A cluster of storms developed across central North Carolina downstream of a shortwave trough located over eastern Tennessee. The severe storms produced widespread wind damage with only one report of severe hail.
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.
A cluster of storms developed across central North Carolina downstream of a shortwave trough located over eastern Tennessee. The severe storms produced widespread wind damage with only one report of severe hail.
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 9, 1:35 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 235 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION THIS EVENING AND MOVE THROUGH THE AREA OVERNIGHT. ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT...EXPECT AT LEAST SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...COOLER HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR FOR LATE IN THE WEEKEND THROUGH AT LEAST THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. HIGHS WILL BE NOTICEABLY COOLER MONDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 205 PM SATURDAY... DISCRETE THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON ALONG AND JUST EAST OF HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN AREAS WHERE MSAS IN PARTICULAR SHOWED THE HIGHEST INSTABILITY THIS AFTERNOON...TO -7C IN TERMS OF LIFTED INDICES. SPC MESOANALYSIS ALSO INDICATED THE BEST SURFACE-BASED CAPE THERE...AROUND 2000J/KG. WHILE INITIALLY THUNDERSTORMS MAY HAVE A LITTLE DIFFICULTY PENETRATING INTO CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...BOTH THE 12Z GFS AND NAM ARE CONSISTENT WITH EARLIER THINKING IN THAT THE CAP BETWEEN 700MB AND 850MB WILL ERODE DURING THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON...WITH GOOD CAPE DEVELOPING OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT AROUND 21Z. ALTHOUGH BOTH THE GFS AND NAM BUFR SOUNDINGS SHOW GREATER CIN TOWARD KFAY AND KRWI DURING THE EVENING WITH THE GREATER 0-6KM SHEAR AND LIFT FARTHER NORTH TOWARD THE VIRGINIA BORDER...THOSE SOUNDINGS STILL SHOW NARROW CAPE WHICH SHOULD ALLOW AT LEAST SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE EAST THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. HELICITY VALUES ARE GENERALLY 100M2/S2 OR LESS...AND MODEL SOUNDINGS ALSO SHOW ONLY A SLIGHT CURVE AT BEST TO HODOGRAPHS WHICH PROMPTS THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT BEING DAMAGING WIND WITH 925MB AND 850MB WINDS NEAR 35KT. LARGE HAIL IS A POSSIBILITY WITH THE MOST ROBUST UPDRAFTS...AS THE FREEZING LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR 15KFT. THE FRONT WILL NOT MOVE THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA UNTIL LATE TONIGHT...BUT UPPER DIVERGENCE AND MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVE EAST OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA BY 06Z WITH 850MB THETA-E IN PARTICULAR DIMINISHING QUICKLY OVERNIGHT. THE NAM IS FASTER THAN THE GFS WITH THE LATTER...AND THE GFS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MORE ACCURATE WITH THE ACTUAL FRONT NOT MOVING THROUGH UNTIL LATE. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS SHOULD BECOME PRETTY LOW OVERNIGHT AS BOTH NAM AND GFS BUFR SOUNDINGS BECOME FAIRLY STABLE AS DRY AIR MOVES IN. LOWS SHOULD BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S. GENERALLY DRY AND STABLE CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED SUNDAY. WHILE THE FRONT SLOWLY MOVES SOUTH OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...BOTH THE GFS AND THE NAM SUGGEST A PERIOD OF MID-LEVEL CLOUDS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE MORNING. THESE GENERALLY WANE BY EARLY AFTERNOON. THE GFS IS CLOSE TO THE SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN WITH MINIMAL QPF SUNDAY...BUT AGAIN SOUNDINGS ARE STABLE AND MOISTURE ALOFT IS NOT COLDER THAN -10C. AS A RESULT...WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY WITH HIGHS WITHIN A DEGREE OR THREE OF 80. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 235 PM... FAST ZONAL FLOW ALOFT ALWAYS DIFFICULT FOR MODELS TO HANDLE. MODELS HOWEVER ARE IN ROUGH AGREEMENT IN DRIVING A TROUGH THROUGH NEW ENGLAND SUNDAY NIGHT WHILE MOISTURE UNDERCUTS A WEAK LOW LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE MIDWEST. THE GFS HAS FEEDBACK PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME AND IS SUSPECT. OTHER MODELS DEVELOP WEAK LEE SIDE TROUGHING BEFORE SUNRISE MONDAY. THUS HAVE CONFINED RAIN CHANCES SUNDAY NIGHT TO LATE AND IN THE WEST WHERE WEAK LIFT FROM THIS TROUGH MAY AID LIFT. THERE ARE TIMING DIFFERENCES IN PUSHING THIS TROUGH THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA MONDAY...AND THE SYSTEM IS QUITE WEAK. GIVEN THE DIFFICULT PATTERN WILL LEAVE RAIN CHANCES MONDAY AT FORTY PERCENT. THIS WEAK LOW LEVEL TROUGH WILL EXIT BY SUNSET MONDAY... AND MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY SHOULD BE DRY. THE GFS HAS DROPPED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS SIGNIFICANTLY FOR MONDAY TO MATCH THE NAM MODELS LATEST TWO RUNS. VALUES SUGGEST AFTERNOON HIGHS AT LEAST TEN DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...AND IF PRECIPITATION LINGERS INTO THE AFTERNOON...THOSE VALUES MAY BE TOO WARM. ALTHOUGH SURFACE WINDS WILL BE FROM THE NORTHEAST TUESDAY... FLOW IS WEAK AND SUNSHINE SHOULD ALLOW AFTERNOON HIGHS TO SETTLE CLOSE TO SEASONAL NORMALS. AFTERNOON HIGHS 65 TO 70 MONDAY...MID TO UPPER 70S TUESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE FIFTIES SUNDAY NIGHT...NEAR 50 MONDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 205 PM SATURDAY... A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL RESIDE DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD AND INTO CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA ON WEDNESDAY...WHICH LOOKS TO BE VERY NICE DAY WITH LIMITED CLOUD COVER AND NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS. THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AXIS SLIDES OFFSHORE ON WEDNESDAY...ALLOWING THE RETURN OF SOUTHERLY FLOW ON THURSDAY. MEANWHILE...AN UPPER-LEVEL SHORTWAVE IS PROGGED TO TRAVERSE THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY...DRIVING A SURFACE FRONTAL SYSTEM TOWARD OUR AREA. DEEP MOISTURE AND RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE ON THURSDAY...ALTHOUGH SHORTWAVE RIDGING BETWEEN THE APPROACHING SYSTEM AND A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE ATLANTIC COULD INITIALLY LIMIT SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ON THURSDAY. MODEL DIFFERENCES EXIST ON THE TIMING OF FRONTAL PASSAGE ON FRIDAY...WITH THE GFS POTENTIALLY AS MUCH AS 12 HORUS FASTER ON FRIDAY MORNING...WITH THE ECMWF LATER ON FRIDAY. THE ECMWF HAS BEEN PREFERRED...LEANING A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN PER HPC THIS MORNING. THEREFORE...WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. GUIDANCE NOT SUGGESTIVE OF MUCH OF AN AIRMASS CHANGE WITH THE FRONT...CONTINUING HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S INTO THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 205 PM SATURDAY... PRIMARY HAZARDS FOR ALL TAF SITES IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE EVENING WILL BE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD LOCALLY BE SEVERE. OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED WITH GUSTY...SOUTHWEST WINDS GRADUALLY DIMINISHING IN SPEED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING AS THE DIRECTION VEERS TO THE WEST. OVERNIGHT...AS THE FRONT MOVES SOUTH THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO VEER TO NORTHWEST TO NORTH. DESPITE A PERIOD OF MID-LEVEL CLOUDS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY. WINDS WILL BE NORTHERLY BUT GENERALLY 10KT OR LESS WITH A FEW WIND GUSTS IN THE TEENS KTS. BEYOND THE 18Z TAF PERIOD INTO SUNDAY NIGHT... CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO THICKEN AND LOWER ONCE AGAIN. AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN ARE POSSIBLE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH CONDITIONS PREDOMINANTLY VFR. AREAS OF MVFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY MONDAY...AND LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS CANNOT BE COMPLETELY RULED OUT THEN. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...DJF NEAR TERM...DJF LONG TERM...BLS AVIATION...DJF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 230 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 NCZ011-026>028-041>043-077-078-085-086-088-089-101600- HALIFAX-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-HARNETT-WAYNE- SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 230 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...AFTER 4 PM. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE...WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING. ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS COULD PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. SPOTTERS SHOULD STAY TUNED AND REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER THAT OCCURS. NCZ007>010-021>025-038>040-073>076-083-084-101600- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE- DURHAM-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-ANSON- RICHMOND- 230 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 281 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...AFTER 3 PM. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE...WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH OVER CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING. ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS COULD PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... FORMAL SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND IS APPRECIATED. SPOTTERS SHOULD STAY TUNED AND REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER THAT OCCURS. DJF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 356 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 NCZ021-092100- FORSYTH- 356 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS FORSYTH COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM EDT... AT 356 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LEWISVILLE TO 25 MILES WEST OF CLEMMONS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES WEST OF WINSTON-SALEM TO 16 MILES WEST OF MOCKSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR WINSTON-SALEM AROUND 415 PM EDT. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE... PFAFFTOWN... WINSTON-SALEM...CLEMMONS...SEDGE GARDEN...AND...WALKERTOWN... KERNERSVILLE. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. DONT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO SAFETY. INSTEAD...MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS EXCEEDING ONE INCH DURING THE NEXT HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED IN THESE AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION TO AVOID HYDROPLANING...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS WHERE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS BECOMES MORE PROBLEMATIC. JFB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 426 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 NCZ038-092115- DAVIDSON- 426 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS DAVIDSON COUNTY THROUGH 515 PM EDT... AT 425 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER ARCADIA...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF LEXINGTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...ARCADIA...AND... MIDWAY...WELCOME...THOMASVILLE. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM. THESE STORMS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF STRENGTHENING AND WILL BE MONITORED FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. DONT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO SAFETY. INSTEAD...MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. JFB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 445 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 NCZ021-022-038-039-092145- DAVIDSON-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-RANDOLPH- 445 PM EDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS FORSYTH...GUILFORD... DAVIDSON AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM EDT... AT 442 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WINSTON-SALEM TO ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF SALISBURY MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE... LEXINGTON... THOMASVILLE...ARCHDALE...GORDONTOWN...DENTON...CLIMAX. GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE WINDS ARE CAPABLE OF BRINGING DOWN LARGE TREE LIMBS. LIGHT OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND AWNINGS COULD BE TOSSED AROUND. SMITH
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:11 UTC.
26 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down through the city limits.
Law enforcement reported that trees were blown down in Pleasant Garden.
City crews removed at least 12 trees from Elk and Collinwood Drives in they city limits of Burlington. At least two smaller trees at Joe Davidson Park off St. Mark Church and Rural Retreats Road.
Spotter reported several trees snapped off at the base 2 miles south of intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 87. Trees were at least 6 inches in diameter.
Trees and power lines were blown down on Buckner Road and along Highway 64 around Pittsboro.
A large tree and several power lines were blown down and blocking traffic|at Mebane Oaks Road and Bradshaw Quarry Road.
Fourteen inch diameter tree fell on a house at Chandler Court off of Becketts Ridge Drive.
Two trees were uprooted at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Fayetteville Street.
Trees and power lines were blown down on Legion Road.
One tree 6 to 8 inches in diameter was blown down onto power lines on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway near Roxboro Street.
Several trees were blown down at White Cross Fire Department.
One large tree was blown down and blocking traffic on Glendale Drive.
Two trees were blown down at Angier Avenue and Discovery Road.
Shingles were blown off the roof of a house at Highway 98 and South Miami Boulevard.
Down tree blocking tracking on Creedmore Road, between Strickland and Bridgeport Roads.
A six inch limb was blown down onto powerlines at Woodbury Drive and Hillcock Drive.
One pine tree was blown down onto power lines near the intersection of Schely Road and New Sharon Church Road.
Trees and power-lines were blown down inside the Raleigh city limits. |The down trees and power-lines resulted in scattered power outages and blocked traffic. One tree fell onto a house near the intersection of Method Road and Western Boulevard.
Several trees were blown down across the Stage Coach Road and Farrington Road.
Two downed trees were blocking traffic. The first downed tree was located near the intersection of Highway 401 and Spring Forest Road. The second downed tree was blocking south bound lanes on Leesville Road between West|Gate Road and Strickland Road.
A 50 Foot tree was snapped off 7 feet from the base of tree along Cedar Creek Road.
One large tree approximately 2 feet in diameter was snapped in half on Jenkins Road and Fullard Drive.
Power-lines were blown down in Nashville.
Power-lines were blown down at Taylors Store Road at Taylors Store Crossroads.
Trees were blown down on Cooley Lane.
One tree was blown down on Anderson Street.
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: 166833, 166834, 166835, 166831, 166829, 166839, 166841, 166843, 166845, 166846, 166847, 166848, 166849, 166852, 166853, 168931, 168932, 168933, 168936, 168947, 168955, 168959, 168962, 168980, 168989, 168990, 168992.