A disturbance embedded in northwest flow aloft helped to develop an organized line of thunderstorms which moved across the area during the late evening and overnight.
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.
A disturbance embedded in northwest flow aloft helped to develop an organized line of thunderstorms which moved across the area during the late evening and overnight.
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 8, 10:12 PM EST, 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 1112 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Another round of strong to severe thunderstorms will come to an end overnight. Oppressive heat and humidity will continue for one more day on Saturday. A cold front will drop south into the Carolinas Sunday bringing slightly lower temperatures and humidity before returning north Monday. Bermuda high pressure will build westward and dominate the weather through the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... As of 1100 PM Friday...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued til 200 am and includes southeast North Carolina and Marlboro and Dillon counties in South Carolina. The organized squall line has made it as far south and east as Robeson and Bladen counties and southwest through Marlboro and Darlington counties. The cold pool generated gust front is becoming apparent, and has recently moved across EYF and near FLO, pressing SE at about 33 kt. As this feature outruns the thunderstorms further to the northwest, we would expect to see a slow weakening trend. Still for the next couple of hours at least, strong to damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning are expected in and near the watch area. After that time, sufficient cooling and stabilization of the boundary layer should help keep strong winds from reaching the surface. Organized convection in association with MCV crossing North Carolina will move offshore overnight, taking the large complex of thunderstorms to the east and offshore. Will show POPs up to categorical/likely trending lower overnight, lastly at the coast. Dropped minimums to the lower to mid 70s with more in the way of upper 70s at the beaches and far southern areas where the large scale associated the effects of the large scale cold pool will be least pronounced. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Friday...Although the short term is primarily a temperature forecast it is a difficult one. Previously it was thought that Saturday was to be the hottest of this heat wave. Two things have called that into doubt. First off, today did not grow as hot as forecast in most places. Second, MET guidance has dropped from previous runs, the MET being the model with the better verification as of late. In the end tomorrow may be quite similar to today temperature-wise especially as there is little synoptic change. Today's heat advisory fell short albeit narrowly and will not raise one for tomorrow at this time. Convection will largely be capped as with recent days minus the evening shortwaves so POPs top out at 20 percent. On Sunday mid level flow goes from WNW to WSW allowing for some moistening. The added cloud cover should temper highs by just a few degrees. The capping should also be weakened allowing for isolated convection. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 300 PM Friday...Surface and mid level ridging will be the dominant features during the period. Early next week a shortwave passing north of the area will briefly disrupt the 5h ridge and help keep a weakening front stalled in the region. The remains of the front end up stalled just north of the area into Wed before being lifting north by the rebuilding Bermuda High. Increased moisture associated with the front will increase precip chances early next week and keep daytime temps closer to climo. Mid level ridging re- establishes itself late in the period with temperatures above climo returning. Diurnal convection will be possible each afternoon/evening with the highest pop early in the period, associated with the aforementioned shortwave and stalled front. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 00Z...Periods of MVFR possible in convection tonight and areas of fog towards morning. Otherwise expect VFR with VCSH/VCTS. Latest radar imagery depicts a few SHRA/TSRA moving into the area, with a majority of the convection well upstream. As this activity moves closer, have kept in VCTS/VCSH through the early overnight hours, with brief MVFR possible in any heavier downpour. West- southwest winds around 10 kts, with occasional higher gusts possible. Towards morning, patchy areas of fog are possible, especially inland. After daybreak, conditions improve to VFR, with westerly winds around 10 kts and VCTS/VCSH through the end of the valid taf period. EXTENDED OUTLOOK...Mainly VFR. Possible brief MVFR/IFR during isolated to scattered thunderstorms each day. Possible brief MVFR from fog each morning, particularly over areas where substantial rainfall occurs. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1100 PM Friday...Expect some tightening of the pressure gradient ahead of organized convection. Sustained SW winds of 15 to 20 kt. This will generate seas of 3 to 5 ft...highest overnight. Strong thunderstorms will move out across the waters late tonight, with the greatest coverage expected across the northern waters. SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM Friday...A little variation for a change in the short term. Most of the period will feature the typical southwesterly flow between the piedmont trough and west atlantic high pressure. Saturday night into Sunday morning the former will push offshore and briefly veer the winds considerably, perhaps even to NW. The trough will lift back inland and reform in its normal position later Sunday allowing for a return of southwesterly flow. Seas are not expected to change much through this variation. LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 300 PM Friday...Bermuda High will maintain southwest flow over the waters through the period. Gradient is a little more defined early in the period and speeds will be in the 10 to 15 kt range. Gradient starts to relax Wed with speeds dropping to 10 kt or less. Seas 2 to 4 ft Mon and Tue drop to 2 to 3 ft Tue night and 2 ft or less Wed. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...RJD SHORT TERM...MBB LONG TERM...III AVIATION...SGL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1032 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016 NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-024-100245- ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER- INLAND NEW HANOVER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK- COASTAL BRUNSWICK-MARLBORO-DILLON- 1032 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 365 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAT INDICES MAY EXCEED 105 DEGREES AGAIN ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. SCZ023-032-033-039-053>056-100245- DARLINGTON-FLORENCE-MARION-WILLIAMSBURG-INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY- INLAND GEORGETOWN-COASTAL GEORGETOWN- 1032 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATE TONIGHT. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAT INDICES MAY EXCEED 105 DEGREES AGAIN ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. AMZ250-252-254-256-100245- COASTAL WATERS FROM SURF CITY TO CAPE FEAR NC OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE FEAR NC TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SC OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET TO MURRELLS INLET SC OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM MURRELLS INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM- 1032 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE OUT ACROSS THE WATERS OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1056 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016
NCZ096-105-090400-
BLADEN NC-INLAND PENDER NC-
1056 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR BLADEN AND SOUTHWESTERN PENDER
COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...
AT 1056 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
OVER WHITE OAK...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF UP 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ELIZABETHTOWN...ROWAN...BLADENBORO...LAGOON...COUNCIL...WHITE OAK...
ABBOTTSBURG...KELLY...AMMON...JEROME...POINT CASWELL...RUSKIN...
TOBERMORY...BUTTERS...ELKTON...CARVERS...LISBON...EMERSON...
DUART AND BLADEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
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 3466 7833 3460 7830 3455 7825 3457 7824
3438 7809 3442 7856 3445 7862 3445 7866
3447 7867 3446 7882 3447 7886 3451 7884
3456 7886 3464 7881 3469 7881 3474 7886
3483 7890 3485 7880 3486 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 0256Z 319DEG 41KT 3473 7874
SHKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1104 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016
NCZ087-096-099-109-SCZ024-033-053-090400-
COLUMBUS NC-BLADEN NC-ROBESON NC-INLAND BRUNSWICK NC-MARION SC-
DILLON SC-INLAND HORRY SC-
1104 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHWESTERN BLADEN...COLUMBUS...
SOUTHEASTERN ROBESON...CENTRAL BRUNSWICK...NORTHWESTERN HORRY...
NORTHERN MARION AND SOUTHEASTERN DILLON COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT
EDT...
AT 1104 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR FAIR BLUFF...OR 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF MULLINS...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 40 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF UP 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LELAND...WHITEVILLE...MULLINS...TABOR CITY...LORIS...CHADBOURN...
BLADENBORO...BETHEL...LAKE WACCAMAW...FAIR BLUFF...LAKE VIEW...
NORTHWEST...SANDYFIELD...BOARDMAN...ALLSBROOK...WILLIAMS...
HALLSBORO...BISHOP...PHOENIX AND SMITHBORO.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
US ROUTE 74 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 372 AND 434.
US ROUTE 17 IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 32 AND 44.
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 3411 7795 3395 7949 3432 7929 3455 7884
3444 7856 3440 7825 3435 7820 3437 7814
3435 7808
TIME...MOT...LOC 0304Z 325DEG 27KT 3435 7903
SHKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1114 PM EDT FRI JUL 08 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW GRACE HEIGHTS 34.61N 79.70W
07/08/2016 MARLBORO SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
REPORT OF TREE DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF STONAWAY ST AND
WEST MAIN ST. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ILM1600190
LACORTEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1145 PM EDT FRI JUL 08 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW DILLON 34.43N 79.40W
07/08/2016 DILLON SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
REPORT OF TREE IN ROADWAY ON I-95 AT MILE MARKER 191.
TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ILM1600191
LACORTEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1146 PM EDT FRI JUL 08 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 PM TSTM WND DMG ROSE HILL 34.18N 79.82W
07/08/2016 FLORENCE SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
REPORT OF TREE IN ROADWAY AT INTERSECTION OF SOUTH
SANTIAGO DR AND W PALMETTO ST. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ILM1600192
LACORTEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1200 AM EDT SAT JUL 09 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1122 PM TSTM WND DMG SPRING BRANCH 34.24N 79.40W
07/08/2016 MARION SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
REPORT OF TREE DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF W SELLERS RD AND
US 501. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ILM1600193
LACORTEThe Wilmington radar (KLTX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:03 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree reportedly fell onto a house on Pinewood Road. There were no reports of structural damage.
KILM ASOS reported a squall with a measured wind gust to 58 mph.
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, July 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: 648014, 648011.