A rapidly strengthening area of low pressure tracked northeastward across the middle Atlantic states as a trailing cold front swept eastward across central NC during the morning. Behind the front very strong southwesterly winds overspread the region causing power outages and damage across central North Carolina.
Every event with a place to put it; 35 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 rapidly strengthening area of low pressure tracked northeastward across the middle Atlantic states as a trailing cold front swept eastward across central NC during the morning. Behind the front very strong southwesterly winds overspread the region causing power outages and damage across central North Carolina.
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 Feb 7, 4:51 AM EST, 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Raleigh NC 451 AM EST Fri Feb 7 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A powerful and unusually strong upper level trough and accompanying surface cyclone will strengthen while tracking up the middle Atlantic coast today. A trailing cold front will cross central NC this morning. High pressure will follow and build across the Southeast tonight and Saturday, ahead of a fast-moving frontal system that will cross the region Saturday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 400 AM Friday... ...Unusually strong, high impact gradient wind event expected across cntl NC early today... Beneath and downstream of a powerful mid-upr level trough, the related height gradient will tighten significantly overhead cntl NC this morning. Extreme mid lvl height falls are forecast to peak between 250-300 meters from the srn Appalachians this morning to the nrn middle Atlantic and srn New England coast tonight. At the surface, a rapidly deepening cyclone in the immediate lee of the VA Blue Ridge, already down to 985 mb between ROA and CHO at 09Z, will continue to deepen while tracking newd, to below 970 mb off the nrn middle Atlantic and srn New England coast by tonight. A trailing, fractured cold front analyzed from swrn VA (near HLX) swd across the wrn Carolinas from near CLT and CAE. Strong, 5-10 mb/3 hr MSL pressure rises will overspread cntl NC this morning, as the rapidly deepening low lifts away and high pressure expands across the Southeast. Frequent wind gusts between 35 and 45 mph are expected to materialize from the sw this morning, likely peaking between 10-15Z. Locally higher gusts are likely, including at least a couple of isolated ones in excess of 50 mph, especially from MEB to FAY to GSB. The wind will gradually lessen through the afternoon, then become mostly calm overnight. Given that this is expected to be an unusually strong wind event, and soil is saturated from multiple inches of soaking rain during the past 48 hours, scattered to numerous uprooted trees may result, as will numerous power outages from falling limbs/branches. Travel and outdoor activities are not advised this morning due to the increased risk of tree damage. Additionally, scattered showers and isolated storms, as strong mid level cooling edges ewd and lowers the minus 10C level in the the 10- 12 thousand ft range, will accompany the fractured cold front ewd across cntl NC this morning. After early morning high temperatures in the 50s this morning, temperatures will fall or hold steady through this afternoon, then fall rapidly with clear skies and strong radiational cooling overnight. Lows will be mostly be in the mid-upr 20s. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 430 AM Friday... Another vigorous upper level shortwave trough will approach and cross the Carolinas on Saturday and Saturday night. This feature us moisture starved and the latest runs have suppressed the best forcing slightly southward and accelerated the arrival time just a bit. Will include slight chance PoPs for some spotty/fleeting rain across the far western Piedmont on Saturday afternoon and across all of central NC for Saturday evening. The thermal profile is cold but boundary layer temperatures during he afternoon and evening appear warm enough to preclude much in the way of snow and given the light precip amounts and intensity, don't expect much assistance from wet bulbing. In addition, partial thicknesses point to an event near the snow/indeterminate location on the p-type nomogram which is consistent with a pattern that rarely produces a predominate p-type of snow. Have adjusted maxes down for Saturday with highs now in the mid 40s to around 50. Behind the system, lows on Saturday night should fall into the upper 20s to lower 30s. && && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 440 AM Thursday... Fair weather is expected for Sunday through early Monday as high pressure extends into the region. A slow moving cold front will approach on Monday and move into the region on Tuesday before a northern stream trough moves across the OH Valley and Mid Atlantic on Wednesday. The result will be a chance of light rain or showers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs on Monday will range in the lower to mid 60s and moderate into the 60s to around 70 for Tuesday and Wednesday. -Blaes && .AVIATION /10Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 125 AM Friday... Trailing stratiform rain behind the earlier squall line will continue to end from west to east over cntl NC during the next few hours, after having already done so at INT and GSO in the past hour. LIFR-MVFR ceilings in a residually moist airmass will otherwise begin to scatter and lift with the approach and passage of a secondary cold front and band or two of scattered showers and storms --analyzed at 06Z from the nrn NC mountains swd across the Upstate of SC-- which will sweep east across cntl NC TAF sites between 10- 13Z. Unseasonably strong swly surface winds will develop behind that front, with sustained winds between 20-30 kts, locally higher, and gusts between 30-45 kts, locally higher - strongest at FAY. Outlook: A passing mid to upper level disturbance and related surface frontal system will cross the region with an associated chance of light rain and MVFR conditions late Sat into early Sun. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 4 PM EST this afternoon for NCZ007>011- 021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...MWS SHORT TERM...Blaes LONG TERM...Blaes AVIATION...MWS
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Raleigh NC 103 AM EST Fri Feb 7 2020 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-071100- 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- 103 AM EST Fri Feb 7 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM EARLY THIS MORNING TO 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. High water may linger in creeks, drainage ditches, and in areas of poor drainage through the overnight hours. Westerly winds gusting up to 40 mph are possible late tonight through midday Friday. The wind combined with saturated soil and weakened root systems may result in scattered to numerous uprooted trees. .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. Strong gusty winds will continue through midday Friday. Otherwise, hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
33 strong wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 46 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
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. In addition, a 54 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Burlington Alamance Regional Airport.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 51 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Laurinburg Maxton Airport.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 54 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 48 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Person County Airport.
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.
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.
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.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
An individual was hit by a falling tree on Edith Russell Road in Randleman. The victim was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county, including one tree that fell on a car. In addition, a 46 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport.
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.
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.
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.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.
A large tree fell on a car on Halifax Street, trapping and injuring the person inside the car.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 58 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Fayetteville Regional Airport.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county. In addition, a 61 mile per hour wind gust was measured at the Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport.
Power lines and a power pole fell on bus in Durham.
One tree fell on a house on Yarborough Street in Roxboro.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2020
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: 878918, 879147, 879148, 879149, 879150, 879153, 879154, 879159, 879161, 879162, 879163, 879164, 879165, 879166, 879167, 879177, 879178, 879180, 879155, 879157, 879168, 879169, 879170, 879171, 879172, 879173, 879174, 879175, 879176, 879179, 879156, 879151, 879152, 879158, 879160.