A meso-scale boundary along the North Carolina-Virginia state line sparked a complex of slow moving convection that produced 4 to 5 inches of rain and isolated flash flooding across Person County. This complex then moved southward into the Triangle region around midnight, where it produced another 3 to 4 inch swath of rain over the Raleigh-Durham Metro area.
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 meso-scale boundary along the North Carolina-Virginia state line sparked a complex of slow moving convection that produced 4 to 5 inches of rain and isolated flash flooding across Person County. This complex then moved southward into the Triangle region around midnight, where it produced another 3 to 4 inch swath of rain over the Raleigh-Durham Metro area. This heavy rainfall led to numerous reports of flash flooding within the Raleigh urban area, with multiple water rescues. Additionally, with saturated soils, the thunderstorms also produced scattered wind damage across the Raleigh metro.
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 Aug 19, 7:08 PM EST, 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 808 PM EDT Sun Aug 19 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will move into central NC tonight, then stall overhead. This boundary will return northward late Monday night into Tuesday. A strong cold front will cross the area late Wednesday and Wednesday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 340 PM Sunday... At mid afternoon, scattered convection pretty much confined to a heating differential boundary across the northern Piedmont. As the atmosphere destabilizes through the rest of the afternoon, expect additional convective development through 03Z across the rest of central NC. After 03z, potential for convection to become more concentrated across the northeast Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain, ahead of a mid level s/w and associated sfc cold front. This sfc feature will drop into central NC after 06Z. Scattered convection will likely traverse this region through the overnight hours. Severe convection parameters marginal/weak at best. Water vapor imagery depicts a decent layer of mid level dry air over the region. This intrusion of drier air may be enough to enhance downdrafts, leading to locally strong/damaging wind gusts. Overnight temperatures in the 70-75 degrees. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 340 PM Sunday... The sfc boundary is projected to lie close to highway 64 by early Monday. This sfc front will serve as a focus for scattered convection Monday afternoon. Severe parameters a little more impressive with shear values approaching 30kts across the north with MLCAPE values 1600-2000 J/kg. This would suggest that the convection may organize into broken bands, enhancing the threat for locally damaging wind gusts. Convective allowing models suggest that convective will be random, with not much organization. The approach of a stronger s/w, crossing the mid MS Valley, will induce a sly flow over central NC Monday night. This will push the stalled boundary north back into Virginia by early Tuesday. The retreating boundary may trigger additional showers and isolated thunderstorms overnight Monday night. Widespread low clouds Monday morning will inhibit insolation and deter temperature recovery a bit. Once the sun breaks through, convection will quickly fire, adding another hurdle to temperature recovery. Thus, highs Monday will likely stall in the mid-upper 80s. If the extensive low clouds hold on until mid day/early afternoon, then highs across the northern counties may end up 3-4 degrees cooler than forecast. Lows Monday night near 70-lower 70s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 132 pm Sunday... Two main weather stories during the long term: 1. Severe thunderstorm risk late in the day Tuesday. 2. Cooling/Drying trend for Thursday through Saturday. First, the severe weather threat: With the approach of an amplified mid/upr trough, we'll see deep warm/moist s/sw flow ahead of it and warm sector destabilization on Tuesday. As a prefrontal sfc trough approaches late in the day, in conjunction with increasing deep layer shear with the approach of the mid/upr trough, the ingredients for isolated to scattered severe tstms will come together. Deep layer shear progs, along with forecast soundings and hodographs suggest storm mode will be mostly multi-cell cluster with straight- line winds being the main threat, however there's enough low level shear to support the potential for a couple isolated supercells. Timing for such a line of tstms appears to be later in the day, or mainly evening hours. Shower and tstm activity expected to wind down overnight. Then on Wednesday, the sfc cold front and upper trough axis are forecast to move through, so will need to keep a chance for showers/tstms in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon, but the best forcing for such activity (and severe storms) will have exited, so any pcpn on Wednesday should be fairly light. Temps Tuesday and Wednesday near-normal. Second, the cooling/drying trend: In the wake of Wednesday's cold front and upper trough passage, look for cool/dry air advection along with high pressure building to our north. That will set up central NC to have a period of pleasant weather Thursday and Friday, perhaps even lasting through most of Saturday, with temps several degrees below normal (highs in the lower 80s and lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s). There are hints that a coastal trough may bring moisture back into eastern NC over the weekend, but the bulk of that moisture (and rain chances) right now appear to remain mostly to our east and south. && .AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 750 PM Sunday... An upper level disturbance can be seen on water vapor this evening rotating east. There is a leftover boundary from earlier convection just north of KRDU and KRWI this evening and the NSSL WRF is showing current convection across the north pushing south and igniting along this boundary. Other high res models aren't as impressive, but also are not handling current trends well either. Given the orientation and location of current mesoscale boundaries have kept TAFs advertising this solution. Monday morning, convection will quickly decrease in coverage as the upper level low centers over the northeastern United States. As this happens, another round of low level stratus will be possible. NAM soundings have latched on to this signal with the GFS not as robust (cigs confined to the triad). Given what happened last night and very similar sounding profiles, think the stratus will happen. Some sub IFR restrictions will also be possible towards KGSO and KINT which future TAF packages might need to include. During the day Monday, the upper level low will exit east across the region with another round of showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Some gusty winds will be possible in any of the heavier showers and thunderstorms as dry air exists in the mid to upper levels. Outlook (00z Tuesday through Friday): The atmosphere will remain moist and unsettled across central NC through mid week, leading to rounds of scattered convection, and lengthy periods of early morning low clouds. A cold front is expected to cross the region Wednesday evening with drier air filtering in behind. This will lead to a period of VFR conditions Thursday and Friday. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM...WSS SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...NP AVIATION...Haines
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 403 PM EDT Sun Aug 19 2018 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-200930- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance- Orange-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake- Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson- Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 403 PM EDT Sun Aug 19 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorm are possible through Midnight across central NC. The primary severe weather hazard will be locally damaging winds. In addition, locally heavy rain will result in flash flooding of streets and poor drainage areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. There is the potential for isolated severe thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday with the main hazard being locally damaging winds. In addition, locally heavy rainfall will be associated with all thunderstorms which may trigger brief flooding of streets and poor drainage areas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
340 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
NCZ008>010-192045-
Vance NC-Warren NC-Granville NC-
340 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT VANCE...
WARREN AND GRANVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
At 339 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of showers and
strong thunderstorms near Oxford, moving east at 15 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Heavy rain and minor flooding and deadly cloud to ground lightning
will also be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Henderson, Oxford, Warrenton, Norlina, Littleton, Stovall,
Middleburg, Macon, Gillburg and Afton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle. Wind gusts as high as
40 mph are capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around
trash cans, potted plants, lawn furniture and other light outdoor
objects.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning, especially in urban areas where prolonged heavy rain
can quickly lead to flooding.
Boaters on the open water and those camping outdoors are especially
vulnerable to the dangers of lightning. Seek harbor immediately and
find safe shelter in a nearby building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3638 7791 3628 7796 3623 7880 3654 7879
3654 7790
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 257DEG 11KT 3635 7870
EllisSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
431 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
NCZ021-038-192115-
Forsyth NC-Davidson NC-
431 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN FORSYTH AND NORTH
CENTRAL DAVIDSON COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT...
At 431 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Clemmons, or 10 miles southwest of Winston-Salem, moving east at 10
mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Heavy rain and minor flooding and deadly cloud to ground lightning
will also be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Bermuda Run, Lewisville, Arcadia, Welcome
and Sedge Garden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle. Wind gusts as high as
40 mph are capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around
trash cans, and other light outdoor objects.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3612 8047 3610 8010 3584 8019 3589 8037
3593 8037 3596 8038 3599 8042 3600 8041
3601 8042 3603 8045 3606 8046 3606 8047
3605 8048 3605 8049
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 284DEG 10KT 3602 8041
WSSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
501 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
NCZ008>010-192200-
Vance NC-Warren NC-Granville NC-
501 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT VANCE...
WESTERN WARREN AND GRANVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM EDT...
At 501 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of showers and
strong thunderstorms near Butner, or 7 miles north of Creedmoor,
moving east at 15 mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Heavy rain and minor flooding and deadly cloud to ground lightning
will also be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Henderson, Oxford, Creedmoor, Butner, Norlina, Kittrell, Stem,
Stovall, Middleburg and Gillburg.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning, especially in urban areas where prolonged heavy rain
can quickly lead to flooding.
Boaters on the open water and those camping outdoors are especially
vulnerable to the dangers of lightning. Seek harbor immediately and
find safe shelter in a nearby building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 7819 3626 7817 3625 7819 3627 7831
3623 7834 3623 7838 3619 7840 3617 7848
3618 7849 3617 7850 3611 7881 3644 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2101Z 259DEG 15KT 3622 7873
EllisSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
552 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
NCZ038-039-192245-
Randolph NC-Davidson NC-
552 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN DAVIDSON AND
NORTHWESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM EDT...
At 551 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from Thomasville to Lexington.
Movement was east at 15 mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Heavy rain and minor flooding and deadly cloud to ground lightning
will also be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
High Point, Lexington, Randleman, Thomasville, Linwood, Archdale,
Trinity, Denton, Gordontown and Randleman Regional Reservior Marina.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle. Wind gusts as high as
40 mph are capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around
trash cans, potted plants, lawn furniture and other light outdoor
objects.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning, especially in urban areas where prolonged heavy rain
can quickly lead to flooding.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3578 8040 3595 8005 3592 8004 3592 7992
3585 7968 3556 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 291DEG 13KT 3590 8005 3580 8025
EllisPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
818 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NW BETHEL HILL 36.51N 78.90W
08/19/2018 PERSON NC TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREE DOWN AT OLD US 501 HIGHWAY AND
FONTAINE RD IN BETHEL HILL.
&&
JFDThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:20 UTC.
9 flash flood, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
There were multiple reports of flooded roadways in Bethel Hill, including Bethel Hill School Road, Gentry-Massey Road, Bowmantown Road, and John Obie Road.
Three trees were blown down along a wind swath extending from Trenton Road to Spring Forest Road.
One tree was blown down on I-440 at Lake Boone Trail.
One tree was blown down on Court and Noble Street.
One tree was blown down on Penny Road and Hunter Hollow Road.
One tree was blown down on Blaney Franks Road and Penny Road.
Multiple water rescues reported in Raleigh, including at 3415 Aventy Ferry Road and 3600 Lake Boone Trail.
Outbound Capital Blvd before Peace Street closed due to high water.
Multiple water rescues reported across the city, including at E. Millbrook Road, Six Forks Road, Atlantic Avenue, Hodges Street, and I-440 W at Glenwood Avenue.
Water rescues were conducted as multiple vehicles were submerged in over 4 feet of water on Wake Forest Road near Georgetown Road.
Water rescue conducted at Capital Boulevard and Old Wake Forest Road.
There were several reports of flooded roadways in the area, including at Jones Ferry Road, NC-Highway 54 at Old Fayetteville Road, and Old Greensboro Road.
Water rescue conducted on Capital Boulevard, underneath the Wake Forest Road Bridge. |Capital Boulevard was closed in both directions.
Water rescued was conducted at S. Wilmington Street and City Farm Road.
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 historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 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: 781160, 781172, 781173, 781174, 781175, 781177, 781161, 781162, 781163, 781167, 781168, 781170, 781182, 781183.