Scattered thunderstorms developed west of Interstate 95 and evolved into a cluster. The cluster of thunderstorms reached the Pee Dee Region during the evening and intensified as it interacted with the seabreeze.
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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed west of Interstate 95 and evolved into a cluster. The cluster of thunderstorms reached the Pee Dee Region during the evening and intensified as it interacted with the seabreeze. The convection tracked along a dewpoint and instability gradient. Wet microbursts did produce several reports of wind 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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 11, 1:39 PM EST, 4 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 239 PM EDT THU AUG 11 2011 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MEANDER ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...THEN WILL PUSH SOUTH OF THE AREA BEFORE DISSIPATING ON FRIDAY. A STRONGER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION EARLY ON MONDAY...BRINGING A DECENT CHANCE OF RAINFALL. THE FRONT WILL ALSO BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES TO THE EASTERN CAROLINAS THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1:30 PM THURSDAY...MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE IS POPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. GFS AND ESPECIALLY THE NAM ARE BULLISH ON DEVELOPMENT LATER TONIGHT AS A WEAK WAVE MOVES ACROSS IN THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. BASED ON THE VERY DRY LOWER LEVELS...CURRENT ACTIVITY HAS YET TO REGISTER BASED ON SURFACE OBSERVATIONS...AND THE FACT WE MAY SEE NVA IN THE WAKE OF THE CURRENT MCV MOVING ACROSS...WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY ALTHOUGH I WILL TREND THE POPS UP AROUND 0600 UTC WHILE REMAINING BELOW 15 PERCENT. BASED ON CURRENT DEWPOINTS WILL OPT FOR THE COOLER MAV NUMBERS AS THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST SOME RADIATIONAL COOLING. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...BROAD UPPER TROUGH OVER EASTERN CONUS ON FRIDAY DEEPENS CONSIDERABLY LATE ON SATURDAY. AT THE SURFACE THE WEAK COLD FRONT NOW WAVERING ABOUT OVER THE FORECAST AREA WILL HAVE DROPPED WELL TO THE SOUTH EARLY ON FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE PRESSES DOWN FROM THE NORTH. A RELATIVELY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BE LINED UP ALONG THE APPALACHIANS BY THE END OF THE PERIOD AS THE DEEPENING UPPER TROUGH ADVANCES ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD. CONFIDENCE IN TIMING OF ANY PRECIPITATION REMAINS LOW DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN GUIDANCE. LIMITING FACTORS CONTINUE TO BE DRY MID LEVELS AND LACK OF STRONG TRIGGERING MECHANISMS. IN ANY CASE...THERE WILL BE ENOUGH AVAILABLE MOISTURE FOR ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION AT LEAST DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS DURING TIMES OF MAXIMUM INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES BOTH DAYS WILL HOVER RIGHT AROUND CLIMO...WITH HIGHS OF AROUND 90 AND LOWS IN THE LOWER 70S. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...AN APPRECIABLE UPPER TROUGH WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE COASTAL CAROLINAS SUNDAY NIGHT. THE BEST DYNAMICS ARE EXPECTED TO BE WELL AFTER THE DIURNAL PEAK IN INSTABILITY AND GENERALLY LAG THE BEST MOISTURE. EVEN SO...IT SEEMS THAT AT LEAST SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED AREA-WIDE SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED FACTORS COULD LEAD TO DISAPPOINTING QPF. THE BOUNDARY WILL DECELERATE AS IT MOVES THROUGH SO SOME RAIN CHANCES MAY LINGER ALONG THE COAST INTO MONDAY MORNING BEFORE THE DRY ADVECTION REALLY KICKS IN. NORTHWESTERLY MID LEVEL FLOW WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD ALBEIT IN A DECREASING AMPLITUDE. THIS WILL PROMOTE A PERIOD OF NEAR CLIMO TEMPS AND LOWER THAN NORMAL DEWPOINTS/RH VALUES FOR THE TIME OF YEAR. TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO BE CLOSE TO CLIMO EARLIER IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD BUT MORE AS A FUNCTION OF CLOUD COVER AS OPPOSED TO AIRMASS ADVECTION. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 18Z...MOISTURE TODAY IS LACKING A BIT...BUT WITH GOOD CAPE AND A TROUGH IN THE VICINITY WILL KICK OFF ISOLATED CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON. LIGHT AND ALMOST VARIABLE WINDS WILL SUCCUMB TO THE SOUTHEAST RESULTANT ALONG THE COAST SHORTLY AFTER 18Z...A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER FOR THE INLAND TERMINALS. OVERNIGHT...SOME DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE NAM AND GFS. NAM IS MORE ROBUST SHOWING A FAIRLY VIGOROUS SHORTWAVE MOVING TO THE COAST BY 12Z WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIP. GFS IS WEAKER AND FARTHER WEST. WILL INTRODUCE SOME SHOWERS...BEST CHANCE NEAR THE COAST ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS FAIRLY LOW. COULD SEE SOME MVFR CEILINGS DURING THIS PERIOD. FRIDAY...BECOMING VFR WITH LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...ISOLATED SHRA/TSRA POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON. SCATTERED STORMS ON SUNDAY. OTHERWISE EXPECT VFR. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1:30 PM THURSDAY...BENIGN CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. IF ANYTHING WIND DIRECTION WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST MAINLY AS A BOUNDARY DISSIPATES. SPEEDS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW 10 KNOTS. SWAN SEAS REMAIN IN A LOW RANGE OF 2-3 FEET. SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DROP WELL SOUTH OF THE WATERS ON FRIDAY AS A STRONGER COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. THIS FRONT WILL BE LINED UP ALONG THE APPALACHIANS BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. WINDS WILL VEER THROUGH THE PERIOD...FROM THE EAST EARLY ON FRIDAY TO THE SW OVERNIGHT SUNDAY. AS GRADIENT WILL REMAIN SLACK...EXPECT WINDS TO REMAIN LIGHT...RIGHT AROUND 10 KTS OR LESS. SEAS WILL STAY IN THE 2 OR 3 FT RANGE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 3 PM THURSDAY...SOUTHWESTERLY GRADIENT WINDS INCREASE ABOUT 5KT WITH THE APPROACH OF A MODERATELY STRONG SUMMERTIME COLD FRONT ON SUNDAY. THIS BOUNDARY WILL PUSH ACROSS THE WATERS EITHER VERY LATE SUNDAY OR EARLY MONDAY WITH A PRONOUNCED VEER IN THE WIND DIRECTION FOLLOWED BY A GRADUAL DECREASE IN SPEEDS. THIS MAY LEAD TO A BRIEF PERIOD OF CHOPPY CONFUSION IN THE SEAS BUT THE OVERALL FCST WILL REMAIN GENERALLY IN THE 2 TO 4 FT RANGE...HIGHEST OFFSHORE. AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTH MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY A NORTHEAST WIND OF 10KT WILL ALLOW SEAS TO ABATE SLIGHTLY. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...REK NEAR TERM...SHK SHORT TERM...REK LONG TERM...MBB AVIATION...SHK/DL MARINE...REK/MBB/SHK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 356 AM EDT THU AUG 11 2011 NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-053>056-120800- ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER- INLAND NEW HANOVER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK- COASTAL BRUNSWICK-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION- WILLIAMSBURG-INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY-INLAND GEORGETOWN- COASTAL GEORGETOWN- 356 AM EDT THU AUG 11 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ250-252-254-256-120800- 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- 356 AM EDT THU AUG 11 2011 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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
253 PM EDT THU AUG 11 2011
SCZ039-055-056-111945-
WILLIAMSBURG-INLAND GEORGETOWN-COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
253 PM EDT THU AUG 11 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS WILLIAMSBURG AND
GEORGETOWN COUNTIES...
AT 252 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR SALTERS IN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY AND JUST
WEST OF NORTH SANTEE IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING SMALL
HAIL...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 MPH AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS
THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH.
COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE GEORGETOWN...KINGSTREE...
ANDREWS...EARLE...GOURDIN...GRAVES...JACKSON...LAMBERT...
MORRISVILLE...NORTH SANTEE...OATLAND AND SALTERS.
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.
LAT...LON 3312 7928 3314 7928 3314 7932 3323 7946
3324 7953 3340 7986 3344 7988 3349 7997
3351 8010 3373 7994 3349 7910 3329 7918
3330 7928 3326 7926 3325 7920 3311 7926
15SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
707 PM EDT THU AUG 11 2011
SCZ023-112330-
DARLINGTON-
707 PM EDT THU AUG 11 2011
...CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING DARLINGTON COUNTY...
AT 706 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG STORMS WAS...12 MILES WEST OF
CLYDE...OR 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF BISHOPVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
20 MPH.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING SMALL
HAIL...GUSTY WINDS OF 40 MPH AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IN
ADDITION TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.
COMMUNITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE HARTSVILLE...AUBURN...
CLYDE...DOVESVILLE...FLOYD...KELLYTOWN...LAMAR...LYDIA...MONT
CLARE...NORTH HARTSVILLE AND OATS.
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.
LAT...LON 3446 8011 3442 7981 3413 7999 3409 8008
3415 8016 3420 8012 3423 8012 3432 8018
3436 8018 3433 8021 3432 8024 3436 8029
3437 8029
BACONThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down along Ruby Road near the Chapel Hill Baptist Church. The time of event was estimated by radar data.
A tree was reported down along Elberry Road. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A tree was reported down on Hoffmeyer Road near the entrance to Florence Mall.
A tree was reported down on Mechanicsville Road.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Antioch Church Road and Highway 38. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A tree was reported down across Highway 9.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 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: 339923, 339970, 339996, 339998, 340000, 340003.