Thunderstorms developed across the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain in a moderately unstable air mass as a weak upper level disturbance tracked over the region. The strongest storms blew several trees down across 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 RAH wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed across the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain in a moderately unstable air mass as a weak upper level disturbance tracked over the region. The strongest storms blew several trees down across 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 Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 23, 2:05 PM EST, 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 305 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011 .SYNOPSIS... INCREASINGLY CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT WILL RESULT IN NEAR-NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND INCREASED CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION THROUGH FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 300 PM THURSDAY... 18Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWED 999 MB LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER LAKE MICHIGAN. A COLD FRONT EXTENDED SOUTHWEST FROM THE LOWER GREAT LAKES THROUGH THE OH VALLEY INTO THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY. ALOFT...LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC DATA SHOWED AN H5 LOW OVER THE UPPER GREAT LAKES...WITH AN H5 TROUGH AXIS EXTENDING SOUTH INTO THE OH/TN VALLEYS AND PORTIONS OF THE DEEP SOUTH. AN H5 SHEAR AXIS WAS ORIENTED SW-NE ALONG THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. CONVECTION TODAY/TONIGHT: 18Z REGIONAL RADAR SHOWED A NARROW BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS ORIENTED SW-NE OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS...ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELONGATED H5 SHEAR AXIS MOVING EAST ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND WEAK/BROAD SYNOPTIC HEIGHT FALLS. THE LINE OF SHOWERS WILL SLOWLY PROGRESS INTO THE AREA THROUGH THE AFT/EVE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE AFOREMENTIONED H5 SHEAR AXIS. EXPECT NEW CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE CURRENT LINE OF SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON...PRIMARILY ALONG/EAST OF HWY 1...ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST INSTABILITY WILL BE CONFINED TO THE SW PIEDMONT...SANDHILLS AND SE COASTAL PLAIN. CONVECTIVE COVERAGE IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN AS IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS DAYS. DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF WEAKER INSTABILITY...CURRENT TRENDS WOULD SUGGEST AT LEAST A HIGH CHANCE POP (40-50%) IS WARRANTED ALONG/EAST OF HWY 1 GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF BETTER SYNOPTIC FORCING THAN PREVIOUS DAYS. AS A RESULT...WILL SHOW HIGH CHANCE POPS ALONG/EAST OF THE HWY 1 CORRIDOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. IN THE WEST/NW PIEDMONT WHERE INSTABILITY IS FAR WEAKER DUE TO PERSISTENT CLOUD COVER AND LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL INDICATE POPS NO HIGHER THAN ~30%. EXPECT PRECIP CHANCES TO DECREASE FROM WEST-EAST BETWEEN 22Z THIS AFTERNOON AND 04Z TONIGHT IN ASSOC/W AN INCREASINGLY STABLE AIRMASS. OVERNIGHT... EXPECT THE AIRMASS OVER CENTRAL NC TO HAVE LARGELY STABILIZED IN ASSOC/W CONVECTIVE OVERTURNING THIS AFT/EVE (IN ADDITION TO NOCTURNAL COOLING AFTER SUNSET)...AND THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE THERMODYNAMICS TO WORK WITH. HOWEVER...GIVEN CONTINUED BROAD SYNOPTIC FORCING (~30 METER H5 HEIGHT FALLS BETWEEN 00-12Z FRI) AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCES IN INCREASINGLY CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT...FEEL THAT AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS LOOKS REASONABLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEVERE THREAT THIS AFT/EVE: MID-LEVEL FLOW HAS MARKEDLY INCREASED TODAY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS DAYS IN ASSOC/W A TIGHTENING HEIGHT GRADIENT FROM THE WEST/NW...AND FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW 45-50 KNOT WSW FLOW AT 650 MB (~12 KFT AGL) THIS AFT/EVE...WITH EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR VALUES IN THE 25-40 KT RANGE... HIGHEST IN THE PIEDMONT AND LOWEST IN THE COASTAL PLAIN. THESE SHEAR VALUES ARE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR MULTICELL ORGANIZATION AND PERHAPS ENOUGH FOR A FEW ROTATING STORMS. THE PRIMARY LIMITING FACTOR TODAY WILL BE INSTABILITY. DESPITE PERVASIVE CLOUD COVER THIS MORNING...SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON HAS LED TO A FAIR AMOUNT OF DESTABILIZATION...WITH MLCAPE VALUES OF 1500-2500 J/KG IN THE SANDHILLS AND SE COASTAL PLAIN THIS AFT/EVE...TAPERING DOWN TO 500-1000 J/KG OR LESS FURTHER NORTH...AND EVEN LESS IN THE NW PIEDMONT. GIVEN BROAD SYNOPTIC HEIGHT FALLS AND THE SW-NE ORIENTED SHEAR AXIS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST COMBINED WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY...A THREAT OF ORGANIZED SEVERE STORMS WILL PERSIST THIS AFT/EVE EAST OF HWY 1. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE HIGHEST IN THE SW PIEDMONT...SANDHILLS AND SE COASTAL PLAIN...OR ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM WADESBORO-SANFORD-GOLDSBORO...WHERE MLCAPE VALUES COULD APPROACH ~2500 J/KG. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WOULD BE DAMAGING WINDS OWING TO SPEEDY MID-LEVEL FLOW...IN ADDITION TO QUARTER TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL...WITH THE THREAT GREATEST BETWEEN 3-9 PM THIS EVENING. FRIDAY: THE VERTICALLY STACKED LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MEANDER E/NE ON FRIDAY...WITH INCREASINGLY CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT SPREADING INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC/CAROLINAS. WEAK SYNOPTIC HEIGHT FALLS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE DAY...WITH ADDITIONAL UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT POSSIBLE IN THE FORM OF SHORTWAVES AND/OR MCV'S. GFS/NAM FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW VERY DRY MID/UPPER LEVELS COMPARED TO TODAY...WITH A MID-LEVEL (~600 MB) SUBSIDENCE INVERSION DURING PEAK HEATING. EVEN WITH THE MID-LEVEL SUBSIDENCE INVERSION...GIVEN DEWPOINTS IN THE MID/UPPER 60S AND TEMPS IN THE LOWERS 90S...EXPECT MLCAPE VALUES OF 1500-2000 J/KG IN SOUTH/EAST PORTIONS OF THE AREA...TAPERING DOWN TO LESS THAN 500-1000 J/KG IN THE NW PIEDMONT WHERE SFC DEWPOINTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LOWER (NEAR 60F). MID-LEVEL FLOW IS PROGGED TO BE WEAKER ON FRIDAY...~35 KT COMPARED TO 45-50 KT TODAY...AND EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR VALUES WILL BE LOWER. AS A RESULT...THE SEVERE THREAT IS NOT AS CLEAR...AND MAY BE CONFINED TO THE TRIANGLE SOUTH AND EAST...OR ALONG/EAST OF HWY 1. PRECIP CHANCES LOOK LESS FAVORABLE THAN PREVIOUSLY WAS THOUGHT DUE TO UNCERTAINTIES IN THE TIMING/TRACK OF ANY UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES AND LESS INSTABILITY. WILL KEEP POPS AT 20-30% AT MOST. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE LOWER 90S. -VINCENT && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 300 PM THURSDAY.... AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL CROSS THE REGION DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY...MOVING EAST OF THE MAJORITY OF THE FORECAST AREA BY MIDNIGHT AND THEN IS EXPECTED TO MEANDER NEAR THE COAST THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS WILL HELP DRAG A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE AREA...WHICH THEN WASHES OUT OVER THE REGION ON SATURDAY LEAVING WEAK SURFACE TROUGHING OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN. THIS WILL RESULT IN DEEP WESTERLY TO NORTHWESTERLY FLOW OVER THE FORECAST AREA...WHICH WILL ACT TO DRY OUT THE COLUMN. IN FACT...PWAT VALUES ARE PROGGED TO DECREASE TO NEAR OR EVEN SLIGHTLY BELOW 1 INCH BY SATURDAY...WITH ONLY A SLIGHT RECOVERY EXPECTED ON SUNDAY. THEREFORE...FRIDAY NIGHT IS EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY DRY ONCE THE LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING CONVECTION DISSIPATES. THEN...FOR SATURDAY WILL DECREASE POPS... RESULTING IN A MOSTLY DRY DAY. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO DURING PEAK HEATING ON SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EAST IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED WEAK SURFACE TROUGH. PRECIP CHANCES MAY INCREASE SLIGHTLY ON SUNDAY WITH THE INCREASED MOISTURE...THEREFORE WILL MAINTAIN THE CURRENT FORECAST OF SCATTERED AFTERNOON/EVENING CONVECTION ACROSS THE REGION. HIGH TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS MODERATING FROM THE MID 60S TO NEAR 70 DEGREES FRIDAY NIGHT TO THE LOW 70S BY SUNDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 300 PM THURSDAY... A MID LEVEL RIDGE CENTERED NEAR TEXAS WILL ATTEMPT TO MOVE INTO THE SOUTHEAST US THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK...BEFORE RETROGRADING BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AS A MID LEVEL TROUGH HELPS DRAG A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY TOWARDS THE REGION. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL RETURN TO THE AREA RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE ACROSS FORECAST AREA. THEREFORE SCATTERED DIURNAL CONVECTION WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING NEXT WEEK...WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER CHANCES POSSIBLE BY LATE WEEK WITH THE APPROACH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED FRONT (ALTHOUGH WILL NOT GO MUCH HIGHER DUE TO THIS BEING THE DAY 7/8 TIME FRAME). TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEAR SEASONAL NORMS THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 130 PM THURSDAY... 24-HR TAF PERIOD: OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS/STORMS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD...WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS 10-15 KT AND GUSTS UP TO ~20 KT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON IN ASSOCIATION WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFT/EVE ARE LEAST LIKELY AT THE INT/GSO TERMINALS WHERE THE ATMOSPHERE IS MORE STABLE...AND MOST LIKELY AT THE FAY TERMINAL WHERE THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE MOST UNSTABLE. SHOWERS/STORMS WILL BE MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 20Z THIS AFTERNOON AND 03Z TONIGHT...WITH ACTIVITY DECREASING BETWEEN SUNSET AND MIDNIGHT. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO DECREASE TO ~5 KT AFTER SUNSET. NAM FCST SOUNDINGS INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR IFR STRATUS LATE TONIGHT...BETWEEN 08-12Z FRI MORNING. HOWEVER...GFS FCST SOUNDINGS ARE NOT AS ROBUST WITH THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AS THE NAM...AND AT THIS TIME THERE IS ENOUGH UNCERTAINTY TO PRECLUDE MENTION OF SUB-VFR CEILINGS LATE TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON FRIDAY...BUT WILL BE MOST LIKELY AFTER 18Z. SUSTAINED WSW WINDS OF 10-15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20-25 KT ARE EXPECTED AFTER 15Z FRI. LOOKING AHEAD: PRIMARILY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK IN ASSOCIATION WITH DISTURBANCES IN WEST/NW FLOW ALOFT. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO PREDOMINATE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. -VINCENT && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...VINCENT NEAR TERM...VINCENT SHORT TERM...KRR LONG TERM...KRR AVIATION...VINCENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 245 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011 NCZ007>010-021>025-038-039-073-241845- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE- DURHAM-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-STANLY- 245 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. NCZ011-026>028-040>043-074>078-083>086-088-089-241845- HALIFAX-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON- MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE- CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 245 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 542 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH 10 PM THIS EVENING. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. VINCENT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
254 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011
NCZ075-077-086-231930-
HARNETT-HOKE-MOORE-
254 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS HARNETT...MOORE AND HOKE
COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
AT 254 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
SOUTHERN PINES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...VASS...PINEVIEW...
AND...OLIVIA.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 MPH.
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WINDS OF THIS
MAGNITUDE ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND
TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR
OBJECTS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
THURSDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
&&
LAT...LON 3523 7952 3534 7925 3531 7918 3540 7910
3543 7900 3523 7890 3522 7892 3521 7901
3519 7909 3517 7910 3507 7944
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 247DEG 32KT 3519 7937
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
328 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011
NCZ085-086-232015-
HOKE-SCOTLAND-
328 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SCOTLAND AND HOKE COUNTIES
THROUGH 415 PM EDT...
AT 328 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
GIBSON...OR ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF LAURINBURG...MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE LAURINBURG...EAST
LAURINBURG...WAGRAM...BOWMORE...ANTIOCH...AND...RAEFORD...ROCKFISH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HALF INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO
SAFETY. 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.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
THURSDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
&&
LAT...LON 3463 7946 3481 7969 3482 7962 3484 7962
3485 7963 3491 7956 3495 7958 3518 7917
3495 7903 3483 7919 3483 7934 3482 7935
3477 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 253DEG 37KT 3479 7959
77PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
400 PM EDT THU JUN 23 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0348 PM TSTM WND GST LAURINBURG MAXTON APT 34.79N 79.37W
06/23/2011 M51 MPH SCOTLAND NC ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1100889
BLAESThe Wilmington radar (KLTX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down along a swath from several miles southwest of Laurinburg to the city of East Laurinburg.
A couple of trees were blown down near Antioch.
One tree was blown down a few miles southeast of Smithfield, at the intersection of Brogden Road and Stevens Sausage Road .
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Several trees were blown down along a swath from near Pikeville to near Eureka.
Several trees were blown down along a swath from near Salemburg to near Hobbton.
A few trees were blown down along a swath from a few miles northeast of Pinetops to a couple of miles southeast of Pinetops.
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, June 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: 321557, 321558, 321559, 321560, 321561, 321562, 321563.