Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 19, 2016

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 19, 2016
Start: 2016-07-19T07:46
End: 2016-07-19T16:35
Location: North Carolina

July 19, 2016 · NWS MHX · 12 events in 6 counties and zones

The combination of an inland moving sea breeze, a cold front approaching from the north, and very unstable air led to scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon of July 19th 2016 across eastern North Carolina. A few of the storms became severe producing damaging winds and large hail.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 MHX wrote it up.

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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 19, 5:47 AM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 19, 5:47 AM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 19, 2:16 AM EST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
316 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-200815-
MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT-
MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-CARTERET-ONSLOW-
OUTER BANKS DARE-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
316 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD BECOME
STRONG TO SEVERE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS,
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

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

HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL RETURN THIS WEEKEND. HEAT INDEX VALUES
AROUND 105 DEGREES WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:14 AM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:29 AM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:52 AM EST, 54 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
752 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

NCZ046-047-080-081-094-103-191230-
TYRRELL-BEAUFORT-OUTER BANKS DARE-MAINLAND HYDE-PAMLICO-WESTERN DARE-
752 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
BEAUFORT...NORTHEASTERN PAMLICO...SOUTHERN MAINLAND DARE...EAST
CENTRAL OUTER BANKS DARE...SOUTHEASTERN TYRRELL AND MAINLAND HYDE
COUNTIES...

AT 751 AM EDT...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF HATTERAS ISLAND
FISHING PIER TO 11 MILES EAST OF AURORA FERRY TERMINAL. MOVEMENT WAS
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SWAN QUARTER FERRY TERMINAL AND BAYVIEW FERRY TERMINAL.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

LAT...LON 3577 7545 3541 7548 3538 7561 3549 7561
      3559 7556 3569 7559 3558 7566 3550 7584
      3530 7601 3524 7625 3526 7639 3519 7643
      3518 7649 3548 7683 3583 7547
TIME...MOT...LOC 1151Z 304DEG 31KT 3572 7525 3535 7654

SGK

Special weather statement, Jul 19, 7:29 AM EST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
829 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

NCZ047-080-081-094-103-191330-
BEAUFORT-OUTER BANKS DARE-MAINLAND HYDE-PAMLICO-WESTERN DARE-
829 AM EDT TUE JUL 19 2016

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL
BEAUFORT...NORTHEASTERN PAMLICO...SOUTHEASTERN MAINLAND DARE...EAST
CENTRAL OUTER BANKS DARE AND MAINLAND HYDE COUNTIES...

AT 829 AM EDT...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF HATTERAS ISLAND FISHING
PIER TO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BELHAVEN. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 15
MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HATTERAS ISLAND FISHING PIER AND SWAN QUARTER FERRY TERMINAL.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

LAT...LON 3568 7545 3536 7546 3534 7560 3549 7561
      3559 7556 3569 7559 3566 7561 3558 7567
      3549 7585 3530 7601 3524 7626 3526 7639
      3520 7644 3548 7671 3575 7548
TIME...MOT...LOC 1229Z 310DEG 15KT 3568 7550 3548 7652

SGK

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: July 19, 7:46 AM EST
Where: Hyde County, 0.89 mi SE of Ponzer
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.590, -76.490

Strong winds blew down a tree near Ponzer.

Thunderstorm Wind, Onslow

When: July 19, 10:50 AM EST
Where: Onslow County, 0.89 mi SW of Hawkside
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.760, -77.410

Wind gust of 51 knots measured by New River ASOS.

Hail, Carteret

When: July 19, 11:27 AM EST
Where: Carteret County, 2.19 mi SE of Kuhns
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.760, -77.100

Dime size hail reported on Hadnot Farm Road north of Peletier.

Hail, Onslow

When: July 19, 11:34 AM EST
Where: Onslow County, 0.69 mi N of Swansboro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 34.690, -77.130

Dime size hail reported in Swansboro.

Hail, Carteret

When: July 19, 11:40 AM EST
Where: Carteret County, 0.57 mi E of Stella
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.770, -77.140

Dime size hail reported off of Highway 58 near Stella.

Thunderstorm Wind, Craven

When: July 19, 12:30 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 5.26 mi NE of Craven Corner
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.920, -76.680

Strong winds blew down a tree on Adams Creek Road.

Hail, Pitt

When: July 19, 2:49 PM EST
Where: Pitt County, 1.69 mi W of Quinerly
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 35.370, -77.410

Quarter size hail reported near Quinerly Crossroads east of Grifton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Craven

When: July 19, 3:01 PM EST
Where: Craven County, 1.13 mi E of Wintergreen
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.220, -77.300

Strong winds blew down a tree onto Wintergreen Road near Cove City.

Hail, Jones

When: July 19, 3:50 PM EST
Where: Jones County, 0.89 mi NE of Pollocksville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.010, -77.220

Dime size hail reported in Pollocksville.

Hail, Onslow

When: July 19, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Onslow County, Gum Branch
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.870, -77.500

Report of nickle size hail in Gum Branch.

Hail, Onslow

When: July 19, 4:22 PM EST
Where: Onslow County, 1.13 mi W of Half Moon
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.830, -77.470

Nickle size hail reported in Half Moon.

Thunderstorm Wind, Onslow

When: July 19, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Onslow County, 2.07 mi N of Kellumtown
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 34.750, -77.320

Strong winds blew down a tree onto Piney Green Road east of Jacksonville.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 2016

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 640854, 640856, 640847, 640849, 640848, 640855, 640850, 640857, 640852, 640851, 640853, 640858.