A weak mid level disturbance move across the area and interacted with moderately unstable atmosphere during the late evening into the early morning hours. Isolated storms developed during this time, with a few storms becoming severe and producing wind damage.
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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 weak mid level disturbance move across the area and interacted with moderately unstable atmosphere during the late evening into the early morning hours. Isolated storms developed during this time, with a few storms becoming severe and 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 May 25, 8:30 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Raleigh NC 930 PM EDT Sat May 25 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A minor upper level disturbance will cross southern Virginia tonight, bringing a threat for a few showers and thunderstorms to sections of central NC. Otherwise, a strong high pressure system aloft will persist over the Southeast U.S. through Wednesday, generally producing dry weather with well above normal temperatures. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 930 PM Saturday... A weak mid level wave continues to cross VA and the border region this evening, with a corresponding surface trough extending SW through the NC Foothills/W Piedmont. Isolated showers and storms are finally making their way through the NW PIedmont and Triad. While mid level lapse rates remain rather low due to very warm 600-500 mb temps associated with the ridging aloft, today's heating pushed up low level lapse rates to 7.0-7.5 C/km. And an even steeper profile through 500-250 mb, encompassing the -10C to -30C depth, has prompted good electrification and deep updrafts with the few cells that have managed to get together in the absence of a focus for convection. Effective shear is certainly sufficient to support these storms, within MLCAPE of 1000-2000 J/kg (although CINH is expanding across the area). Expect cells to be fairly isolated, perhaps merging into small clusters, remaining fairly strong as they shift generally E within the mean flow, maintained by elevated instability and a decent mid level wind field for several more hours. Have kept a mention of isolated storms pushing E through the CWA through the overnight hours, exiting E late. Expect lows mainly in the 70-73 range with some upper 60s across the far N and NW. -GIH && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 335 PM Saturday... Mid/upper level ridge maintains its presence/influence across central NC Sunday into Sunday night. Low level thicknesses projected to be in the 1435-1440m range, approximately 10-12m higher than this afternoon. This supports high temperatures well into the 90s across central NC. Sfc dewpoints during the afternoon expected to mix, varying between 60-65 degrees during the hottest part of the afternoon. This translates to heat indices comparable to the actual dry air temperature. Similar to tonight, a minor perturbation in the west-northwest flow aloft will drop across VA Sunday night. This system may trigger an isolated shower or storm in the vicinity of Warrenton/Roanoke Rapids/Scotland Neck Sunday evening. Otherwise the warm air aloft associated with the area of high pressure will continue to suppress/inhibit convective development. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 146 PM Saturday... Hot and dry weather on Monday with the ridge in control of our weather. Persistent airmass will mean highs once again in the low- mid 90s. Late Monday and Monday night, a short wave moving over top of the ridge will drop SEWD and may bring a chance for showers/tstms, with the best chances from the Triangle eastward. Then the ridge takes over again, and slightly more amplified for Tuesday and Wednesday, which will mean even a few degrees hotter both days with highs in the mid-upr 90s...perhaps touching 100 across our far S/SE zones on Wednesday. By Thursday, heights will begin to fall as the ridge axis gets suppressed and pushed to the east by a more potent shortwave trough moving across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. That trough, while mostly lifting by to our north, will push the tail end of a cold front into our area on Friday, and that front will likely stall then wash out over the Carolinas during the weekend. The result of this will be increased rain chances for the late-week and weekend period, along with a slight cool-down with afternoon highs ranging from the upper 80s to lower 90s. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 830 PM Saturday... 24 Hour TAF Period: A heavy shower on the radar will move across KINT in the next hour and KGSO thereafter. This may bring some temporary flight restrictions to both airports but will be very short lived. Later this evening there is the potential for more showers and thunderstorms across the northeastern counties, possibly affecting KRWI between 3-7Z during which time there could also be temporary flight restrictions due to convection. Aside from this VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period with winds moving from a more southwesterly to west northwesterly direction by Sunday morning at 5-10 kts. Some mid level clouds may manifest during the afternoon Sunday but conditions look drier than today. Long term: A second shortwave very similar to tonight will pass by the northeastern counties again on Sunday night as it travels along the edge of the upper level ridge. This pattern may repeat itself a third time Tuesday afternoon but aside from these fringe showers, VFR conditions are expected through the period. && .CLIMATE... Here are the record high temperatures and the year they were set for the period May 25th-30th: DATE RDU GSO FAY MAY 25TH 93/2011 96/1926 98/2011 MAY 26TH 94/1953 95/1926 98/1926 MAY 27TH 96/1916 100/1911 100/1953 MAY 28TH 99/1941 98/1916 102/1941 MAY 29TH 98/1941 99/1914 102/1941 MAY 30TH 95/1895 97/1914 97/1941 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...WSS NEAR TERM...Hartfield SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...np AVIATION...Ellis CLIMATE...RAH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 406 AM EDT Sat May 25 2019 NCZ007-021>024-261145- Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange- 406 AM EDT Sat May 25 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Hot temperatures will persist for much of the period, with Monday through Wednesday likely the warmest days. Heat indices will approach the mid 90s during the hottest days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ008>011-025>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-261145- Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Durham-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe- Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-Montgomery- Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland- Sampson- 406 AM EDT Sat May 25 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Hot temperatures will persist for much of the period, with Monday through Thursday likely the warmest days. Heat indices will approach the mid 90s to near 100 during the hottest days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Raleigh NC 945 PM EDT Sat May 25 2019 NCZ007-260245- Person NC- 945 PM EDT Sat May 25 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PERSON COUNTY UNTIL 1045 PM EDT... At 944 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Hamer, or near Providence, moving southeast at 30 mph. Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Deadly cloud to ground lightning will also be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Roxboro, Concord, Bethel Hill, Hyco Lake, Moriah, Mayo Reservoir, Hyco Marina and Surl. 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. 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. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3624 7880 3633 7915 3654 7914 3654 7880 TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 295DEG 27KT 3648 7929 Ellis
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1112 PM EDT Sat May 25 2019
NCZ007-024-025-260345-
Durham NC-Person NC-Orange NC-
1112 PM EDT Sat May 25 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN PERSON...NORTHEASTERN
ORANGE AND NORTHWESTERN DURHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM EDT...
At 1111 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Topnot, or near Yanceyville, moving east at 30 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Roxboro, Rougemont, Bushy Fork and Surl.
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 3641 7886 3628 7887 3615 7894 3624 7924
3624 7915 3640 7915 3640 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 275DEG 25KT 3634 7929
BAHThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:31 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were reported down on Leesburg Road.
One tree was reported down on Ramseur Julian Road.
One tree was reported down on Burton Swain Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2019
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: 826197, 826198, 826199.