A shortwave trough approached from the west ahead of a cold front. Forcing from this trough and adequate bulk wind shear combined with strong surface heating and instability to result in a line of severe storms that initially developed over the North Carolina mountains.
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.
A shortwave trough approached from the west ahead of a cold front. Forcing from this trough and adequate bulk wind shear combined with strong surface heating and instability to result in a line of severe storms that initially developed over the North Carolina mountains. The line then pushed east across central North Carolina in the late afternoon and early evening, resulting in widespread straight-line 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 Aug 7, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 350 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front and upper level trough will approach from the west bringing increased chances for strong to severe thunderstorms through this evening. The cold front will move through the area tonight and early Tuesday, followed by weak high pressure from late Tuesday through Wednesday. Another system should affect the region Thursday from the west. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... As of 350 PM Monday... The slow demise of morning cloud cover has kept temperatures down this afternoon across the northern Piedmont counties with heat indices currently running in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Meanwhile the leading edge of the convective cloud debris from approaching storms is starting to spread into the area, which will further hold temps down. Thus, the Heat Advisory has been cancelled. Elsewhere across the advisory area(southern and eastern NC), heat indices of 100 to 105 is expected through remainder of the afternoon. Previous Discussion: - Tornado Watch in effect through 9 PM this evening for the Triad region. Additional convective watches may be needed farther east later today. The stage still appears to be set for a notable severe weather episode across central NC later this afternoon as the squall line currently moving across eastern TN spreads eastward and eventually moves across our area between 21Z and 02Z this evening. All of this activity associated with a short wave trough moving across the Ohio Valley and a mid-level and upper-level jet streak lifting E and NE around the base and eastern side of the trough. The main challenge so far today has been the pesky low clouds over the Piedmont that have been slow to erode. These clouds have held sfc temps back so far, but now that they are finally eroding, we're seeing temps climbing through the 80s across the Piedmont. Areas east of I-95 have had no problem climbing into the 90s with HI values currently approaching 100 in many spots, yet still a couple degrees shy of heat index criteria. The challenge for the rest of this afternoon will be determining to what extent the aforementioned low clouds may inhibit CAPE as the storms cross the mountains and head toward our CWA. Despite the slightly cooler temps than original expected, the overall forcing for ascent associated with the potent short wave trough, coupled with the increasing bulk shear which is expected to increase to 35- 40kt over our area by the time the storm arrive, should be enough to overcome any local minimums in instability to result in scattered to numerous damaging thunderstorms with the primary hazard being damaging wind gusts, but isold tornadoes and hail can't be ruled out either. A tornado watch is in effect through 9 PM this evening for the Triad region. Additional convective watches may be needed farther east later today. Storms are expected to exit our CWA to our east before midnight with some patches of stratus and/or fog developing before sunrise, but this will likely depend on where the heaviest rain falls later today. Lows tonight from the upper 60s NW to mid 70s SE. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM MONDAY... In the wake of Mondays shortwave, the surface cold front will move across the region dry, filtering in slightly cooler temps with highs in the mid to upper 80s NW to low/mid 90s SE. Westerly winds during the day will be 5 to 10 kts before veering to a light north/northwesterly Tuesday night. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 342 PM Monday... Wednesday will have dry conditions as high pressure influences the Mid-Atlantic. Highs will generally be copy and paste for the latter half of the week with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s NW to low/mid 90s SE. Another shortwave is expected to move into the region Thursday and Friday bringing the next chance of showers and storms. For now, slight chance PoPs beginning Thursday morning then higher PoPs in the afternoon and through the evening. As the trough moves slightly east early Friday expect dry conditions during the day with an isolated afternoon shower/ storm possible in the southern portions of the CWA ( Triangle and south). Over the weekend, a weak Piedmont trough is expected to linger across the region influencing late afternoon showers and storms each day into early next week. With temps in the low to mid 90s combined with dew points in the upper 70s, some areas in the south and east portions of the CWA will experience heat indices above of 100 to 107 degrees. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 114 PM Monday... Through 18Z Tuesday: The stratocu across central NC has been slow to lift so far today and we're still seeing MVFR cigs from RDU westward to the Triad and south to KVUJ. VFR conditions are found along and east of I-95. Satellite trends suggest slow thinning of said clouds with a brief period of VFR before clouds increase again associated with anticipated convection and line of shower/tstms that are expected to move from west to east across central NC between 21Z this afternoon and 02Z this evening. Flt conditions will drop to IFR with local variable wind gusts up to 50kt possible in and near tstm activity. Flt conditions will improve overnight tonight after 02Z after the storms move east of central NC. A few patches of sub- VFR fog and/or stratus can't be ruled out between 09-12Z Tuesday, but that will depend on where the heaviest rain falls, so for now have left this out of the TAFs. After 18Z Tuesday: VFR conditions expected through much of the extended period with mainly dry conditions expected Tuesday and Wednesday. The risk for isold afternoon/evening tstms will return on Thursday. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for NCZ010-011-027-028-042- 043-073>078-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...np NEAR TERM...CBL/np SHORT TERM...CA LONG TERM...CA AVIATION...np
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 437 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 NCZ010-011-027-028-042-043-073>078-083>086-088-089-082045- Warren-Halifax-Nash-Edgecombe-Johnston-Wilson-Stanly-Montgomery- Moore-Lee-Harnett-Wayne-Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland- Sampson- 437 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 607 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... 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. Heat Advisory. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. There is an Enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) of severe storms this afternoon and early evening. The greatest risk will be from 6 PM until 10 PM. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. NCZ007-021>023-038-039-082045- Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Davidson-Randolph- 437 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...TORNADO WATCH 603 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. Tornado Watch. There is an Enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) of severe storms this afternoon and early evening. The greatest risk will be from 5 PM until 8 PM. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat, along with isolated tornadoes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. NCZ008-009-024>026-040-041-082045- Granville-Vance-Orange-Durham-Franklin-Chatham-Wake- 437 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 607 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. There is an Enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) of severe storms this afternoon and early evening. The greatest risk will be from 6 PM until 9 PM. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
512 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
NCZ021-038-072145-
Forsyth NC-Davidson NC-
512 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Forsyth and
northeastern Davidson Counties through 545 PM EDT...
At 511 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Huntsville, or 7 miles south of East Bend, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Bermuda Run, Huntsville,
Lewisville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Pfafftown and Belews Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3611 8050 3612 8046 3614 8044 3621 8045
3622 8043 3624 8045 3626 8045 3626 8004
3598 8005 3594 8037 3596 8038 3599 8042
3601 8042 3603 8045 3606 8046 3606 8047
3604 8049 3608 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 258DEG 39KT 3610 8052
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JJTThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 151 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:41 UTC.
33 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were down across the county, especially near High Rock Lake.
Multiple trees were down around Lexington.
A tree fell on a house on the 2400 block of Patria Street.
Trees were down all over Stanly County, including one that fell on an apartment building in Albemarle.
Many trees were down across Montgomery County.
Trees were down on Old Lexington Road.
Trees were down on Fox Street.
Trees and power lines were down across Anson County.
Trees and power lines were down across Guilford County.
A few hundred power outages were reported due to trees down on power equipment.
Trees and power lines were down at Silk Hope Road and George Hudson Road.
Fallen trees or limbs damaged power equipment, resulting in hundreds of power outages.
Trees and power lines were down at Launis Street and Circle Drive.
A tree was reported down on a car and truck at the intersection of Knight Road and Rosser Pittman Road.
Multiple trees were reported down near United States Highway 1 in Sanford.
Over a thousand power outages were reported due to fallen trees on power equipment.
A few hundred power outages were reported due to fallen trees on power equipment.
A tree was blocking a portion of Bass Lake Road near Goosehaven Lane.
Several thousand power outages were reported due to trees down on power equipment.
A 20 foot pine tree and power lines were down at Simpkins Road and Race Track Road.
A 50 knot wind gust was measured at Fayetteville Regional Airport.
A power pole and power line were down at 4400 Wake Forest Road.
A volunteer firefighter reported a downed power line in the street at 101 West Main Street.
A volunteer firefighter reported a tree down across the road at Hannah Creek Road and Morgan Road.
A tree was down on a house.
Fallen trees or limbs damaged power equipment.
There were a plethora of trees down across Franklin County.
A tree was down on a house.
A large tree was down, blocking both lanes on United States Highway 701 South.
Trees were down on Tomahawk Highway.
Multiple trees were reported down in Enfield.
A power outage was caused by downed trees damaging power equipment.
Multiple trees were reported down in Scotland Neck.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2023
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: 1138417, 1138418, 1138419, 1138420, 1138421, 1138422, 1138423, 1138424, 1138425, 1138427, 1138426, 1138428, 1138429, 1138430, 1138431, 1138432, 1138433, 1138435, 1138434, 1138436, 1138457, 1138437, 1138450, 1138451, 1138452, 1138453, 1138455, 1138454, 1138456, 1138468, 1138464, 1138467, 1138466.