North Carolina, 2020

Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 21, 2020

July 21, 2020 · NWS RNK · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed during the peaking heating of the day within an atmosphere conducive to producing damaging winds.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$6,000
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.

Thunderstorms developed during the peaking heating of the day within an atmosphere conducive to producing damaging winds.

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 Jul 21, 1:26 PM EST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:26 PM EST, 2 hours 47 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 1:17 PM EST, 2 hours 56 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 3:17 PM EST, 56 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:30 PM EST, 43 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 3:35 PM EST, 38 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:36 PM EST, 37 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 3:47 PM EST, 26 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 21, 4:02 PM EST, 11 minutes before
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The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilkes

When
July 21, 4:13 PM EST
Where
Wilkes County, 1.78 mi SW of Knotville
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.200, -81.100

Thunderstorm winds snapped several trees at their trunks. Damage values are estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When
July 21, 7:30 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 0.55 mi NE of Mayodan
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.426, -79.963

Thunderstorm winds blew down a couple of trees near the intersection of Mayo Mountain Road and Business Highway 220. Damage values are estimated.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2020

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: 911685, 911684.