS THE
FRONT PUSHES OFFSHORE AND THE UPPER JET AXIS MOVES QUICKLY EASTWARD.
LOWS 49-56.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT: COLUMN DRIES OUT FAIRLY WELL BY FRIDAY
MORNING WITH NW TO W 850 MB FLOW. WITH SATELLITE DATA SHOWING
CONSIDERABLE HIGH CLOUDINESS AND A FEW MID CLOUDS UPSTREAM...
BELIEVE THIS WILL PASS OVERHEAD THROUGH MUCH OF FRIDAY. ALSO
ANTICIPATE SOME DIURNAL FLAT CUMULUS BENEATH THE SUBSIDENCE
INVERSION. EXPECT SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL HIGHS OF 72-78. THE NAM AND
GFS BOTH BRING A WESTERLY 850 MB JET OF 30-40 KT AND A SLUG OF
MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NC FRIDAY NIGHT... AND WITH
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINOR PERTURBATIONS IN THE MEAN
CYCLONIC MID LEVEL FLOW THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO TIME PRECISELY... HAVE
INCLUDED A SLIGHT CHANCE POP IN THE SOUTHWEST CWA. CURRENT LOWS
51-58 GOOD BUT WILL RAISE THEM A BIT IN THE SOUTHWEST.

SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY: AN UPPER JETLET AND MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE
DROP THROUGH THE MIDATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY... BUT WITH DOWNSLOPE
LOW LEVEL FLOW AND SCANT MOISTURE... EXPECT LITTLE MORE THAN
ENHANCED HIGH CLOUDINESS. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW INCREASING
MOISTURE THROUGH THE COLUMN SUNDAY. AGAIN... MINOR WAVES ARE LIKELY
TO DROP INTO THE BROAD TROUGH BUT WILL BE TOUGH TO TRACK. MCS
ACTIVITY APPEARS LIKELY SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
THE NAM SHOWS INCREASING PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WELL ABOVE NORMAL
INTO NC SUNDAY... AND THE THERMAL WIND FIELD AND MEAN CLOUD LAYER
WIND INDICATE A GOOD SHOT AT MCS ACTIVITY OR REMNANTS CROSSING THE
CWA ON SUNDAY. HAVE INTRODUCED CHANCE POPS... LOW AT THIS TIME DUE
TO THE DOWNSLOPE BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW WHICH COULD LIMIT COVERAGE. -GIH

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...

NOT A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE EARLY NEXT WORK WEEK... SINCE THE
SOUTHWARD EXTENT OF A BACKDOOR FRONT DROPPING DOWN THE NORTHEAST AND
MIDATLANTIC COAST SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WILL DEPEND GREATLY ON
HOW MUCH THE UPPER VORTEX OVER NEW ENGLAND DIGS SOUTHWARD. GIVEN THE
FAR NORTHWARD POSITION OF THIS LOW... THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT
THE COLD FRONT WILL HANG UP THROUGH NC... RATHER THAN DROP SOUTH OF
THE STATE AND BRING A DRY AIR MASS OVER THE STATE. THE SURFACE HIGH
BUILDING IN IS TAPPING INTO SOME COOLER AIR BUT IS NOT TERRIBLY
STRONG... SO HAVE DOUBTS THAT IT (PLUS THE MID LEVEL FLOW) ARE
ENOUGH TO PUSH THE FRONT TOO FAR SOUTH. THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO
INCLUDE A LOW CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS... MAINLY IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING... THROUGH MID WEEK. THE MID LEVEL
VORTEX SWINGS NORTHEAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY... THEN WOBBLES OVER FAR
EASTERN CANADA WHILE WEAKENING INTO AN OPEN TROUGH AS ANOTHER UPPER
LOW DEVELOPS OVER EASTERN HUDSON BAY. DONT EXPECT MUCH MID LEVEL
SHORTWAVE RIDGING AS THE EASTERN CANADA LOW WEAKENS/DEPARTS. WILL
HOLD ONTO TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO OR JUST BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS. -GIH

 &&

.AVIATION...

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THE TAF AREA THIS EVENING. CLOUD
BASES GENERALLY 6-8 THOUSAND FEET AND VISIBILITY UNRESTRICTED.
CONDITIONS LOWERING TO MVFR CEILINGS WITH MVFR TO IFR VISIBILITY IN
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH.
AFTER 04Z VFR CONDITIONS WITH NORTHWEST WINDS AT 10 TO 15 MPH.-RHJ

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...HARTFIELD
LONG TERM...HARTFIELD
AVIATION...RHJ

Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 2:56 AM EST, 14 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
356 AM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-190800-
PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-
ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-
WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-
ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-
356 AM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS
AFTERNOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
ACCOMPANY THE FRONT...WITH ACTIVITY ENDING BY MIDNIGHT IN THE
INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR. SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE
WITH STRONGER STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 18, 3:28 PM EST, 2 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
428 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0417 PM     HAIL             CLIMAX                  35.92N 79.73W
05/18/2006  E0.25 INCH       GUILFORD           NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CLIMAX BY FIRE DEPT.

&&

BSD

Local storm report, May 18, 3:43 PM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
443 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0408 PM     HAIL             ARCHDALE                35.90N 79.97W
05/18/2006  E0.75 INCH       RANDOLPH           NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN ARCHDALE BY POLICE DEPT.

&&

BSD/BLS

Local storm report, May 18, 3:49 PM EST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
449 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLIMAX                  35.92N 79.73W
05/18/2006  E60 MPH          GUILFORD           NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND HIGH WIND. CLIMAX FIRE
            DEPATMENT AND TRAINED SPOTTER.

&&

ORROCK

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:57 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
457 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

NCZ022>024-038>040-073>076-083>085-182200-
ALAMANCE-ANSON-CHATHAM-DAVIDSON-GUILFORD-LEE-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-ORANGE-
RANDOLPH-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-STANLY-
457 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

...SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
PIEDMONT...

AT 457 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND GUSTY WIND TO 40 MPH... OVER
WESTERN ALAMANCE AND WEST CENTRAL DAVIDSON COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE
OVER ELON COLLEGE AND BURLINGTON... AND HIGH ROCK LAKE. THE STORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 TO 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS TO BE AFFECTED BY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
500 PM AND 600 PM INCLUDE ELON COLLEGE... ALAMANCE... BURLINGTON...
SAXAPAHAW... HIGH ROCK LAKE... AND DENTON.

PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN
BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

TAKE SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THESE STORMS PASS.

BADGETT

Special weather statement, May 18, 4:18 PM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
518 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

NCZ073-182230-
STANLY-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ALBEMARLE
518 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST INTO NORTHERN STANLY COUNTY...

AT 516 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND GUSTY WIND TO 40 MPH...
APPROACHING THE RICHFIELD AND NEW LONDON AREAS OF NORTHERN STANLY
COUNTY.

LOCATIONS TO BE AFFECTED BY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
515 PM AND 600 PM INCLUDE NORTHERN STANLY COUNTY.

PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN
BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

TAKE SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THESE STORMS PASS.

PWB

Local storm report, May 18, 5:07 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
607 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0550 PM     HAIL             4 N TROY                35.42N 79.89W
05/18/2006  E1.75 INCH       MONTGOMERY         NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ON NC HWY
            134 FOUR MILES NORTH OF TROY.

&&

BSD/BLS

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Moore

When: May 18, 5:29 PM EST
Where: Moore County, Robbins
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.433, -79.600

Hail, Lee

When: May 18, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Lee County, 1 mi N of Tramway
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.450, -79.233

REPORTED AT THE 15-501 AND US 1 SPLIT.

Hail, Wake

When: May 18, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Wake County, Cary
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.783, -78.800

Hail, Moore

When: May 18, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Moore County, Carthage
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.350, -79.417

Thunderstorm Wind, Moore

When: May 18, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Moore County, 1 mi N of Carthage
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 35.367, -79.417

SEVERAL TREES DOWN JUST NORTH OF CARTHAGE.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, May 2006

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: 5506511, 5506512, 5506513, 5506514, 5506515.