Strong heating allowed thunderstorms to develop along and ahead of a weak cold front. These thunderstorms intensified as an upper level jet streak impinged on the area.
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.
Strong heating allowed thunderstorms to develop along and ahead of a weak cold front. These thunderstorms intensified as an upper level jet streak impinged on the area.
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 Aug 12, 12:45 PM EST, 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 145 PM EDT WED AUG 12 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAKENING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST TOWARD THE COAST AND BECOME WASHED OUT OVER LOCAL AREA BY THE WEEKEND. MOIST SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING BUT WILL BECOME MORE ISOLATED INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVERHEAD. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 10 AM WEDNESDAY...DEEP MOIST SW FLOW IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN CAROLINAS...WITH A WEAKENING FRONT JUST NORTH AND WEST OF THE ILM CWA. GOOD MOISTURE FEED EVEN AT UPPER LEVELS...SO PRECIPITABLE WATER RUNNING OVER 2 INCHES AND PLENTY OF INSTABILITY WITH UP TO 3000 J/KG CAPE IF WE CAN GET INTO THE MID/UPPER 80S. HAVE LEFT THE GOING FORECAST PRETTY MUCH INTACT...AS I EXPECT PLENTY OF CONVECTION TO INITIATE IN THE HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON NEAR THE WEAKENING COLD FRONT INLAND AS WELL AS THE SEABREEZE FRONT. WILL KEEP LIKELY POPS INLAND...TAPERING DOWN TO LOW CHANCE EAST OF THE SEABREEZE. STILL IN A SLIGHT RISK WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR PRIMARILY ISOLATED DAMAGING WINDS...BUT A LOT WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO HEAT UP IN THE AFTERNOON. COULD SEE A SHARP GRADIENT IN TEMPS IF THE CLOUDS DO NOT DISSIPATE INLAND/NORTH. CURRENT GRIDS SHOW MID 80S INLAND WHICH COULD BE TOO WARM...AND UPPER 80S AT THE COAST WHICH COULD BE TOO COOL. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 3 AM WEDNESDAY...CONTINUED MOIST AND UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE ON THURS. PCP WATER VALUES REMAINING UP AROUND 2 INCHES IN A DEEP SW FLOW. LINGERING AND WEAKENING FRONTAL BOUNDARY CLOSER TO THE COAST ON THURS ALONG WITH SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY SHOULD PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR SHWR/TSTM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE AFTN. SW FLOW ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SHOULD ENHANCE SOME OF THE STORMS AND CAN NOT RULE OUT A FEW STRONGER TO SEVERE STORMS. STORMS SHOULD MOVE RAPIDLY OFF TO THE NE IN A DECENT STEERING FLOW OUT OF THE SW NEAR 25 KTS. BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO LINGER INTO FRI WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF SHWRS/TSTMS EXPECTED AS ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES THROUGH THE AFTN. FOCUS AGAIN WILL BE ALONG SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY AND WASHED OUT FRONTAL BOUNDARY. MU CAPE VALUES WILL BE DOWN TO 3K ON FRI AS COMPARED TO 4K ON THURS. OVERALL ATMOSPHERE WILL BE A LITTLE MORE STABLE AS MID TO UPPER TROUGH LIFTS OFF AND GETS PUSHED WESTWARD AS RIDGE TRIES TO BUILD INTO THE COASTAL CAROLINAS FROM THE EAST. SOUTHERLY FLOW WEAKENS IN THE LOW TO MID LEVELS BY FRI WITH PCP WATER VALUES DROPPING BELOW 2 INCHES. GFS CONTINUES TO SHOW WINDS BACKING A LITTLE ON THURS WITH A SLIGHT DOWNWARD TREND IN MOISTURE BY LATE DAY THURS INTO FRI. TEMPS NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL...WITH A GOOD DEAL OF CLOUDS AND PCP HOLDING THEM IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 3 AM WEDNESDAY...CONTINUED MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW AROUND BERMUDA HIGH THROUGH THE WEEKEND. OVERALL MOISTURE WILL BE ON A SLOW DOWNWARD TREND THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS H5 RIDGE BUILDS WESTWARD INTO THE SOUTHEAST...BUT STILL EXPECTING ATMOSPHERE TO REMAIN UNSTABLE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SCT AFTN CONVECTION ON SAT. BY SUNDAY AFTN CENTER OF H5 RIDGE WILL BE OVERHEAD WITH HEIGHTS BUILDING TO 595 DM AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD. AS RIDGE BUILDS IN ALOFT A DRIER W-NW FLOW WILL ALLOW SOME DRYING THROUGH THE MID LEVELS SUN THROUGH TUES. OVERALL EXPECT LESS IN THE WAY OF SHWR/TSTM ACTIVITY FROM SUNDAY ONWARD. MOISTURE PROFILES STILL SHOWING A GOOD DEAL OF MOISTURE IN THE UPPER LEVELS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD AND THEREFORE MAY SEE A GOOD BLANKET OF CIRRUS CLOUDS ACROSS THE AREA. CLOUD COVER AND SCATTERED CONVECTION SHOULD KEEP MAX TEMPS A FEW DEGREES BELOW CLIMO THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND...BUT AS MID TO UPPER HEIGHTS RISE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK EXPECT TEMPS TO STAY ABOVE NORMAL...BACK IN THE 90S MOST PLACES. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. SFC TROF/FRONT LYING NE-SW JUST EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS. AND THE LONGWAVE UPPER TROF HAVING REPLACED THE UPPER RIDGE...WHICH BASICALLY HAS TEMPORARILY CEMENTED ITSELF ACROSS THE SE STATES. THIS HAS ALLOWED AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MOISTURE FOR THE TIME BEING...1 SOURCE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE OTHER OFF THE SE ATLANTIC. PUT ALL THIS TOGTHER...AND THIS POINTS TO AN EXTENDED MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS ALL TERMINALS DURING THE 24 HR ISSUANCE PERIOD. THERE COULD BE A FEW HRS OF VFR OR LIFR BUT NEVERTHELESS...AVIATOR SKILLS WILL BE PUT TO THEIR TESTS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. PRIOR TO DEPARTING...ESPECIALLY THE CURRENT AND FORECASTED CONDITIONS DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...PLEASE RETRIEVE A BONAFIDE FAA BRIEFING. EXTENDED OUTLOOK THROUGH MONDAY...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS FOR THURSDAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS FOR FRIDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FOR SATURDAY. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS FOR SUNDAY. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 10 AM WEDNESDAY...TYPICAL SUMMER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH MODEST SW WINDS AND 2-3 FT SEAS. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER LAND DOES NOT STAND MUCH CHANCE OF GETTING OUT OVER THE WATER THIS AFTERNOON...BUT WILL SEE A BETTER CHANCE TONIGHT. SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 3 AM WEDNESDAY...SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE AROUND BERMUDA HIGH...BUT GRADIENT FLOW WILL WEAKEN AND BACK A LITTLE FROM UP NEAR 15 KTS EARLY THURS TO 10 KTS OR LESS BY LATE THURS THROUGH FRI. SEAS WILL RESPOND BY DECREASING FROM 2 TO 4 FT ON THURS DOWN TO 3 FT OR LESS THROUGH FRI AFTN. LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 3 AM WEDNESDAY...SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND MAINLY LESS THAN 10 KTS. SHOULD SEE WINDS AND SEAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER EACH AFTERNOON AS SEA BREEZE KICKS IN. OVERALL SEAS WILL REMAIN 3 FT OR LESS..BUT MAY SEE A BIT OF A LONGER PERIOD SOUTHEAST SWELL AFFECT LOCAL WATERS OVER THE WEEKEND. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && NEAR TERM...RAS AVIATION...HOEHLER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 525 AM EDT WED AUG 12 2009 NCZ087-096-099-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-130930- ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION- 525 AM EDT WED AUG 12 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TODAY. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG...POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS. MINOR FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIEST STORMS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MAY CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. GOOD CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. MINOR FLOODING WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIEST STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-039-046-130930- PENDER-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-HORRY-WILLIAMSBURG-GEORGETOWN- 525 AM EDT WED AUG 12 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 MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. GOOD CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. MINOR FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIEST STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ250-252-254-256-130930- 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- 525 AM EDT WED AUG 12 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...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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 1246 PM EDT WED AUG 12 2009 SCZ034-121745- HORRY- 1246 PM EDT WED AUG 12 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER HORRY COUNTY... AT 12:45 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF HORRY COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 MPH AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE CONWAY...GARDEN CITY... LITTLE RIVER...MYRTLE BEACH...NORTH MYRTLE BEACH...RED HILL... SOCASTEE...SURFSIDE BEACH...ADRIAN...ALLSBROOK...BAYBORO AND BROOKSVILLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THUNDERSTORMS CAN POSE A VARIETY OF THREATS INCLUDING GUSTY WINDS... SMALL HAIL...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ILM. 15
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
141 PM EDT WED AUG 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0139 PM LIGHTNING PAWLEYS ISLAND 33.42N 79.13W
08/12/2009 GEORGETOWN SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
HOUSE STRUCK AT PAWLEYS ISLAND.
&&
RANThe Wilmington radar (KLTX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:54 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Large tree limbs were reported down. Winds were estimated to 60 mph.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey concluded a tornado initially touched down near the intersection of Highway 378 and Marigold Road causing damage to some trees. One tree fell onto a single wide trailer along Marigold Road and ripped part of the roof off. The tornado caused sporadic tree damage before causing significant damage to an abandoned barn along Marigold Road. The top of the barn was sheared back into a small nearby field. There were also about a dozen pine trees snapped in the vicinity of the barn. The tornado moved north across Hampton Road, near the intersection of Marigold Road and dissipated. The tornado was classified as an EF-0 with winds estimated to 80 mph. The path length was 1.12 miles and the maximum path width was 40 yards. There were no injuries or fatalities. The Horry County Emergency Manager estimated the monetary damage at $13,000.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey found evidence of straight-line wind damage along a small portion of Hampton Road. The damage was located just to the east of where an EF-0 tornado dissipated. A two story house sustained moderate roof damage when a tree fell onto the structure.
A 10 inch diameter pine tree was snapped off approximately 12 feet above the ground near the back gate of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base at the intersection of Phillis Boulevard and U.S. 17.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2009Warnings in South Carolina, August 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: 193988, 194016, 194029, 193984.