Damaging Winds in North Carolina, August 11, 2015

Name: Damaging Winds in North Carolina, August 11, 2015
Start: 2015-08-11T16:33
End: 2015-08-11T20:23
Location: North Carolina

August 11, 2015 · NWS RAH · 10 events in 5 counties and zones

A broken line of showers and storms moved across the area during the afternoon into the evening. Some of these storms became severe and produced wind damage across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $39,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.

A broken line of showers and storms moved across the area during the afternoon into the evening. Some of these storms became severe and produced wind damage across the area.

What forecasters said that day

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 11, 2:03 PM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 2:03 PM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
303 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

.SYNOPSIS...A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA THIS
EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTHWEST WEDNESDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 303 PM TUESDAY...

AS INITIAL BATCH OF PRE-FRONTAL CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH AN
MCV/MESO-LOW BEGIN EXITS SAMPSON COUNTY OVER THE NEXT HOUR...A
BAND/LINE OF CONVECTION DEVELOPING AHEAD AND ALONG THE COLD FRONT
WILL ADVANCE NW TO SE THROUGH THE AREA.

TEMPERED BY THE MORNING RAIN AND ASSOCIATED LOW CLOUDS...INSTABILITY
RANGES FROM 500-1500 J/KG OF MLCAPE ACROSS THE AREA...WITH THE
BETTER INSTABILITY ALIGNED ACROSS THE WESTERN SECTIONS WHERE
STRONGEST INSOLATION IS EXPECTED. WHILE DEEP 0-6KM LAYER SHEAR IS
DECENT ~25-30KTS...THE BULK OF THE STRONGER FLOW IS CONFINED TO THE
UPPER REGIONS OF THE LAYER. WHEN COMBINED WITH THE MEDIOCRE
DESTABILIZATION...SEVERE THREAT APPEARS ISOLATED AT BEST.  BULK OF
SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS SHOULD EXIT OUR SE COUNTIES AOA MIDNIGHT.

DRY AND COOL AIR ADVECTION SHOULD LEAD TO CLEARING AFTER MIDNIGHT.
LOWS TONIGHT RANGING FROM 65-70.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 220 PM TUESDAY...

VERY QUIET PERIOD IN THE SHORT TERM AS THE COOL FRONT MOVES
OFFSHORE. ANY PRECIPITATION DURING THIS TIME PERIOD WILL BE CONFINED
TO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE...AND ASIDE FROM A STRAY SHOWER
SHOULD NOT AFFECT OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. WATER VAPOR SHOWS A MUCH
DRIER AIRMASS ALOFT OVER THE EXPANSE OF THE THE ENTIRE OHIO VALLEY
ON THE BACK SIDE OF AN UPPER LEVEL EASTERN CONUS TROUGH. THIS WILL
GRADUALLY MOVE OVER THE CAROLINAS AND WILL TRANSLATE TO THE SURFACE
AS WELL WHERE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA FROM THE
NORTHWEST AND DEWPOINTS WILL FALL INTO THE LOWER 60S FOR MUCH OF THE
CWA WITH MID 60S IN THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE
GENERALLY EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE 80S BOTH DAYS WITH LOWS IN
THE MIDDLE 60S.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 220 PM TUESDAY...

A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL OVER CENTRAL NC AS AN
EASTERN CONUS UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS IN PLACE WITH SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE OVER THE CAROLINAS THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK.
WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE DRY AND MODELS ARE INDICATING THIS ASIDE
FROM A FEW VERY WEAK DISTURBANCES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO GENERATE A
WEAK SHOWER OR TWO BUT CONFIDENCE IN THIS COMING TRUE IS VERY LOW AT
THIS TIME...SO WILL KEEP THE EXTENDED FORECAST DRY AT THIS TIME.

AS THE WEEKEND WEARS ON THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CONUS
WITH STRENGTHEN AND DOMINATE THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN FROM THE 4 CORNERS
REGION NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY
HELP TO BREAK DOWN THE UPPER TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN CONUS AND BREAK
THE STAGNANT PATTERN...OPENING THE DOOR FOR A RETURN TO MORE
UNSETTLED WEATHER LATER NEXT WEEK. UNTIL THEN EXPECT MOSTLY DRY
WEATHER WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 80S...CREEPING BACK UP TO
THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S LATE IN THE PERIOD. LOWS MAINLY IN THE
MIDDLE 60S...APPROACHING 70 DEGREES BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 217 PM TUESDAY...

BATCH OF PRE-FRONTAL SHOWERS THAT RESULTED IN SOME IFR/LIFR
CONDITIONS AT KFAY WILL EXIT THE AREA BY 20Z. MEANWHILE...JUST
UPSTREAM OVER NC FOOTHILLS...A BROKEN BAND/LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND MOVE NW TO SE AHEAD AND ALONG A COLD
FRONTAL PASSAGE THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING. SIMPLE EXTRAPOLATION
WOULD SUGGEST TIMING OF 18 TO 22Z AT KINT AND KGSO...20 TO 24Z AT
KRDU AND 22 TO 02Z AT KFAY AND KRWI. GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STRONGER STORMS...AND COULD PRODUCE
A BRIEF PERIOD OF SUB-VFR CONDITIONS.

NWLY FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL USHER A DRIER MORE STABLE AIR
MASS...LEADING TO A PROLONGED PERIOD OF VFR CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY.

&&

.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...WSS
NEAR TERM...CBL
SHORT TERM...ELLIS
LONG TERM...ELLIS
AVIATION...CBL

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
350 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-122000-
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-
350 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM
THE NORTHWEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW STORMS WITHIN THE LINE
MAY PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 2:00 PM EST, 2 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
300 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ089-111930-
SAMPSON NC-
300 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL SAMPSON
COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 259 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF CLINTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLINTON AND TURKEY.

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
TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR
OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3481 7840 3499 7839 3500 7815 3490 7815
      3478 7818
TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 273DEG 25KT 3490 7832

22

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 3:32 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
432 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ021-038-112130-
DAVIDSON NC-FORSYTH NC-
432 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF NORTHERN DAVIDSON
AND SOUTHERN FORSYTH COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT...

AT 432 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CLEMMONS...OR 9 MILES WEST OF
WINSTON-SALEM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINSTON-SALEM...CLEMMONS...BERMUDA RUN...HUNTSVILLE...LEWISVILLE...
MIDWAY...ARCADIA...WELCOME AND SEDGE GARDEN.

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
TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR
OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3611 8050 3612 8046 3614 8044 3619 8044
      3607 8004 3593 8005 3581 8041 3585 8043
      3584 8040 3586 8038 3588 8042 3589 8037
      3596 8038 3599 8042 3601 8042 3606 8046
      3604 8049 3608 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 299DEG 15KT 3608 8043

22

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 4:20 PM EST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
520 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ022-112215-
GUILFORD NC-
520 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN
GUILFORD COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM EDT...

AT 520 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER MONROETON...OR NEAR REIDSVILLE...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GREENSBORO...MCLEANSVILLE...GIBSONVILLE...LAKE GUILFORD MACKINTOSH
MARINA...LAKE TOWNSEND MARINA...LAKE BRANDT...LAKE TOWNSEND...LAKE
JEANETTE MARINA...MONTICELLO AND HAW RIVER STATE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS
50 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 7953 3598 7954 3614 7987 3625 7982
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 313DEG 26KT 3629 7969

22

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 4:23 PM EST, 10 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
523 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ008>010-026-112230-
WARREN NC-VANCE NC-FRANKLIN NC-GRANVILLE NC-
523 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF WESTERN WARREN...
VANCE...NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND GRANVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM EDT...

AT 523 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF CLARKSVILLE...OR 11 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF VIRGILINA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HENDERSON...OXFORD...CREEDMOOR...WARRENTON...BUTNER...FRANKLINTON...
NORLINA...KITTRELL...STEM AND STOVALL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS
50 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 7798 3616 7804 3607 7878 3624 7880
      3651 7880 3654 7867 3655 7827
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 326DEG 30KT 3648 7859

22

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 4:29 PM EST, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
529 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

NCZ083-112215-
ANSON NC-
529 PM EDT TUE AUG 11 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN ANSON
COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM EDT...

AT 529 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STURDIVANTS...OR 12 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF WADESBORO...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MCFARLAN AND WHITE STORE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS
50 MPH ARE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3494 8030 3481 7992 3482 8032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 299DEG 24KT 3484 8021

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Person

When: August 11, 4:33 PM EST
Where: Person County, 0.66 mi NNW of Gordonton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 36.289, -79.134

One tree was reported down at Gordonton Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Person

When: August 11, 4:33 PM EST
Where: Person County, 2.19 mi SSW of Hurdle Mills Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.253, -79.100

One tree was reported down at McCullock Loop Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Person

When: August 11, 4:33 PM EST
Where: Person County, 2.66 mi SSW of Hurdle Mills Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.245, -79.100

Power lines were reported down at Hurdle Mills Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Person

When: August 11, 4:36 PM EST
Where: Person County, 0.66 mi WNW of Hurdle Mills
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 36.274, -79.061

One tree was reported down at Union Grove Church Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chatham

When: August 11, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Chatham County, 4.39 mi ENE of Gulf
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.581, -79.212

One tree was reported down on Everette Dowdy Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When: August 11, 6:41 PM EST
Where: Johnston County, 1.82 mi ENE of Archers Lodge
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.690, -78.350

Trees were reported down near Covered Bridge Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: August 11, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Lee County, 1.32 mi WSW of Jonesboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.460, -79.190

One tree was reported down in Carthage Colony near Fire Tower Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When: August 11, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Johnston County, 1.49 mi NNE of Selma
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.550, -78.270

Trees were reported down near United States Highway 301.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sampson

When: August 11, 8:23 PM EST
Where: Sampson County, 3.74 mi NE of Mt Pleasant
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.061, -78.387

Trees were reported down at Kitty Fork Road and Mount Moriah Church Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sampson

When: August 11, 8:23 PM EST
Where: Sampson County, 0.89 mi SE of Keener
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 35.110, -78.320

A roof was blown off a mobile home and half a dozen trees were reported down in Keener, North Carolina.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, August 2015

Sources

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: 598400, 598401, 598402, 598399, 598407, 598404, 598406, 598405, 598403, 598408.