Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, May 7, 2009

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, May 7, 2009
Start: 2009-05-07T16:00
End: 2009-05-07T18:40
Location: North Carolina

May 7, 2009 · NWS MHX · 13 events in 5 counties and zones

A frontal boundary was stalled across central North Carolina during the afternoon of May 7th 2009. Scattered thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and early evening hours as an upper level impulse moved across.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MHX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 7, 2:32 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:32 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
332 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
A FRONT WILL LINGER WEST OVER CENTRAL NC AND WILL DISSIPATE FRIDAY.
ANOTHER FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA SATURDAY AND MOVE OFFSHORE
SUNDAY. THIS FRONT WILL LINGER OFFSHORE THROUGH MONDAY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA TUESDAY AND WILL REMAIN OVER THE
AREA THROUGH THURSDAY. A FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST LATE
THURSDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
LN OF STORMS HAS MV OFFSHORE THIS EARLY AFTN. SW LO LVL FLO UNDR
CLRG SKIES. QUESTION IS...HAS THE AMS BEEN WORKED OVR ENUF TO SPPRS
ANY FURTHER ACTVTY THIS AFTN. WK UPR TROF WL MV THRU WI ANTHR S/WV
TNGT. CUD SEE SUM SHWRS LTR TNGT AS THIS ENERGY SWINGS THRU. WL HV
DCRSG CHCS AFT MIDNGT AS TROF EXITS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/...
ZNL FLO AT 5H ESTABLISHES ITSELF OVR THE AREA ON FRI. SERIES OF WK
S/WVS WL MV THRU THE FLO INTO THE WKEND. HARD TO KEY ON ANY OF THESE
S/WVS AND TIMING WL BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE. GFS/NAM/SREF ALL
FAIRLY DRY IN THE FRI THRU SAT TM PD. HARD TO RULE OUT ANY PCPN IN
THIS TYPE OF PATTERN. WL CARRY SCHC. BEST LUKG S/WV IN MDLS WL BE
FRI AFTN. HI TEMPS WL RMN IN THE 80S FRI AND SAT WI SW LO LVL FLO
CONTG.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
MDLS SHOWG A S/WV MVG THRU THE ZNL FLO WL PUSH A FRNT THRU THE AREA
SAT NGT. FRNT WL BE S OF AREA BY SUN. ANTHR SURGE WL PUSH THRU SUN
AFTN AND NGT. 5H FLO TO BCM MR AMPLIFIED OVR THE ECST MON AND A WV
FRMS ON THE FRNT TO OUR S. CUD SEE SUM OVRRNNG PCPN FRM THIS WV MON
AND MON NGT. HI PRES BOTH AT THE SFC AND ALFT WL BLD IN TUE NGT.
THIS RDG WL MV OFFSHR THU. HI TEMPS IN THE 70S BHND THE FRNT ON MON
WL CLIMB BACK INTO THE LWR 80S BY THU.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 330 PM THURSDAY...EXPECTING DIURNAL STRONG/SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO BEGINNING FIRING WITH CONTINUED DESTABILIZATION OF
THE ATMOSPHERE THIS AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN
LATE EVENING AS ATMOSPHERE STABILIZES. A WEAK DISTURBANCE ALOFT
COULD HELP TO SUSTAIN WEAKER CONVECTION OVERNIGHT BUT NOT
EXPECTING THE COVERAGE LIKE LAST NIGHT. THEREFORE WILL CONTINUE A
VFR TAF THROUGH 08Z THEN INDICATE SOME LOW CLOUDS/FOG LATE AS
WINDS BEGIN TO DIMINISH.

THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN MOIST AND UNSTABLE AND SUPPORTIVE OF
MAINLY AFTERNOON/EVENING STORMS THROUGH SUNDAY. A FRONT WILL CROSS
THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT WITH LOW PRESSURE FORMING ALONG IT MONDAY
CONTRIBUTING TO A CONTINUED RISK OF SHOWERS OR STORMS. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE AREA TUESDAY WITH DRIER/STABLE AIR.

&&

.MARINE...
AS OF 330 PM THURSDAY...WILL EXTEND ADVISORIES FOR THE
SOUNDS/NORTHERN WATERS THROUGH MID EVENING BASED ON CURRENT
OBSERVATIONS. WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH LATE AFTER WEAK UPPER
DISTURBANCE PASSES. WINDS FOR THE MOST PART SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 20
KT FRIDAY (BUT SEAS WILL REMAIN 4-6 FT SO THE ADVISORIES WILL
CONTINUE FOR THE WATERS SOUTH OF OREGON INLET) THEN BEGIN TO
INCREASE FRIDAY NIGHT AND ESPECIALLY SATURDAY AS THE NEXT
SHORTWAVE APPROACHES AND INTERACTS WITH THE STATIONARY FRONT TO
THE WEST. THE GFS HAS WINDS TO 30 KT BUT LOOKED TO BE SUFFERING
FROM GRID SCALE FEEDBACK SO WILL CAP WINDS T 25 KT AND SEAS AT 8
FT. WINDS AND WAVES WILL SUBSIDE SUNDAY AS THE FRONT STALLS OVER
THE SOUTHERN WATERS AND THE GRADIENT RELAXES. A WAVE OF LOW
PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT SUNDAY NIGHT INTO
MONDAY WITH INCREASING NORTHERLY FLOW TO 15 G 20 KT. WILL FORECAST
SEAS TO 3-5 FT TO COINCIDE WITH THIS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD
OVER THE WATERS ON TUESDAY WITH LIGHT WINDS AND SEAS LESS THAN 4
FT.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR AMZ135-
     150.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ152-154-156-
     158.

&&

SYNOPSIS...CGG
NEAR TERM...CGG
SHORT TERM...CGG
LONG TERM...CGG
AVIATION...JME
MARINE...JME

Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 3:25 AM EST, 12 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
425 AM EDT THU MAY 7 2009

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>094-080830-
MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT-
MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-
425 AM EDT THU MAY 7 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION
TODAY. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE MAIN THREATS
...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE. LOCALIZED
FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION
BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

NCZ095-098-103-104-080830-
CARTERET-ONSLOW-OUTER BANKS DARE-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
425 AM EDT THU MAY 7 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION
TODAY. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE MAIN THREATS
...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE. LOCALIZED
FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FROM CAPE HATTERAS TO CAPE
LOOKOUT TODAY...WITH A MODERATE RISK FROM DUCK TO CAPE HATTERAS
AND FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TO SURF CITY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION
BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 hail, 3 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Greene

When: May 7, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Greene County, 2.15 mi NNE of Browntown Xrds
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.410, -77.670

Hail, Pitt

When: May 7, 4:26 PM EST
Where: Pitt County, 2.82 mi W of Quinerly
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.370, -77.430

Hail, Lenoir

When: May 7, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Lenoir County, 2.26 mi E of Graingers
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.320, -77.480

Hail, Pitt

When: May 7, 4:40 PM EST
Where: Pitt County, 2.82 mi W of Quinerly
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.370, -77.430

Hail, Pitt

When: May 7, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Pitt County, 2.82 mi W of Quinerly
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.370, -77.430

Hail, Craven

When: May 7, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 0.56 mi E of Vanceboro
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.300, -77.160

Tornado, Craven

When: May 7, 5:25 PM EST to 5:26 PM EST
Where: Craven County, Vanceboro to 0.12 mi NE of Vanceboro
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.12 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.300, -77.170

Brief tornado touchdown near West Craven High School. No damage reported.

Tornado, Craven

When: May 7, 5:27 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 0.74 mi WSW of Vanceboro to 0.63 mi WSW of Vanceboro
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.11 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.295, -77.182

An EF-0 tornado with winds estimated at 65 to 70 mph briefly touched down near Piney Neck Road. A carport was blown into trees, and a roof of a garage was damaged. Several mobile homes had skirting blown off and were missing shingles.

Hail, Craven

When: May 7, 5:29 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 0.56 mi E of Vanceboro
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.300, -77.160

Hail, Craven

When: May 7, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 1.32 mi ESE of Vanceboro
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.290, -77.150

Hail, Lenoir

When: May 7, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Lenoir County, 1.83 mi ESE of (Iso)ern Rgnl Jetpor
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.320, -77.590

Tornado, Onslow

When: May 7, 6:00 PM EST to 6:01 PM EST
Where: Onslow County, 1.01 mi SE of Midway Park to 1 mi W of Kellumtown
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.15 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.718, -77.340

Brief tornado touchdown near Camp Lejeune main gate. No damage reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Craven

When: May 7, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 0.89 mi NE of Cove City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.190, -77.320

Tree limbs blown down near Cove City.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history The tornado archive for North Carolina, 2009 Warnings in North Carolina, May 2009

Sources

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: 162339, 162333, 162332, 162334, 162337, 162335, 162351, 162341, 162336, 162338, 162342, 162346, 162343.