North Carolina, 2019

High Wind in North Carolina, January 5, 2019

January 5, 2019 · NWS RNK · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A potent upper-level low and the surface low associated with it brought a cold front across the region. High pressure building in behind the low-pressure system created a strong pressure gradient, that combined with an intense low level jet of 60-70 knots over the Blue Ridge to create high winds in northwestern NC.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

A potent upper-level low and the surface low associated with it brought a cold front across the region. High pressure building in behind the low-pressure system created a strong pressure gradient, that combined with an intense low level jet of 60-70 knots over the Blue Ridge to create high winds in northwestern NC.

What forecasters said that day

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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 4, 6:07 PM EST, 11 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 4, 6:07 PM EST, 11 hours 48 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 4, 3:32 PM EST, 14 hours 23 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Watauga

When
January 5, 5:55 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where
Watauga forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.231, -81.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The AWOS at Boone/Watauga County Hospital (KTNB) recorded a maximum gust of 59 mph. In addition, a few trees were blown down across the county.

High Wind, Ashe

When
January 5, 8:35 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Ashe forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.434, -81.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The AWOS at Ashe County Airport (KGEV) reported a maximum gust of 63 mph.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2019

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 791912, 791923.