Scattered thunderstorms developed along a surface trough during the early afternoon. These thunderstorms intensified as an upper level jet strengthened 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 ILM wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms developed along a surface trough during the early afternoon. These thunderstorms intensified as an upper level jet strengthened 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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 22, 10:45 AM EST, 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1145 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN CAROLINAS TODAY AND
DISSIPATE NEAR THE COAST EARLY NEXT WEEK. OCEAN SWELLS FROM
HURRICANE BILL WILL CREATE DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS AND RIP
CURRENTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS BILL PASSES WELL EAST OF THE
CAROLINAS.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 1140 AM SATURDAY...VAPOR ANIMATIONS INDICATE BILL MAY BE
INDUCING SUBSIDENCE ALOFT OVER THE FORECAST AREA. THE SUBSIDENCE
IS TOO WEAK TO HOLD OFF CONVECTION...BUT COULD LIMIT COVERAGE.
GIVEN INSTABILITY AND PRECIPITABLE WATERS...SOME BIG RAINMAKERS
ARE LIKELY. THESE WILL SHOW SLOW TO MODERATE MOVEMENT TOWARD THE
NE. STRONG RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED TODAY IN SE SWELL FROM BILL
PASSING WELL E OF THE AREA AND WILL REFRESH HIGH SURF ADVISORY
ALL COASTS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...DISSIPATING SFC FRONT WILL LINGER NEAR THE
COAST THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH A WEAKENING UPPER TROF TO THE
WEST. HOWEVER THE DEEPER MOISTURE WILL BE SHUNTED OFF THE
COAST...SO WILL ONLY CARRY A SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR DIURNAL
CONVECTION. TEMPS ABOUT A CATEGORY ABOVE CLIMO BOTH DAY AND
NIGHT...BUT THE MID-LEVEL DRYING SHOULD ALLOW FOR AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS
TO MIX DOWN INTO THE 65-70F RANGE AND KEEP THE HEAT INDICES A BIT
LOWER THAN SOME RECENT DAYS.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...WEAK RIDGING SFC AND ALOFT WILL TAKE CONTROL
TUE-THU AS THE STATIONARY FRONT ALONG THE COAST WASHES OUT. DRY
MID-LEVELS AND A DECENT SUBSIDENCE INVERSION AROUND 600MB WILL
LIMIT CONVECTION...IN SPITE OF JUICY LOW LEVELS. HAVE GONE WITH
JUST SLIGHT CHANCE POPS BY DAY...EVEN THO THAT COULD BE NARROWED
DOWN TO THE AFTERNOON HRS...AND DRY BY NIGHT. TEMPS WILL RUN JUST
A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
BY FRIDAY THE NEXT FRONT COMES INTO THE PICTURE AND PRECIPITABLE
WATER INCREASES AGAIN...SO BUMPED THE POPS BACK INTO THE CHANCE
CATEGORY AND WILL SEE TEMPS NEAR NORMAL.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
PLENTY OF CAPE...PRECIPITABLE WATER...AND LOW LFC WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
SCATTERED/NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND STORMS...BEGINNING FAIRLY
EARLY...AROUND 15-16Z. LOOK FOR CONVECTION TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON HOURS...ENDING BY EARLY EVENING. LIGHT MAINLY SOUTHWEST
WINDS TODAY...GUSTY IN STORMS. LIGHT WINDS OVERNIGHT WITH FOG
FORMATION AFTER 08Z.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK THROUGH WEDNESDAY...ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 1140 AM SATURDAY...MARINERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO REMAIN IN
PORT DUE TO HAZARDOUS SEAS. A STRONG SE SWELL GENERATED BY HURRICANE
BILL IS IN PLACE WITH PERIODS OF 17 SECONDS THIS MORNING. SEAS WILL
CONTINUE TO BUILD...PEAKING THIS AFTERNOON IN 7 TO 10 FT RANGE WITH
12 FOOTERS OUT NEAR FRYING PAN SHOALS. HURRICANE BILL WILL MOVE N OF
OUR LATITUDE...PASSING ABOUT 600 MILES E OF CAPE FEAR THIS MORNING.
A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE W AND BE VERY NEAR THE IMMEDIATE
COAST BY THE END OF PERIOD. THE STRONGEST WINDS THIS PERIOD WILL BE
THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF TONIGHT. GRADIENT WILL
BE SLACKENING WITH APPROACH OF TROUGH OVERNIGHT SAT. PREDOMINATE
DIRECTION WILL BE SW.
SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...WILL BEGIN THE PERIOD WITH MARGINAL SCA
CONDITIONS DUE TO SWELL FROM BILL...BUT BY THAT POINT THE EVENT
WILL SURELY BE IN ITS WRAP-UP STAGES. SEAS WILL SUBSIDE THRU THE
DAY ON SUNDAY...WITH 2-4 FT EXPECTED TO BE THE FLAVOR OF SUN NIGHT
AND MON. WEAKENING FRONT WILL LINGER NEAR THE COAST...RESULTING IN
LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS FOR MOST OF THIS TIME FRAME.
LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...EXPECT LIGHT WINDS AND RELATIVELY FLAT SEAS
FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD WITH QUITE A WEAK PRESSURE GRADIENT
EXPECTED OVER THE WATERS. IF ANYTHING THE WIND FIELD MAY BE
DOMINATED BY SEABREEZE PROCESSES. GFS AND NAM BOTH ADVERTISE A
WEAK TROPICAL WAVE MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE BAHAMAS ON
TUE...SUPPORTING THE NEW 11SEC SE SWELL PROGGED IN THE WNA WAVE
GUIDANCE BY WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BE ENOUGH FOR A SLIGHT BUMP IN
THE SEAS BUT STILL WELL SHORT OF ANY FLAG CRITERIA.
&&
.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ034-046.
NC...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR NCZ097-100-101.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 8 AM EDT SUNDAY
FOR AMZ250-252-254-256.
&&
NEAR TERM...RJD/MJC
SHORT TERM...RAS
LONG TERM...RAS
AVIATION...43HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 431 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 NCZ087-096-099-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-230845- ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION- WILLIAMSBURG- 431 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WILL RESULT IN WATER ACCUMULATING IN LOW-LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE STRONGEST OF THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED TODAY. NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-230845- PENDER-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-HORRY-GEORGETOWN- 431 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT SUNDAY... ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH SURF ADVISORY. HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. STRONG LONG PERIOD SOUTHEASTERLY SWELLS FROM DISTANT HURRICANE BILL WILL AFFECT AREA BEACHES WITH POWERFUL AND DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS TODAY AND TONIGHT. BREAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH AS HIGH AS 8 TO 10 FEET. FREQUENT AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND TONIGHT. THE POUNDING SURF WILL LIKELY RESULT IN MINOR TO PERHAPS MODERATE BEACH EROSION...ESPECIALLY AROUND HIGH TIDE. HIGH TIDE OCCURS AROUND 930 AM AND 10 PM. NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WILL RESULT IN WATER ACCUMULATING IN LOW-LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE STRONGEST OF THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE ISOLATED STRONG WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH SURF ADVISORY. THE RIP CURRENT RISK MAY BE HIGH AGAIN ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED TODAY. AMZ250-252-254-256-230845- SURF CITY TO CAPE FEAR NC OUT 20 NM- CAPE FEAR NC TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SC OUT 20 NM- LITTLE RIVER INLET TO MURRELLS INLET SC OUT 20 NM- MURRELLS INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM- 431 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS. LONG PERIOD SOUTHEASTERLY SWELLS FROM HURRICANE BILL THROUGHOUT THIS WEEKEND WILL CREATE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS ACROSS AREA INLETS AND ENTRANCES...ESPECIALLY DURING OUTGOING TIDES. STANDING AND STEEP WAVES WILL MANIFEST THEMSELVES ACROSS AND NEAR INLETS DURING RECEDING TIDES. IN ADDITION...SAND BARS AND OTHER SUBMERGED LOCATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE BREAKERS THAT NORMALLY DO NOT OCCUR DUE TO THE LONG PERIODS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCOMING SWELL. LOW TIDE TODAY IS AROUND 3 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED TODAY. RJD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1138 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 NCZ099-SCZ034-221630- COLUMBUS-HORRY- 1138 AM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHERN HORRY COUNTY AND WESTERN COLUMBUS COUNTY... AT 1136 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR FAIR BLUFF TO JUST NORTH OF GREEN SEA...MOVING EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS UP TO 35 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE WHITEVILLE...CHADBOURN... CHERRY GROVE...CLARENDON...CRUSOE ISLAND...FAIR BLUFF...HALLSBORO... REDBUG...SIDNEY...WILLIAMS...BRUNSWICK AND CERRO GORDO. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THUNDERSTORMS CAN POSE A VARIETY OF THREATS INCLUDING GUSTY WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ILM. SRP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1235 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 NCZ096-099-100-SCZ034-221730- COLUMBUS-BLADEN-BRUNSWICK-HORRY- 1235 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF BLADEN AND COLUMBUS COUNTIES... AT 1234 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM NEAR JEROME TO BLADENBORO AND WHITEVILLE...MOVING EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM IN THIS LINE WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITE OAK. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE ELIZABETHTOWN... WHITEVILLE...ABBOTTSBURG...AMMON...ASH...BETHEL...BLADENBORO... BUGHILL...CARVERS...CHADBOURN...CLARENDON AND COUNCIL. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THUNDERSTORMS CAN POSE A VARIETY OF THREATS INCLUDING GUSTY WINDS... SMALL HAIL...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ILM. SRP
The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:41 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A roof was blown off a hog farm shelter.
The roof was ripped off Old White Oak High School.
Trees up to 10 inches in diameter were down on and around a house.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2009
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: 194055, 194053, 194056.