A potent area of low pressure moved through the Gulf Coast states into the Southeast United States. Widespread gusty winds developed across North Carolina ahead of this low, and a line of showers and thunderstorms swept through North Carolina during 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.
A potent area of low pressure moved through the Gulf Coast states into the Southeast United States. Widespread gusty winds developed across North Carolina ahead of this low, and a line of showers and thunderstorms swept through North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours. Widespread tree damage was associated with this event, both within the gradient winds ahead of the thunderstorms, and the convective line itself.
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 Jan 9, 1:30 PM EST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 130 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A powerful storm system will sweep across the region through tonight. High pressure will build over the Southeast states Wednesday through Thursday, then lift to our north early Friday as another storm system approaches Friday and Friday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1115 AM Tuesday... ...Threat continues from a powerful storm system that will bring multiple hazards to central NC today and tonight including a risk of severe weather including tornadoes, heavy rainfall capable of flash flooding, and strong winds... The overall forecast reasoning and sensible weather outcomes remain largely unchanged with just minor updates to the timing of the convection and some other details such as temperatures and dew points. The latest surface analysis and observations show that the wedge front has retreated into the Triad with a wind gust to around 45mph at KGSO as the front moved through and the dewpoint jumped from 40 to 49. Much of the rest of central NC in sandwiched in between the wedge front and a maritime tropical boundary where dewpoints are in the upper 50s and lower 60s. That boundary that marks the edge of an unstable airmass now stretches from the Crystal Coast across the southern Coastal Plain and into northeast NC. This boundary will lift northwest over the next few hours and as it shifts northwest, more general wind gusts in excess of 35 mph can be expected. The more unstable air mass has developed and moved inland a little faster than expected across the southern and eastern Carolinas with the dew point up to 62 at Clinton and 63 at Marion SC. With a bigger lull in the precipitation than expected, the air mass to the southeast of Raleigh is a bit more primed for stronger convection than perhaps previously thought and it is a bit worrisome. The recent HRRR brings a forecast Sig Tor parameter of 2-4 across the southern Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain between 4 and 8pm. Will need to monitor this closely. The previous AFD captures much of the forecast reasoning well and is shown below. From 350 am... Little has changed in regards to the overall synoptic pattern that will evolve today and tonight. Surface obs reveal a 993 mb surface low over SW MO at the moment. This surface low is projected to track into the Great Lakes tonight, deepening to 978 mb. At the same time, a 1028 mb high still resides off to our NE, offshore of the northern Mid-Atlantic. Dewpoints over us are still in the low/mid 30s but as a warm front currently over the deep south migrates north within strengthening warm/moist advection, dewpoints should reach the upper 40s in our southern zones near daybreak. A secondary area of low pressure, currently over northern MS, is forecast to track in far NW SC to far west NC this afternoon before strengthening near the NC/VA border this evening. It is this secondary low that will ultimately allow for rich boundary-layer moisture and theta-e to advect into central NC this afternoon/evening as it brings the warm front through the area and combines with an extremely strong wind shear profile for severe winds and possible embedded tornadoes. On the timing front, morning light/moderate rain will become increasingly moderate/heavy by late morning/afternoon, mainly US-1 westward. Heavier rain will then spread east this afternoon/evening over the Coastal Plain. On the severe front, based on a suite of guidance from the HREF and the NCAR Neural Network product, timing for severe storm potential appears most favored in the 1/2 PM to 8/9 PM period, starting earliest in the southern/western Piedmont between 1-2 PM, the Sandhills/Triangle region between roughly 3-6 PM, and over the Coastal Plain between 5-8 PM. We will be watching an initial band of showers track through late this morning to afternoon. This initial band could bring some isolated tornadoes over the eastern parts of central NC, but stability should limit the overall threat with this first wave. However, the better chance will be in the afternoon/evening when low to even some mid 60s dewpoints advect northward along/east of US-1 and allow for surface destabilization. The threat will exist for a strong line of storms capable of straight-line damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. The same uncertainty we have been discussing the past few days still holds, as to whether we can sufficiently destabilize to realize the shear, but HREF does suggest 500 or more J/kg of CAPE from the Sandhills to the Triangle and Coastal Plain, where it would appear the greatest risk may form with overlapping shear/buoyancy. Highs should manage to top out in the low to upper 60s. Outside of storms, strong gradient flow with the vigorous system will continue to support wind advisory criteria gusts out of the south/southeast between 35 and 45 mph. Even if rain-cooled air and clouds limit mixing potential for these higher gusts to materialize, stronger storms should otherwise mix down the higher winds aloft. Most of the storm activity should race east of central NC by 8-10 PM as the surface cold front moves east, though some lingering spotty showers may push through in the late-evening/overnight owing to the strong mid-level trough still rotating through with very steep lapse rates developing in the low-levels amid strong CAA. While the current wind advisory goes until 10 PM, it may need to be extended as the pattern and forecast soundings support a secondary surge of 35-40 mph gusts late tonight into the early overnight hours with the steep lapse rates and 40-50 kt flow in the 925/850 mb layer. Lows should dip into the upper 30s to low 40s by sunrise Wed. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 120 PM Tuesday... Although today's cold front will be well to the east, a strong pressure gradient will result in wind gusts remaining quite strong during the morning hours, between 25 and 35 mph, with wind then dropping below 30 mph in the afternoon. Cloud cover should briefly increase during the late afternoon and evening as a trough moves through, then skies should clear out overnight and into Thursday. Highs will be in the upper 40s and lower 50s on Wednesday, with highs about 5 degrees warmer on Thursday. Lows Wednesday night will be from the mid 20s to the mid 30s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 130 PM Tuesday... Early Friday morning a deep trough moving across the Central Plains will shift east over the TN and OH valley by late Friday. At the surface a low pressure system centered over Arkansas will lift quickly to the NE with a warm front first lifting across the area from the south, then a cold front moving across the region from west to east early Saturday morning. There will be an ample amount of moisture and lift across the area with PW values of around 1 inch by the late morning. With average PWs for this time of year around 0.40 inch, expect another possibility of heavy rain and excessive rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. For the timing of the rainfall expect the NW Piedmont to see rain fall early Friday before widespread rain fall will occur across the entire CWA and last well into the evening. Latest model data is showing a few hours of instability in the late afternoon and early evening hours for areas along and east of US1. All of central NC is highlighted in SPC's day 4, with the threat of damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes. This event is expected to be similar to today event but not as extravagant, as in we will have non-convective wind gusts of 20 to 25mph Friday and Saturday with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. Temperatures will fluctuate with Fridays highs in the low to upper 60s and lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. As the cold front clears the area early Saturday, highs will be in the upper 40s to low 50s then expecting to drop into the mid/upper 20s NW to low 30s SE. Winds over night will continue resulting in apparent temperatures (feels like) in the teens and low 20s. Sunday will also have breezy conditions with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph and gust of 20 to 25 as high pressure moves rapidly across the Southeast. Temperatures Sunday will be in the 40s during the day and similar to Saturday night low in the mid/upper 20s NW to low 30s SE. Monday another deepening upper level trough east of the Rockies begins to swing across the lower 48 and into the region Monday afternoon and Tuesday. NW flow and down slope winds will typically not produce significant snowfall, so for now this will be just another rain maker. However when the rain moves out Tuesday morning, cold air is expected to rush in behind and if the rain is slower than the cold air a few flurries could be possible in the far northern counties along the NC/VA border. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 1230 PM Tuesday... TAF period: A line of thunderstorms extending across the western Carolinas will move across central and eastern North Carolina in the next several hours. There are already gusty winds up to 40 kt outside of thunderstorms, but think that the greatest wind threat will come from the line of thunderstorms. In addition, low level wind shear is present at all terminals. IFR conditions are also expected at all terminals, with improvement to VFR expected to occur during the evening hours. Have broadly gone with 30-35 kt wind gusts continuing through the night, although models are showing that these gusts may not be consistent - if a low level inversion develops, there could intermittently be low level wind shear instead of surface gusts. Skies should clear by sunrise, although gusts will continue in the 25-30 kt range. Outlook: Dry VFR conditions are expected through the rest of Wednesday into Thursday night. Another storm is likely to bring restrictions and rain Friday and Friday night. Dry VFR conditions are expected again Saturday and Sunday. && .CLIMATE... Record Precipitation: January 9: KGSO: 1.22/1933 KRDU: 2.18/1895 KFAY: 1.47/1912 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch from 9 AM EST this morning through this evening for NCZ007>010-021>026-038>041-073>076-083-084. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening for NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...JJT NEAR TERM...Blaes/Kren SHORT TERM...Green LONG TERM...CA AVIATION...Green CLIMATE...RAH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 NCZ042-043-077-078-086-088-089-101830- Johnston-Wilson-Harnett-Wayne-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. An Enhanced risk, level three of five, of severe thunderstorms will exist this afternoon and evening. Damaging straight line wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible. In addition, showers and storms will be capable of producing a quick 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain, which may produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Lastly, southwesterly wind gusts of 35-40 mph may result behind the system tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another storm system may bring additional heavy rain and strong gusty winds Friday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NCZ085-101830- Scotland- 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 5 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. An Enhanced risk, level three of five, of severe thunderstorms will exist this afternoon and evening. Damaging straight line wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible. In addition, showers and storms will be capable of producing a quick 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain, which may produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Lastly, southwesterly wind gusts of 35-40 mph may result behind the system tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another storm system may bring additional heavy rain and strong gusty winds Friday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NCZ021-038-039-073-074-083-084-101830- Forsyth-Davidson-Randolph-Stanly-Montgomery-Anson-Richmond- 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 5 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. A Slight risk, level two of five, of severe thunderstorms will exist this afternoon and evening. Damaging straight line wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible. In addition, showers and storms will be capable of producing a quick 1.5 to 3 inches of rain, which may produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Lastly, southwesterly wind gusts of 35-40 mph may result behind the system tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another storm system may bring additional heavy rain and strong gusty winds Friday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ007>010-022>026-040-041-075-076-101830- Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham- Franklin-Chatham-Wake-Moore-Lee- 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. A Slight risk, level two of five, of severe thunderstorms will exist this afternoon and evening. Damaging straight line wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible. In addition, showers and storms will be capable of producing a quick 1.5 to 3 inches of rain, which may produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Lastly, southwesterly wind gusts of 35-40 mph may result behind the system tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another storm system may bring additional heavy rain and strong gusty winds Friday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NCZ011-027-028-101830- Halifax-Nash-Edgecombe- 122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. A Slight risk, level two of five, of severe thunderstorms will exist this afternoon and evening. Damaging straight line wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible. In addition, showers and storms will be capable of producing a quick 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain, which may produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Lastly, southwesterly wind gusts of 35-40 mph may result behind the system tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another storm system may bring additional heavy rain and strong gusty winds Friday night into Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1118 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1052 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 5 ENE East Laurinburg 34.78N 79.37W
01/09/2024 M41 MPH Scotland NC ASOS
ASOS station KMEB Maxton.
1016 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ESE Colfax 36.10N 79.95W
01/09/2024 M46 MPH Guilford NC ASOS
ASOS station KGSO Greensboro.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1158 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1145 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW Lexington 35.78N 80.30W
01/09/2024 M38 MPH Davidson NC AWOS
AWOS station KEXX Davidson Cty Ap.
1127 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Hope Mills 34.98N 78.88W
01/09/2024 M37 MPH Cumberland NC ASOS
ASOS station KFAY Fayetteville.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1207 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1149 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NE Alamance 36.05N 79.47W
01/09/2024 M35 MPH Alamance NC ASOS
ASOS station KBUY Burlington.
&&The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:38 UTC.
42 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of Tobaccoville Rd and Doral Dr.
Trees were reported down, resulting in power outages in the town of Clemmons.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of Shoreland Rd and Burkeshore Rd.
Numerous trees were reported down throughout Davidson County, especially in the town of Lexington.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of 4th St East and N Laura Wall Blvd.
Trees were reported down along Reidsville Rd in Guthrie.
Water was reported over the roadway along Old Salisbury Rd.
Numerous trees were reported down throughout Davidson County, especially in the town of Thomasville.
Trees and powerlines were reported down near the intersection of Whitley Rd and Mt Zion Church Rd.
Several trees were reported down in the town of Albemarle.
Multiple trees were reported down near Trinity.
Trees were reported down in the towns of Level Cross and Randleman.
A water rescue occurred due to flash flooding near the intersection of West Newsom Ave and Anderson St in Denton.
There were numerous reports of roads closed due to flash flooding throughout Davidson County, specifically in the towns of Lexington and Thomasville, as well as Denton.
Trees fell on power lines in the town of Ossipee.
Flooding was reported along Latham Rd in Greensboro.
Several trees were reported down in the town of Roxboro.
A tree fell on a house on Martin St in High Point.
Flash flooding was reported along the northwestern quadrant of Alamance County near the town of Altamahaw.
At least fourteen reports were made of flooding throughout Guilford County, including Greensboro. The reports included both street flooding and structural flooding.
Flooding was reported near the intersection of South Churton St and Orange Grove Rd in Hillsborough.
Trees were reported down across Montgomery County, especially in the town of Troy.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Piedmont Ave and Burke Clubhouse Rd.
A tree fell across the roadway near the intersection of US Highway 13 South and Loop Rd.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Barber Rd and Elon Ossipee Rd.
Multiple reports of trees down around Goldsboro, Pikeville, and Seven Springs in Wayne County.
Multiple reports of trees down in Siler City, Bonlee, and Bennett.
A vehicle was stuck in water near the Latham Park area.
There was a report of a home flooded on Anns Court near the town of Asheboro.
Several trees were reported down in the Rockingham area.
A tree was reported down near the 5300 block of North Carolina Highway 58 South.
A tree fell on powerlines and a power pole was snapped in half near the intersection of Nobles Mill Pond Rd and Jackson Walk.
A tree fell on power lines near Jones Ferry Rd.
There were several reports of trees down in the towns of Hillsborough and Cedar Grove.
Power outages were reported due to fallen trees near the intersection of Alston Bridge Rd and US Highway 421 in Siler City.
Several trees were reported down in Southern Pines.
Power outages were reported due to trees falling on power lines near the town of Laurinburg.
Multiple trees were reported down in Sanford.
Broadcast media reports indicated flooding along Umstead Drive between Village Drive and Greene Street.
Power outages were reported from trees falling on power lines within the town of Jonesboro.
Trees were reported down in the towns of Oxford and Stovall.
Several trees were reported down along Nottaway Road southwest of Durham.
Power outages were reported from trees falling on powerlines near the intersection of Weldon Terrace and Owen St in Durham.
The Raleigh Durham Airport ASOS reported a wind gust of 69 miles per hour with a thunderstorm.
The Fayetteville Regional Airport ASOS reported a wind gust of 62 mph with a thunderstorm.
A tree was blown down and fell into a home near the intersection of Sampson St and Pitt St.
Numerous trees and power lines were reported down in the town of Louisburg.
Several trees were reported down in northern Johnston County, especially along Old Johnson Rd and Loop Rd south of Wendell.
Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down in the town of Louisburg.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Neuse River Parkway and NC Highway 42 East.
Several feet of water was flowing across Avent Ferry Rd near Trailwood Drive. The road was blocked due to high water.
There were multiple reports of downed trees and power outages across Halifax County, most notably in the town of Roanoke Rapids.
Power outages were reported in the town of Enfield.
Holly Springs Rd was closed near the Kraft Family YMCA due to high water across the roadway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2024
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: 1152046, 1152047, 1152048, 1152049, 1152051, 1152052, 1152068, 1152053, 1152040, 1152041, 1152042, 1152044, 1152061, 1152062, 1152045, 1152057, 1152014, 1152018, 1152069, 1152058, 1152065, 1152031, 1152033, 1151983, 1152034, 1152035, 1152036, 1152060, 1152070, 1151892, 1152037, 1151978, 1151985, 1151887, 1151883, 1151891, 1151987, 1151984, 1152067, 1151986, and more.