Strong winds with gusts to 45-50 mph in the Triad resulted in a number of power outages and downed trees.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
Strong winds with gusts to 45-50 mph in the Triad resulted in a number of power outages and downed trees.
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 25, 11:55 AM EST, 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1155 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011 .SYNOPSIS... STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING. DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1155 AM FRIDAY... REST OF TODAY: WARM CONVEYOR RAIN SHIELD IS MOVING RAPIDLY OFF THE NC COAST ALONG WITH ANY THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS. BEHIND IT... WIDESPREAD CLEARING AND WARMING IS TAKING PLACE OVER CENTRAL NC. HRRR AND LOCAL WRF SUGGEST A THIN BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS IS POSSIBLE JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT LATER TODAY... SO HAVE RETAINED A MENTION OF ISOLATED SHOWERS. 12Z UPPER AIR ANALYSES CONFIRM EARLIER MODEL GUIDANCE WITH 75 KTS NOTED AT 850 MB AT GSO... AND MORE RECENT AMDAR AIRCRAFT SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 KTS JUST 2-3 KFT AGL. WILL LEAVE WIND ADVISORY IN PLACE AS IS. WE MAY SEE GUSTS ENHANCED FURTHER WITH ANY SHOWERS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON... AND A FEW GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH REMAIN POSSIBLE. WITH NO WORSE THAN PARTLY SUNNY SKIES... HAVE UPPED HIGHS TO 70-76 ACROSS THE AREA WITH STRONG HEATING AND WARM AIR ADVECTION PERSISTING AHEAD OF THE FRONT. STILL EXPECT CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT WITH POST-FRONTAL COLD AIR ADVECTION PUSHING TEMPS DOWN TO 31-37. -GIH && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 300 AM FRIDAY... SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT: WITH H5 HEIGHT RISES AND SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE AREA ON SAT...EXPECT MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ASIDE FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME CIRRUS MOVING INTO THE AREA VIA WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM THE MID/UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. SAT NIGHT...SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFFSHORE...SETTING UP A SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW WITH FCST SOUNDINGS SHOWING GOOD WARM ADVECTION IN THE 06-12Z TIME FRAME. AS A RESULT...EXPECT BROKEN/OVERCAST SKIES DEVELOPING IN ASSOC/W LOW STRATUS AFTER MIDNIGHT. ANTICIPATE LOWS IN THE 40S...ALTHOUGH A FEW LOCATIONS COULD HIT UPPER 30S NEAR THE VA BORDER/NW PIEDMONT IF TEMPS CAN DROP FAST ENOUGH AFTER SUNSET BEFORE WARM ADVECTION STRENGTHENS. -VINCENT SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT: AIR MASS IS STRONGLY CAPPED TO BEGIN THE DAY SUNDAY WITH 850 MILLIBAR TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 50S... FALLING TO THE MID 40S AT THE BASE OF THE INVERSION. EXPECT THE CAP TO PERSIST THROUGH THE DAY... KEEPING SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY. LOW CLOUDINESS WILL BREAK FOR A FEW HOURS AROUND SUNSET... BUT MANY LOCATIONS WILL SEE LOW STRATUS RETURN BEFORE MIDNIGHT. THE NAM AND GFS ARE CAPPED THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY... BUT THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN DEVELOP A DIFFERENT OPINION IN BREAKING THE CAP... DESTABILIZING THE AIR MASS AND GENERATING SOME AFTERNOON RAIN. THIS ALLOWS THE CANADIAN AND ECMWF TO BE QUITE MILD WITH SUNDAY TEMPERATURES. THE NAM HAS PERFORMED WELL IN THESE SITUATIONS AND WILL SHADE THE FORECAST TOWARD IT. HIGH TEMPERATURES OF MID TO UPPER 60S COULD BE A GOOD FIVE TO SEVEN DEGREES COOL IF THE INVERSION BREAKS. WITH LOW CLOUDS AND A SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH WIND... TEMPERATURES SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE RELATIVELY STATIC IN THE WEST WHILE RISING SLIGHTLY IN THE EAST. LOW TEMPERATURES MOSTLY MID 50S. WITH A SURFACE LOW LIFTING NORTHEAST WELL NORTH OF THE OHIO VALLEY...CHANCES FOR MORE THAN A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH RAIN SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA LOOK REMOTE. CURRENT FORECAST OF LOW CHANCES MAINLY NORTH AND AFTER MIDNIGHT ACCEPTED. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 300 AM FRIDAY... FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW WILL MOVE THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA LATE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. TWO TENTHS INCH RAIN POSSIBLE. LOW CAPE...HIGH SHEAR ENVIRONMENT WITH WINDS BELOW 5000 FEET EXCEEDING FIFTY KNOTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. MONDAY SHOULD BE WINDY WITH AN ISOLATED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM POTENTIALLY PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. HIGH TEMPERATURES MONDAY IN THE 70S. MONDAY NIGHT LOWS IN THE 40S. HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR WEST TAKES CONTROL OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA WEATHER TUESDAY... WITH THE HIGH SETTLING OVER THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. A LOW PASSING THROUGH NORTH PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND TUESDAY NIGHT WILL NOT PRODUCE ANY RAIN AT OUR LATITUDE... AND BE FOLLOWED AN ADDITIONAL SHOT OF DRIER... SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR FOR THURSDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S TUESDAY AND THURSDAY... 60 TO 65 WEDNESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES 30 TO 35 TUESDAY NIGHT...35 TO 40 WEDNESDAY NIGHT. && .AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 630 AM FRIDAY... 24-HR TAF PERIOD: ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS (IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER) ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 21-00Z THIS EVENING. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CURRENTLY IN THE WILL DEEPEN AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST THROUGH THE MID-ATLANTIC THIS AFTERNOON...WITH AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT SWEEPING ACROSS THE CAROLINAS BETWEEN 11-18Z. EXPECT A BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS WITH MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS TO CROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 11-18Z...WITH SURFACE WINDS VEERING TO THE SOUTHWEST AND STRENGTHENING TO 15-25 KT SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KT IN THE WAKE OF SHOWER ACTIVITY. EXPECT CEILINGS TO SCATTER OUT AND IMPROVE TO VFR BY ~18Z IN MOST LOCATIONS...ALTHOUGH MVFR CEILINGS MAY PERSIST IN THE COASTAL PLAIN (FAY/RWI) UNTIL 21Z. FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW 40-50 KT WSW/WEST FLOW PERSISTING AS LOW AS 1500-2500 FT AGL THROUGH 21Z THIS AFTERNOON... AND AS THE MIXED LAYER DEEPENS IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT...EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20-25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KT POSSIBLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON AT ALL TAF SITES... ALTHOUGH THE RELATIVE BEST CHANCE APPEARS TO BE AT THE FAY/RDU/RWI TAF SITES. WINDS WILL WEAKEN A BIT AND BECOME NORTHWESTERLY BY SUNSET...BECOMING NORTHERLY AND FURTHER WEAKENING BY MIDNIGHT. LOOKING AHEAD: VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY IN ASSOC/W DRY HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA. HOWEVER...HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFFSHORE SAT NIGHT...SETTING UP A MOIST LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. AS A RESULT...LIFR/IFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AT ALL TAF SITES SAT NIGHT (BETWEEN 06-12Z SUN)...WITH AN IMPROVEMENT TO MVFR LIKELY BY SUN AFTERNOON. CEILINGS WILL LIKELY DETERIORATE TO IFR/LIFR AGAIN SUN NIGHT IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE ON MONDAY AFT/EVE. WINDY CONDITIONS AND A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONTAL PASSAGE ON MON...WITH VFR CONDS RETURNING IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT MON NIGHT THROUGH WED IN ASSOC/W HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA AGAIN. -VINCENT && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...HARTFIELD NEAR TERM...HARTFIELD/VINCENT SHORT TERM...VINCENT/99 LONG TERM...99 AVIATION...VINCENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1151 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-261145- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE- ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE- JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON- RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 1151 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST 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. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ANOTHER STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE AREA LATE MONDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY MONDAY AFTERNOON. OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GIH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 843 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011 NCZ011-027-028-042-043-077-078-085-086-088-089-251530- HALIFAX-NASH-EDGECOMBE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-HARNETT-WAYNE-SCOTLAND- HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROANOKE RAPIDS...NASHVILLE... ROCKY MOUNT...SMITHFIELD...WILSON...LILLINGTON...GOLDSBORO... LAURINBURG...RAEFORD...FAYETTEVILLE...CLINTON 843 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011 ...SHOWERS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE TRIANGLE AND INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR THROUGH 1030 AM... A BAND OF SHOWERS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING EAST THROUGH THE TRIANGLE... SANDHILLS... AND COASTAL PLAIN THIS MORNING. SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 20 MPH AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE SHOWERS... ESPECIALLY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE LINE. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL AFFECT FAYETTEVILLE... CLINTON... GOLDSBORO... WILSON... ROCKY MOUNT... AND ROANOKE RAPIDS. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 95 AND INTERSTATE 40. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN KNOCK DOWN TREE BRANCHES AND TOSS AROUND OUTDOOR OBJECTS SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND PATIO FURNITURE. THIS WIND WILL ALSO MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. GIH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
852 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
NCZ008>011-251445-
GRANVILLE-HALIFAX-VANCE-WARREN-
852 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
...SHOWER WITH STRONG WINDS WILL MOVE ACROSS FAR NORTHERN SECTIONS
OF WARREN... GRANVILLE... VANCE AND HALIFAX COUNTIES THROUGH 945 AM
EST...
AT 851 AM EST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
STOVALL...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF OXFORD...MOVING TO THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THESE STRONG WINDS INCLUDE DREWRY...
BULLOCKSVILLE... WISE... NORLINA... MACON... AND LAKE GASTON.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MPH.
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES WEAK ROTATION WITH THIS SHOWER. SHOULD THE
STORM ROTATION INCREASE... A WARNING MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 7790 3648 7777 3648 7765 3641 7764
3636 7860 3649 7861 3656 7816 3656 7790
TIME...MOT...LOC 1351Z 260DEG 41KT 3643 7851
GIHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
921 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W HALIFAX 36.33N 77.64W
02/25/2011 M41 MPH HALIFAX NC AWOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1100237
DJFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
943 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N POPE AFB 35.19N 79.01W
02/25/2011 M40 MPH CUMBERLAND NC AWOS
40 MPH WIND GUST AT POB
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1100238
MEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1152 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0933 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W SHARPSBURG 35.86N 77.88W
02/25/2011 M42 MPH NASH NC ASOS
42 MPH WIND GUST AT RWI
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1100239
TDHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1153 AM EST FRI FEB 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W HALIFAX 36.33N 77.64W
02/25/2011 M42 MPH HALIFAX NC AWOS
42 MPH WIND GUST AT IXA
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1100240
TDHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2011
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: 286533, 286535, 286536.