Lightning Strike in North Carolina, August 22, 2011

Name: Lightning Strike in North Carolina, August 22, 2011
Start: 2011-08-22T16:33
End: 2011-08-22T16:33
Location: North Carolina

August 22, 2011 · NWS ILM · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A cold front pushed into a very humid airmass, producing strong thunderstorms.

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: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 ILM wrote it up.

A cold front pushed into a very humid airmass, producing strong thunderstorms.

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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 22, 2:17 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 22, 2:17 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
317 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEEK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON...
ACCOMPANIED BY A CONTINUING CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT AND RIDGE ACROSS THE CAROLINAS
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. IRENE COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE
SOUTHEAST STATES AS A HURRICANE THIS WEEKEND. ALL RESIDENTS ARE
ADVISED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESSION OF IRENE.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 3 PM MONDAY...WIDESPREAD CU FIELD OVER FORECAST AREA WITH
SHWRS/TSTMS DEVELOPING IN WARM AND HUMID AIR MASS AHEAD OF COLD
FRONT WHICH IS LOCATED NORTHWEST OF CWA. DEWPOINT TEMPS RUNNING IN
THE 70S BUT DECENT AMOUNT OF DRY AIR ALOFT WORKING ITS WAY INTO
AREA...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 9000 FT WHERE A DRIER NW FLOW EXISTS. PCP
WATER VALUES UP AT 2 INCHES THIS MORNING DOWN TO AROUND 1.6 INCHES
MID MORNING. SHWRS/TSTMS SHOULD BE DEVELOP IN WARM SECTOR AHEAD OF
COLD FRONT BUT BEST CAPE UP AROUND 3K J/KG REMAINS FROM SC/NC BORDER
SOUTH ALONG COASTAL SECTIONS OF SC. THE SEA BREEZE SHOULD REMAIN THE
BEST FOCUS FOR ANY CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON AND ALONG COLD FRONT.
THE W-NW COMPONENT KEEPING THE SEA BREEZE PINNED CLOSER TO THE
COAST. WITH INCREASING W-NW WINDS AS YOU MOVE UP THROUGH THE
ATMOSPHERE AND LOOKING AT SOUNDING DATA...EXPECT MORE IN THE WAY OF
WIND DAMAGE IF STORMS DO DEVELOP. WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE IN MOST
PLACES...TEMPS REACHED UP TOWARD 90 MOST PLACES. OVERALL
HEAT AND MOISTURE WILL PRODUCE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS ACROSS THE
AREA UNTIL COLD FRONT PASSES LATER TODAY. RUC DOES SHOW AN
INCREASE IN PCP WATER BACK UP TO 1.75 INCHES BY THIS AFTN WITH
CAPE UP TO 3K BUT THEN SHOWS CAP DEVELOPING BY 22Z.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 3 PM MONDAY...WEAK UPPER TROUGH WILL PERSIST ALOFT THROUGH
THE SHORT TERM PERIOD...WHILE THE SURFACE IS PRIMARILY DOMINATED BY
HIGH PRESSURE MIGRATING FROM THE MID-ATLANTIC TO OFF THE COAST. BEST
INSTABILITY TUESDAY WILL LIKELY BE FOUND ACROSS THE SC ZONES...THUS
PLACED THE HIGHEST POPS THERE. PRECIPITABLE WATER HOVERS AROUND 2
INCHES AND LOW CHANCES FOR MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVEN CONVECTION
PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY. MAX/MIN TEMPERATURES WILL BE WITH A COUPLE
DEGREES OF NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 3 PM SUNDAY...IRENE CONTINUES TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE
PERIOD...EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE SOUTHEASTERN US COAST LATE IN THE
WEEK. STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH RESPECT TO ALL FACETS OF THE
STORM...BUT IT IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE IT WILL HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ILM AREA BETWEEN FRI AND SUN.

AHEAD OF IRENE A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH WITH DEEP MOISTURE MOVES INTO
THE AREA THU. LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE WITH THIS FEATURE SHOULD PRODUCE
SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. IRENE SHOULD ACCELERATING
OFF TO THE NORTHEAST LATER SUN AND ON MON. SUBSIDENCE BEHIND IRENE
WILL HELP DRY THINGS OUT EARLY NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR
TO ABOVE CLIMO THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIGHS THE
DAY IRENE OR HER REMNANTS MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 18Z...HRRR MODEL STILL ADVERTISING SCATTERED SHOWERS TO
DEVELOP OVER THE REGION...STARTING AROUND 19-20Z. PWAT VALUES ARE
DOWN TO AROUND 1.6 INCHES...WITH FAIRLY HIGH LFC'S. WITH DRY AIR
ALOFT...ANY CONVECTION WILL LIKELY BE LOW TOPPED. LIGHT WEST WIND
WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SOUTHEAST RESULTANT...A BIT LATER THAN
USUAL...20-22Z. TONIGHT...ANOTHER CHANCE FOR TYPICAL LATE SUMMER
MVFR FOG...PARTICULARLY IF SKIES STAY SCATTERED. TUESDAY...VFR
CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK...SCATTERED AFTN SHRA/TSRA THROUGH THURSDAY. A
TROPICAL SYSTEM COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE REGION FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY WITH WIND...IFR CEILINGS AND IFR VISIBILITIES.

&&

.MARINE...
NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 3 PM MONDAY...LATEST BUOY AND COASTAL OBS SHOW SEAS HAVE
DROPPED DOWN AROUND 3 FT AT FRYING PAN SHOALS. SW WINDS AROUND 10 TO
15 KTS WILL SHIFT AROUND AS COLD FRONT PUSHES SOUTHEAST THROUGH
WATERS TONIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FT THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL DROP IN AN
OFF SHORE FLOW OVERNIGHT AS FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND PUSHES SOUTH OF
WATERS BY MORNING. EXPECT SEAS 1 TO 2 FT MOST WATERS BY MORNING WITH
WINDS SHIFTING AROUND TO THE N-NE 10 TO 15 KFT.

SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 3 PM MONDAY...NORTHEAST FLOW TUESDAY MORNING WILL VEER TO AN
EASTERLY DIRECTION THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS
OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST. ADDITIONAL VEERING TO THE SOUTHEAST IS
LIKELY BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. SPEEDS WILL BE HIGHEST TUESDAY THEN THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT RELAXES. LOW PERIOD WAVES WILL DOMINATE TUESDAY...
THEN THE FORE-RUNNERS FROM IRENE WILL ARRIVE BY TUESDAY EVENING AND
STEADILY BUILD THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 3 PM SUNDAY...AHEAD OF IRENE LONG PERIOD SWELLS...15 TO 20
SEC FROM THE SOUTHEAST...WILL START REACHING THE WATERS THU. OTHER
THAN THE LONG PERIOD GRADUALLY BUILDING SWELLS CONDITIONS SHOULD BE
FAIRLY BENIGN THU...ONSHORE FLOW 10 KT OR LESS AND SEAS 3 TO 5 FT.
DETAILS BEYOND FRI...WIND DIRECTION AND WAVE HEIGHT/SWELL...HINGE ON
THE TRACK AND STRENGTH OF IRENE. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE WATERS LATE FRI AND SAT WILL BE QUITE
TREACHEROUS. DOUBLE DIGIT SEAS SEEM A GIVEN WITH WIND SPEEDS AT OR
ABOVE SCA THRESHOLDS LATE IN THE PERIOD.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...NONE.
NC...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

NEAR TERM...RGZ
SHORT TERM...SRP
LONG TERM...III
AVIATION...HDL/RGZ

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 22, 4:20 PM EST, 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
520 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

AMZ250-252-254-256-231100-
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-
520 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING MAY PRODUCE STRONG WINDS
ARE LARGE HAIL. ACTIVITY SHOULD END OVERNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE CAROLINA COASTAL WATERS
THIS WEEKEND. THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS
TO THE TRACK THE STORM WILL TAKE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AREA. LARGE
SWELLS FROM IRENE WILL BEGIN TO ARRIVE ON THE CAROLINA COAST
WEDNESDAY. EVERYONE SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LATEST
FORECASTS ON HURRICANE IRENE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ105>110-SCZ053>056-231100-
INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER-INLAND NEW HANOVER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-
INLAND BRUNSWICK-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY-
INLAND GEORGETOWN-COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
520 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

STRONG TO POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING WILL PUSH
OFFSHORE OVERNIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLY
TORNADOES MAY OCCUR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE CAROLINA COAST THIS
WEEKEND. THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO
THE TRACK THE STORM WILL TAKE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AREA. AT A
MINIMUM...STRONG RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY
AND PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS LARGE SWELLS FROM IRENE ARRIVE
ON THE COAST. EVERYONE SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LATEST
FORECASTS ON HURRICANE IRENE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ087-096-099-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-231100-
ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-
WILLIAMSBURG-
520 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

STRONG TO POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING
WITH STRONG WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. WATERSPOUTS
ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE MAY AFFECT THE CAROLINAS THIS WEEKEND. THERE IS
STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO THE TRACK THE STORM
WILL TAKE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AREA. EVERYONE SHOULD PAY VERY
CLOSE ATTENTION TO LATEST FORECASTS ON HURRICANE IRENE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

9

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 1:45 PM EST, 2 hours 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
245 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

SCZ055-056-221945-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-INLAND GEORGETOWN-
245 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS GEORGETOWN COUNTY THROUGH
345 PM EDT...

AT 244 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES
NORTHWEST OF OATLAND...OR ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF GEORGETOWN...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE GEORGETOWN...GRAVES...JACKSON...
OATLAND...AND HIGHWAY 51 NEAR OATLAND.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3328 7943 3350 7952 3352 7949 3353 7949
      3357 7943 3358 7944 3359 7944 3361 7938
      3348 7910
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 322DEG 13KT 3354 7944

III

Local storm report, Aug 22, 2:12 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
312 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     COWARD                  33.97N  79.75W
08/20/2011                   FLORENCE           SC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER REPORTS SEVERAL TREES DOWN AND
            DAMAGE TO AN OLD TOBACCO BARN AND METAL SHED NEAR MCGEE
            AND AZALEA RD NEAR COWARD. ALSO TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE
            ALONG FRIENDFIELD RD IN THE SAME AREA.

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100520

SRP

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 2:25 PM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
325 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

NCZ105-222000-
INLAND PENDER-
325 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS PENDER COUNTY THROUGH 400
PM EDT...

AT 325 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
WHITE STOCKING...OR ABOUT OVER BURGAW...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BURGAW...MURRAY TOWN AND WHITE
STOCKING.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3442 7774 3455 7797 3461 7792 3459 7761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 291DEG 14KT 3454 7783

III

Local storm report, Aug 22, 3:42 PM EST, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
442 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 NNE HAMPSTEAD         34.38N  77.70W
08/22/2011                   PENDER             NC   911 CALL CENTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED NEAR THE HAMPSTEAD FIRE
            DEPARTMENT.

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100521

WEISS

Local storm report, Aug 22, 3:58 PM EST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
458 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0447 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 N SILVER LAKE         34.18N  77.91W
08/22/2011                   NEW HANOVER        NC   911 CALL CENTER

            MUTLIPLE REPORTS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR GEORGE ANDERSON
            ROAD AND 17TH STREET.

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100522

WEISS

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 4:21 PM EST, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
521 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

NCZ108>110-222215-
COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK-
521 PM EDT MON AUG 22 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS BRUNSWICK AND NEW HANOVER
COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...

AT 520 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM KURE BEACH TO BOLIVIA...
MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS DOES HAVE A HISTORY
OF PRODUCING FUNNEL CLOUDS.

SOME LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE CAROLINA BEACH...BOILING SPRING
LAKES...CIVIE TOWN...LONG BEACH...MILL CREEK...OAK ISLAND...
SOUTHPORT...SUPPLY...BALD HEAD ISLAND...BOLIVIA...CASWELL BEACH AND
HOLDEN BEACH.

HAZARDS INCLUDE...
SMALL HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3392 7794 3384 7797 3387 7803 3388 7803
      3391 7809 3390 7839 3413 7816 3411 7794
      3411 7793 3411 7786
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 029DEG 16KT 3401 7795 3405 7821

III

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Brunswick

When: August 22, 4:33 PM EST
Where: Brunswick County, 4.27 mi SSE of Mill Creek
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.041, -78.060

A house was struck by lightning on Westwood Road.

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, August 2011

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: 343768.