Scattered thunderstorms developed over Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours of March 20th as a weak surface trough interacted with the sea-breeze boundary. One thunderstorm produced a few reports of large hail.
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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 MHX wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms developed over Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours of March 20th as a weak surface trough interacted with the sea-breeze boundary. One thunderstorm produced a few reports of large hail.
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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 2:47 PM EST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC 347 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK TROF OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE AREA WILL DISSIPATE TONIGHT. A WARM MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL REMAIN THROUGH LATE IN THE WEEK. A FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTH BEHIND THE FRONT EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... AS OF 345 PM TUE...WEAK SURFACE TROF DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THIS AFTERNOON. BEST ESTIMATE FROM SURFACE PRESSURE PATTERN IS FROM NEAR CAPE HATTERAS WEST TO GREENSBORO. TROF IS FORECAST TO DISSIPATE OVERNIGHT. ANY SCATTERED CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON WILL DISSIPATE QUICKLY WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING THIS EVENING SO WILL ONLY KEEP IN POPS CHANCE EARLY. TIME SECTIONS AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW HIGH DENSE OVERCAST MOVING IN THIS EVENING AND LOWERING TO AROUND 15000 FT OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL INHIBIT THE DENSE FOG WE'VE SEEN THE PAST FEW NIGHTS. 12Z MAV/MET GUIDANCE CLOSE TONIGHT AND LOOK GOOD. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 345 TUE...THE WARM MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS REMAINS IN PLACE WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF SURFACE FEATURES TO TRIGGER CONVECTION. ONLY VERY WEAK DISTURBANCES IN THE FLOW. KEPT POPS IN THE 30-40 PERCENT RANGE. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S MOST AREAS INLAND FROM THE COAST. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 300 PM TUESDAY...UNSETTLED WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY AND THE FORECAST WILL HAVE A CHANCE OF RAIN EACH DAY WHILE TEMPERATURES REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH SATURDAY. A WEAKNESS IN THE UPPER RIDGE COMBINED WITH ONSHORE FLOW AND DIURNAL HEATING WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EVEN AFTER THE LOSS OF DIURNAL HEATING. A BRIEF BREAK IN THE WET PATTERN IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY AS THE LOW LEVEL FLOW BECOMES WESTERLY AND ONLY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. HIGHS WILL BE WITHIN A FEW DEGREES OF 80. A CUT OFF UPPER LOW IS FORECAST BY THE MODELS TO APPROACH NC SATURDAY THEN DRIFT SE ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY. THE UPPER SYSTEM IN COMBINATION WITH A SURFACE FRONT AND DEVELOPING TRIPLE POINT LOW WILL BRING A GOOD CHANCE FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO EASTERN NC SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WELL ABOVE NORMAL HIGHS IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S ARE FORECAST SATURDAY WITH CLOUDS/PRECIPITATION PRODUCING COOLER HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S SUNDAY. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO DEPART SUNDAY NIGHT WITH RISING HEIGHTS LEADING TO HIGH PRESSURE FROM THE NORTH BUILDING SOUTH INTO THE AREA MONDAY AND TUESDAY. COULD SEE A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS EARLY MONDAY THEN DRY WEATHER WILL OCCUR MONDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY WITH COOLER NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. && .AVIATION /20Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... SHORT TERM /TONIGHT AND WED/ AS OF 345 PM TUE...ANY CONVECTION THAT POPS UP THIS AFTERNOON WILL DISSIPATE QUICKLY THIS EVENING. DECK OF HIGH OVERCAST EXPECTED TO MOVE IN THIS EVENING AND LOWER TO AROUND 15000 FT OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL PREVENT THE DENSE FOG FORMATION OF THE PAST FEW NIGHTS. KEPT FOG IN THE MVFR RANGE AT ALL 4 TERMINALS. SCATTERED CONVECTION POSSIBLE AGAIN WEDNESDAY WITH LIGHT SOUTH SURFACE WINDS. /LONG TERM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 300 PM TUESDAY...UNSETTLED WEATHER EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD. THE EARLY MORNINGS THROUGH FRIDAY WILL BE PRONE TO FOG AND STRATUS DEVELOPMENT. A WEAKNESS IN THE UPPER RIDGE COMBINED WITH ONSHORE FLOW WILL HELP TO PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE DRIEST PERIOD WITH THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED VFR CONDITIONS WILL BE FRIDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING AS LOW LEVEL WESTERLY FLOW DEVELOPS ACROSS THE AREA. A CUTOFF UPPER LOW AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE FRONT AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK SLOWLY EAST INTO AND ACROSS NC SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /TONIGHT AND WED/ AS OF 345 PM TUE...QUIET PATTERN CONTINUES OVER THE MARINE ZONES. LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW AND SEAS RUNNING 2-4 FEET. /LONG TERM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 300 PM TUESDAY...OFFSHORE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE THE DOMINATE WEATHER SYSTEM THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT PRODUCING SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW TO 15 KNOTS AND SEAS 3-4 FT. AN APPROACHING BACK DOOR FRONT FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL JUST NORTH OF THE WATERS FRIDAY NIGHT. ON SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY A SLOW MOVING CUT OFF UPPER LOW AND IT'S ASSOCIATED SURFACE FRONT AND DEVELOPING TRIPLE POINT LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS NC WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT AND SEAS BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FT SATURDAY AND 4 TO 6 FT SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. AS THE DEVELOPING LOW PULLS AWAY FROM THE WATERS SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY STRONG SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN STRENGTHENING NORTHERLY FLOW. && .MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...HSA NEAR TERM...HSA SHORT TERM...HSA LONG TERM...JME AVIATION...JME/HSA MARINE...JME/HSA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC 348 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012 NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-210830- MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT- MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-CARTERET-ONSLOW- OUTER BANKS DARE-OUTER BANKS HYDE- 348 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY AWAY FROM THE COAST. SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL ACCOMPANY SOME OF THE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. 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 NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC 205 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012 NCZ046-081-201900- MAINLAND HYDE-TYRRELL- 205 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS MAINLAND HYDE AND TYRRELL COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT... AT 204 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER KILKENNY...OR ABOUT 21 MILES NORTHWEST OF ENGELHARD. ...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS MAINLAND HYDE AND TYRRELL COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT... AT 204 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER KILKENNY...OR ABOUT 21 MILES NORTHWEST OF ENGELHARD. SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE... RURAL SOUTHERN TYRRELL COUNTY RURAL CENTRAL TYRRELL COUNTY. HAZARDS INCLUDE... PEA SIZE HAIL. GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY 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 3554 7647 3579 7629 3553 7602 3539 7626 TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 168DEG 2KT 3571 7625 3
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
436 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012
NCZ044-080-202100-
BEAUFORT-PITT-
436 PM EDT TUE MAR 20 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS BEAUFORT AND PITT COUNTIES
THROUGH 500 PM EDT...
AT 436 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
WASHINGTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...WASHINGTON...
CHOCOWINITY.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY 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 3566 7699 3566 7696 3552 7688 3548 7698
3550 7701 3549 7702 3547 7700 3540 7716
3542 7719 3540 7720 3559 7731 3568 7702
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 066DEG 10KT 3557 7703
5The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:09 UTC.
4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media relayed a public report of nickel to quarter size hail near Chocowinity.
Beaufort county 911 center relayed public report of nickel to quarter size hail on Hodges Road west of Chocowinity.
Broadcast media relayed public report of quarter size hail at Andys in Chocowinity.
Broadcast media relayed public report of pea to nickel size hail in Hackney.
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, March 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: 372648, 372649, 372650, 372651.