North Carolina, 2024

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 15, 2024

May 15, 2024 · NWS ILM · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Storms fired up near/along a stalled front near the NC/SC border ahead of an upper level trough.

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
$4,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 ILM wrote it up.

Storms fired up near/along a stalled front near the NC/SC border ahead of an upper level trough.

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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 15, 2:53 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 2:53 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
353 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Strong to severe thunderstorms may develop this afternoon into
this evening ahead of a cold front that will drop in from the
north. High pressure should bring dry weather Thursday with
pleasant temperatures. Rain chances will increase again this
weekend as a new storm system advances eastward. Drier and
warmer weather should develop next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
An upper low will move through the area this afternoon and
evening, bringing scattered thunderstorms to the area as it
interacts with warm, moist air and a frontal boundary. Some of
these storms could produce large hail and wind gusts of 60 mph
or greater. The area is in a severe thunderstorm watch until 8
PM. Convection should come to an end this evening with dry
weather expected Thursday. Lows tonight will fall to the lower
60s with highs Thursday in the lower 80s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
An H5 ridge axis will move across the area Thursday night and
off the coast Friday morning. This change will allow the old
low off the Mid-Atlantic coast to shift farther offshore and
allow a dampening shortwave to move across the forecast area
during Friday afternoon/evening with some increases in rainfall
chances. Would trend with higher POPs by that time however
moisture is still somewhat limited Friday for this part of the
Carolinas, with better advection earlier on in the long term
period. Blend of MAV/MET looks reasonable for the highs/lows
during this period.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The mid/upper low will be across the MS Valley during Saturday
and will direct impulses from the Deep South into the Carolinas
along with an increase in PWATs (around 2 inches) during the
day. GFS ensemble precipitation also suggest categorical to
likely POPs will be needed. Sunday looks wet as well with the
upper trough across the Carolinas. Big questions remain for the
Monday-Tuesday with potential/positioning for a closed low
development farther east than currently shown. If the cut-off
occurs farther east then POPs will trend downward due to more
influence of nearby mid/upper ridge across the Carolinas. At
this time, favor the drier scenario Monday through Wednesday,
but will need to closely watch how this evolves. Otherwise,
highs will be at or above normal through Sunday, then below
normal Monday and Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Scattered storms are expected this afternoon and early evening.
All terminals showing at least tempo tsra to account for this.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect, so gusts over 50 KT
and hail in excess of 1 inch is possible at area terminals.
Confidence in occurrence at individual sites is too low for
inclusion in terminals attm. If storms with this potential
threaten individual sites, amendments will be issued. After
showers and storms end, a period of IFR is possible around
daybreak at all terminals but strong May sun should quickly
raise conditions to VFR.

Extended Outlook...Periodic flight restrictions are possible
early Wed evening from thunderstorm activity. VFR conditions to
dominate Thu through Fri. The next system with potential flight
restrictions will affect the area this weekend.&&

.MARINE...
Through Thursday...Southwest winds to 10 to 15 KT are expected
tonight and will become N to NW by daybreak before becoming
light and variable by afternoon. Seas of 3 to 5 FT tonight will
subside to 2 to 4 FT Thursday.

Thursday night through Monday...A large area of low pressure
off the Mid-Atlantic coast will drift farther offshore Thursday
night into Friday. Approaching low pressure from the west will
allow winds to become southerly during Saturday with veering
Sunday as the low moves off the coast. Northerly winds are
expected Monday with the low possibly off the NC/SC coast. If
the low stays just offshore then the northerly winds will be
higher.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Other - Rip Currents: Yesterday's strong onshore winds have abated,
however a 4 foot southerly swell every 8 seconds continues to crash
onshore. South-facing beaches on Brunswick County and extreme
northeasterly Horry County run orthogonal to this swell and will
have the largest potential of rip current activity through this
evening.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...High Risk for Rip Currents until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ110.
SC...High Risk for Rip Currents until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ054.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...SRP
NEAR TERM...31
SHORT TERM...SRP
LONG TERM...SRP
AVIATION...31
MARINE...SRP/31
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...ILM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 12:24 PM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
124 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

AMZ250-252-254-256-160900-
Coastal waters from Surf City to Cape Fear NC out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out
20 nm-
124 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 245 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the adjacent Coastal Waters.

.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.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are activated this afternoon and evening.

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-160900-
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
124 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 245 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and
northeast South 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.

   Moderate Risk of Rip Currents.
   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are activated this afternoon and evening.

NCZ110-SCZ054-160900-
Coastal Brunswick-Coastal Horry-
124 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 245 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and
northeast South 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.

   High Rip Current Risk.
   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are activated this afternoon and evening.

NCZ087-096-099-105-107-109-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-055-058-059-
160900-
Robeson-Bladen-Columbus-Inland Pender-Inland New Hanover-
Inland Brunswick-Marlboro-Darlington-Dillon-Florence-Marion-
Williamsburg-Inland Georgetown-Central Horry-Northern Horry-
124 PM EDT Wed May 15 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 245 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and
northeast South 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.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are activated this afternoon and evening.

29

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 15, 10:40 AM EST, 5 hours 18 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 15, 12:05 PM EST, 3 hours 53 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 15, 1:49 PM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 15, 1:58 PM EST, 2 hours before
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Special weather statement, May 15, 3:31 PM EST, 27 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 15, 3:54 PM EST, 4 minutes before
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The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbus

When
May 15, 3:58 PM EST
Where
Columbus County, Old Dock
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
34.170, -78.600

Large tree down on NC 130.

Hail, Bladen

When
May 15, 6:13 PM EST
Where
Bladen County, 4.86 mi SW of Elizabethtown Arpt
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
34.550, -78.640

Thunderstorm Wind, Bladen

When
May 15, 6:15 PM EST
Where
Bladen County, 2.28 mi W of Clarkton
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.480, -78.690

Tree down on power lines along South Page Road in Clarkton.

Hail, Bladen

When
May 15, 6:23 PM EST
Where
Bladen County, 2.28 mi W of Lisbon
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
34.520, -78.560

Baseball sized hail near the intersection of Lisbon and Rosindale Roads. Car windshields were damaged.

Hail, Bladen

When
May 15, 6:40 PM EST
Where
Bladen County, 2.28 mi W of Lisbon
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.520, -78.560

Golfball sized hail at the intersection of Lisbon and Rosindale Roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, New Hanover

When
May 15, 7:49 PM EST
Where
New Hanover County, Wrightsboro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.280, -77.920

Wilmington International Airport measured a 50 knot gust.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2024

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1173592, 1173589, 1173593, 1173590, 1173591, 1173594.