A strong upper low moved from Iowa across the Lower Great Lakes region, with a deep trough taking on a negative tilt while swinging into North Carolina. An associated strong cold front approached western North Carolina that afternoon and pushed east and east-northeast across central North Carolina on the night of the 15th.
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 strong upper low moved from Iowa across the Lower Great Lakes region, with a deep trough taking on a negative tilt while swinging into North Carolina. An associated strong cold front approached western North Carolina that afternoon and pushed east and east-northeast across central North Carolina on the night of the 15th. A strengthening and backing flow at all levels led to a surge of moisture into NC. Moderate instability, strong deep layer shear, and high low-level storm-relative helicity were also present. The result was a quasi-linear convective system with embedded mesovortices, which produced widespread severe weather, including a tornado in Greensboro, as it moved through North Carolina.
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 Apr 15, 3:00 PM EST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 400 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will move east across the region this evening, preceded by heavy showers and a few strong to severe thunderstorms. Dry, cooler, and breezy conditions will follow for Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 320 PM Sunday... ...The risk of severe storms, isolated tornadoes, and locally heavy downpours continues through this evening... Strongly forced convection, mostly linear but with scattered leading discrete cells, will cross the area through this evening, mainly in the 20z-05z time frame, ahead of a strong cold front attending a powerful mid level low tracking from S IA across IL/IN through tonight. Strengthening kinematics will result as the mid level trough takes on a negative tilt while swinging ENE through the Carolinas, pushing mid level winds up to 70-80 kts by this evening, with a 45-55 kt southerly low level jet. Deep layer bulk shear is already up to 40-60 kts, on its way to 60-80 kts this evening. These intense kinematics along with 150-200 m height falls will support vigorous forcing for ascent within deep moisture as PW surges to around 1.5" ahead of the front. Temps and dewpoints so far today have overachieved a bit, both rising slightly higher and faster than earlier anticipated. As a result, we're seeing moderate instability with SBCAPE already into the 1000-1500 J/kg range, and this will likely creep upward more as greater low level warmth and moisture advects in from the S and SSE. This potential instability along with the high deep layer shear will support strong to severe storms with damaging winds as a primary threat, given the intense dynamic forcing for ascent and strong background wind field. QLCS mesocyclones and isolated tornadoes are possible as well, with strong line-normal low level winds, a long curved hodograph, and good probabilities of an STP over 3 according to the HREF mean. Will watch carefully for any bowing segments, especially those bowing to the NNE (maximizing the line-normal wind component), and evidence of rear inflow notches indicative of possibly tornadogenesis. Locally heavy rainfall remains a threat over the NW CWA, near the inflection point of the tilting system, where the deep warm layer (LCL-0C depth near 4 km) will facilitate warm rain processes. The potential for training echoes will lead to locally higher amounts, as the steering wind becomes parallel to the line. Storm total rainfall is expected to be 2 to 2.5 inches in this area, with locally higher totals, and with concerns for flooding within the hilly terrain and urban areas of the Triad, have issued a flash flood watch through this evening over the NW Piedmont down to Albemarle. Precip chances will taper down behind the main band after midnight from WSW to ENE, although trailing stratiform rain and a few lightning strikes may linger for a few hours overnight. Will trend pops down to lower chances, but will keep shower chances going through the night mainly across the north as waves of mid level DPVA traverse the base of the negatively tilting trough. Expect lows from the upper 40s W to upper 50s E. -GIH && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 400 PM Sunday... The strong mid level low will wobble E then NE over the E Great Lakes region through Mon/Mon night. The surface front will be moving well offshore, although surface winds immediately behind it will be from the WSW, allowing for little in the way of downslope drying as the intense surface low wraps up over SE Ontario. Periods of mid level DPVA will continue, with residual moisture through the deep mixed layer and steep mid level lapse rates of 6-7.5 C/km, resulting in a risk of isolated to scattered showers, mainly over N sections from late morning through mid afternoon. Bouts of cloudiness will result from the passage of vorticity maxima through the trough base, with the most clouds across the north. Expect highs of 58-64 within cold air advection. Lows Mon night 35-39, with gradual clearing as heights rise aloft and drier air surges in. A frost advisory may need to be considered in some areas, although lower RH values as well as lingering clouds over N sections overnight may reduce this threat. -GIH && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 1230 PM Sunday... Still expecting a quiet long term forecast beginning on Tuesday as high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico and a northwesterly upper level flow pattern keep the region dry with a warming trend for the first half of the work week. Dry weather combined with somewhat breezy conditions could bring some fire weather concerns to the area, particularly on Tuesday as min RH values hover around 30 percent with wind gusts near 20 kts. Highs will be in the upper 60s to low 70s Tuesday but then rising to near 80 degrees on Wednesday. Thursday a low pressure system will pass well to the north, dragging a dry cold front through the area and although no precipitation is expected, temperatures will be cooler, particularly in the Triad where cooler air will move in prior to peak heating. Temperatures here will top out in the low 70s with closer to 80 still possible in the southeast and along the I-95 corridor. That cooler airmass will continue to filter in for the end of the week, presenting dry conditions with highs mainly in the 60s both Friday and Saturday. Models are split on the timing for a system that will make its approach to central NC sometime early next week. The GFS is much more progressive with the system, bringing it into the area on Sunday but the ECMWF solution is much slower, keeping things dry all the way until Monday night. These details will be ironed out in the coming days. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 125 PM Sunday... Adverse aviation conditions are imminent across central NC, lasting from mid afternoon through the evening hours. Widespread showers and strong storms will cross the area through the early to mid evening, ahead of a strong cold front following close on the heels of the strongest storms and heaviest rain. Prevailing MVFR cigs/vsbys are likely, with periods of IFR/LIFR conditions within the most intense convection. Winds will be very strong and shifting with heights, and even if low level wind shear does not present itself, aircraft handling will be made difficult through this evening, with surface winds from the S 20-30 kts gusting to 35-45 kts, higher in and near showers and storms. Winds will shift from southerly to be from the SW just behind the main line of storms, but should maintain a SSW direction until passage of the cold front, 03z-06z W and 06z-09z E, when winds will become more WSW or westerly. A west to east trend to VFR is expected starting early evening W, lasting to late evening E. But passage of a disturbance aloft may bring a period of MVFR cigs overnight/early Mon morning (07z-12z), mainly across the northern terminals (INT/GSO/RDU/RWI). A few showers are possible through Mon morning across the N, but VFR conditions should dominate. Looking beyond 18z Mon, gusty winds from the WNW will continue through Mon afternoon. VFR conditions are likely over central NC through mid week as high pressure builds over the Gulf and Southeast states. A mostly dry cold front will drop southeast through the area Wed night into Thu with isolated showers and gusty shifting winds, but VFR conditions are expected. Another high pressure area building in will bring VFR conditions Fri. -GIH && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for NCZ021-022-038-039- 073. && SYNOPSIS...RAH NEAR TERM...Hartfield SHORT TERM...Hartfield LONG TERM...Ellis AVIATION...Hartfield
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Raleigh NC 307 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 NCZ021-022-038-039-073-161130- Forsyth-Guilford-Davidson-Randolph-Stanly- 307 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH 53 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flash Flood Watch. A few severe thunderstorms will occur this afternoon through early evening. The primary severe weather hazards will be locally damaging wind gusts, isolated tornadoes, and torrential downpours that may cause localized flooding. The greatest risk for severe storms will occur between 4 PM and 8 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon through mid evening. NCZ023-074-083-084-161130- Alamance-Montgomery-Anson-Richmond- 307 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 ...TORNADO WATCH 53 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. A few severe thunderstorms will occur this afternoon through early evening. The primary severe weather hazards will be locally damaging wind gusts, isolated tornadoes, and torrential downpours that may cause localized flooding. The greatest risk for severe storms will occur between 4 PM and 8 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon through mid evening. NCZ007>009-024-025-040-041-075>077-085-086-088-161130- Person-Granville-Vance-Orange-Durham-Chatham-Wake-Moore-Lee-Harnett- Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland- 307 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 ...TORNADO WATCH 53 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. A few severe thunderstorms will occur late this afternoon through this evening. The primary severe weather hazards will be locally damaging wind gusts, torrential downpours that may cause localized flooding, and possibly an isolated tornado. The greatest risk for severe storms will occur between 6 PM and 11 PM, although an isolated strong to severe storm may occur as early as 3 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon through mid evening. NCZ010-011-026>028-042-043-078-089-161130- Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Johnston-Wilson-Wayne-Sampson- 307 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. A few severe thunderstorms will occur late this afternoon through this evening. The primary severe weather hazards will be locally damaging wind gusts, torrential downpours that may cause localized flooding, and possibly an isolated tornado. The greatest risk for severe storms will occur between 6 PM and 11 PM, although an isolated strong to severe storm may occur as early as 3 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely late this afternoon through mid evening.
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 157 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:07 UTC.
27 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 2 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down throughout the city of Albemarle, some resulting in structural damage in the downtown area.
A few trees were blown down along a swath from west-southwest to west-northwest of Lewisville.
Trees and power lines were blown down near Badin Lake.
One tree was blown down across the road near the intersection of Lanier Hill Road and New Hope Road.
Several trees were blown down across the eastern half of Anson county, including the town of Lilesville.
Several trees were blown down along a swath from west-northwest of Randleman to Seagrove.
Several trees and power lines were blown down near Biscoe.
The tornado initially touched down on the north side of I-40 near |where Willow Road crosses I-40. Damage at this point consisted of |snapped trees and was consistent with 90 mph wind speeds, or EF-1 on |the Enhanced Fujita Scale. | |The tornado remained on the ground as it traveled north toward |Peeler Elementary School. Numerous homes in this area were damaged |along with substantial tree damage. The tornado wind speeds at this |location were estimated to be approximately 100 mph. | |The tornado continued traveling north and reached a peak intensity |and maximum path width in the Hampton Community and near Hampton |Elementary School. At this school a large portion of the roof was |blown off and three adjacent portable classroom buildings |(manufactured buildings) were completely destroyed and leveled. The |damage to the main school building was consistent with wind speeds |around 110 mph (DI 15/DOD 6), while the damage to the adjacent |portable units was consistent with wind speeds of 135 mph (DI 4/DOD |12), which is a high-end EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. It s |worth noting that the neighborhoods adjacent to this school |experienced a wide and substantial path of devastation which |included snapped and uprooted trees, snapped power poles, homes that |were pushed off of their foundation, numerous homes that lost most |or all of their roof cover, and several homes with exterior walls |blown out. The survey found the width of the tornado, and |particularly the width of the EF1 and EF2 wind speeds, contributed |to a particularly wide path of destruction. | |The tornado then continued north-northeast and mostly remained on |the ground all the way to the Guilford/Rockingham County line. Along |the way, the damage consisted mostly of snapped and uprooted trees, |and roof and siding damage to several additional homes. The tornado |appeared to produce minor tree damage (with wind speeds 80 mph or |less) just before crossing into Rockingham County. | |Finally, the aforementioned path length (16 miles) consists of just |the Guilford County path. The tornado continued into Rockingham |County, and remained on the ground for an additional 17.6 miles.
A couple of trees were blown down along a swath from NC 24-27 highway near Robbins to Glendon-Carthage Road near Carthage.
One tree was blown down on Lauren Hill Church Road near Laurel Hill.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down in Siler City.
Several trees were blown down throughout Hoke county.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
One tree was blown down across Thompson Avenue.
One tree was blown down near the intersection of NC Highway 86 and Carr Store Road.
One tree was blown down on River Forks Drive near NC-87.
One tree was blown down across Lemon Springs Road.
One tree was blown down across West Poplar Road.
Multiple trees were blown down in Hurdle Mills.
One tree was blown down on Colon Road.
One tree was blown down across Farrington Road.
Flash flooding was reported along Interstate 74 in Laurinburg.
Flash Flooding cased the closure of several roads in the Durham area.
One tree was blown down across Fulton Street near Fifth Avenue in Raeford.
One tree was blown down on Lemon Springs Road in Sanford.
Several roads were flooded in rural areas just to the southwest of Raeford.
Flash flooding was reported on Mangum Street at the Durham Freeway.
Flash flooding was reported on United State highways 15 and 501 and along Gregson Street at Interstate 85.
Flash Flooding was reported along United States Highway 421.
One tree was blown down on a residence in Benson, causing significant damage to the home.
Several trees and power lines were blown down along a swath from Willow Springs to Rolesville.
The Fort Bragg RAWS station reported a wind gust of 69 miles per hour.
An EF-1 tornado briefly touched down approximately 5 miles north-northwest of Wendell, North Carolina on April 15, 2018. | |The tornado touched down near Hals Farm Road, just off of Edgemont |Road. The tornado tracked northward across an area consisting of a |mixture of trees, a barn, and a few homes, before crossing Sadie |Drive. The homes near the end of Sadie drive (near the cul-de-sac) |sustained minor damage to siding and some loss/damage to shingles. |Numerous trees were uprooted and several pine trees snapped off |approximately 15 to 25 feet up. An apparent outbuilding was also |destroyed at this location. The damage here was indicative of a weak |tornado with approximate peak wind speeds of 87 MPH, or EF-1 on the |Enhanced Fujita Scale. | |The tornado continued tracking northward through a wooded area |causing sporadic damage to trees. The tornado affected several homes |along Woodie Drive, off of Riley Hill Road, with one sustaining |significant damage from a tree falling through the roof of the home. |The tornado then lifted near Riley Hill Road.
A couple of trees were blown down along a swath from Pilot to Spring Hope. One tree fell on a residence on West NC-97.
One tree and one power line were blown down along a swath from Littleton to Enfield.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Guilford | 2018-04-15 | 48 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2018Warnings in North Carolina, April 2018
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: 753565, 753566, 753567, 753561, 753568, 753569, 753570, 753571, 754019, 753572, 753573, 753574, 753575, 753577, 753578, 753579, 753580, 753581, 753582, 753583, 753584, 753585, 753670, 753747, 753586, 753587, 753678, 753735, 753740, 753745, 753588, 753589, 753592, 753752, 753590, 753591.