Scattered severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and into the early evening, as a shortwave trough aloft interacted with a moist and unstable atmosphere. Hail to the size of quarters and isolated wind damage were reported with these severe storms.
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.
Scattered severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and into the early evening, as a shortwave trough aloft interacted with a moist and unstable atmosphere. Hail to the size of quarters and isolated wind damage were reported with these severe storms.
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 May 7, 2:40 PM EST, 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 340 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS COUPLED WITH A SURFACE TROUGH IN THE VICINITY WILL TRIGGER SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH SATURDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 235 PM THURSDAY... AIR MASS CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE AS MIXED LAYER CAPE AT 17Z AROUND 1500 J/KG AND SURFACE BASED LIFTED INDICES AROUND MINUS 5/MINUS 6 AND LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES APPROACHING 8 DEG C/KM. 0-6KM BULK SHEAR 35-40KTS NOT SHABBY WITH WIND PROFILE FAIRLY UNIDIRECTIONAL. THESE PARAMETERS SUGGEST THAT CELLS SHOULD EVENTUALLY INTO BROKEN LINE. DAMAGING DOWNBURSTS AND LARGE HAIL APPEAR TO BE THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER FACTORS AS O-1KM HELICITY LESS THAN 100 M2/SEC2 AND LCL HEIGHTS GENERALLY AT OR ABOVE 1000M. AT 1820Z...ALREADY SEEING ISOLATED CELLS DEVELOP ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE AND ON A NARROW ZONE OF SURFACE CONFLUENCE FROM LAURINBURG TO GOLDSBORO TO WILSON. EXPECT THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AFTER 20-21Z AS MID LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE LOWER OH-TN VALLEY ADVANCES EAST. WHILE MAJORITY OF CONVECTION WILL DISSIPATE WITH LOSS OF HEATING...MAY SEE SCATTERED CONVECTION PERSIST UP TO 04Z IN THE EAST AS THIS REGION WILL BE IN THE FAVORABLE LEFT EXIT REGION OF 300MB JET OVER THE TN VALLEY. FOR NOW...WILL GO WITH A SOLID CHANCE POP LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POP IN THE EAST BY 04Z. SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR IN WAKE OF CONVECTION. MOIST LOW LEVEL AIR MASS SHOULD ALLOW POCKETS OF FOG AND/OR STRATUS TO DEVELOP BY DAYBREAK. MINS TONIGHT MAINLY IN THE MID 60S. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY/... AS OF 240 PM THURSDAY... FRIDAY...CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN ON PLACE BUT FOCUS FOR CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ASIDE FROM INSOLATION WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL LATE IN THE DAY OR AFTER SUNSET. EXPECT SCATTERED CONVECTION TO FIRE WITH A FEW STORMS BRIEFLY SEVERE LATE IN THE DAY. STEADY SW FLOW AND DECENT INSOLATION WILL MAKE IT FEEL LIKE EARLY SUMMER. LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES TOP OUT NEAR 1410M. PREVIOUS FORECAST OF MID/UPPER 80S LOOKS ON TARGET. && .LONG TERM TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 340 PM THURSDAY... WARM SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN CONTINUATION OF UNSETTLED WEATHER SATURDAY AS WE REMAIN IN WARM SECTOR... WITH BOUNDARY ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER. LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT WILL BE IN THE 60S. HIGHS SATURDAY WILL BE IN THE 80S WITH LOWER 90S ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON/SATURDAY EVENING... LINGERING SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH EARLY MONDAY. UPPER LEVEL WESTERLY FLOW OVERRUNNING THE NORTHEAST SURFACE COULD ENHANCE PRECIPITATION ESPECIALLY OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA. ALSO THE WESTERLY FLOW WILL AID IN PUSHING THE MERCURY UPWARDS. LOWS SATURDAY NIGHT WILL BE IN THE 60S... DROPPING INTO THE 50S SUNDAY NIGHT. HIGHS SUNDAY WILL BE IN THE 70S NORTH TO LOWER 80S SOUTH... COOLING TO THE 70S MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST MONDAY EVENING... AND REMAIN ENTRENCHED ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. AS THE HIGH MOVES EAST AND SOUTHEAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY... MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE WEST AND NORTH. HIGHS TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WILL BE IN THE 70S... EXCEPT FOR SOME LOWER 80S ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST ON THURSDAY. LOWS WILL BE IN THE 50S TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. && .AVIATION /17Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 103 PM THURSDAY... A MOIST AND CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS CENTRAL NC THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL RESULT IN MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS WITH PERIODS OF MVFR/IFR DUE TO SCATTERED CONVECTION AND EARLY MORNING FOG AND/OR STRATUS. THROUGH 03Z FRI...A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH WILL EDGE SLOWLY EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NC. AIR MASS AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE WILL CONTINUE TO DESTABILIZE DUE TO STRONG HEATING. EXPECT TO SEE SCATTERED CONVECTION TO POP OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT BETWEEN 20-22Z WITH CONVECTION POSSIBLY FORMING INTO A BROKEN LINE BY 22Z. THIS LINE OF CONVECTION SHOULD PROGRESS EAST INTO THE SANDHILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN BY 00Z. WITH LOSS OF HEATING...SHOULD SEE CONVECTION DIMINISH DISSIPATE BY 04Z. SKIES SHOULD CLEAR AFTER 04Z. COOLING OF MOIST AIR MASS NEAR THE SURFACE SHOULD RESULT IN FORMATION OF WIDESPREAD FOG AND/OR STRATUS BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. FOG/STRATUS SHOULD BURN OFF BY 13Z FRIDAY. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH MOST OF FRIDAY. EXPECT ANY CONVECTION FRIDAY TO HOLD OFF UNTIL LATE IN THE DAY (AFTER 21Z). MAY SEE CONVECTION PERSIST A BIT LONGER FRIDAY NIGHT AS UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CROSSES REGION. THE MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. A LINGERING SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL HELP TO INITIATE SCATTERED CONVECTION EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING. THIS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM...WSS SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...RHJ AVIATION...WSS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 131 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-080945- 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- 131 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE STORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS COUPLED WITH A SLOW MOVING SURFACE BOUNDARY AND INCREASING WINDS ALOFT WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE STORMS SHOULD DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION BY 5 PM...ESPECIALLY OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. THE STORMS WILL PROGRESS EAST INTO THE REMAINDER OF THE PIEDMONT...SANDHILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN BY 8 PM. THE STORMS WILL DIMINISH AFTER 11 PM. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. STRONG DAYTIME HEATING WILL SUPPORT STRONG TO SEVERE AFTERNOON STORMS FRIDAY AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY AS A SURFACE BOUNDARY LINGERS ACROSS THE AREA. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 4 PM AND 11 PM. SPOTTERS SHOULD STAY TUNED AND REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1206 PM EDT THU MAY 07 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0621 PM HAIL ARCADIA 35.95N 80.30W
05/06/2009 E0.75 INCH DAVIDSON NC PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED PENNY SIZED HAIL NEAR ARCADIA.
&&
ELLISSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 200 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 NCZ042-077-071945- HARNETT-JOHNSTON- 200 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 ...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO POP UP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN HARNETT COUNTY. AT 257 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER DUNN AND ERWIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THE STORMS WILL REACH BENSON IN JOHNSTON COUNTY AROUND 315 PM. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. 13
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 425 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 NCZ078-072100- WAYNE- 425 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM EDT... AT 423 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER GOLDSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...ELROY...AND LOCATIONS NEAR HIGHWAY 13 AND HIGHWAY 70 IN EAST CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH AND PEA SIZED HAIL ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. VINCENT
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:28 UTC.
7 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel sized hail was reported by a cocorahs observer in the city of Goldsboro. The observer also estimated the max wind gust produced by the storm to be near 50 miles per hour and reported 0.78 inches of rain fell in 30 minutes.
Nickel sized hail was reported by a trained spotter in the Jefferson Park area of Goldsboro. In addition the spotter estimated the maximum wind gust to be around 45 to 50 miles per hour.
Quarter sized hail was reported by law enforcement.
One tree was reported down across the intersection of Roslin Farm Road and John McMillan Road.
Penny sized hail was reported by a trained spotter in Jefferson Park in the city of Goldsboro.
Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of United States Highway 701 and Strickland Crossroads Road.
Penny sized hail was reported by the public to the Wayne County 911 Center, the relayed the the National Weather Service.
A couple of trees were reported down across Turner Swamp Road, just north of Eureka, by the Wayne County 911 Center.
Penny sized hail was reported by a cocorahs observer near Emit, NC. The penny sized hail last approximately 10 minutes.
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, May 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: 168367, 168368, 168370, 168377, 168371, 168381, 168372, 168379, 168374.