Clusters of severe thunderstorms developed along a front and ahead of weak low pressure during the afternoon and evening.
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.
Clusters of severe thunderstorms developed along a front and ahead of weak low pressure during the afternoon and evening.
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 Jul 23, 12:09 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 109 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 .SYNOPSIS... LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL MOVE EAST ALONG A STALLED FRONT TODAY AND OFF THE COAST TONIGHT. THIS LOW WILL PUSH THE FRONT INTO GEORGIA FOR THIS WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD DOWN FROM THE NORTH...WITH A DRYING TREND EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 110 PM THURSDAY...UPDATED FORECAST WITH ISSUANCE OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE ENTIRE AREA...GOOD UNTIL 8 PM. PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS FOLLOW: ANALYSIS OF MORNING SOUNDINGS AND LATEST GUIDANCE CONFIRM EARLIER FORECAST OF AN ACTIVE WEATHER DAY...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS BEING HEAVY RAIN AND UNUSUALLY FREQUENT LIGHTNING. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE ALSO A POSSIBILITY. NO CHANGES NEEDED YET TO THE FORECAST. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS: LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE SC SANDHILLS WILL MOVE EASTWARD ALONG A STATIONARY FRONT TODAY...EXITING INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TONIGHT. MODELS ARE ALMOST UNANIMOUS IN THEIR DEPICTION OF A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING WITHIN A REGION OF LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE AND LARGE INSTABILITY OVER SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA JUST NORTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT LATE THIS MORNING. SURFACE CAPE IS PREDICTED TO GROW AS LARGE AS 3000 J/KG WITH LIFTED INDICES TO -6. 700 MB WINDS INCREASING TO 25 KT SHOULD INCREASE BULK SHEAR VALUES JUST ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ORGANIZED MULTICELLULAR STORMS TODAY...WITH COLD POOL EFFECTS LIKELY PUSHING THE CLUSTER SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE CAPE FEAR AREA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO NORTHEASTERLY SOUTH CAROLINA BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. IMPACTS FROM THESE STORMS COULD BE CONSIDERABLE. COMPUTED EQUILIBRIUM PARCEL HEIGHTS NEAR 50000 FT AND LOTS OF INSTABILITY ABOVE THE -20C LEVEL INDICATES THESE STORMS COULD BE ENORMOUS LIGHTNING PRODUCERS WITH PLENTY OF ICE/GRAUPEL GENERATION ALOFT. ALTHOUGH NO DRY LAYERS ARE EVIDENT IN FORECAST SOUNDINGS PRECIPITATION LOADING RESULTING FROM SUCH VIGOROUS CONVECTION SHOULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...PARTICULARLY AS THE STORMS ARE SHOWN IN THE HIGH RESOLUTION WRF-NMM...WRF-ARW...AND HRRR MODELS TO FORM A LARGE MASSED OUTFLOW PUSHING SOUTHEASTWARD TO THE COAST. WITH THE SYNOPTIC FRONT STALLED ACROSS THE AREA AND ANTICIPATED BOUNDARY COLLISIONS THE STORMS SHOULD ALSO BE HEAVY RAIN MAKERS WITH LOCALIZED FLOODING POSSIBLE. FORECAST RAIN CHANCES HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO 80 PERCENT ACROSS SE NORTH CAROLINA...FOCUSED ON THE NOON-4 PM TIMEFRAME. CONVECTION SHOULD TAKE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL HOURS TO PROPAGATE SOUTHWARD AND AFFECT NE SOUTH CAROLINA WHICH WILL BE LOCATED SOUTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT. THIS MEANS SEVERAL ADDITIONAL HOURS OF HOT SUNSHINE...AND TEMPERATURES HERE WILL RISE INTO THE MID TO UPPER 90S. FORECAST HEAT INDICES ARE JUST BELOW 105-DEGREE HEAT ADVISORY CRITERIA ACROSS GEORGETOWN...WILLIAMSBURG AND SOUTHERN FLORENCE COUNTIES. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL TENNESSEE WILL REACH THE EASTERN CAROLINAS THIS EVENING. THIS COULD HELP CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY TO PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS EVEN AFTER THE ATMOSPHERE PRETTY MUCH OVERTURNS DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE LOW WILL SCOOT EASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT OFFSHORE AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH SURFACE WINDS TURNING NORTHWESTERLY...QUITE AN ODD DIRECTION FOR THE CAROLINAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. THIS IS THE THIRD COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE OF JULY! && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 330 AM THURSDAY...LATEST MODELS SHOW LOW JUST OFF THE CAPE FEAR COAST FRI MORNING. EXPECT BEST CONVECTION OVER THE COASTAL WATERS WITH MOST AREAS SEEING A DEEP FLOW OF DRIER AIR ADVECTING IN FROM THE NORTH. MID TO UPPER TROUGH WILL PUSH LOW PRESSURE ALONG LINGERING BOUNDARY SOUTH AND EAST OF AREA THROUGH THE DAY...BUT PLENTY OF RESIDUAL LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM PREVIOUS DAYS CONVECTION WILL SLOW CLEARING AND COMBINE WITH CONVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH LOW AND OTHER LOCALIZED BOUNDARIES SUCH AS THE SEA BREEZE TO PRODUCE SOME SHWRS/TSTMS. LOOKS LIKE BEST CHC WILL MOVE SOUTH THROUGH THE DAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD DOWN FROM THE NORTH BUT MAY NOT BE FAST ENOUGH TO ELIMINATE POPS FROM FORECAST. NAM SHOWS MAIN FOCUS OF CONVECTION ALONG COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE BEST CONVERGENCE SHOULD BE AS WE DEVELOP A N-NE FLOW. MAY SEE ENOUGH SUBSIDENCE AND DRY AIR THROUGH THE MID TO UPPER LEVELS BY LATE FRI TO ALLOW FOR ONLY A DECENT STRATOCU FIELD OVER NC. PCP WATER VALUES OVER 2 INCHES EARLY FRI MORNING WILL DROP DOWN CLOSE TO AN INCH BY SAT MORNING. LINGERING CLOUDS AND PCP WILL KEEP TEMPS IN THE 80S MOST OF THE DAY BUT PLACES THAT SEE SOME SUN MAKE AN APPEARANCE WILL REACH CLOSE TO 90. BY LATE FRI INTO FRI NIGHT...PLENTY OF DRY AIR AND SUBSIDENCE THROUGH THE MID TO UPPER LEVELS WILL REACH DOWN OVER THE FORECAST AREA AS DRY HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SFC NOSES DOWN FROM THE NORTH. WILL SHOW CLEARING AT THIS TIME AND WILL KEEP PCP OUT OF FORECAST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. PLENTY OF BRIGHT JULY SUNSHINE WILL DRIVE TEMPS UP NEAR NORMAL...CLOSE TO 90 BUT SFC DEWPOINT TEMPS WILL BE RUNNING IN THE LOW TO MID 60S MOST PLACES WHICH WILL MAKE FOR A MUCH MORE REFRESHING DAY THAN PREVIOUS ONES. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 330 AM THURSDAY...CENTER OF HIGH PRESSURE NOSING DOWN FROM THE NORTH WILL SHIFT OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST ALLOWING WINDS TO COME AROUND TO A MORE ON SHORE NE TO E FLOW. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO REACH DOWN INTO THE CAROLINAS THROUGH MID WEEK AS LEE SIDE TROUGH BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED. RIDGING IN THE MID TO UPPER LEVELS OVER THE MID WEST WILL BUILD EASTWARD OVER THE WEEKEND...BUT AS IT BECOMES MORE AMPLIFIES UP THROUGH THE UPPER MIDWEST BY TUES...A DEEPER NW FLOW ALOFT WILL ALLOW SOME CLOUDS AND SHORTWAVE ENERGY TO SNEAK INTO AREA BUT RIDGE WILL BUILD BACK EAST AND UP THE EAST COAST THROUGH MID WEEK AND THEREFORE MAY INTRODUCE INCREASED CLOUDS AND SHWRS FOR TUES/WED TIME FRAME BUT OVERALL SHWR ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN MORE ISOLATED HEADING INTO MID WEEK AS RIDGE BUILDS BACK IN. THE ON SHORE FLOW DEVELOPING THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL AID IN BRINGING DEWPOINT TEMPS BACK UP CLOSER TO 70 OR SO...HELPING TO INCREASE AFTN CU AND CHC OF SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. TEMPS WILL BASICALLY REMAIN AROUND CLIMO. && .AVIATION /17Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 18Z...TERMINALS ARE CURRENTLY VFR. CONVECTION HAS SO FAR STAYED TO THE NORTH. A WEAK FRONT IS LOCATED FROM NEAR KLBT TO KILM. THUNDERSTORMS ARE A SURE BET THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONT WITH HIGHEST CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE AT KILM AND TO A LESSER EFFECT KLBT. STORMS SHOULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT OUTFLOWS TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT TO THE S-SW TOWARDS KFLO AND MORE LIKELY KCRE/KMYR AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES. SHOWER POTENTIAL WILL PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS. WINDS BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE OR LIGHT NW LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS A FOG POTENTIAL MAINLY KFLO/KLBT OVERNIGHT WITH LOW TO MODERATE POTENTIAL FOR IFR. VFR SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE WITH N WINDS. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...BRIEF MVFR POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD FROM ISOLATED CONVECTION. OTHERWISE VFR. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 110 PM THURSDAY...UPDATED FORECAST WITH ISSUANCE OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE ENTIRE AREA...GOOD UNTIL 8 PM. PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS FOLLOW: LATEST OBS SHOW 2 FT SEAS WITH SSE WINDS OF 10 TO 15 KTS. FORECAST ON TRACK WITH NO CHANGES NEEDED. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS: LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA SANDHILLS WILL MOVE EASTWARD TODAY ALONG A WEAK STATIONARY FRONT. THIS FRONT CURRENTLY SITS JUST NORTH OF CAPE FEAR AND IS OUTLINED BY A SHIFT IN WIND DIRECTIONS FROM SOUTHERLY ALONG THE SC COAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY FROM WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH AND SURF CITY TO THE OUTER BANKS. AS INLAND AREAS HEAT UP QUICKLY THIS MORNING ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA...DROPPING SOUTHEASTWARD AND AFFECTING THE COASTAL WATERS DURING THE AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY CONTAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF LIGHTNING AND SUBSTANTIAL VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS IN HEAVY RAIN. SEVERAL OF THE HIGH- RESOLUTION MODELS INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A STRONG GUST FRONT AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STORMS WHICH MAY PROMPT SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS THIS AFTERNOON. MARINERS IN THE CAPE FEAR AREA SHOULD EXPECT THE LARGEST IMPACT FROM THESE STORMS BETWEEN 1-3 PM...WITH THE GRAND STAND AND GEORGETOWN AREAS A COUPLE HOURS LATER. LATE TONIGHT AS THE LOW SHIFTS EASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT AND ENTERS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SURFACE WINDS WILL SHIFT NORTHWESTERLY AND MAY INCREASE TO 10-15 KT LATE. OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS SEAS SHOULD AVERAGE 2 FEET TODAY...AND 2-3 FEET TONIGHT. SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 330 AM THURSDAY...LOW PRESSURE ALONG LINGERING BOUNDARY WILL SLIP FARTHER SOUTH THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY. NORTHEAST FLOW WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THIS BOUNDARY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS DOWN FROM THE NORTH THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EXPECT WINDS TO REMAIN BELOW 15 KTS ACROSS MOST OF THE WATERS...BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME PERIODS OF HIGHER WAVES...UP CLOSER TO 20 KTS. THE WINDS WILL BEGIN TO VEER AROUND FROM THE NE TO E. THE PERSISTENT STRONGER NE TO E ON SHORE FLOW WILL PRODUCE SEAS UP TO 3 TO 5 FT...ESPECIALLY THROUGH SAT NIGHT. LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 330 AM...HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDING DOWN INTO THE CAROLINAS FROM THE NORTHEAST WILL MOVE FARTHER EAST THROUGH THE PERIOD...ALLOWING WINDS TO LIGHTEN AND VEER TO THE EAST. THE WINDS SHOULD DECREASE TO 10 KTS OR LESS MOST OF THE TIME...BUT SEA BREEZE EACH AFTN WILL ACT TO ENHANCE OVERALL ON SHORE FLOW. EXPECT SEAS TO BE COMING DOWN AS WINDS LIGHTEN HEADING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THEREFORE SEAS UP TO 3 TO 5 FT EARLY SUNDAY SHOULD DROP TO 2 TO 4 FT SUN NIGHT. AS SHORTER PERIOD WINDWAVE DIMINISHES THROUGH MONDAY AND WNA CONTINUES TO SHOW A LONGER PERIOD UP TO 11 SEC WAVE MIXING IN. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. NC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...RGZ NEAR TERM...REK/TRA SHORT TERM...RGZ LONG TERM...RGZ AVIATION...MRR MARINE...REK/TRA/RGZ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 518 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-024-240930- ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER- INLAND NEW HANOVER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK- COASTAL BRUNSWICK-MARLBORO-DILLON- 518 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON COULD PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .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. SCZ023-032-039-055-056-240930- DARLINGTON-FLORENCE-WILLIAMSBURG-INLAND GEORGETOWN- COASTAL GEORGETOWN- 518 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 100 TO 104 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. .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. AMZ250-252-254-256-240930- 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- 518 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. SCZ033-053-054-240930- MARION-INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY- 518 AM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 100 TO 104 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON COULD PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .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. 47
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1230 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
NCZ096-231700-
BLADEN-
1230 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN BLADEN
COUNTY...
AT 1230 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR LAGOON...OR
7 MILES EAST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAGOON...CARVERS AND WHITE LAKE.
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.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 3475 7839 3473 7839 3472 7838 3470 7837
3469 7835 3468 7835 3467 7832 3463 7832
3460 7830 3458 7827 3457 7826 3442 7839
3467 7860 3478 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1630Z 244DEG 20KT 3462 7848
SHKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1246 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 NCZ099-109-231730- INLAND BRUNSWICK-COLUMBUS- 1246 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN BRUNSWICK AND CENTRAL COLUMBUS COUNTIES... AT 1246 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER BETHEL...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF WHITEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BETHEL...LAKE WACCAMAW...REDBUG...WILLIAMS...HALLSBORO...CRUSOE ISLAND...FREELAND...OLD DOCK...PIREWAY...NAKINA...EXUM...HONEY ISLAND...MOLLIE...DULAH...BUGHILL...SIDNEY...BRUNSWICK AND BOLTON. THIS INCLUDES US ROUTE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 395 AND 408. 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. LAT...LON 3399 7870 3412 7885 3440 7862 3425 7818 TIME...MOT...LOC 1646Z 223DEG 29KT 3412 7871 SHK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
113 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
NCZ105-231800-
INLAND PENDER-
113 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN PENDER
COUNTY...
AT 113 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR WARDS
CORNER...OR 13 MILES WEST OF BURGAW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BURGAW...ROOKS...WILLARD...MALPASS CORNER...MURRAY TOWN...MAPLE
HILL...WHITE STOCKING...WARDS CORNER...PENDERLEA...ATKINSON...WATHA
AND PENDER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 388 AND 401.
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.
LAT...LON 3446 7815 3457 7824 3468 7816 3471 7811
3472 7811 3473 7802 3471 7798 3472 7794
3472 7768 3459 7762 3459 7764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 235DEG 30KT 3459 7815
SHKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
208 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
NCZ087-231900-
ROBESON-
208 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN ROBESON COUNTY...
AT 204 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS JUST NORTH OF RED
SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND COULD PRODUCE
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH OR STRONGER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... RED SPRINGS...ST. PAULS...
PROSPECT...REX...BUIE... SHANNON...PARKTON...RENNERT AND
LUMBER BRIDGE.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 74 NEAR MILE MARKER 191...BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 192 AND
193...AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 195 AND 194.
INTERSTATE 95 IN NORTH CAROLINA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 28 AND 38.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 3489 7893 3486 7893 3478 7887 3477 7887
3468 7942 3477 7933 3482 7936 3484 7935
3483 7919 3495 7903
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 258DEG 40KT 3485 7916
HAWKINSThe Wilmington radar (KLTX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:50 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was reported down across the westbound lane of Interstate 40 near exit 408. Traffic was reportedly backed up. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A tree was reported down at the intersection of Campbell Road and Highway 701. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A tree was reported down in the 3500 block of Highway 701. The time was estimated based on radar data.
A tree was reported down along Old Lumberton Road near the intersection with Highway 701. The time was estimated based on radar data.
Large limbs were reported down on Andrew Jackson Highway.
A metal roof was partially blown off a trailer on John Davis Road NE.
A survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded a microburst with winds up to 90 mph produced considerable damage in Wilmington, North Carolina. The damage path began on the premises of Colonial Parke Apartments on Hunt Club Road. A two foot diameter tree was uprooted and crashed through the roof and window of a second story apartment causing severe damage. Three other apartments in the complex sustained damage. The damage path continued across Market Street to just northeast of the Market Street and North College Road intersection. Numerous branches from 6 to 10 inches in diameter were broken from trees. A couple stores within a shopping center sustained damage to include ceiling tiles, windows and store merchandise. As the microburst crossed Market Street, it lifted a large rooftop HVAC unit from Bonefish Grill and deposited it 30 yards away. The HVAC unit landed inside a neighboring storage unit facility after breaking down a garage door. Damage continued east along Market Street to just beyond North College Road where a small portion of the roof of Builders First Source was lifted off. Several buildings along the path of this microburst sustained damage ranging from minor shingle loss to partial roof loss. Most of the damage was consistent with 75 to 80 mph wind speeds, however the HVAC damage was consistent with a maximum wind speed of 90 mph. The path length was about eight-tenths of a mile and the maximum path width was 200 yards. There were no reports of injury or death although some people did have to seek safe shelter as the severe winds hit. More than 3000 people were briefly without electricity.
A wind gust to 60 mph was measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2015
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: 595756, 595762, 595768, 595770, 595763, 595766, 595780, 595767.