A weak lee side trough and ribbon of upper level vorticity over the western Piedmont provided the focus for showers and thunderstorms. These storms produced an area of heavy rainfall between 3 to 4 inches over Stanly, Montgomery and Randolph counties, that resulted in isolated flooding.
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.
A weak lee side trough and ribbon of upper level vorticity over the western Piedmont provided the focus for showers and thunderstorms. These storms produced an area of heavy rainfall between 3 to 4 inches over Stanly, Montgomery and Randolph counties, that resulted in isolated flooding.
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 Aug 6, 2:20 PM EST, 4 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 320 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING....WILL DRIFT EAST ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 320 PM MONDAY... A WEAK COLD FRONT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS WILL STALL FROM EASTERN TN TO NORTHERN VA THIS EVENING...WHILE THE ASSOCIATED UPPER SHEAR AXIS SLIPS EAST INTO CENTRAL NC. CONVECTION HAS DEVELOPED ALONG A DIFFERENTIAL HEATING NEAR THE NC/VA BORDER FROM WIDESPREAD CLOUD COVER THAT HAS BEEN DRIFTING ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONTAL ZONE...AND ALSO OVER SOUTHEAST NC AND COASTAL SC. THE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL INCREASE FROM THE WESTERN PIEDMONT TO THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN BY 21Z...AND THEN SLOWLY PUSH EAST ACROSS THE PIEDMONT THIS EVENING AS THE SHEAR AXIS MOVES OVER THE AREA. MLCAPE HAS BEEN LIMITED TO LESS THAN 1000 J/KG OVER MOST OF CENTRAL NC THUS FAR...AND WEAK MID LEVEL FLOW HAS THE 0-6KM EFFECTIVE SHEAR WELL BELOW 20KT. WITH VERY LITTLE DOWNDRAFT CAPE AND SOUNDINGS BECOMING INCREASINGLY MOIST ADIABATIC DUE TO PW VALUES OF OVER 2 INCHES...THE SEVERE THREAT IS LOW THIS EVENING OUTSIDE OF A MORE INTENSE STORM WILL A PRECIP LOADED DOWNBURST. SOME MINOR FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...MAINLY IN URBAN AREAS THIS EVENING AS FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE IS RELATIVELY HIGH AREAWIDE. TONIGHT... AS THE RIBBON OF VORTICITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHEAR AXIS SETTLES INTO CENTRAL NC TONIGHT...SOME OF THE CAMS ALONG WITH THE HRRR SHOW THE FOCUS FOR PRECIP SETTING UP ALONG OR JUST WEST OF US HWY 1. WEAK LAPSE RATES ALOFT AND LIMITED INSTABILITY...COVERAGE SHOULD DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT...BUT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 70S. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 320 PM MONDAY... THE UPPER LEVEL SHEAR AXIS AND AXIS OF HIGHER PW WILL SHIFT SLIGHTLY EAST ON TUESDAY...AND WITH IT THE FOCUS FOR GREAT COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. CONDITIONS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO TODAY WITH WEAK INSTABILITY AND SHEAR...BUT HIGH PW AND RELATIVELY SLOW MOVEMENT OF CELLS...WHICH WILL LEAD TO MAINLY AN ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING THREAT. ONE FEATURE TO NOTE IS AN AREA OF CONVECTION OVER THE FL PANHANDLE AND ITS ASSOCIATED VORT MAX...WHICH MODELS SHOW BEING DRAWN NORTH ACROSS GA AND SC ON TUESDAY. THE GFS HAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE NORTHWARD TRACK AND BRINGS IT ACROSS THE NC COASTAL PLAIN LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...THERE IS TOO MUCH MODEL SPREAD TO PUT MUCH FAITH IN HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT CONVECTION TUESDAY NIGHT. FOR NOW...WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW 70-80 POPS ACROSS THE EAST TUESDAY AFTERNOON...TRENDING DOWNWARD TUESDAY NIGHT BUT WITH AT LEAST CHANCE POPS OVERNIGHT. UNDER MORE WIDESPREAD CLOUD COVER...HIGHS SHOULD BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN TODAY...AND MOST GUIDANCE GIVES LOW TO MID 80S. LOWS TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: THE MID/LOW LEVEL TROUGH WEAKENS AND STALLS OVER THE EAST COAST ON WEDNESDAY...BRINGING THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP FROM THE COASTAL PLAIN EASTWARD. THE REMNANTS OF THE SURFACE TROUGH WILL MOVE OFFSHORE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY AHEAD OF OUR NEXT LOW PRESSURE/FRONTAL SYSTEM. THIS SHOULD YIELD A BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND INTO THURSDAY...WITH MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. HAVE TRENDED MORE TOWARD THE MAV FOR TEMPS...HIGHS WEDNESDAY IN THE MID 80S WITH LOWS OVERNIGHT IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S. HIGHS THURSDAY SLIGHTLY WARMER...MID TO UPPER 80S WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE LOW 70S && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 320 PM MONDAY... A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH AN ANOMALOUSLY STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL NC AT THE END OF THE WEEK. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER CANADA ON WEDNESDAY AND TRACK SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH MICHIGAN EARLY FRIDAY AND DEEPEN AS IT MOVES OVER THE GREAT LAKES INTO THE WEEKEND. HAVE MAINLY GONE WITH A BLEND OF THE ECMWF AND THE 12Z GFS AS THEY ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT AND SEEM TO HANDLE THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THE BEST. THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD MOVE INTO THE AREA AROUND MID DAY FRIDAY...BRINGING WITH IT THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS TO DEVELOP. THE 12Z GFS GENERATES 1500-2000 J/KG OF SURFACE BASED CAPE OVER CENTRAL NC FRIDAY AFTERNOON...0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES OF 30-40 KTS...MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES OF 6-7 DEGREES C/KM...AND PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OVER 2 INCHES. BOTH MODELS SHOW THE MAIN PRECIP AXIS MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL NC FROM THE NW THROUGH APPROX 12Z SATURDAY. THE FRONT COULD THEN LINGER OVER THE COAST THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEKEND...LEADING TO A CONTINUED CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN DURING THAT TIME. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S THROUGH SUNDAY...WITH SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS FOR MONDAY...LOW TO MID 80S. OVERNIGHT LOWS RANGING FROM THE UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 140 PM MONDAY... MOSTLY 3-4K FT CEILINGS ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVED ACROSS CENTRAL NC WITH A FEW AREAS OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS NEAR KGSO/KINT AND NORTH OF KRDU. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO WESTERN NC THIS EVENING BUT CONTINUE TO WEAKEN AND WASH OUT OVER CENTRAL NC BY TUESDAY. SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ALONG THE WEAK FRONT. WHERE SHOWERS ARE HEAVIEST...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND IFR...OR LOWER.... CEILINGS/VSBYS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE TIMING OF THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS IS DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN...BUT THE BEST TIME FRAME APPEARS AFTER 20Z TODAY AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...POSSIBLY DIMINISHING FROM WEST TO EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. IFR CEILINGS MAY THEN DEVELOP BY 09Z...WITH MODELS SHOWING THE GREATEST PROBABILITY AT KGSO AND KINT. SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE REMNANTS OF THE FRONT ON TUESDAY...WITH THE GREATEST COVERAGE OVER EASTERN NC. ANY MORNING STRATUS SHOULD LIFT BUT MAY HOLD AT OR JUST BELOW 3K FT GIVEN THE MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE. OUTLOOK... THE THREAT FOR SCATTERED...MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND T-STORMS...WILL RETURN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUB-VFR FOG AND CEILINGS DURING THE PRE-DAWN THROUGH EARLY MORNING HOURS EACH DAY. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM..SMITH SHORT TERM...SMITH/KMC LONG TERM...SMITH AVIATION...SMITH
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 402 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-072015- 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- 402 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THIS RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ESPECIALLY NEAR POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WHICH MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING URBAN AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS. SEVERE WEATHER WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE AGAIN FRIDAY AND INTO SATURDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
541 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ084-085-062215-
RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-
541 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SCOTLAND AND RICHMOND
COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...
AT 541 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
DOBBINS HEIGHTS...OR ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ROCKINGHAM...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE HOFFMAN...DERBY...AND
CAMP MACKALL.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE
LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE
AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL RESULT
IN PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO SLOW
DOWN AND USE EXTRA CAUTION TO AVOID HYDROPLANING.
&&
LAT...LON 3487 7982 3517 7972 3518 7970 3518 7968
3516 7965 3516 7962 3512 7957 3509 7958
3506 7957 3506 7948 3499 7940 3475 7961
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 206DEG 23KT 3492 7967
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
554 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ026-027-062300-
FRANKLIN-NASH-
554 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS NASH AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
THROUGH 700 PM EDT...
AT 554 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES
SOUTH OF CENTERVILLE...OR ABOUT 9 MILES EAST OF LOUISBURG...MOVING
EAST AT 10 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...CENTERVILLE...
CASTALIA...AVENTON.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3620 7800 3618 7798 3620 7797 3618 7795
3619 7794 3619 7792 3616 7791 3605 7794
3602 7835 3622 7829
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 253DEG 8KT 3612 7813
SECSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
624 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ039-062315-
RANDOLPH-
624 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS RANDOLPH COUNTY THROUGH 715
PM EDT...
AT 624 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
ULAH...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ASHEBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
15 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE ULAH...ASHEBORO...
FRANKLINVILLE...AND...RAMSEUR.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE
LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE
AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL RESULT
IN MINOR FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS
ARE URGED TO SLOW DOWN AND USE EXTRA CAUTION TO AVOID
HYDROPLANING...ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY 64.
&&
LAT...LON 3573 8005 3590 7967 3590 7958 3585 7954
3561 7955 3551 7984 3551 7995 3570 8006
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 242DEG 13KT 3565 7990
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
629 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ078-062330-
WAYNE-
629 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS WAYNE COUNTY THROUGH 730 PM
EDT...
AT 629 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
GOLDSBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...PIKEVILLE...
EUREKA...AND OTHERWISE RURAL EASTERN WAYNE COUNTY.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3526 7795 3538 7812 3559 7795 3559 7783
3557 7782 3542 7782 3541 7780 3538 7780
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 220DEG 9KT 3539 7796
MWSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
639 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ038-039-073-074-062315-
DAVIDSON-MONTGOMERY-RANDOLPH-STANLY-
639 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS STANLY...RANDOLPH...
MONTGOMERY AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM EDT...
AT 637 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
ELDORADO...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALBEMARLE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE NEW HOPE AND BADIN
LAKE.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE
LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE
AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL RESULT
IN MINOR FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS
ARE URGED TO SLOW DOWN AND USE EXTRA CAUTION TO AVOID HYDROPLANING.
&&
LAT...LON 3551 8029 3551 8020 3555 8020 3570 7986
3552 7975 3551 7975 3551 7977 3546 7976
3531 8022 3549 8031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 243DEG 9KT 3548 8005
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
732 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
NCZ040-070030-
CHATHAM-
732 PM EDT MON AUG 6 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS CHATHAM COUNTY THROUGH 830
PM EDT...
AT 732 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PITTSBORO TO HARPERS
CROSSROADS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PITTSBORO TO 8 MILES
SOUTH OF SILER CITY...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...PITTSBORO...HASTY...
SILER CITY...AND...BYNUM...FEARRINGTON.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
THIS INCLUDES US HIGHWAY 1 BETWEEN EXITS 79 AND 84.
THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAY 264 BETWEEN EXITS 378 AND 386.
THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL ON THE ORDER OF ONE TO TWO
INCHES THROUGH 830 PM EDT...WHICH WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW
LYING AREAS INCLUDING DITCHES...CREEKS...ROADWAYS AND AREAS OF POOR
DRAINAGE. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS TO AVOID HYDROPLANING.
&&
LAT...LON 3586 7911 3586 7891 3562 7899 3561 7908
3563 7912 3562 7915 3560 7916 3554 7955
3568 7955 3584 7946 3584 7924 3588 7924
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 202DEG 10KT 3568 7919 3563 7948
MWSThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:04 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Bennett Road at State Road 1003 was closed due to flash flooding.
High water was reported at Old Salisbury Road and Kendalls Church Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2012
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: 406980, 406981.