North Carolina, 2019

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 4, 2019

July 4, 2019 · NWS RAH · 9 events in 8 counties and zones

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across central North Carolina, primarily along differential heating boundaries, during peak heating as the moist atmosphere became moderately unstable. Several storms became severe, producing wind damage and isolated flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$115,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Events
9

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 RAH wrote it up.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across central North Carolina, primarily along differential heating boundaries, during peak heating as the moist atmosphere became moderately unstable. Several storms became severe, producing wind damage and isolated flash flooding.

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When
July 4, 12:12 PM EST
Where
Montgomery County, 1.69 mi E of Biscoe
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.370, -79.770

Multiple trees were blown down onto power lines near Biscoe.

Thunderstorm Wind, Durham

When
July 4, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Durham County, 1.31 mi ESE of Durham
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.010, -78.900

One tree was blown down onto a residence along Dacian Avenue in Durham. A lightning strike also resulted in a house fire near the 100 block of Presidents Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When
July 4, 1:40 PM EST
Where
Johnston County, 3.45 mi WNW of Peacocks Xrds
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.330, -78.510

A microburst resulted in isolated wind damage along Raynor Road near Benson. A barn roof was blown off, an RV was rolled onto its side and debris was scattered along the road. A portion of a field of corn was also blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richmond

When
July 4, 1:57 PM EST
Where
Richmond County, 3.24 mi NNW of Marston
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
35.020, -79.630

Two trees were blown down, one on Millstone Road and the other on McDonald Church Road near Hoffman. A third tree was blown down from sub-severe outflow winds along Second Street in Rockingham.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When
July 4, 2:22 PM EST
Where
Orange County, 1.67 mi W of Mc Dade
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.180, -79.200

Numerous trees were blown down as a result of a downburst near the Cedar Grove area. A few of the trees damaged structures, including a house, a barn and several small outbuildings.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wake

When
July 4, 3:08 PM EST to 3:18 PM EST
Where
Wake County, 2.67 mi NE of Auburn to 1.82 mi WNW of Shotwell
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.710, -78.520

A couple of trees were blown down along a swath from the intersection of Branch Road and Farmdale Road to the intersection of Bethlehem Road and Grasshopper Road, between Clayton and Knightdale.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wake

When
July 4, 3:43 PM EST to 4:02 PM EST
Where
Wake County, 1.32 mi WSW of Willow to 3.95 mi ENE of Holly Spgs
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
35.590, -78.870

Several trees and power lines were blown down along a swath from Duncan to Holly Springs resulting in numerous power outages. Dime size hail also fell in Holly Springs.

Flash Flood, Cumberland

When
July 4, 4:41 PM EST to 7:10 PM EST
Where
Cumberland County, 0.9 mi SE of Bonnie Doone to 1.53 mi SSW of East Fayetteville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.091, -78.959

Heavy rainfall produced up to five inches of rain over the city of Fayetteville and resulted in flash flooding. A vehicle became stranded in a couple feet of standing water. An automated observing station nearby reported 4.54 inches of rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
July 4, 5:08 PM EST
Where
Franklin County, 0.69 mi N of Centerville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.190, -78.100

One tree was blown down near the community of Centerville.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, July 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 844371, 844374, 844377, 844378, 844381, 844383, 844385, 844369, 844386.