Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 23, 2008

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 23, 2008
Start: 2008-07-23T12:12
End: 2008-07-23T20:45
Location: North Carolina

July 23, 2008 · NWS RAH · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

Pre-frontal convection broke out across central North Carolina early in the day, as a weak cold front approached from the west. Another round of storms developed late in the afternoon and evening with the approach of the upper level trough.

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: 8

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 RAH wrote it up.

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 Jul 23, 10:20 AM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 10:20 AM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 11:53 AM EST, 19 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1253 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008

NCZ007>011-023>028-040>043-075>078-084>086-088-089-240930-
PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DURHAM-
FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-MOORE-LEE-
HARNETT-WAYNE-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-
1253 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 736 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE OR
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING.

NCZ021-022-038-039-073-074-083-240930-
FORSYTH-GUILFORD-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-ANSON-
1253 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE WELL INTO THE NIGHT. A FEW OF THE
STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS
EVENING...PRODUCING ISOLATED WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH...AND HAIL UP
TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS. ALL THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL
DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY LED TO LOCALIZED FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. FINALLY...THE STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE CONTINUOUS TO
EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING STRIKES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE OR
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 23, 10:37 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 23, 10:40 AM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 23, 11:02 AM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 23, 11:20 AM EST, 52 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 23, 11:31 AM EST, 41 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 23, 12:03 PM EST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
103 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008

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

0323 PM     HAIL             6 NE GOLDSBORO          35.44N 77.90W
07/22/2008  M1.00 INCH       WAYNE              NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN SAULSTON AT THE
            INTERSECTION OF SAULSTON RD AND WAYNE MEMORIAL DRIVE AT
            323 PM.

0340 PM     HAIL             6 NE GOLDSBORO          35.44N 77.90W
07/22/2008  E0.88 INCH       WAYNE              NC   PUBLIC

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN SAULSTON AT 340 PM.

0350 PM     HAIL             2 NE GOLDSBORO          35.39N 77.96W
07/22/2008  E1.50 INCH       WAYNE              NC   CO-OP OBSERVER

            HAIL AS LARGE AS ONE AND A HALF INCHES AT THE
            INTERSECTION OF MARK EDWARDS RD. AND HOOD RD.

0350 PM     HAIL             2 NE GOLDSBORO          35.39N 77.96W
07/22/2008  E1.50 INCH       WAYNE              NC   CO-OP OBSERVER

            HAIL AS LARGE AS ONE AND A HALF INCHES AT THE
            INTERSECTION OF MARK EDWARDS RD. AND HOOD RD. REPORTED BY
            COCORAHS OBSERVER.

0405 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW CORINTH            35.58N 79.03W
07/22/2008                   CHATHAM            NC   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN ON CORINTH ROAD AT 405 PM.

0414 PM     TSTM WND DMG     N TROY                  35.36N 79.89W
07/22/2008                   MONTGOMERY         NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            TREE DOWN ACROSS BELL STREET.

0420 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 ENE PINEVIEW          35.32N 79.05W
07/22/2008  M71.00 MPH       HARNETT            NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            71 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED AT HOME. SHINGLES DAMAGED AT
            THE HOME. SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

0434 PM     HAIL             5 SW LINWOOD            35.69N 78.37W
07/22/2008  E0.88 INCH       JOHNSTON           NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL AT COVERED BRIDGE RD AND COHARIE DR.

0445 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE ROBBINS           35.40N 79.57W
07/22/2008                   MOORE              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 705 AND MT CARMEL ROAD. TIME
            ESTIMATED.

0503 PM     HAIL             CARTHAGE                35.35N 79.42W
07/22/2008  E1.00 INCH       MOORE              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY DEPUTY ON HWY 15/501 IN
            CARTHAGE.

0505 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 E MOUNT OLIVE         35.20N 78.00W
07/22/2008                   WAYNE              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ALONG INDIAN SPRINGS ROAD, BETWEEN MOUNT OLIVE
            AND SEVEN SPRINGS.

0505 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MOUNT OLIVE             35.20N 78.07W
07/22/2008                   WAYNE              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ROOF BLOWN OFF VACANT MOBILE HOME.

0505 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 NW SMITHFIELD         35.56N 78.45W
07/22/2008                   JOHNSTON           NC   PUBLIC

            ONE TREE DOWN AT SOMERSET PLACE AND CONTENDER DR. PUBLIC
            REPORT.

0515 PM     HAIL             ROXBORO                 36.40N 78.98W
07/22/2008  E0.25 INCH       PERSON             NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0520 PM     HAIL             SANFORD                 35.48N 79.18W
07/22/2008  E0.50 INCH       LEE                NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

0520 PM     HAIL             CARTHAGE                35.35N 79.42W
07/22/2008  E0.25 INCH       MOORE              NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

0525 PM     HAIL             2 SW ROXBORO            36.38N 79.01W
07/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       PERSON             NC   PUBLIC

            MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF HAIL. REPORT VIA NSSL SHAVE PROJECT.

0530 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GODWIN                  35.22N 78.68W
07/22/2008                   CUMBERLAND         NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON CEDAR CREEK ROAD AND NED ASHLEIGH ROADS
            NEAR GODWIN.

0530 PM     HAIL             GODWIN                  35.22N 78.68W
07/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       CUMBERLAND         NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PEA TO PENNY SIZE HAIL NORTHEAST OF GODWIN.

0530 PM     HAIL             5 SW ROXBORO            36.34N 79.04W
07/22/2008  E0.88 INCH       PERSON             NC   PUBLIC

            REPORT VIA NSSL SHAVE PROJECT.

0545 PM     HAIL             11 WNW FORT BRAGG       35.19N 79.18W
07/22/2008  E1.75 INCH       MOORE              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AT LOBELIA RD AND MCGILL RD.

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE WINSTON-SALEM     36.11N 80.24W
07/22/2008                   FORSYTH            NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN AT BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER

0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE WINSTON-SALEM     36.09N 80.23W
07/22/2008                   FORSYTH            NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN AT RT 52 AND RT 421 IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM.

0555 PM     HAIL             2 SSW KNIGHTDALE        35.77N 78.50W
07/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       WAKE               NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            PENNY SIZE HAIL ON I540 AT HWY 264.

0600 PM     HAIL             5 SSW ROXBORO           36.33N 79.01W
07/22/2008  E0.88 INCH       PERSON             NC   PUBLIC

            REPORT VIA NSSL SHAVE PROJECT.

0600 PM     HAIL             4 E BUSHY FORK          36.31N 79.00W
07/22/2008  E1.00 INCH       PERSON             NC   PUBLIC

            REPORT VIA NSSL SHAVE PROJECT.

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RICHFIELD               35.47N 80.26W
07/22/2008                   STANLY             NC   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            TREES DOWN NEAR HIGHWAY 52/OLD SALISBURY ROAD.

0610 PM     TSTM WND DMG     THOMASVILLE             35.89N 80.08W
07/22/2008                   DAVIDSON           NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN NEAR EVANS ROAD AND SOUTH BUSINESS HIGHWAY
            29/70.

0615 PM     HAIL             N STEDMAN               35.02N 78.70W
07/22/2008  E0.88 INCH       CUMBERLAND         NC   PUBLIC

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN STEDMAN.

0625 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNE NEW HOPE          35.85N 78.53W
07/22/2008                   WAKE               NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ON OLD MILBURNIE ROAD

0630 PM     HAIL             FAYETTEVILLE            35.07N 78.90W
07/22/2008  E0.25 INCH       CUMBERLAND         NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

0635 PM     HAIL             3 ESE SURL              36.31N 78.83W
07/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       PERSON             NC   PUBLIC

0642 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW RDU INTERNATIONAL  35.88N 78.79W
07/22/2008  E47.00 MPH       WAKE               NC   ASOS

            PEAK WIND GUST OF 47MPH MEASURED BY THE RALEIGH DURHAM
            INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ASOS.

0710 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SE RAEFORD            34.94N 79.17W
07/22/2008                   HOKE               NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN NEAR BOYLE ROAD AND STONEWALL
            COMMUNITY. REPORT OF TREE DOWN ON HOUSE WITH 3 PEOPLE
            TRAPPED. ALSO TREES DOWN NEAR ANTIOCH COMMUNITY.

0730 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 NW ROUGEMONT          36.28N 78.98W
07/22/2008  E58.00 MPH       PERSON             NC   AWOS

            58 MPH WIND GUST REPORTED BY AWOS AT THE PERSON COUNTY
            AIRPORT. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

&&

RWH

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Moore

When: July 23, 12:12 PM EST
Where: Moore County, 0.89 mi NW of West End
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.260, -79.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Sampson

When: July 23, 12:30 PM EST
Where: Sampson County, 1.19 mi ENE of Roseboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.954, -78.510

One tree was blown down along State Road 24.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: July 23, 3:52 PM EST
Where: Warren County, 0.56 mi E of Warrenton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.400, -78.160

Several trees were blown down along Highway 401 just north of Warrenton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: July 23, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Warren County, 0.77 mi WNW of Warren Plains
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.456, -78.182

Several trees were blown down along Highway 158 Bypass, east of Norlina.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alamance

When: July 23, 7:28 PM EST
Where: Alamance County, 1.76 mi N of Mebane
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.125, -79.277

One tree was blown down across White Level Road, near NC Highway 119.

Hail, Orange

When: July 23, 7:35 PM EST
Where: Orange County, 0.21 mi SE of Cedar Grove
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.168, -79.168

Thunderstorm Wind, Anson

When: July 23, 8:32 PM EST to 8:45 PM EST
Where: Anson County, 6.36 mi NW of Burnsville to 2.68 mi NW of Burnsville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.195, -80.315

One tree was blown down across NC Highway 742, near the county line.

Hail, Stanly

When: July 23, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Stanly County, 0.92 mi E of Aquadale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.228, -80.214

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 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 2008

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 126010, 126017, 126013, 126014, 126015, 126011, 126016, 126012.