Thunderstorms developed along a lee trough axis and were further enhanced by a sea breeze moving inland. Some of these storms became strong to severe producing 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.
Thunderstorms developed along a lee trough axis and were further enhanced by a sea breeze moving inland. Some of these storms became strong to severe producing 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 Aug 7, 2:10 PM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 310 PM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 .SYNOPSIS... On the northern periphery of weakening sub-tropical high pressure over the southeastern U.S., a surface trough will linger across central NC until a weak cold front approaches from the west late Thursday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 300 PM Tuesday... The forecast remains on track from the previous discussion. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through the rest of the aft/eve. Weak shear, high PW's and instability will result in some heavy rain and slow moving storms, where they develop, which is the question mark. Differential heating boundaries will be the primary focus for convection, so storms are most likely along the sea breeze and storm outflows. The best chance will be along the weak lee trough over the next couple hours (primarily near the Triad). Expect another lull in convective activity tonight. Lows tonight in the low to mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 310 PM Tuesday... Copy and paste today's forecast in for Wednesday. The piedmont trough will remain in place over the area. Primarily diurnal convection with coverage similar to today, mainly along differential heating boundaries. Pwats in the 1.5-2.0 range will also persist. The upper level trough will start to push the ridge south late Wednesday into Wednesday night, with increasing warm, moist advection into central NC. With the majority of convection holding off until later in the evening, expect highs to reach the low to mid 90s, resulting in heat indices in the 100-103 range along and east of I-85. Overnight lows also similar to to night, low to mid 70s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 215 PM TUESDAY... Longer range forecast remains on track with a steady rise in diurnal convection coverage, along with a gradual decrease in daytime heating potential through the period. A surface lee-side trough will remain across the area through the end of the workweek before finally becoming washed out by a shortwave likely to stall a front across region by Friday morning. In the upper-levels, an amplifying trough over the Great Lakes and Northeast will become more prominent late in the period before transitioning into more of a cutoff upper low early next work-week. Most of Thursday looks to be relatively dry ahead of the front which is likely to enter and stall across central NC primarily after sunset. Can't rule out an airmass thunderstorm and/or pre-frontal trough-initiated storm, but signals remain relatively sparse thanks to an utter lack of forcing. Some residual showers/storms will likely spill east of the Appalachians with the front after sunset, absorbing what's left of the instability before dying out near the Triangle overnight Thursday/pre-dawn Friday. Southerly/southwesterly flow becomes better established over the weekend, giving the potential for more widespread shower/storm development, especially in the Saturday through Monday time frame. Guidance suggests drier air moving into the region on Tuesday. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 143 PM Tuesday... Through 18Z Wednesday: Expect mostly VFR conditions through the TAF period with short wave ridging over the area helping to limit the usual afternoon/evening tstm activity over central NC. The areas with the best chance to see showers/tstms later today will be east of I-95 and closer to the sea breeze, and farther west over the higher terrain, and some of that activity may drift toward our Triad TAF sites. But at this point, the confidence in convective activity occurring at our TAF sites is too low for inclusion in the TAFS... but will closely monitor. Otherwise, we can't rule out a couple patches of fog Wednesday morning, but again, will depend on where any shower/tstm activity occurs over the area later today. Outlook: A typical summer pattern featuring mainly afternoon/evening showers and tstms each day, and morning fog mainly across the coastal plain and where showers/tstms occurred the day before. Right now it appears that the coverage of shower/tstm activity will increase over the weekend, with perhaps a more prolonged period of sub-VFR conditions possible then. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...CBL NEAR TERM...KC SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...JJM/Franklin AVIATION...np
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 314 AM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-080715- 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- 314 AM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
517 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
NCZ021-022-072215-
Guilford NC-Forsyth NC-
517 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
...A COUPLE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN FORSYTH AND NORTHWEST
GUILFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM...
At 511 PM EDT, a couple of strong thunderstorms were located over
northern Forsyth County. The strongest storm was 7 miles north of
Stanleyville, while another thunderstorm was located 5 miles
northwest or Rural Hall. These storms were drifting southeast at 10
mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Frequent
lightning can also be expected.
Locations impacted include...
Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Huntsville, Lewisville, Summerfield,
Stokesdale, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Pfafftown and Belews Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3611 8050 3612 8046 3614 8044 3621 8045
3622 8043 3624 8045 3626 8045 3625 7983
3616 7981 3604 8045 3606 8046 3604 8049
3608 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 258DEG 20KT 3622 8037
PWBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
551 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
NCZ021-072245-
Forsyth NC-
551 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
...A THUNDERSTORM WEAKENING NEAR LEWISVILLE...
At 549 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles north of Lewisville, or 10 miles west of Winston-Salem moving
southeast at 25 mph. This storm is expected to weaken through 630
PM, but will still be capable of producing several cloud to ground
lightning strikes.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Clemmons, Lewisville, and Pfafftown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3612 8049 3612 8046 3614 8044 3618 8044
3623 8041 3609 8004 3601 8004 3603 8021
3600 8022 3600 8032 3599 8033 3599 8036
3602 8043 3606 8046 3605 8048 3607 8051
3608 8051
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 298DEG 23KT 3612 8039
PWBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
619 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
NCZ083-072300-
Anson NC-
619 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ANSON COUNTY UNTIL
700 PM EDT...
At 618 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Chesterfield, or 10 miles south of Wadesboro, moving east at 10 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 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...
Lilesville, Morven, McFarlan and Blewett Falls Lake.
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 and
blowing around trash cans, potted plants, lawn furniture and other
light outdoor objects.
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 3481 8015 3489 8019 3500 7990 3497 7986
3495 7987 3491 7985 3488 7987 3486 7988
3486 7990 3482 7991 3481 7992
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 249DEG 8KT 3481 8007
77Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
648 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
NCZ022-023-072345-
Guilford NC-Alamance NC-
648 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL GUILFORD AND
CENTRAL ALAMANCE COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM EDT...
At 645 PM EDT, a line of thunderstorms extended from near PTI
Airport east to Gibsonville and Burlington, moving southeast at 15
mph.
Frequent lightning will be possible with this storm.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Brief heavy rain for 20 to 30 minutes will occur, possibly producing
minor flooding in urban areas.
Locations impacted include...
Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, McLeansville,
Elon College, Gibsonville, Pleasant Garden and Jamestown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter in a nearby building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3624 7926 3591 7926 3587 7925 3584 7928
3584 7954 3590 7955 3591 7991 3601 8002
3625 7936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 314DEG 14KT 3603 7988
PWBThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:40 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were reported down in Alamance County, south of Interstate 40 and 85.
One tree was reported down at Saint Marys Road and Miller Road.
One tree was reported down on East King Street and South Cameron Street. The tree downed power lines.
A tree was reported down on Hillsboro Street.
Power lines were reported down at Deepwood Drive and Lakeside Drive.
One tree was reported down on Ruin Creek Road.
One tree was reported down on East Andrews Avenue.
One tree was reporetd down on Reynolda Road and Bethania Road.
One tree was reported down on Rankin Mill Road and Hines Chapel Road.
One tree was reported down on Glenwood Road and East Kivett Street.
One tree was reported down at Highway 22 and Stout Acres Road.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Highway 42 and Doc Hayworth 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: 780149, 780150, 780151, 780152, 780153, 780154, 780155, 780156, 780157, 780158, 780159, 780160.