A deepening area of low pressure off the Mid Atlantic coast resulted in windy conditions across central NC, resulting in numerous downed trees and power lines.
Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 deepening area of low pressure off the Mid Atlantic coast resulted in windy conditions across central NC, resulting in numerous downed trees and power lines.
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 Mar 2, 3:25 AM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 325 AM EST Fri Mar 2 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Very windy conditions expected today as an area of low pressure strengthens off the northern Mid Atlantic coast. Cool high pressure will build into central NC for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 325 AM Friday... Main adjustment to the near term forecast was to introduce a High Wind Warning for sections of the northern Piedmont-northern coastal plain, and to start the warning/wind advisory a couple of hours sooner than earlier thinking. A deepening area of low pressure off the northern Mid Atlantic coast already being felt across sections of central NC and southern VA with wind gusts 35-40 mph already being reported at such places as Danville, Greensboro, Roxboro, and Roanoke Rapids. The sfc low forecast to deepen another 10-14mb between 08Z-18Z. Forecast model soundings have been fairly consistent depicting momentum transfer near the surface on the order of 35-45 kts with the higher values depicted north and northeast of RDU. Thus, expect the gusts to increase substantially shortly after sunrise as mixing ensues. Expect frequent gusts between 35 and 45 mph across the region with the higher gusts anticipated across the counties with gusts 50-55 mph probable close to the VA border and into our northern coastal plain. While not expecting gusts in the Triad and Triangle regions to meet specified high wind warning criteria, believe societal impacts in the form of downed trees and numerous scattered power outages warrant the necessity for a warning. Temperatures at 08Z a few degrees warmer than forecast. In addition, bulk of temperature guidance have warmed a couple of degrees from earlier model runs. While substantial low level cold air advection expected today, warmer than expected start and possible slight offset of cold air advection from downslope component suggest that max temps today need to be adjusted up a few degrees from the previous forecast, with highs ranging from the mid-upper 50s north to the lower 60s south. Tonight, blustery conditions will persists especially east of highway 1 as the sfc low offshore gradually pulls away to the east- ne. Wind gusts 25-30 mph still expected through late evening across the coastal plain, with gusts 18-25 mph still probable elsewhere. Continued low level cold air advection will aid to send temperatures down into the upper 20s-lower 30s. When the wind is factored in, wind chill values in the low-mid 20s expected overnight. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 325 AM Friday... Continued blustery conditions Saturday due to the pressure difference between the deep low offshore of the Mid Atlantic, and an area of high pressure over the Great Lakes/lower OH Valley. Subsidence will maintain clear skies, except over our far northern coastal plain where clouds streaming off of Chesapeake Bay should occur. It will feel cooler thanks to the wind and the dry air mass. Max temps generally in the mid-upper 50s, with lower 50s across the far north. Pressure gradient will still exists over our region Saturday night. This mixing will aid to prevent the near surface atmosphere to realize full cooling potential. It will still be cold, though, with min temperatures by early Sunday in the 30-35 degree range. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 210 PM Thursday... Central NC will remain under northwest flow aloft as the upper low continues to migrate eastward over the Atlantic and the sub-tropical ridge builds northward into the deep south and Midwest Saturday and Sunday. The persistent subsidence will result in clear skies and dry weather across the area through the weekend. At the surface, Central NC will be sandwiched between the low over the Atlantic and the Canadian high diving southward through the OH and TN river valleys into the deep south. As a result of the strong pressure gradient between the two features, expect winds to be fairly strong and gusty again on Saturday, though not as strong as Friday. The pressure gradient will finally begin to relax as the high begins to push eastward over the Mid-Atlantic, with gusts abating Saturday night into Sunday. Another surface low will develop off the Rockies Sunday night, with the developing attendant cold front strengthening as the system progresses eastward through the Midwest. Aloft, the open trough digging into the Northern Plains on Sunday will likely become a cutoff low on Monday as it moves eastward. The low should remain cutoff as it dives further southeast toward the Mid-Atlantic. A cool and wet period is in store Tuesday into early Wednesday as this system moves through the Mid-Atlantic states. Fair weather returns later Wednesday into Thursday in a dry northwesterly flow. && .AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 130 AM Friday... VFR parameters expected across central NC through the weekend. There will be an aviation hazard in the form of very windy conditions through Saturday as an area of low pressure strengthens off the Mid Atlantic coast. NW winds later this morning will increase to around 16-21kts with frequent gusts 30-40kts. An isolated 50 kts gust cannot be ruled out, especially north-northeast of KRDU and KRWI. The strongest gusts should occur between 13Z-22Z. Gusts overnight into the first half of Saturday will range between 22-30kts. Much lighter winds anticipated Saturday night into Sunday. The next chance for sub VFR parameters, primarily in the form of low ceilings, is expected Tuesday into Tuesday night as an area of low pressure and attendant sfc cold front affects the region. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for NCZ038>040-042- 073>078-083>086-088-089. High Wind Warning until 10 PM EST this evening for NCZ007>011- 021>028-041-043. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM...WSS SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...KC/Franklin AVIATION...WSS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 615 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-022315- 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- 615 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 10 PM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree fell on a box truck on Highway 158 and Myrick Estates Road, resulting in one minor injury.
A tree was reported down on a home in the 700 block of Hawthorn Ridge Road.
Multiple trees and power lines were reported down across the county, including one on a house.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Highway 122 and Dickens Road.
One tree was reported down in Mar-Mac.
Multiple trees were reported down across the county.
Couple of trees were reported down across Lynnbank Road in Henderson.
Numerous trees were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county, with some of the trees falling on homes and vehicles.
Multiple trees were reported down between Piedmont Triad International Airport and Lake Brandt Road.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Multiple trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Multiple trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
One tree was reported down across I-40, near North Carolina Highway 210.
One tree was reported down on a tractor trailer at North Carolina Highway 39 and Creech Church Road.
Couple of trees were reported down in Burlington.
A tree was reported down an a house in Siler City.
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, March 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: 747154, 747454, 747165, 747456, 747457, 747167, 747455, 746644, 747124, 747125, 747126, 747146, 747151, 747158, 747159, 747161, 747163, 747452, 747453, 747160, 747143.