Thunderstorm Wind, Duplin
- When
- May 22, 6:30 PM EST
- Where
- Duplin County, Warsaw
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 35.000, -78.080
There were numerous trees blown down in the Warsaw area.
Damaging Wind in North Carolina, May 22, 2020
A line of thunderstorms moved into the southern Coastal Plains during the early evening hours. There was a report of some damaging winds associated with this line of thunderstorms.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 MHX wrote it up.
A line of thunderstorms moved into the southern Coastal Plains during the early evening hours. There was a report of some damaging winds associated with this line of thunderstorms.
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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 22, 3:41 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 22, 3:41 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
441 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
A broad low pressure system will affect the region through tomorrow,
before sliding offshore tomorrow night as a cold front crosses the area.
Mainly dry weather returns early next week as high pressure
builds in.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
As of 430 PM Fri...A few showers or thunderstorms remain
possible immediately along the sea breeze this afternoon, with
dry air aloft keeping coverage to a minimum elsewhere.
A cluster of thunderstorms across western NC and the SC Upstate
will ride along a stalled boundary across central NC through
the rest of the afternoon and evening, approaching eastern NC
around sunset. While instability will be waning around this time
with the loss of day time heating, the combination of the weak
mid-level wave and mesoscale processes could work to maintain
the strength of the convective cluster past sunset. Mixed layer-
based thermodynamic instability will be around 1500 J/kg or
less by the time the storm activity arrives, but 30-40 kt of 0-6
km shear will bring the potential for gusty/damaging winds, and
large hail cannot be ruled out with the strongest storms.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 204 has been issued for Duplin,
Greene, Jones, Lenoir, and Onslow Counties to account for the
potential for the convective line to reach our area, with
potential for the Watch to be expanded further this evening. Low
level helicity values are marginal for tornado formation, but a
a brief tornado is possible, mainly west of US Hwy 17.
Storm activity will wane through the early morning hours, with
lows in the upper 60s for most as the warm and humid airmass
remains in place.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
As of 345 PM Fri...A quasi-stationary boundary will linger near
or east of the I-95 corridor tomorrow as surface low pressure
moves over the Mid-Atlantic. Scattered showers and thunderstorms
remain possible on warm/east side of the front, with greatest
POPs along the coast where the best low level moisture will
intersect the greatest instability during the day. More breaks
in the cloud cover will lead to a rather warm day on Saturday
with highs into the mid 80s inland, with mid to upper 70s Outer
Banks.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 3 AM Friday...Pesky closed upper low will finally move
north of our CWA and off the Delmarva coast Saturday night.
High pressure at the surface will then ridge south from the New
England region while a mid-level high builds along the Southeast
coast, leading to finally some drier weather and seasonable
temperatures.
Saturday night through Tuesday...The surface low will slide off
the Mid-Atlantic coast tomorrow night. Behind the departed low,
a surface ridge will build down the east coast from New England
into Georgia Sunday into early next week as a strong mid-level
ridge builds along the Southeast Coast. This will lead to
finally a dry period for our region with fairly seasonal
temperature, with highs upper 70s to lower 80s, and lows mainly
in the upper 50s to lower 60s.
Wednesday through Friday...Strong mid-level ridge will remain
in place for mid to late week, but surface ridge will move
further offshore and settle around Bermuda, leading to a more
moist S/SW wind flow across our CWA. This will set the stage for
at least a small chance of sea-breeze enhanced convection
during the afternoon and evening hours each day. PoPs/coverage
will be low. Temperatures remain seasonable for late May with
highs low/mid 80s inland and mid/upper 70s Outer Banks, with
lows mostly in the 60s.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Short Term /through Saturday/...
As of 130 PM Fri...VFR conditions generally expected to prevail
through the period with mainly light light winds. The primary
concern/challenge is scattered thunderstorms which will move
into the area this evening, possibly lingering overnight.
Confidence is low in coverage of these storms, so have only
prevailed VCTS for the time being.
Long Term /Saturday Night through Wednesday/...
As of 320 AM Fri...VFR conditions are expected to prevail
through the extended period.
&&
.MARINE...
Short Term /Today and Tonight/...
As of 4 PM Fri...Moderate SW winds prevail tonight, becoming
light to moderate tomorrow as a quasi-stationary boundary
persists inland. Long period easterly swell has 4-7 ft seas in
place this afternoon, with seas gradually diminishing through
the night. 6 ft seas, and the affiliated SCAs, will cease late
tonight into very early tomorrow morning. Seas then continue to
diminish to 3 to 4 ft by tomorrow afternoon.
Long Term /Saturday Night through Tuesday/...
As of 320 AM Friday...Wind veer N/NE Saturday night. A brief
surge Sunday/Sunday night may push winds to 15-20 knots. N/NE
winds generally 10-15 knots are expected Monday into Tuesday.
Seas of 3-5 feet Saturday and Saturday night, should drop to 2-4
feet for Sunday into early next week as a ridge of high
pressure settles over our area.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
As of 4 PM Fri...Swell from long easterly fetch will gradually
diminish through the weekend, bringing an elevated risk for
stronger and more frequent rip currents to area beaches.
&&
.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ196-
203>205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EDT Saturday for AMZ152-154.
Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Saturday for AMZ150-156-
158.
&&
SYNOPSIS...MHX
NEAR TERM...TL/CB
SHORT TERM...TL/CB
LONG TERM...CTC
AVIATION...CTC/CB
MARINE...CTC/TL/CB
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...MHXHazardous weather outlook, May 22, 3:21 PM EST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 NCZ195-232030- West Carteret- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 ...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern 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. Moderate Rip Current Risk. Scattered thunderstorms will move into the area this evening. A few of these storms could become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and frequent lightning the primary threats. An isolated tornado is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ199-232030- Coastal Onslow- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 204 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern 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. Moderate Rip Current Risk. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Scattered thunderstorms will move into the area this evening. A few of these storms could become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and frequent lightning the primary threats. An isolated tornado is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ029-045>047-081-232030- Martin-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Mainland Hyde- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ196-203>205-232030- East Carteret-Northern Outer Banks-Ocracoke Island-Hatteras Island- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern 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. Beach Hazards Statement. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ044-080-094-193-194-232030- Pitt-Beaufort-Pamlico-Northern Craven-Southern Craven- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms will move into the area this evening. A few of these storms could become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and frequent lightning the primary threats. An isolated tornado is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ079-090>092-198-232030- Greene-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Inland Onslow- 421 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 204 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Scattered thunderstorms will move into the area this evening. A few of these storms could become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and frequent lightning the primary threats. An isolated tornado is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:30 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 22, 2020
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 22 to 24, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, May 22, 2020
- Rip Current in New York, May 22, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 22, 2020
- Flood in Nebraska, May 22 to 24, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 22 to 23, 2020
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 22, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 22 to 23, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Carolina, May 22, 2020
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arkansas, May 22 to 23, 2020
- Damaging Winds in Arkansas, May 22, 2020
More
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 882658.