On the afternoon and evening of September 14th, tropical moisture streamed north ahead of the remnants of Humberto. The environment over Central North Carolina became supportive for tornado development as a surface boundary stalled across the area.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.
On the afternoon and evening of September 14th, tropical moisture streamed north ahead of the remnants of Humberto. The environment over Central North Carolina became supportive for tornado development as a surface boundary stalled across the area.
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 14, 10:10 AM EST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1110 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2007 .SYNOPSIS...A STATIONARY FRONT SOUTH OF THE AREA WILL LIFT NORTH TODAY AS A WARM FRONT. WIDESPREAD RAIN IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT THAT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE STATE SATURDAY MORNING. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AIRCRAFT SOUNDINGS AND GSO RAOB INDICATES 15 TO 20KTS OF SSE UPSLOPE COMPONENT ACROSS WESTERN NC...RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD RAIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND ESPECIALLY THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS. ASHEVILLE HAS ALREADY PICKED UP ALMOST 2.0 THIS MORNING...MEANWHILE THE HIGHEST MEASURABLE PRECIP IN THE WFO RAH FORECAST AREA IS WINSTON SALEM...WITH APPROXIMATELY 0.23 OF AN INCH SINCE 12Z. MEANWHILE... THE EASTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE REMAINS UNDER THE CONTROL OF SUBSIDENCE AND CONSIDERABLE DRY AIR FROM THE DRY AIR SURFACE RIDGE THAT EXTENDS THE MID-ATLANTIC SEABOARD FROM A WEAK 1021MB PARENT HIGH OFF THE NEW JERSEY COAST. THE DRY 12Z KWAL RAOB...THE BREAKS IN CLOUD COVER OBSERVED IN THE LATEST VISIBLE MICROWAVE IMAGERY AND THE REPORTS OF CLOUD BASES AT OR ABOVE 10KFT...ALL INDICATE THE MAGNITUDE OF DRY AIR THAT MUST BE OVERCOME BEFORE PRECIPITATION BEGINS TO REACH THE GROUND. AND THIS WILL BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 18 TO 00Z FROM BROAD SCALE WAA...AS LOW-LEVEL WINDS VEER AROUND AROUND TO A MORE SOUTHERLY AND SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION. AS THIS TRANSPIRES...THE WIDESPREAD UPSLOPE PRECIP SHIELD ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS WILL BEGIN TO WANE...WITH MORE OF A SCATTERED SHOWERY NATURE IN THE PRECIP ACROSS ALL OF THE CWA AS BOUNDARY LIFTS NORTH INTO THE AREA. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE DECENT INSTABILITY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN WITH THE GFS BUFR HIGHLIGHTING SBCAPES AT AROUND 1500 J/KG. SO THERE IS THE THREAT OF AN ISOLATED SEVERE OR TORNADO EVENT AS AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE WARM SECTOR CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 80S WITH DECENT 25 TO 30KTS OF 0-6KM OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR. THE GFS CONTINUES TO BE THE STRONGEST WITH THE 850 LL JET...AND ASSOCIATED SHEAR BUT BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A RESULT OF SOME CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK/SCHEME THAT IS RESULTING IN AN ERRONEOUS CIRCULATION CENTER. PREFER THE NAM WITH A WEAKER 850 FLOW AND MORE AN OPEN TROUGH SCENARIO. PRECIP IS THEN EXPECTED TO FILL IN ACROSS CENTRAL NC THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS WARM FRONT LIFTS TO THE NORTH...AND WITH THE INCREASING UPPER DYNAMICAL SUPPORT FROM A COMBINATION OF HUMBERTO REMNANTS AND THE APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND RR QUAD OF UPPER JET FROM THE NORTH. HIGHEST RAIN CHANCES SHIFT TO THE EASTERN HALF AS HIGH PWS ABOVE 2.0 AND 500 TO 1000 J/KG OF CAPE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF. DESPITE THE EXPECTED LULL THROUGH 00Z...EASTERN AREAS COULD STILL RECEIVE A HALF INCH TO AN INCH FROM 00Z TO 12Z SATURDAY. WESTERLY COMPONENT KICKS IN BETWEEN 09Z TO 12Z...SHUTTING OFF PRECIP FROM NW TO SE. LATE MORNING UPDATE WILL FEATURE A REDUCTION IN POPS AND QPF ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF THROUGH 00Z THIS EVENING...THEN CATEGORICAL POPS THEREAFTER. FORECAST MAX TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO NEED TO BE ADJUSTED FROM RDU EAST WITH LACK OF PRECIP. MANY EASTERN AREAS ARE ALREADY A FEW DEGREES FROM FORECAST MAX....THUS WILL RAISE ABOUT ONE CATEGORY INTO THE LOWER TO MID 80S. TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIAD SHOULD BEGIN TO RESPOND UPWARD...ONCE PRECIP BEGINS TO TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON. && .SHORT TERM / SATURDAY THROUGH 6 AM SATURDAY/... IF THERE IS ANY RAIN CHANCE IN OUR SOUTHEAST PARTS... IT SHOULD QUICKLY EXIT SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS TO NEW ENGLAND SUNDAY NIGHT AND PERSISTS INTO MONDAY AS DRY CONDITIONS RETURN. COOLEST AIR SINCE SPRING ARRIVES WITH LOWS IN THE 50S SUNDAY AND MONDAY MORNINGS. WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP TEMPERATURES ABOVE WHAT CLIMATOLOGY WOULD INDICATE FOR THE GIVEN GFS THICKNESS...WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING SOME LOWS IN THE 40S ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE IF THE MODELS DO NOT MODERATE THE FORECAST AIR MASS. FORECAST HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR MONDAY ARE ALSO AT RISK FOR BEING TOO WARM.... BUT AM COMFORTABLE BEING ON THE WARM SIDE AT THIS TIME. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SURFACE RIDGE REMAINS IN CONTROL THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WITH NORTHEAST SURFACE FLOW PREVAILING. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM TO NEAR NORMAL. MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE INDICATES SHORTWAVE ENERGY EVOLVING INTO A CLOSED LOW OFF THE SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST BY TUESDAY. A COASTAL TROUGH COULD BECOME BETTER DEFINED...SPREADING SOME ADDITIONAL MOISTURE INTO THE FAR EASTERN ZONES. OTHERWISE...THIS SYSTEM WOULD LIKELY ENHANCE THE SURFACE RIDGING OVER MOST OF THE AREA. RAIN CHANCES MAY RETURN BY WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN IF THE UPPER LOW RETROGRADES WEST. THERE IS MUCH UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS...SO KEEPING CONDITIONS DRY FOR NOW. && .AVIATION /14Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF WILL GRADUALLY DETERIORATE TO MVFR CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE PERIODS OF IFR CEILINGS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WEST WITH HEAVIER RAIN SHOWERS. AS LOW-LEVEL FLOW VEERS AROUND TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWESTERLY RAIN CHANCES WILL BECOME MORE SCATTERED AND SHOWERY IN NATURE. THE GFS WANTS TO GENERATE AN 850 MILLIBAR LOW OVER THE FAR NORTHWEST PIEDMONT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHILE THE NAM KEEPS THIS FEATURE AS A WEAKER OPEN WAVE. THIS RESULTS IN THE GFS BRINGING IN 35 TO 40 KNOT SOUTHWEST FLOW AS LOW AS 925 MILLIBARS INTO THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT BY 21Z TODAY WHILE THE NAM KEEPS 15 KNOT SOUTHEAST FLOW AT 925 MILLIBARS IN THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT UNTIL 03 TO 06Z TONIGHT...AFTER WHICH FLOW AT THIS LEVEL TURNS TO THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 KNOTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY...THIS IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LOW LEVEL SHEAR PROFILE... AND IF THE GFS IS RIGHT...THEN LLWS MAY BE A POSSIBILITY AT THE GSO/INT TAF SITES LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. VFR CONDITIONS WILL RETURN BEGINNING LATE SATURDAY MORNING... SPREADING FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE SOUTHEAST AS HIGH PRESSURE AND ACCOMPANYING DRY AIR NOSES INTO THE AREA AND PUSHES A FRONT SOUTH AND EAST OF THE REGION. THIS WILL RESULT IN VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. -VINCENT && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...CBL NEAR TERM...CBL SHORT TERM...RLH LONG TERM...RLH AVIATION...CBL/VINCENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 508 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2007 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-150915- 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- 508 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. MOISTURE SURGING NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE THE REMNANTS OF HUMBERTO WILL LIFT OVER A NORTHWARD RETREATING WARM FRONT OVER CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY AND TONIGHT. INSTABILITY IS MINIMAL...HOWEVER ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER CAN NOT BE TOTALLY RULED OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:36 UTC.
8 tornado, 6 thunderstorm wind, 4 funnel cloud, 3 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A weak brief tornado touched down damaging several homes along Peace Haven Street. The tornado ripped the siding off several homes and also knocked down several trees.
A funnel cloud was reported by he public at Highway 150 and Union Grove Road near Oak Ridge.
Law enforcement reported a tornado touchdown on HWY 52 northwest of Thomasville.
Law enforcement reported a tornado touchdown on HWY 52 northwest of Thomasville.
Numerous funnel clouds were reported along Highway 42.
The public reported a brief tornado touchdown in the River Bluff Development on South River Road. Numerous trees were blown down in the area. The tornado touched down again briefly at 620 pm just northeast of Lillington.
A tornado touch downed at Clayton Middle School on Guy Road. A second tornado touched down from the same thunderstorm near the Jordan community.
Numerous funnel clouds were reported northeast of Lillington.
There was a report of a brief tornado touchdown near the Jordan community.
Law enforcement reported a tornado and multiple trees down on Stephenson Road.
A spotter reported a barn fire caused by lightning north of Clayton.
Multiple reports of funnel clouds were reported by the public near Coats Crossroads.
Widespread tree damage was reported on Old Hunneycut Road, Purfoy Road and Main Street.
A spotter reported a tree and limbs suspended on power lines on Academy Street.
A trained spotter reported a tree down across Vance Street inside the city limits.
A large tree fell onto the roof of a nursing home near the Five Points area causing significant damage. All of the residents had to be evacuated.
Public reported a brief touch down of a tornado with debris just south of Garner near Lake Benson.
Several trees and a few power lines were blown down in the town if Ainger.
Numerous trees were blown down on State Route 96 and Old Beulah Road.
Market Street was closed due to flooding of a railroad underpass by several feet of water.
Several roads were closed due to flash flooding including Highway 24 in the western portion of the county.
Law enforcement reported that a portion of Interstate 95 was flooded and closed with cars several submerged. Several water rescues were conducted by the local fire department.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2007Warnings in North Carolina, September 2007
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: 59151, 59158, 59152, 59154, 59159, 59155, 59156, 59160, 72046, 59150, 59157, 59161, 59163, 59164, 59165, 59168, 59148, 59166, 59167, 59169, 59176, 59170.