During the morning and afternoon hours of February 10, 2010 a strong upper level system combined with atmosphereic instability and high winds just off the surface resulted in a prolonged period of 45 to 55 mph winds across Central North Carolina. The high wind combined with wet soils resulting in widespread trees falling down, power outages and some property damage.
Every event with a place to put it; 31 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
During the morning and afternoon hours of February 10, 2010 a strong upper level system combined with atmosphereic instability and high winds just off the surface resulted in a prolonged period of 45 to 55 mph winds across Central North Carolina. The high wind combined with wet soils resulting in widespread trees falling down, power outages and some property damage.
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 Feb 10, 6:30 AM EST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 630 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 .SYNOPSIS... A POTENT UPPER LOW WILL CROSS SOUTHERN VIRGINIA TODAY... ...PRODUCING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD OVER THE AREA THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 200 AM WEDNESDAY... ...HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY... SURFACE LOW OVER NORTHERN COASTAL SECTIONS OVER NORTH CAROLINA IS JUST STARTING TO BECOME BETTER DEFINED...WITH IMMINENT DEEPENING/CYCLOGENESIS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AS ADVECTION OF POSITIVE PV ANOMALIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACHING POTENT UPPER LOW KENTUCKY/OHIO...EXTENDS DOWNWARD TO AROUND 800-850MB ACROSS SE VA AND NE NC. THIS DEEP STRATOSPHERIC INTRUSION COMBINED WITH THE SUPER TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT DEVELOPS FROM THE BOMBING SFC LOW OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST AND THE BUILDING CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE CENTER OVER THE CENTRAL US WILL RESULT IN VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW RAPID CLEARING SPREADING WEST TO EAST THIS MORNING WITH DEEP MIXING EXTENDING TO 850MB BY 12Z. SO WE COULD SEE WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH AS EARLY AS DAYBREAK ACROSS THE AREA...BUT THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED BY THE EARLY AFTERNOON...DURING PEAK HEATING...WITH STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES HELPING TO MIX DOWN THE 55 TO 58 KTS AT THE TOP OF THE MIXED LAYER. EXPECT TO SEE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH DAMAGING GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH POSSIBLE. A FEW LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PIEDMONT AND NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN MAY EVEN SEE WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH. THIS IS DEFINITELY A RARE EVENT...AND EXPECT THESE WINDS TO HAVE MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS AS TOPSAILS REMAIN SATURATED FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE FROM DOWNED TREES AND POWER-LINES ARE POSSIBLE. DIFFICULT TO GAUGE WHETHER COMPRESSIONAL DOWNSLOPE WARMING WILL BE ABLE TO OFFSET THE STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION. WILL NOT DEVIATE FAR FROM CLOSELY MATCHED STATISTICAL GUIDANCE. HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S NORTH TO LOWER-MID 40S SOUTH. TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILLS IN THE 20S. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WINDS WILL SLOWLY SUBSIDE BUT REMAIN BLUSTERY UNDER MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 20S NORTH TO UPPER 20S SOUTH. WIND CHILLS WILL BE IN THE TEENS. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 200 AM WEDNESDAY... DEEP NORTHWEST FLOW WITH A CONTINUATION OF GOOD COLD AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES INTO THURSDAY. WINDS WILL BE MUCH MORE TAMED ON THURSDAY BUT WILL STILL SEE DECENT GUSTS INTO THE 25 TO 30 MPH RANGE.... ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA AS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PUSHES FURTHER OUT TO SEA. AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S NORTH TO MID 40S SOUTH. EXPECT SKIES TO REMAIN MOSTLY CLEAR THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE BULK OF MID AND HIGH CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHERN STREAM WAVE OVER THE GULF COAST REMAINING SOUTH OF THE AREA. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WINDS TO DECOUPLE JUST BEFORE SUNRISE...ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST AS CENTER OF SURFACE HIGH SETTLES OVER THE APPALACHIANS. IF THIS INDEED OCCURS COULD SEE SOME LOCATIONS DIP DOWN INTO THE UPPER TEENS. BUT FOR NOW WILL KEEP OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S NORTH TO MID 20S SOUTH. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 230 AM WEDNESDAY... FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: MID/HIGH CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY AS THE FLOW ALOFT PICKS UP AHEAD OF THE NEXT SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEM. A SOUTHERN STREAM WAVE WILL TRACK ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST STATES FRIDAY AND THEN SHIFT OFFSHORE BY EARLY SATURDAY. DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME...MODELS CONTINUE TO PROG NORTHERN STREAM ENERGY DROPPING DOWN THROUGH THE DAKOTAS AND INTO THE MIDWEST/OHIO VALLEY...THEREFORE HELPING TO SUPPRESS THE SOUTHERN STREAM WAVE TO OUR SOUTH. HOW FAR SOUTH THIS SYSTEM (AND ITS ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW/PRECIP SHIELD) ENDS UP TRACKING WILL BE THE MAJOR FORECAST CHALLENGE FOR THIS PERIOD. THE GFS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH A TRACK WELL TO OUR SOUTH...KEEPING CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA PRECIP FREE. THE ECMWF/NAM HAVE A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK...WITH THE EXTREME NORTHERN EDGE OF THE PRECIP SHIELD IMPACTING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CWA. IF THIS VERIFIES AND THERE ENDS UP BEING A SLIGHTLY MORE NORTHERN TRACK...SOME LIGHT PRECIP WOULD BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SANDHILLS. IN ADDITION...FORECAST SOUNDINGS AND PARTIAL THICKNESS VALUES CONTINUE TO INDICATE ANY PRECIP THAT WOULD FALL IN THIS REGION WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW. HOWEVER...DUE TO MODEL DIFFERENCES...FOR NOW WILL MAINTAIN A DRY FORECAST FOR THIS PERIOD...BUT THIS WILL HAVE TO MONITORED CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. TEMPS WILL REMAIN QUITE CHILLY...WITH LOWS REMAINING IN THE 20S AND HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE LOW TO MID 40S. SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY: WILL MAINTAIN THE DRY FORECAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG TERM...HOWEVER A COUPLE OF SHORTWAVES ARE PROGGED TO IMPACT THE AREA WITHIN THE NORTHWEST FLOW. AS IS GENERALLY THE CASE WITH SYSTEMS IN NORTHWEST FLOW...HOW MUCH MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE. GFS AND ECMWF SHOW THE FIRST WAVE MOVING IN BEHIND THE SOUTHEAST LOW LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY...WITH ANOTHER ONE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY (WITH THE SECOND ONE BEING THE STRONGER OF THE TWO). ANY PRECIPITATION THAT WOULD OCCUR SHOULD BE LIGHT...BUT GIVEN THE COLD AIR THAT WILL BE IN PLACE...ANY PRECIPITATION WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE FROZEN ESPECIALLY WITH THE TIMING EXPECTED TO BE AT NIGHT. FOR NOW WILL KEEP ANT MENTION OF PRECIP OUT SINCE MODELS PROG MOST OF THE ENERGY TO REMAIN NORTH OF THE REGION. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 630 AM WEDNESDAY... THE PRIMARY AVIATION CONCERN WILL BE VERY STRONG CROSSWINDS OF RUNWAYS ORIENTED SW TO NE AS SUSTAINED WEST/NW WINDS OF 25-30 KNOTS... WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 40-45 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED BY MID/LATE MORNING. SPORADIC GUSTS UP TO 50 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT THE INT/GSO/RDU/RWI TAF SITES...PARTICULARLY IN THE 17-21Z PERIOD WED AFTERNOON. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. -VINCENT && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 AM TO 9 PM EST WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...CBL NEAR TERM...CBL SHORT TERM...CBL LONG TERM...KRR AVIATION...CBL/VINCENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 404 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 NCZ008>011-026>028-040>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-110915- GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-CHATHAM-WAKE- JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON- RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 404 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AS THIS TIME. NCZ007-021>025-038-039-110915- PERSON-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DURHAM-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH- 404 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. IN ADDITION...COLD AIR RUSHING INTO THE AREA WILL DROP TEMPERATURES INTO THE TWENTIES BEFORE SUNRISE. ALTHOUGH THE COLD AIR WILL ALSO BE VERY DRY... EVAPORATING MUCH OF RESIDUAL WATER ON ROADWAYS... SOME PARTICULARLY PROTECTED AND MOIST SPOTS MAY BE ABLE TO FREEZE BEFORE THE MORNING COMMUTE ENDS WEDNESDAY. MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR BLACK ICE ON AREA ROADS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AS THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 457 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 NCZ007-008-021>025-038>040-101400- PERSON-GRANVILLE-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DURHAM-DAVIDSON- RANDOLPH-CHATHAM- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROXBORO...OXFORD...WINSTON-SALEM... GREENSBORO...HIGH POINT...BURLINGTON...CHAPEL HILL...DURHAM... LEXINGTON...ASHEBORO...PITTSBORO 457 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 ...DANGEROUS BLACK ICE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN PIEDMONT THIS MORNING... STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL USHER IN COLD AND DRY AIR INTO THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN PIEDMONT...SENDING TEMPERATURES INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20S BRIEFLY THIS MORNING. WHILE THE STRONG WINDS AND DRY AIR WILL AID IN EVAPORATING RESIDUAL MOISTURE ON AREA ROADS...SOME SHELTERED OR OVERLY MOIST SPOTS COULD FREEZE BEFORE THE MORNING COMMUTES ENDS THIS MORNING. MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE ADVISED TO BE ON THE ALERT FOR BLACK ICE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 726 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 NCZ009-010-026-041-042-073>077-083>086-088-101400- VANCE-WARREN-FRANKLIN-WAKE-JOHNSTON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE- HARNETT-ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HENDERSON...WARRENTON...LOUISBURG... RALEIGH...SMITHFIELD...ALBEMARLE...TROY...SOUTHERN PINES... SANFORD...LILLINGTON...WADESBORO...ROCKINGHAM...LAURINBURG... RAEFORD...FAYETTEVILLE 726 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010 ...DANGEROUS BLACK ICE POSSIBLE ACROSS SECTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS MORNING... TEMPERATURES SINCE 6 AM HAVE FALLEN FROM THE MID 30S INTO THE UPPER 20S AS STRONG WESTERLY WINDS HAVE USHERED IN COLDER DRIER AIR. WHILE THE STRONG WINDS AND DRY AIR WILL AID IN EVAPORATING RESIDUAL MOISTURE ON AREA ROADWAYS...SOME SHELTERED OR OVERLY MOIST SPOTS WILL FREEZE...CREATING SCATTERED SLICK SPOTS. MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE ADVISED TO BE ON THE ALERT FOR WET...SHINY SPOTS ON THE ROADS OR SIDEWALKS. IT MAY ACTUALLY BE BLACK ICE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
835 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0834 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG WINSTON-SALEM 36.10N 80.26W
02/10/2010 FORSYTH NC EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN WINSTON SALEM. ONE TREE DOWN ON
INDIANA AVE ALONG WITH POWER LINES.
&&
ORROCKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
843 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG RALEIGH 35.81N 78.64W
02/10/2010 WAKE NC BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN IN RALEIGH. ONE TREE REPORTED DOWN ALONG
HIGHWAY 401. OTHER TREES DOWN ALONG FORESTVILLE AVE AS
WELL AS ALONG EDENTON ST AND COOK ST.
&&
ORROCKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
31 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
Numerous trees were blown down countywide blocking many roads and highways. Widespread power outages were caused by the falling trees along with some minor property damage to roofs and small buildings.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2010
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: 207996, 207999, 208016, 207992, 208006, 208007, 208009, 208010, 208011, 207988, 207989, 207990, 207991, 207993, 207994, 207997, 207998, 208001, 208002, 208003, 208004, 208005, 208008, 208013, 208014, 208015, 208018, 208019, 208020, 208021, 208024.