Intense surface heating along with a surface trough across eastern portions of central North Carolina produced scattered showers and thunderstorms across the coastal plain of North Carolina. Some of these storms became severe and produced hail to the size of nickel and damaging winds.
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.
Intense surface heating along with a surface trough across eastern portions of central North Carolina produced scattered showers and thunderstorms across the coastal plain of North Carolina. Some of these storms became severe and produced hail to the size of nickel and damaging winds. These storms also produced very heavy rain, and several reports of flash flooding.
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 25, 3:55 PM EST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 455 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH WILL EXTEND THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL SETTLE OVER THE CAROLINAS BY MONDAY AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WORK WEEK AS A STRENGTHENING BERMUDA HIGH EXPANDS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN US. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 455 PM SATURDAY... UNTIL LATE EVENING: ISOLATED STORMS CONTINUE TO FIRE JUST SOUTH OF RALEIGH SOUTHWARD TOWARD THE SC STATE LINE... WITHIN A TIGHT INSTABILITY GRADIENT ALONG THE SURFACE TROUGH. LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE WAY UP IN THE 8.5-9.0 C/KM TERRITORY... ALTHOUGH MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE UNIMPRESSIVE (5.5-6.0 C/KM) AND LAPS SOUNDINGS SHOW ENOUGH OF A WARM LAYER AROUND 600 MB TO DECELERATE ANY UPDRAFTS. DEEP LAYER SHEAR REMAINS RATHER MARGINAL AROUND 20 KTS... AND DRY AIR IN PLACE NOTED WELL ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIMIT BOTH THE STRENGTH AND COVERAGE OF CONVECTION. BUT A FEW STORMS WITH SUSTAINED UPDRAFTS COULD PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND LOCALLY STRONG WIND GUSTS GIVEN THE SOMEWHAT DRY SUBCLOUD AIR. HAVE ADDED ISOLATED STORMS ALONG AND EAST OF THE SURFACE TROUGH WELL INTO THE EVENING. -GIH FROM LATE EVENING ONWARD: DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF STRONG FORCING... ANY CONVECTION WILL QUICKLY DIMINISH WITH LOSS OF THE STRONG DAYTIME HEATING. SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY CLEAR BY LATE EVENING WITH GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING RESULTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATCHY DENSE FOG DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST WHERE MORE HUMID LOW-LEVEL AIR WILL POOL. LOWS IN THE MID 60S NW TO AROUND 70 SE. -CBL && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 230 PM SATURDAY... LEE SIDE TROUGH SHARPENS UP ACROSS THE PIEDMONT ON SUNDAY AS HEIGHTS ALOFT LOWER UPSTREAM OVER THE TN VALLEY...IN RESPONSE TO CLOSED LOW AND ATTENDANT MID-LEVEL OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY. BETTER/DEEPER MOISTURE THROUGH THE COLUMN ALONG THE LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG THE PIEDMONT TROUGH WILL SUPPORT SLIGHT TO LOW CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE PIEDMONT...WITH SEABREEZE POSSIBLY WORKING ITS WAY INLAND INTO COASTAL PLAIN AND SANDHILLS AS SURFACE WINDS BACK TO MORE SOUTHERLY. LOW-LEVEL THICKNESSES NEARLY IDENTICAL TO SATURDAY. AFTERNOON HIGHS ONCE AGAIN IN THE LOWER TO MID 90S. COULD ACTUALLY SEE BETTER CONVECTIVE COVERAGE SUNDAY NIGHT AS OPPOSE TO THE DAYLIGHT HOURS ON SUNDAY AS THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE UPPER LOW/TROUGH CROSSING THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY BRUSHES ACROSS THE AREA. ELEVATED INSTABILITY LOOKS TO ACCOMPANY THE UPPER TROUGH PASSAGE WITH THE BOTH THE GFS AND NAM INDICATING MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES OF 6 TO 6.5 C/KM SUNDAY NIGHT WITH FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOWING PWATS 150 TO 180 PERCENT OF NORMAL. WILL RETAIN A SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVERNIGHT. LOWS 70 TO 75 UNDERNEATH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND RAIN SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 100 PM SATURDAY... IN THE EARLY EXTENDED...THE UPPER TROF AXIS ROTATES ACROSS THE AREA ON MONDAY PUSHING A WEAK FRONT INTO THE ATLANTIC COASTAL REGION TO LANGUISH THOUGH TUESDAY. THESE FEATURES PROVIDE SOME CONFIDENCE IN BETTER THAN CLIMATOLOGICAL POPS AND WILL SLIGHTLY ADJUST ONGOING CHANCE POPS UPWARDS AND TREND THE TIMING A LITTLE MORE TIGHTLY ALONG DIURNAL LINES. SUMMER PATTERN FEATURING A STRONG BERMUDA HIGH AND A PERSISTENT UPPER TROF OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD. THE RESULTING DEEP SOUTHWEST FLOW = HOT AND HUMID WITH THE GENERAL SETUP SUPPORTING LARGELY DIURNAL PULSE THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY WITH VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN SUB-SYNOPTIC SCALE FEATURES THAT THE MODELS MIGHT SPIN UP AND ADVECT INTO THE AREA. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DEGREES OF 90 FOR HIGHS AND 68 TO 74 DEGREES FOR LOWS. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 130 PM SATURDAY... AN ILL-DEFINED SURFACE TROUGH OVER CENTRAL NC WILL BISECT THE STATE INTO TWO DISTINCT REGIMES--VERY HUMID/MUGGY AIR OVER EASTERN HALF...WITH NOTICEABLY DRIER AIR ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF. STRONG AFTERNOON HEATING IN THE MUGGY AIRMASS WILL BRING THE THREAT OF ISOLATED THUNDER IN THE EAST...WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE BRINGING AN ISOLATED CONVECTIVE THREAT TO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT AS WELL. WHILE A BRIEF PERIOD OF SUB VFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN A STORM...NO SUCH RESTRICTION WILL BE MENTIONED DUE TO THE ISOLATED AREAL COVERAGE. CONVECTIVE CU FIELD WILL DISSIPATE WITH LOSS OF HEATING TO SUPPORT MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES BY LATE EVENING. UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND A LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW...RADIATIONAL COOLING WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR AREAS OF MVFR TO IFR FOG TO DEVELOP IN THE MORE HUMID AIR ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. CONVECTION SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE WIDESPREAD ON SUNDAY AS DEEPER MOISTURE SPREADS OVER THE AREA...FOCUSED ALONG THE DEVELOPING PIEDMONT TROUGH. FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...A WARM AND MOIST LADEN AIRMASS WILL BRING THE THREAT OF MORNING FOG AND WIDESPREAD AFTERNOON CONVECTION EACH DAY. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...CBL NEAR TERM...HARTFIELD/CBL SHORT TERM...CBL LONG TERM...MLM AVIATION...CBL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 531 AM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-260945- 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- 531 AM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 355 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 NCZ041-042-077-252100- HARNETT-JOHNSTON-WAKE- 355 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN HARNETT... SOUTHERN WAKE... AND WESTERN JOHNSTON COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM... AT 354 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SEMINOLE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF LILLINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE DUNCAN... FUQUAY-VARINA... AND ANGIER. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH... SMALL HAIL... AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THOSE OUTSIDE SHOULD GO INDOORS IMMEDIATELY AT THE FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. GIH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 358 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 NCZ085-086-252100- HOKE-SCOTLAND- 358 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS HOKE AND NORTHERN SCOTLAND COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM... AT 357 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CAMP MACKALL... OR ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF RAEFORD... MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE BOWMORE...SILVER CITY...AND RAEFORD. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH... SMALL HAIL... AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THOSE OUTSIDE SHOULD GO INDOORS IMMEDIATELY AT THE FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. GIH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 434 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 NCZ040-041-076-077-252130- CHATHAM-HARNETT-LEE-WAKE- 434 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 ...ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE NORTH ACROSS SOUTHERN WAKE...EASTERN CHATHAM AND NORTHERN HARNETT COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM EDT... AT 430 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER DUNCAN...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF LILLINGTON AND ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER MONCURE OR 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF SANFORD. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. AS THESE STORMS MOVE NORTHEAST...THEY WILL IMPACT FUQUAY-VARINA... HOLLY SPRINGS...LAKE WHEELER...JORDAN LAKE AND NEW HILL. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BLAES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 520 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 NCZ041-042-252215- JOHNSTON-WAKE- 520 PM EDT SAT JUL 25 2009 ...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS WAKE AND JOHNSTON COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM EDT... AT 515 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER CARY...ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER FUQUAY-VARINA AND A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CLAYTON. ALL OF THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT RDU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...WEST RALEIGH...GARNER...FLOWERS AND WENDELL THROUGH 630 PM. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. BLAES
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 4 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:23 UTC.
6 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel sized hail was reported at the intersection of North Carolina Highway 42 and Amelia Church Road.
One tree was reported down on Blalock Road.
Penny sized hail was reported along Blalock Road.
One tree was reported down on Pine-Level Micro Road, near Hinnant Road.
One large tree was reported down across Aycock Road, near Rains Crossroads Road.
Numerous roads were reported closed due to high water across Northern Wayne County.
Several streets in Lucama, North Carolina were reported to be underwater, including Little Rock Church Road, United States Highway 301, and Main Street.
One tree was reported down across the intersection of Richardson Bass Road and Bagley 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: 187768, 187770, 187776, 187775, 187772, 187778, 187777, 187774, 187773, 187760, 187765, 187779.