A potent shortwave tracked across the region during the early morning hours. A squall line developed and several pockets of strong winds resulted in wind damage.
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 potent shortwave tracked across the region during the early morning hours. A squall line developed and several pockets of strong winds resulted in wind damage.
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 16, 6:00 AM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 600 AM EST WED FEB 16 2016 .SYNOPSIS...COOL HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO NORTH CAROLINA FROM THE NORTH TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A WEEKEND WARM-UP WILL BE REPLACED BY ANOTHER CHANGE TO COLDER AND WETTER WEATHER NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /TODAY AND TONIGHT/... AS OF 1245 AM WEDNESDAY... A POTENT SHORTWAVE TRACKING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS THE REGION EARLY THIS MORNING WILL RESULT IN A POTENTIAL FOR SPOTTY LIGHT RAIN THROUGH 12Z...PRIMARILY IN THE NE COASTAL PLAIN. WITH FORCING LARGELY CONFINED TO THE UPPER LEVELS (STRONG DPVA) AND LITTLE IN THE WAY OF LOW-LEVEL FORCING (AS EVIDENCED BY CEILINGS IN THE 5-12 KFT RANGE)...EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO BE LIGHT/SPOTTY IN NATURE. VFR CEILINGS 5-12 KFT WILL DISSIPATE BY 12-15Z IN THE WAKE OF THE SHORTWAVE...WITH CLEAR SKIES AND A NW/NNW WIND AT 10-15 KT DURING THE AFTERNOON...DECREASING TO ~5 KT OR LESS AFTER SUNSET. HIGHS IN THE 50S MOST LOCATIONS...LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S. -VINCENT && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 300 AM WEDNESDAY... CHILLY HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXTEND OVER THE REGION FROM THE NORTH THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. MOSTLY SUNNY/MOSTLY CLEAR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE A FEW DEGREES BELOW THE 30 YEAR AVERAGES. HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE UPPER 40S NORTH TO MID 50S SOUTH. LOWS IN THE 25-30 RANGE AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 319 AM WEDNESDAY... ...A WEEKEND WARM UP... BUT ANOTHER CHANGE TO CHILLY AND WET WEATHER EXPECTED NEXT WEEK... THE STRONG SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT OFFSHORE FRIDAY ALLOWING A RETURN FLOW FROM THE SOUTHWEST-WEST ACROSS NC. PARTLY SUNNY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ARE EXPECTED IN THE DRY FLOW WITH MODERATING TEMPERATURES. HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE MID 50S EXPECTED. FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND WILL BE WARMER EVEN AT NIGHT WITH THE DEEP SW-W FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OUT IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND A COLD FRONT WELL TO OUR NW. SOME INCREASE IN CLOUDINESS... IN PARTICULAR MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL OCCUR BY LATE IN THE WEEKEND. OTHERWISE... EXPECT HIGHS IN THE 60S BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. LOWS GENERALLY IN THE 40S OVER THE WEEKEND INTO MONDAY. FOR MONDAY INTO TUESDAY... ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PATTERN CHANGE TO A DEEPENING TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN STATES AND A LARGE POTENT RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN STATES MEANS MORE WET AND POSSIBLY COLD WEATHER NEXT WEEK.. BEGINNING WITH A BACKDOOR FRONT SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY BRINGING FRESH CHILLY AIR DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD. THIS OCCURS AND LOW PRESSURE WAVES ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE GULF COAST TO SE STATES. SEVERAL THINGS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK... HOW STRONG OF A PUSH OF COLD AIR WILL REACH DOWN INTO NC/SC NEXT WEEK COURTESY OF THE STRONG POLAR HIGH PRESSURE THAT IS FORECAST TO BUILD INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES... THEN POSSIBLY NEW ENGLAND BY MID-WEEK? IF THE HIGH PRESSURE CAN BUILD DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD AS IN THE LATE JANUARY AND RECENT FEBRUARY STORMS... THEN OUR CHANCE OF SIGNIFICANT WINTRY WEATHER WILL INCREASE (IF THE PATTERN TURNS WET COURTESY OF ONE OR TWO WAVES OF LOW PRESSURE - POSSIBLY EVEN ANOTHER COASTAL STORM) AS THE OPERATIONAL MODELS ARE SUGGESTING. FOR NOW... WE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE FORECAST MON-TUE... AND TREND TEMPS COLDER. LOWS IN THE 30S AND HIGHS IN THE 40S BY TUESDAY. THIS PATTERN CHANGE BEARS WATCHING AS OUR WILD FLIP-FLOP IN WEEKLY WEATHER CONTINUES. && .AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 600 AM WEDNESDAY... EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD WITH A WNW WIND AT 10-15 KT DECREASING TO ~5 KT OR LESS AFTER SUNSET. LOOKING AHEAD: VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND. -VINCENT && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...BADGETT NEAR TERM...VINCENT SHORT TERM...BADGETT LONG TERM...BADGETT AVIATION...VINCENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 410 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016 NCZ007>011-022>028-039>043-074>078-084>086-088-089-170915- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE- DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON- MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND- SAMPSON- 410 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS...GUSTING AS HIGH AS 40 TO 50 MPH...WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND AHEAD OF A LINE OF SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT PROGRESSING THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA EARLY THIS MORNING. .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. VINCENT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
354 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 AM TSTM WND GST STANLY COUNTY APT 35.42N 80.15W
02/16/2016 M40 MPH STANLY NC AWOS
KVUJ REPORTED A PEAK WIND GUST OF 40 MPH IN ASSOCIATION
WITH A LINE OF SHOWERS AT 315 AM EST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1600346
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 401 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016 NCZ007>011-022>028-039>043-074>078-084>086-088-089-161200- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE- DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON- WILSON-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE- CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROXBORO...OXFORD...BUTNER...CREEDMOOR... HENDERSON...NORLINA...WARRENTON...ROANOKE RAPIDS...GREENSBORO... HIGH POINT...BURLINGTON...GRAHAM...CHAPEL HILL...CARRBORO... DURHAM...LOUISBURG...FRANKLINTON...NASHVILLE...RED OAK... SHARPSBURG...SPRING HOPE...ROCKY MOUNT...ASHEBORO...ARCHDALE... TRINITY...SILER CITY...PITTSBORO...RALEIGH...CARY...SMITHFIELD... CLAYTON...SELMA...BENSON...WILSON...TROY...BISCOE... MOUNT GILEAD...SOUTHERN PINES...PINEHURST...ABERDEEN... SEVEN LAKES...SANFORD...DUNN...ERWIN...ANGIER...LILLINGTON... GOLDSBORO...ROCKINGHAM...HAMLET...EAST ROCKINGHAM...LAURINBURG... RAEFORD...ROCKFISH...SILVER CITY...FAYETTEVILLE...CLINTON 401 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016 ...STRONG WINDS POSSIBLE ALONG AND AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT THROUGH 8 AM... WIDESPREAD SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL CROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 4 AM AND 8 AM THIS MORNING. STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND RAPID PRESSURE FALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACHING FRONT WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR STRONG WIND GUSTS WITH SHOWER ACTIVITY BOTH ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. GUSTS AS HIGH AS 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. GREENSBORO AND ALBEMARLE BOTH REPORTED PEAK SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS ALONG THE COLD FRONT BETWEEN 315 AND 330 AM EST. LAURINBURG REPORTED A PEAK SOUTHEAST WIND GUST OF 47 MPH WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT AT 335 AM...APPARENTLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH RAPID PRESSURE FALLS AND THE PRESENCE OF ABNORMALLY STRONG FLOW ALOFT. VINCENT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
405 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0354 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MACKALL ARMY AIRFIELD 35.04N 79.50W
02/16/2016 M44 MPH RICHMOND NC AWOS
KHFF REPORTED A PEAK SOUTHEAST WIND GUST OF 44 MPH AT
354 AM EST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1600347
VINCENTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
427 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0406 AM NON-TSTM WND GST FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL A 34.99N 78.88W
02/16/2016 M40 MPH CUMBERLAND NC ASOS
KFAY REPORTED A PEAK SOUTHERLY WIND GUST OF 40 MPH AT
406 AM EST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1600348
VINCENTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
539 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
NCZ007>010-024>027-040>042-077-078-088-089-161130-
JOHNSTON NC-CUMBERLAND NC-WARREN NC-WAKE NC-DURHAM NC-PERSON NC-
ORANGE NC-VANCE NC-NASH NC-CHATHAM NC-FRANKLIN NC-WAYNE NC-
HARNETT NC-SAMPSON NC-GRANVILLE NC-
539 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG
WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAIN THROUGH 700 AM...
THE LEADING EDGE OF A SQUALL LINE EXTENDED FROM ROXBORO AND WEST
DURHAM SOUTH THROUGH HOLLY SPRINGS... RAVEN ROCK... AND FORT BRAGG
AT 532 AM. THIS LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS WILL MOVE EAST
THROUGH THE RALEIGH... DURHAM AND FAYETTEVILLE AREAS THROUGH 630
AM... THEN REACH HENDERSON... LOUISBURG... SMITHFIELD AND CLINTON
BETWEEN 630 AND 730 AM.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN FOR AROUND 30
MINUTES WILL OCCUR WITH THIS LINE.
SPOTTY WIND DAMAGE INCLUDING SOME POWER OUTAGES AND BROKEN LIMBS
MAY OCCUR.
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING MAY ALSO OCCUR.
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.
DRIVERS ARE URGED TO SLOW DOWN AND USE EXTRA CAUTION.
&&
LAT...LON 3654 7824 3577 7816 3573 7819 3566 7815
3519 7810 3518 7817 3486 7816 3483 7890
3492 7896 3548 7901 3552 7897 3555 7901
3654 7909
TIME...MOT...LOC 1032Z 239DEG 49KT 3537 7895
PWBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
553 AM EST TUE FEB 16 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0537 AM NON-TSTM WND GST FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL A 34.99N 78.88W
02/16/2016 M48 MPH CUMBERLAND NC ASOS
42 KT WIND GUST FROM THE SW.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1600349
MLMThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:04 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down along a swath from Raleigh to Garner. One tree fell on a house. Monetary damages are estimated.
Several trees and power lines were blown down along a swath from near Spring Hope to near Ingleside.
Multiple trees were blown down along a north/south swath from near Norlina to near Warrenton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2016
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: 619853, 619854, 619856.