A surface trough interacted with an upper level shortwave trough resulting in upstream thunderstorm development. As these thunderstorms moved to the southeast, they intensified to severe levels as they interacted with the sea breeze boundary pushing progressively inland.
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.
A surface trough interacted with an upper level shortwave trough resulting in upstream thunderstorm development. As these thunderstorms moved to the southeast, they intensified to severe levels as they interacted with the sea breeze boundary pushing progressively inland.
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 Jun 26, 2:35 PM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...COR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 335 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER NEW ENGLAND AND THE GREAT LAKES THROUGH THE PERIOD. A WEAK FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTH CAROLINA ON SATURDAY BEFORE WEAKENING AND MOVING SOUTH THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY. ANOTHER FRONT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN LATE SUNDAY AND MONDAY...FOLLOWED BY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS INTO MID WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...SEVERAL COALESCING INGREDIENTS HAVE TRIGGERED STRONG CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON OVER NORTHERN INLAND LOCATIONS OF THE ILM FORECAST AREA. STRONG SURFACE HEATING COUPLED WITH STOUT DEWPOINTS AND SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS ALOFT...WHILE AN APPROACHING SHORT WAVE OVER THE NC APPALACHIANS APPEARS ALSO TO BE DEEPENING THE PIEDMONT TROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. POSITION OF THE SHORTWAVE WILL LIKELY FAVOR STRONGER STORMS OVER THE NC ZONES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON...ALTHOUGH ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE GIVEN THE INTENSE HEAT INDICES ACROSS THE ERN CAROLINAS. SUSPECT A LINE OF CONVECTION WILL CONSOLIDATE AND PUSH GENERALLY EASTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA FROM MID AFTERNOON THROUGH MID EVENING. THE SHORTWAVE TRAVERSING WRN NC COULD SUSTAIN CONVECTION INTO LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT ALONG THE COASTAL AND MARINE ZONES. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...LATEST RUNS SHOW FRONTAL BOUNDARY HUNG UP AND WEAKENING OVER LOCAL AREA ON SAT WITH WINDS STARTING TO VEER AROUND TO THE W AND NW. SHOULD SEE SHWR/TSTM ACTIVITY FLAIR UP ALONG THIS BOUNDARY WITH PLENTY OF WARM MOIST AIR IN PLACE OVER THE COASTAL CAROLINAS. MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL AMPLIFY ON SAT BEFORE PUSHING THIS FRONT THROUGH THE LOCAL AREA WITH A GOOD PUSH FROM THE N-NW BY SAT NIGHT. A COMBINATION OF THE SEA BREEZE PUSHING INLAND AND CONVERGENCE ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WITH DEWPOINTS UP TO 75 AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SHOULD PRODUCE MORE WIDESPREAD SHWR/TSTM ACTIVITY LATER IN THE DAY AS SHORTWAVE ADVANCES THROUGH LOCAL AREA. MAIN ACTIVITY SHOULD TAKE PLACE LATE SAT AFTN UNTIL AROUND MIDNIGHT WITH PCP WATER VALUES REACHING UP NEAR 2 INCHES. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH THE MAIN THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS AS NW WINDS PICK UP ALOFT THROUGH THE DAY ON SAT. THE WINDS VEER AROUND TO THE N-NW PUSHING DRIER AIR INTO LOCAL AREA OVERNIGHT THROUGH SUN MORNING. DEEP LAYER NW FLOW WITH INCREASED SUBSIDENCE BEHIND SHORTWAVE TROUGH SHOULD PRODUCE A NICE DAY FOR SUNDAY. PCP WATER DROPS DOWN TO NEAR AN INCH INLAND AND 1.25 INCHES NEAR THE COAST BY SUN MORNING. THIS SHOULD BE SHORT LIVED WITH MOISTURE INCREASING AGAIN BY LATE SUN IN A MORE SOUTHERLY FLOW ONCE AGAIN AT THE SFC AS ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHES THE CAROLINAS FROM THE NORHTWEST BY MON. TEMPS WILL BE RUNNING A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL...IN THE LOWER 90S MOST PLACES WITH DEW POINTS UP NEAR 70 TO NEAR 75 ALONG THE COAST SAT AFTN. GOOD PUSH OF DRY AIR SHOULD DROP THEM DOWN TO THE MID 60S INLAND BY SUN MORNING BEHIND FRONT. HEAT INDICES MAY REACH CLOSE TO 105 OR HEAT ADVISORY CRITERIA ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST AS DEWPOINTS STAY UP AROUND 70 AND W-NW WINDS KEEP TEMPS WARMER ALONG THE COAST. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...GFS/ECMWF DIFFER A BIT IN THE DETAILS...BUT THE GENERAL IDEA IS AN UPPER TROFF OVER THE GREAT LAKES FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD WITH GENERALLY WESTERLY BUT CYCLONIC ALLY CURVED FLOW OVER THE CAROLINAS. A AFC FRONT OR PIEDMONT TROFF WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME OVER THE EASTERN CAROLINAS...AND NOT GO TOO FAR AS IT WILL BE ORIENTED PARALLEL TO THE FLOW ALOFT. NOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PRECIP FORECAST SO HAVE STAYED CLOSE TO THE DIURNAL SLIGHT/LOW CHANCE POPS...BUT COULD GO DRIER IF THE FRONT CAN GET PUSHED A LITTLE FARTHER EAST. TEMPS NEAR OR JUST ON THE HIGH SIDE OF CLIMO THUR THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... STAYED BASICALLY WITH THE CURRENT FORECAST. JUICY ATMOSPHERE WITH GOOD CAPES WILL PROVIDE FOR SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY...BEGINNING BETWEEN 17-18Z. WINDS ALOFT WILL PIN THE RESULTANT NEAR THE COAST...WITH INTERMITTENT CONVECTION IN THE COASTAL TADS THROUGH 21Z. BLT AND FLO WILL ALSO SEE CONVECTION...HOWEVER IT WILL MOSTLY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PIEDMONT TROUGH. OVERNIGHT...A WEAK COLD FRONT DROPS SOUTH INTO THE REGION...WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF CONVECTION EXPECTED MAINLY BETWEEN 04-07Z. CEILINGS WILL LIKELY REMAIN VFR...HOWEVER BRIEF BOUTS OF IFR DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN CONVECTION ARE LIKELY. SOME MVFR FOG POSSIBLE INLAND TOWARD MORNING. SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONT TODAY...BECOMING MORE WESTERLY TOWARDS MORNING AS THE FRONT STRUGGLES TO DROP SOUTH OF THE REGION. EXTENDED OUTLOOK THROUGH TUESDAY...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED STORMS MONDAY. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...SEAS ARE RESPONDING TO THE INCREASING SW SURFACE FLOW THIS AFTERNOON WITH FRYING PAN SHOALS BUOY REPORTING SEAS NOW UP TO 4 FEET. THE SURFACE WIND TRAJECTORY WILL FAVOR HIGHEST SEAS OVER THE OUTER WATERS NORTH OF LITTLE RIVER INLET...WHILE OFFSHORE FLOW KEEPS NEAR SHORE SEAS IN THE 2-3 FOOT RANGE FROM LITTLE RIVER SOUTHWARD TO NORTH SANTEE AND ALONG THE PENDER AND NEW HANOVER NEAR SHORE WATERS. OVERNIGHT WELL LIKELY SEE WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS OVER THE OUTER PORTION NORTH OF MERRELS INLET WHERE ISOLATED 5 FOOT SEAS ARE POSSIBLE BEYOND ABOUT 15 NM. LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT DOMINANT WAVE PERIODS WILL TRANSITION TO 5-6 SECOND PERIODS WHICH WILL CREATE A FAIRLY STEEP CHOP ON THE WATERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE OUTER WATERS. AS A RESULT...FOR THIS AFTN MARINE PACKAGE WELL HIGHLIGHT AN EXERCISE CAUTION STATEMENT FOR THE OUTER PORTION OF THE MARINE ZONES NORTH OF MERRELS INLET. SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...SOUTHWEST FLOW SHOULD VEER AROUND THROUGH THE DAY ON SAT BECOMING MORE OFF SHORE AND WESTERLY AS FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER COASTAL CAROLINAS GETS PUSHED CLOSER TO THE COAST. SHORTWAVE TROUGH SAT NIGHT SHOULD PUSH BOUNDARY FAR ENOUGH OFF SHORE TO PRODUCE A NW FLOW BY SUN MORNING. THIS SHOULD ONLY LAST VERY BRIEFLY AS WINDS SHIFT AROUND TO THE S-SW AGAIN AS ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVES INTO THE CAROLINAS HEADING INTO MONDAY. EVEN WITH WINDS SHIFTS LIKELY...SPEEDS WILL HOLD MAINLY AROUND 15 KTS OR BELOW. SEAS SHOULD REMAIN IN A 2-4 FOOT RANGE. LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 3 PM FRIDAY...GFS/ECMWF DIFFER A BIT IN THE DETAILS...BUT THE GENERAL IDEA IS AN UPPER TROFF OVER THE GREAT LAKES FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD WITH GENERALLY WESTERLY BUT CYCLONIC ALLY CURVED FLOW OVER THE CAROLINAS. A AFC FRONT OR PIEDMONT TROFF WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME OVER THE EASTERN CAROLINAS...AND NOT GO TOO FAR AS IT WILL BE ORIENTED PARALLEL TO THE FLOW ALOFT. NOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PRECIP FORECAST SO HAVE STAYED CLOSE TO THE DIURNAL SLIGHT/LOW CHANCE POPS...BUT COULD GO DRIER IF THE FRONT CAN GET PUSHED A LITTLE FARTHER EAST. TEMPS NEAR OR JUST ON THE HIGH SIDE OF CLIMO THRU THE PERIOD. && .IL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...RGZ NEAR TERM...MJC SHORT TERM...RGZ LONG TERM...RAS AVIATION...MJC/DL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 458 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-270900- ROBESON-BLADEN-PENDER-COLUMBUS-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-MARLBORO- DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-HORRY-WILLIAMSBURG-GEORGETOWN- 458 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A FEW OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OR LARGE HAIL POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY WILL CAUSE THE HEAT INDEX TO REACH 100 TO 105 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. LATER FORECASTS WILL REFINE THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE CONDITIONS AND A HEAT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ250-252-254-256-270900- 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- 458 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 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...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. TRA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1232 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-262200- ROBESON-BLADEN-PENDER-COLUMBUS-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-MARLBORO- DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-HORRY-WILLIAMSBURG-GEORGETOWN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LUMBERTON...ELIZABETHTOWN...BURGAW... SURF CITY...WHITEVILLE...LELAND...SHALLOTTE...WILMINGTON... WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH...BENNETTSVILLE...DARLINGTON...DILLON... FLORENCE...MARION...CONWAY...MYRTLE BEACH...KINGSTREE... GEORGETOWN 1232 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 ...HEAT INDICES WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON... THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CREATE HEAT INDICES AROUND 100 DEGREE ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THOSE WHO MUST BE OUTSIDE FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME SHOULD AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITY IF POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER...TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE IF YOU CAN. CHECK ON RELATIVES AND THE ELDERLY AND MAKE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE PLENTY WATER AVAILABLE AS WELL. MJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 131 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 NCZ087-261930- ROBESON- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...LUMBERTON 131 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO CROSS NORTHERN ROBESON COUNTY... A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER HOKE COUNTY WILL MOVE EAST INTO PARKTON AND RED SPRINGS...THEN REACH SAINT PAULS AFTER 2 PM. HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE OCCURRING WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL RESULT AN INCH OR MORE OF RAINFALL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON LOW-LYING OR POORLY DRAINED ROADWAYS. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 132 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 NCZ087-261945- ROBESON- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...LUMBERTON 132 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO CROSS NORTHERN ROBESON COUNTY... A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER HOKE COUNTY WILL MOVE EAST INTO PARKTON AND RED SPRINGS...THEN REACH SAINT PAULS AFTER 2 PM. HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE OCCURRING WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL RESULT IN AN INCH OR MORE OF RAINFALL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...AND MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON LOW-LYING OR POORLY DRAINED ROADWAYS. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 245 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 NCZ087-096-262000- ROBESON-BLADEN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LUMBERTON...ELIZABETHTOWN 245 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN ROBESON AND BLADEN COUNTIES... THROUGH 4 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST...MAINLY AFFECTING LOCATIONS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 41. AS OF 240 PM...THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE NORTHEAST OF WHITE OAK IN BLADEN COUNTY...AND ALONG THE COUNTY LINE BETWEEN SAINT PAULS AND TAR HEEL. HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND GUSTY WINDS NEAR 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO LIKELY...AND COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS...ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS THAT ALREADY RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 249 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 SCZ034-262000- HORRY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CONWAY...MYRTLE BEACH 249 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING NEAR NORTH MYRTLE BEACH... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NORTH MYRTLE BEACH WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY THROUGH 4 PM. GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH...A HEAVY DOWNPOUR...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS AS SOON AS THUNDER IS HEARD. RAS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 259 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 SCZ017-023-024-032-033-262000- MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...DARLINGTON...DILLON... FLORENCE...MARION 259 PM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009 AT 255 PM...A BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF DILLON...TO NEAR DARLINGTON...TO SOUTHWEST OF TIMMONSVILLE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THROUGH 4 PM...REACHING EASTERN DILLON COUNTY...AS WELL AS MARION AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF FLORENCE COUNTY. THE STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS NEAR 40 MPH...AS WELL AS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. UP TO AN INCH OF RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. RAS
The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:54 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines reported down between Bladenboro and Clarkton. Five roads were blocked by fallen trees and power lines.
A ten inch diameter pine tree was snapped off about three feet above the ground along Peacock Road. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 58 mph.
Three trailers were destroyed and two were damaged. One home was damaged. One barn collapsed and the equipment inside was damaged. Two large trees fell onto four parked cars. The cars were severely damaged. A dozen trees in all were reportedly down. The damage was primarily along and near JD Connerette Road. Details were provided by the Columbus County Emergency Manager. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A large oak tree fell onto a house in the community of Lockwood Folly Country Club.
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, June 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: 177835, 177834, 180864, 177837.