Review of Friday's storm reports and preview of our 2009 hurricane season

The Atlantic Basin hurricane season begins tomorrow, June 1st. The updated forecast calls for a near normal season with a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5). They also stated that 'global weather patterns are imposing a greater uncertainty in the 2009 hurricane season outlook than in recent years.'

Here is the link to the forecast report from May 21st:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090521_atlantichurricane.html

Our Forecast for Monday looks to be a quiet one, as high pressure to our north keeps us under mostly sunny skies. There is a slight chance for an isolated shower or storm thanks to easterly winds bringing a sea breeze inland. Our humidity and storm chances are forecast to increase into Tuesday and throughout the rest of the week.

Last week ended on a stormy note, as showers and storms (some developing to strong to severe limits) brought heavy rains, a good deal of lightning and, in some cases, hail. Here's what was reported to the National Weather Service:
----------------------------------------
Storm reports from Friday's (May 29th) afternoon / evening storms:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1108 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0422 PM HAIL 2 S CLINTON 34.97N 78.33W
05/29/2009 E1.00 INCH SAMPSON NC BROADCAST MEDIA

0425 PM HAIL MOUNT OLIVE 35.20N 78.07W
05/29/2009 E0.75 INCH WAYNE NC TRAINED SPOTTER

0450 PM HAIL 5 NNW CONCORD 36.54N 79.09W
05/29/2009 E1.00 INCH PERSON NC TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON CUNNINGHAM ROAD IN
NORTHERN PERSON COUNTY.

0545 PM HAIL ALTAMAHAW 36.18N 79.51W
05/29/2009 E0.75 INCH ALAMANCE NC TRAINED SPOTTER

0555 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WSW BETHEL HILL 36.49N 78.90W
05/29/2009 PERSON NC TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER REPORTED A COUPLE OF TREES DOWN ON BOWMANTOWN
ROAD. TREES WERE A COUPLE INCHES IN DIAMETER. OTHER SMALL
LIMBS DOWN.

0626 PM HAIL ESE ROSEBORO 34.95N 78.51W
05/29/2009 E0.75 INCH SAMPSON NC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

ROSEBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED PENNY SIZED HAIL ON
EAST PLEASANT STREET IN ROSEBORO.

0655 PM HAIL 3 SSW WILSON 35.69N 77.95W
05/29/2009 E1.00 INCH WILSON NC EMERGENCY MNGR

WILSON COUNTY 911 REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL AT HWY 301
AND WIGGINS MILL RD.

0656 PM HAIL 2 SSW WILSON 35.70N 77.93W
05/29/2009 E1.00 INCH WILSON NC AMATEUR RADIO

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE
HAIL AT WILSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.

0657 PM HAIL NE KENLY 35.59N 78.12W
05/29/2009 E0.75 INCH JOHNSTON NC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

KENLY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED PENNY SIZED HAIL IN KENLY.


0701 PM HAIL 3 SSE WILSON 35.70N 77.90W
05/29/2009 E1.75 INCH WILSON NC NWS EMPLOYEE

AN OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL
JUST EAST OF WILSON AS HE WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA.

0705 PM HAIL 5 S WILSON 35.66N 77.93W
05/29/2009 E0.88 INCH WILSON NC PUBLIC

MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TOOK PICTURES OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL
ON YANK ROAD IN WILSON.

0706 PM HAIL WNW PINETOPS 35.79N 77.64W
05/29/2009 E0.88 INCH EDGECOMBE NC PUBLIC

0745 PM HAIL WSW TARBORO 35.91N 77.56W
05/29/2009 E1.50 INCH EDGECOMBE NC PUBLIC

QUARTER TO PING-PONG SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE
TARBORO CITY LIMITS.

0832 PM HAIL 5 WSW ROSEBORO 34.92N 78.60W
05/29/2009 E0.88 INCH CUMBERLAND NC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT THE BEAVER DAM FIRE
DEPARTMENT OFF OF NC HWY 210