An extensive QLCS developed ahead of a strong cold front. The QLCS raced eastward across the forecast area during the early to mid-morning hours on the 21st, exiting the coastal plain by the afternoon.
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.
An extensive QLCS developed ahead of a strong cold front. The QLCS raced eastward across the forecast area during the early to mid-morning hours on the 21st, exiting the coastal plain by the afternoon. The line produced scattered wind damage along the way, along with a brief EF-1 tornado touchdown near Grantham in Wayne County.
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 21, 6:45 AM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 645 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014 .SYNOPSIS...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TODAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO OUR AREA FROM THE SOUTHWEST TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...THEN DRIFT EAST AND OFFSHORE ON SUNDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 315 AM FRIDAY... MODEL GUIDANCE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TIMING OF A CONVECTIVE BAND THAT WILL PROGRESS EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NC LATER TODAY. CONVECTIVE BAND CURRENTLY EXITING THE TN VALLEY...MOVING INTO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS. LOW LEVEL JET AHEAD OF THIS CONVECTIVE SYSTEM QUITE STRONG WITH AREA VAD WIND PROFILES DEPICTING AROUND 60KTS. THIS LOW LEVEL JET PROJECTED TO LIFT ACROSS CENTRAL NC THIS MORNING...JUST AHEAD OF THE CONVECTIVE LINE. ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF THE CONVECTIVE LINE CURRENTLY CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE. THIS WILL PREDOMINATE THIS MORNING ACROSS THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. BASED ON TIMING...APPEARS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEAR SFC AIR MASS TO DESTABILIZE ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 1...AND MORE SO ALONG THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR. BY EARLY AFTERNOON...MUCAPE VALUES LIKELY TO EXCEED 1000 J/KG ALONG OUR EASTERN FRINGE AND SFC BASED CAPE POSSIBLY OVER 1500 J/KG. STORM RELATIVE HELICITY AS WELL AS 0-6KM BULK SHEAR VALUES SUPPORTIVE OF ORGANIZED CONVECTION WITH AN INCREASING THREAT FOR A FEW ROTATING STORMS OVER OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. MODEL DEPICT GENERALLY STRAIGHT LINE HODOGRAPHS WITH MODEST TURNING. THIS IS MORE SUPPORTIVE OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. HOWEVER...IF A MESO-LOW CAN DEVELOP WITHIN THE CONVECTIVE BAND...COULD SEE AN ENHANCED TORNADIC THREAT. WITH PARAMETERS COMING TOGETHER AND INCREASED FORECAST CONFIDENCE...WILL MENTION HIGHLIGHT STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS IN FORECAST TEXT. IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...WILL MENTION A ISOLATED TORNADO POSSIBLE OVER OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. TEMPS TODAY DEPENDENT UPON ARRIVAL OF SHOWERS. WITH TEMPS STARTING OUT IN THE MID 60S (POSSIBLY UPPER 60S)...POTENTIAL FOR TEMPS TO WARM ABOVE 70 DEGREES EAST OF HIGHWAY 1. WLY WINDS BEHIND THE EXITING SYSTEM WILL ADVECT DRIER MORE STABLE AIR INTO CENTRAL NC...LEADING TO DIMINISHING SHOWER COVERAGE AND DECREASING CLOUD COVERAGE. EXPECT CLEARING TO COMMENCE LATE THIS MORNING IN THE NW PIEDMONT...PROGRESSING INTO THE EASTERN PIEDMONT BY EARLY-MID AFTERNOON...AND THE COASTAL PLAIN BY LATE AFTERNOON. TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE LOWER MS VALLEY WILL BUILD INTO CENTRAL NC. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL ADVECT A SLIGHTLY COOLER AND DRIER AIR MASS I TO THE REGION. MIXING INITIALLY THIS EVENING WILL KEEP TEMPS FROM FREE-FALLING. AFTER MIDNIGHT...COULD SEE SFC WINDS DECOUPLE ACROSS THE PIEDMONT...ALLOWING TEMPS TO COOL. MIN TEMPS IN THE MID-UPPER 30S. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 304 AM FRIDAY... HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT... AND A MUCH DRIER AIRMASS WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE AREA BRINGING MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. INITIAL COLD ADVECTION EARLY SATURDAY WILL BECOME NEUTRAL... AS UPPER LEVEL FLOW REMAINS PRIMARILY SOUTHWESTERLY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY... AND TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OFFSHORE SUNDAY... WARMER SOUTHERLY FLOW... AND INCREASING LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES SLIGHTLY WARMER THAN SATURDAY. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 305 AM FRIDAY... A DRY COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA MONDAY MORNING... BRINGING TEMPERATURES MUCH CLOSER TO NORMAL FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. STRONG SIGNAL FOR RIDGING ACROSS THE WESTERN US... WITH BROAD TROUGHING DEVELOPING OVER THE EAST COAST THROUGH THE WEEK. THIS WILL BRING TEMPS BACK BELOW NORMAL. WAVES MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW GENERALLY STAY NORTH OF OUR AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD... WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WEDNESDAY WHEN A AN IMPULSE AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT ARE PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA... AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO DEVELOP OFF THE CAROLINA COAST... BRINGING THE BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION DURING THIS PERIOD. && .AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 645 AM FRIDAY... A STRONG COLD FRONT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A BAND OF SHOWERS AND STRONG TO BRIEFLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING. THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE EXITING THE NC MOUNTAINS AT 1130Z...STILL MOVING QUICKLY TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST. THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD REACH THE NW PIEDMONT INCLUDING THE TRIAD BY 13Z...THE TRIANGLE AREA AND SANDHILLS INCLUDING KRDU AND KFAY BETWEEN 15Z AND 17Z...AND THE COASTAL PLAIN INCLUDING KRWI AND KGSB BETWEEN 16Z AND 18Z. THE ATMOSPHERE IS EXPECTED TO BE MOST UNSTABLE ACROSS THE SANDHILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN...SO A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH WIND GUSTS 40-50KTS MAY OCCUR IN THIS REGION. OTHERWISE EXPECT MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN VICINITY OF THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND STORMS. WLY FLOW BEHIND THE DEPARTING COLD FRONT WILL ADVECT DRIER AND STABLE AIR INTO CENTRAL NC. THIS WILL LEAD TO CLEARING SKIES WEST-TO- EAST...STARTING AROUND MID DAY IN THE TRIAD...REACHING THE TRIANGLE BY MID AFTERNOON...AND THE COASTAL PLAIN BY 21-23Z. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO CENTRAL NC TONIGHT AND LINGER THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE CENTRAL NC WITH VFR CONDITIONS. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS CENTRAL NC SUNDAY. SINCE THE AIR MASS WILL BE RELATIVELY DRY AND STABLE...THIS WEATHER FEATURE EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON AVIATION CONDITIONS ASIDE FROM SFC WINDS VEERING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED MONDAY INTO EARLY TUESDAY. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM...WSS SHORT TERM..SEC LONG TERM...SEC AVIATION...WSS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 400 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014 NCZ021>023-038-039-073-074-083-084-221030- FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-ANSON- RICHMOND- 400 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER HAZARD WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINWE WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE GREATEST BETWEEN 9 AM AND 12 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS MORNING BETWEEN 9 AM AND 12 PM. NCZ007>011-024>028-040>043-075>078-085-086-088-089-221030- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH- EDGECOMBE-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE- SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 400 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MARCH ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THE STORMS WILL BE SEVERE. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER HAZARD WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. THE TORNADO THREAT IS GREATEST ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95. THE STORMS SHOULD CROSS THE TRIANGLE AND FAYETTEVILLE AREAS BETWEEN 1030 AM AND 1 PM...AND THE COASTAL PLAIN INCLUDING ROCKY MOUNT...WILSON AND GOLDSBORO BETWEEN 12 PM AND 2 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 3 PM.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
843 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014
NCZ021-022-038-039-073-074-211445-
GUILFORD-MONTGOMERY-RANDOLPH-FORSYTH-DAVIDSON-STANLY-
843 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR
GUILFORD...MONTGOMERY...RANDOLPH...FORSYTH...DAVIDSON AND STANLY
UNTIL 945 AM EST...
AT 839 AM EST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A LINE OF SHOWERS
AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR OAK RIDGE TO 25
MILES WEST OF ANSONVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. A
TRAINED SPOTTER IN CLEMMONS REPORTED WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH IN A
THUNDERSTORM JUST BEFORE 840 AM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GREENSBORO...WINSTON-SALEM...HIGH POINT...ASHEBORO...LEXINGTON...
ALBEMARLE...RANDLEMAN...TROY...LINWOOD AND BELEWS CREEK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS
40 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS. BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY AND
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELLING THIS
MORNING.
&&
LAT...LON 3550 8030 3551 8018 3572 8033 3575 8046
3584 8049 3584 8040 3589 8042 3589 8037
3605 8046 3626 8043 3624 7954 3552 7956
3551 7977 3527 7971 3517 7962 3514 8002
3519 8011 3516 8023 3521 8025 3518 8050
TIME...MOT...LOC 1339Z 286DEG 32KT 3619 8006 3509 8053
JET/DJFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
856 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 AM TSTM WND GST CLEMMONS 36.02N 80.39W
02/21/2014 E35 MPH FORSYTH NC TRAINED SPOTTER
IN A STORM NEAR AND JUST WEST OF CLEMMONS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1400932
JET/DJFThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:25 UTC.
35 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Wall blown over onto a vehicle on Third Street. Vehicle was unoccupied.
Numerous trees and power-lines were blown down in the Church Street area.
One tree blown down near the intersection of Highway 87 and BoyWood Road.
One tree and power-line blown down along Highway 109 South.
Approximately 5 trees were blown down near the Mangum area near Highway 109 and Jack Currie Road.
One tree was blown down along Highway 24 27.
One tree was blown down along Guess Road.
One tree was blown down.
A couple of trees were blown down across the road on NC 24 27 near the county line.
One tree blown down along Ike Brooks Road.
A large pine tree was blown along with other large limbs along Ellis Road near NC Highway 147.
Two trees were blown along Joe Peed Road.
Several trees blown down along the swatch including a down tree near Kelly Road and Lee Lane and along NC Highway 85.
Gas station canopy was blown over.
Large branches were blown dow along Six Forks Road.
A large tree was blown down along Caistor Lane.
One tree was blown down along NC Highway 96.
One tree blown down along Walter Grissom Road.
One tree was blown down across Vass Road.
One tree was blown down onto a power-line resulting in a fire.
One tree was blown down near Gillespie Street and Snow Hill Church Road.
One tree was blown down on Williams Lake Road.
One tree was blown down on Jones Road in Newton Grove.
Two trees were blown down near the intersection of Church and Keener Roads.
One tree was blown down on Bells Branch Road.
One tree was blown down on Browns Church Road at NC Highway 701.
One tree was blown down on Suttontown Road.
Damage at the beginning and end of the damage path consisted of numerous snapped and downed trees, consistent with wind speeds of 80 mph or EF-0 damage on the Enhanced Fujita scale. However, near the middle of the path, a very localized patch of extreme damage was found which consisted of a single-wide mobile home that was completely destroyed and disintegrated, with its steel frame displaced about 35 yards downstream. In addition, at least 2 additional outbuildings were leveled and several others had substantial roof damage. This damage was consistent with wind speeds around 110 mph, making it an upper-end EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita tornado rating scale.
One tree was blown down on Salem Church Road.
A couple of trees were blown down in the Princeton Area.
One tree was blown down on Nahunta Road near Highway 581.
One tree was blown down onto a house on Combs Road.
A 65 mph wind gust was measure from a home with a weather station.
Train spotter measured a 69 MPH wind gust off a Vortex brand car mounted anemometer.
One tree was blown down across NC Highway 13.
Portable car port was blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2014Warnings in North Carolina, February 2014
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: 501518, 501519, 501522, 501524, 501527, 501529, 501530, 501531, 501532, 501533, 501535, 501536, 501537, 501544, 501545, 501546, 501547, 501549, 501553, 501555, 501556, 501557, 501558, 501559, 501560, 501561, 501562, 501491, 501563, 501564, 501565, 501566, 501570, 501574, 501567, 501568.