Precipitable water values near 2 inches, high temperatures in the 90s and an upper-level wave moving across the area helped to develop widespread showers and thunderstorms across central North Carolina. Colliding outflow boundaries continued storm development throughout the afternoon and evening hours.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Precipitable water values near 2 inches, high temperatures in the 90s and an upper-level wave moving across the area helped to develop widespread showers and thunderstorms across central North Carolina. Colliding outflow boundaries continued storm development throughout the afternoon and evening hours. MLCAPE of 1500-3000 J/kg and low shear created pulse-type, slow moving storms. This resulted in multiple reports of 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 Jul 28, 3:39 PM EST, 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Raleigh NC 439 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 .SYNOPSIS... An Appalachian-lee surface trough will persist until a cold front settles south across VA and NC late Thursday into Friday, when a series of disturbances in westerly flow aloft will also cross our region. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 400 PM Tuesday... A positive tilt mid level trough evident in regional VWP data from the OH Valley wswwd across the mid-South will drift east across the srn middle Atlantic through early Wed, with associated weak (~10 meter/12 hr) 500 mb height falls over cntl NC through that time. While that trough axis was well-sampled by the OHX RAOB this morning, the 50 meter height fall noted there at 12Z was spurious and a result of the wet-bulb effect that began around 750 mb. A couple of weak MCVs and ongoing convection that originated over ern TN/KY late last night, now from s-cntl VA swwd into the wrn NC Piedmont, will precede the synoptic trough. Hot and humid conditions this afternoon has resulted in moderate to strong destabilization characterized by 2000-3000 J/kg of MLCAPE from west to east across cntl NC. The aforementioned long-lived multi-cell cluster now crossing the nrn NC Piedmont will pose a risk of strong to tree-damaging severe wind gusts during the next few hours, as it develops into a hot and relatively deeply mixed boundary layer characterized by 8-9 C/km low level lapse rates. However, it appears the outflow has surged ahead the most vigorous cells, so overall wind potential may have already peaked with that cluster. Otherwise, pulse storms are expected to continue to develop on the myriad of outflow boundaries over cntl and ern NC through the same time, with those that develop in the relatively more unstable environment in the Coastal Plain and ern Sandhills favored to produce a few water-loaded/wet microbursts. While convective intensity will diminish with diabatic/outflow and nocturnal cooling after 01-02Z, showers and isolated storms will remain possible overnight, as the aforementioned mid level trough approaches. Persistence low temperatures in the lwr-mid 70s are expected. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 430 PM Tuesday... A synoptic mid level trough that will settle across cntl NC late tonight-early Wed will likely be moving east across ern NC through peak diurnal heating Wed afternoon. Following wly and weakly perturbed flow, including possible weak MCVs from convection extending now from the cntl Appalachians wwd across the mid-South, will exist across cntl NC through Wed night. At the surface, the models suggest a trough or remnant outflow boundary may be in place from the ern Piedmont or Coastal Plain wswwd across the Sandhills and srn Piedmont at the start of the day. That/those boundaries will likely provide a primary focus for scattered convective development over cntl NC on Wed. Additionally, there is a consistent signal in CAM guidance for multiple nearly stationary clusters of convection near and east of the Outer Banks tonight, with a large area of outflow that the models suggest will move inland across ern NC and the Coastal Plain through early afternoon Wed. That feature, should it materialize, would also provide both a focus for convection and also some cooling during the afternoon. Otherwise, it will not be as hot as previous days given both an uptick in cloud cover and also a long-passed influence from the subtropical ridge that on Mon was centered along the middle Atlantic coast and today has completely broken down and drifted east into the Atlantic. High temperatures are consequently expected to range mostly between 90 and 95 degrees. When combined with continued humid conditions, heat index values around 102-105 degrees are expected away from the nrn and nwrn NC Piedmont, where upr 90s will be common. Given that Heat Advisory criteria for RAH is for 105 for two hours or more *or* three or more consecutive days of 102-105, another Heat Advisory for the same areas as the current one will likely be needed for Wed. Persistence lows in the lwr-mid 70s are forecast for Wed night. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 405 PM Tuesday... The persistent influence of the western Atlantic upper-level ridge across the Southeast will have weakened by Thursday as the ridge has shifted east and broad troughing develops across eastern NOAM. The upper level flow across the Carolinas will largely be west to southwesterly through the period supporting a transition to a convectively active period and near seasonable temperatures. During the period a weak cold front will approach our area on Thursday and Friday and perhaps drift into northern NC early Saturday and then lift north on Sunday. As the front approaches and a couple of disturbances aloft move near the area, expect the greatest chance and coverage of convection on Thursday and Friday. A secondary upper level trough moves across the Plains and into the TN/OH Valleys with an associated surface wave that rides near the Appalachians and lifts the front north of the area over the weekend. This should lift the focus of convection north of our area and result in a period of reduced convective activity late Saturday into Sunday. As we head into early next week, we will need to monitor the evolution of potential tropical cyclone nine. This system is associated with considerable uncertainty and it will be difficult speculate much on the track until the system organizes and there is a center to point to but the general trend today suggests the system will likely stay north of the Carribean and possibly move into the eastern Gulf of Mexico via FL. During the same period, there is the potential for significant rain across the Carolinas as a deep feed of tropical moisture is present and strengthening upper level jet northeast of the TC. Stay tuned. -Blaes && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 215 PM Tuesday... Outside of scattered showers and storms and associated sub-VFR conditions and gusty convective wind gusts, VFR conditions are expected through 18Z Wed. Outlook: Mainly diurnal showers and storms, with coverage likely maximized Thu-Fri, will pose the primary aviation hazard through the weekend. Additionally, overnight-early morning stratus will become increasingly likely Fri morning through the weekend. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ010- 011-026>028-041>043-075>078-084>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...MWS SHORT TERM...MWS LONG TERM...Blaes AVIATION...MWS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 438 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 NCZ007>009-021>025-038>040-073-074-083-290845- Person-Granville-Vance-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham- Davidson-Randolph-Chatham-Stanly-Montgomery-Anson- 438 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ010-011-026>028-041>043-075>078-084>086-088-089-290845- Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Wake-Johnston-Wilson-Moore- Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 438 AM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
309 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
NCZ086-282015-
Hoke NC-
309 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL HOKE COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM
EDT...
At 308 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Raeford, moving northeast at 5 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Raeford, Silver City and Rockfish.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dont wait until you see the first lightning flash before heading to
safety. Move indoors at the first sign of threatening skies or the
first sound of thunder. Deadly lightning strikes can occur well ahead
of an approaching storm, prior to the arrival of rain and wind. Make
sure that lightning is well away from your location before resuming
outdoor activity.
&&
LAT...LON 3494 7929 3507 7934 3517 7916 3507 7909
3504 7909 3499 7905 3498 7905
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 246DEG 6KT 3504 7923
JJTSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Raleigh NC 328 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 NCZ010-011-026-027-282030- Nash NC-Franklin NC-Warren NC-Halifax NC- 328 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN NASH...SOUTHEASTERN WARREN...WEST CENTRAL HALIFAX AND NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... At 327 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14 miles east of Louisburg, moving northeast at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Enfield, Castalia, Centerville, Glenview, Arcola, Medoc Mountain State Park, Aventon and Airlie. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Dont wait until you see the first lightning flash before heading to safety. Move indoors at the first sign of threatening skies or the first sound of thunder. Deadly lightning strikes can occur well ahead of an approaching storm, prior to the arrival of rain and wind. Make sure that lightning is well away from your location before resuming outdoor activity. && LAT...LON 3599 7814 3616 7829 3639 7787 3618 7766 TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 241DEG 18KT 3617 7805 JJT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
416 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
NCZ078-282115-
Wayne NC-
416 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY UNTIL 515
PM EDT...
At 416 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Goldsboro, moving east at 5 mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Goldsboro, Mar-Mac, Elroy and Brogden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dont wait until you see the first lightning flash before heading to
safety. Move indoors at the first sign of threatening skies or the
first sound of thunder. Deadly lightning strikes can occur well ahead
of an approaching storm, prior to the arrival of rain and wind. Make
sure that lightning is well away from your location before resuming
outdoor activity.
&&
LAT...LON 3527 7814 3535 7817 3535 7815 3536 7816
3537 7816 3538 7814 3540 7816 3542 7815
3549 7797 3529 7790
TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 254DEG 5KT 3535 7808
JJTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
429 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
NCZ078-088-089-282130-
Sampson NC-Wayne NC-Cumberland NC-
429 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN WAYNE...NORTHERN
SAMPSON AND NORTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
At 428 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mount Olive, moving east at 10 mph. Other strong storms extended
westward across northern Sampson county.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible with
these storms, along with deadly cloud to ground lightning.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Olive, Godwin, Newton Grove, Wade, Salemburg, Falcon, Hobbton
and Spivey's Corner.
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
light outdoor objects.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring and may lead to localized
flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3522 7887 3526 7848 3526 7841 3528 7832
3531 7808 3519 7801 3519 7804 3518 7807
3519 7816 3509 7817 3508 7816 3504 7816
3501 7863
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 273DEG 9KT 3519 7818
GIHThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:39 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees and power lines were reported down in Rocky Mount. In addition, a building shell that was under construction partially collapsed.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Baptist Chapel and Maynard Road.
Multiple trees were reported down along Stedman Cedar Creek Road, one of which caused damage to a roof.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Old Wrench School Road and Bynum Road.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Phillips Road an Autry Mill Road.
One tree was reported down on Bud Johnson Road.
One tree was reported down near the intersection JB Wilson Road, Roanoke Road, and Straw Pond School Road.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Maxwell Road and Dunn Road.
One tree was reported down at the intersection of United States Highway 421 and Moore Herring Lane.
One tree was reported down on Odum Road.
One tree was reported down on a car in a parking lot near Atlantic Avenue and Harrod Street.
Multiple trees were reported down on power lines near Rocky Ford Road and North Carolina Highway 39.
One tree was reported down at the intersection of Governor Moor Road and Auctioneer Road.
Multiple trees were reported down on power lines along Southeast Boulevard.
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, July 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: 905543, 905460, 905552, 905462, 905468, 905473, 905483, 905489, 905496, 905498, 905025, 905026, 905501, 905503.