Thunderstorms developed along the piedmont trough during the early afternoon and reached the Interstate-95 corridor late in the afternoon.
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.
Thunderstorms developed along the piedmont trough during the early afternoon and reached the Interstate-95 corridor late in the afternoon.
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 Jul 16, 2:49 PM EST, 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 349 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 .SYNOPSIS... SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A WARM AND HUMID SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS COLD FRONT WILL STALL NEAR THE CAROLINA COAST SATURDAY NIGHT...THEN REMAIN THERE AS IT SLOWLY DISSIPATES THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...CONVECTION FLARING UP ALONG PIEDMONT TROUGH AS IT DEEPENS THIS AFTERNOON. THESE SHWRS/TSTMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST BUT AS STEERING FLOW BECOMES MORE WESTERLY AS THE DAY PROGRESSES...EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO MOVE EAST AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS CWA THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. SHORTWAVE MOVING FROM GA INTO THE CAROLINAS THIS AFTN WILL TRACK AND OFF THE COAST THROUGH THIS EVENING PROVIDING SOME ENHANCEMENT TO THIS ACTIVITY. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND A POSSIBILITY. KEPT MENTION OF POPS THROUGH THIS EVENING...BUT EXPECT ACTIVITY TO TAPER OFF AS DAYTIME HEATING CUTS OFF AND SHORTWAVE MOVES OFF SHORE. THEREFORE ONLY LEFT SLIGHT CHC...MAINLY ALONG THE COAST HEADING INTO THE MORNING. CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA SO DO NOT EXPECT TEMPS TO RISE MUCH MORE THIS AFTERNOON AND WITH DEW POINTS UP IN THE 70S THE MIN TEMPS OVERNIGHT SHOULD ONLY DROP TO THE LOW TO MID 70S. CLOUDS AND LIGHT WINDS WILL ALSO HELP TO KEEP TEMPS UP THROUGH THE EVENING. .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...ISOLATED CONVECTION WILL START OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHORT TERM AS A RESULT OF LEFTOVER ACTIVITY FROM THE OVERNIGHT HRS. THE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL CAROLINAS OVERNIGHT IS PROGGED TO HAVE JOGGED TOWARD THE CAROLINAS COASTS FOR FRIDAY. WEAK UPPER IMPULSES WILL INTERACT WITH THE SFC TROF AND RESULT IN POPS INCREASING TO 40-50S BY LATE MORNING...AND UP TO LIKELY BY MIDDAY AND AFTN ONCE THE DAYS INSOLATION IS REALIZED AND A PORTION OF THE CONVECTIVE DEBRIS CLOUDINESS DISSIPATES. SLITE RISK FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IS INDICATED BY SPC FOR FRI AND WILL HIGHLIGHT IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. FOR LATE FRI THROUGH SAT...THE LONGWAVE TROF AMPLIFIES ACROSS THE EASTERN 3RD OF THE U.S. ALLOWING A PUSH TO THE SFC COLD FRONT FROM THE APP MTNS TO THE COAST AND LIKELY OFFSHORE B4 STALLING ONCE AGAIN BY SUNDAY MORNING. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OR 2 OF CONVECTION DURING SATURDAY ALTHOUGH MODELS INDICATE THE CLOSER TO THE COAST AND ADJACENT WATERS WILL ACHIEVE THE BETTER POPS DUE TO BETTER MOISTURE PREFERENCES. TOYED WITH MAXES BOTH DAYS DUE TO CONVECTIVE DEBRIS CLOUDINESS POTENTIAL. UPPED MINS FOR SAT NIGHT DUE TO THE LAGGING COOLER AND DRIER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...STILL A RATHER LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST AS A LOT DEPENDS ON THE FATE OF THE COLD FRONT. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT IT WILL STALL NEAR THE COAST ON SUNDAY AND LINGER THERE THRU THE PERIOD. DEEP SW FLOW MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FORECAST A DRY DAY ANYWHERE...BUT AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS THE MOISTURE WILL BE SHUNTED FAR ENOUGH EAST TO GO WITH SILENT 20 POPS INLAND ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. OTHERWISE DIURNAL CHANCE POPS THRU WEDNESDAY. BERMUDA RIDGE STARTS TO BUILD IN A LITTLE STRONGER BY THURSDAY...SO WILL DROP OFF TO SILENT 20S AGAIN. TEMPS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE UPPER 80S FOR HIGHS FOR MUCH OF THE PERIOD DUE TO THE MOISTURE AND ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER...WITH THURSDAY AS THE BEST SHOT AT 90 DUE TO STRONGER RIDGING ALOFT. MINS GENERALLY NEAR CLIMO...BUT COULD HAVE ENOUGH DRY AIR TO LET INLAND LOCATIONS DIP INTO THE MID 60S SUN NIGHT AND MON NIGHT. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... STILL A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON. NAM AND GFS MODELS SEEMS TO WANT TO BRING IN A DECENT AMOUNT OF CONVECTION AFTER 18Z. AT THIS TIME WILL GO FOR VCTS BECAUSE THE COVERAGE WILL BE MINIMAL. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHERLY EARLY...AND GUSTY...WITH THE RESULTANT. FAIRLY BENIGN CONDITIONS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT WITH LITTLE OR NO FOG. MAIN SLUG OF MOISTURE COMES IN FRIDAY MORNING...WITH A GOOD CHANCE FOR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS AFTER 15Z. EXTENDED OUTLOOK THROUGH TUESDAY...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. ISOLATED STORMS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...SEAS 2 TO 3 FT AT THE MOMENT WITH GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS UP NEAR 15 KTS...ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO THE COAST IN THE SEA BREEZE THIS AFTERNOON. TIGHTENED GRADIENT FLOW BETWEEN PIEDMONT TROUGH AND BERMUDA HIGH WILL KEEP A SOLID 15 KTS ACROSS MUCH OF OUR LOCAL WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS WILL HELP TO PUSH SEAS UP TO 3 TO 4 FT THROUGH TONIGHT. SHORT TERM /FROM 6AM FRIDAY THROUGH 6AM SUNDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...SCEC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP DURING FRIDAY AND LIKELY TO LAST THRUOUT THE SHORT TERM. SCA BREACHES AT TIMES FROM SEAS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF 20 NM FROM THE COAST MAINLY FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET NORTHWARD...AND CLOSER TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST IN THE VICINITY OF FPS. BOATERS CAN EXPECT A SOUTHWEST FLOW RUNNING 15-20 KNOTS TO RULE THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. THE CENTRAL CAROLINAS/PIEDMONT TROF/ PUSHING TO THE COAST AND THE RIDGING FROM THE WESTERN ATLANTIC HIGH WILL KEEP A DECENT AND TIGHTENED SFC PG ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THE TROF WILL BE REPLACED BY THE COLD FRONT DURING SATURDAY KEEPING THE TIGHTENED SFC PG ONGOING ACROSS THE WATERS. THE SEAS WILL BE DOMINATED BY SHORT PERIOD WIND DRIVEN WAVES...WITH 3 TO 5 FEET COMMON. WILL NEED TO MONITOR FOR POSSIBLE SCA ISSUANCES. LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...EXPECT BENIGN WINDS AND SEAS THRU THE PERIOD WITH A DISSIPATING FRONT STALLED VERY CLOSE TO THE COASTAL WATERS. WIND SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 KT BUT THE DIRECTION IS MUCH HARDER TO PIN DOWN THRU AT LEAST MONDAY. BY TUESDAY THE BERMUDA RIDGE STARTS TO HAVE MORE OF AN INFLUENCE. WITH THE RIDGE AXIS TO THE NORTH...EXPECT WINDS TO BACK AROUND TO SE AS THE FRONT FINALLY WASHES OUT. SEAS GENERALLY 2-3 FT...BUT A BETTER SHOT AT SOME 4 FOOTERS CREEPING IN BY TUESDAY AS THE SE FETCH OPENS UP. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...RAS NEAR TERM...RGZ SHORT TERM...HOEHLER LONG TERM...RAS AVIATION...RGZ/DL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 319 AM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-170730- ROBESON-BLADEN-PENDER-COLUMBUS-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-MARLBORO- DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-HORRY-WILLIAMSBURG-GEORGETOWN- 319 AM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ250-252-254-256-170730- 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- 319 AM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 232 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 SCZ017-161945- MARLBORO- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...BENNETTSVILLE 232 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT NORTHERN AND WESTERN MARLBORO COUNTY... THROUGH 330 PM...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WILL MOVE EAST...AFFECTING PORTIONS OF MARLBORO COUNTY NORTH AND WEST OF HIGHWAYS 15 AND 401. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS COULD PRODUCE UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. PONDING OF WATER ON LOW-LYING AND POORLY DRAINED ROADWAYS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE NEARLY CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTING. MOVE INDOORS AS SOON AS THUNDER IS HEARD. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 233 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 SCZ017-162000- MARLBORO- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...BENNETTSVILLE 233 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT NORTHERN AND WESTERN MARLBORO COUNTY... THROUGH 330 PM...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WILL MOVE EAST...AFFECTING PORTIONS OF MARLBORO COUNTY NORTH AND WEST OF HIGHWAYS 15 AND 401. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS COULD PRODUCE UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. PONDING OF WATER ON LOW-LYING AND POORLY DRAINED ROADWAYS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE NEARLY CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. MOVE INDOORS AS SOON AS THUNDER IS HEARD. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 309 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 NCZ087-SCZ024-162015- ROBESON-DILLON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LUMBERTON...DILLON 309 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO ROBESON AND DILLON COUNTIES... THROUGH 4 PM...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD SOUTHEAST INTO ROBESON AND NORTHWEST DILLON COUNTIES. CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND 40 TO 50 MPH WIND GUSTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL DUMP AS MUCH AS 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...RESULTING IN PONDING OF WATER ON LOW LYING ROADWAYS. LOCATIONS WEST OF INTERSTATE 95 WILL BE AFFECTED THROUGH 4 PM...WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS REMAINING NORTH OF HIGHWAY 74. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 316 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 SCZ017-023-162115- MARLBORO-DARLINGTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...DARLINGTON 316 PM EDT THU JUL 16 2009 ...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN IN MARLBORO AND DARLINGTON COUNTIES... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD SOUTHEAST ACROSS MARLBORO AND DARLINGTON COUNTIES THROUGH 4 PM...AND CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST 5 PM. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL PRODUCE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN PER HOUR...RESULTING IN PONDING OF WATER ON LOW-LYING ROADWAYS. WIND GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. RAS
The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:06 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
One large tree reported down on Stone Road.
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, July 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: 180551.