Storm Photos from Saturday

Here's a look at hail photos from northeastern Durham County Saturday afternoon. The first two photos were from hail that fell near Gorman near I-85 and Redmill Road. The third photo was taken from Horse Pen Creek Road.

Possible severe weather this weekend and Tropical Season kicks off a day early with Arthur

Hello there and a good Saturday to you.
Officially, Hurricane season begins June 1st for the Atlantic basin, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. However, a tropical storm named Arthur couldn't wait another day.
More on that in a moment, but first, we have a possibility of strong to severe storms for NC this afternoon and evening and then again on Sunday.
The slight risk for strong to severe storms that could produce damaging winds and large hail will be statewide for the first half of the weekend, and a bit farther south Sunday.

Saturday's risk map (courtesy Storm Prediction Center)

Sunday's risk map (courtesy Storm Prediction Center)

Saturday's possible storms are expected to develop during the peak heating hours of the afternoon and continue into the evening and diminish overnight. Sunday's risk area (as of 130 pm Saturday) includes the Sandhills and areas downeast of I-95. So Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Farmville and Wilson have that risk. Raleigh is awfully close to the risk area, so you should also be on the lookout as well. Storms are expected to also develop as we get into the afternoon but since they will get some support from an approaching cold front they are expected to remain a threat through the nighttime hours.
Here's more in your Weather on the Ones Video Blog:

Now, as I said, the hurricane season officially kicks off a day early with Tropical Storm Arthur.

(following 2 graphics courtesy National Hurricane Center)

Arthur quickly formed from the remnants of a Pacific storm named Alma that crossed over Central America late last week.

From the National Hurricane Center: as of 1pm EDT: THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE HAS ISSUED ATROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE COAST OF BELIZE....AND THEGOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FROM CABOCATOCHE SOUTHWARD TO THE BORDER WITH BELIZE. A TROPICAL STORMWARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHINTHE WARNING AREA..IN THIS CASE...WITHIN THE NEXT 6 TO 12 HOURS.

Arthur is moving W-NW at about 8 mph, which would bring the center of circulation over the Yucatan today and early Sunday. maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Arthur is expected to weaken today as it moves farther inland over Yucatan.

As we get into this hurricane season, as with any other active weather that affects our area, stay with your Weather on the Ones Forecast Team for updates.

Have a great weekend.

Pati Darak

Hurricane Awareness: Lessons from Fran

It has been a while since the Triangle felt the direct impacts of a major hurricane. It can happen though, just ask anyone that lived in Raleigh in 1996.....

Hurricane Fran struck the North Carolina coast on September 5, 1996 as a category 3 storm. Fran had sustained winds of 115mph and gusts to 125mph when it hit the coast. The hurricane didn't just cause damage for coastal residents. It still had hurricane force winds when it tracked over the Triangle. A wind gust of 78mph was recorded at the Raleigh-Durham Airport. According to information from the National Weather Service, Fran caused $2.3 billion in damage to homes and businesses. Just in Wake County $900 million in damage was reported to homes and businesses.

Fortunately, a storm like Fran does not happen all that often in North Carolina. However, every hurricane season we must be prepared. Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina this Hurricane Preparedness Week for more information on how you and your family can prepare for the upcoming season. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1.

For more information on Hurricane Fran and its impacts in North Carolina, click to http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19960906/

Evening Update

Hurricane Awareness Week this week in NC

A Good Sunday to you


Our weather is on the calm side so I thought I'd make you aware of Hurricane Awareness Week which starts today in NC.













(Photo courtesy of National Weather Service, Corpus Christi, TX.)

The Weather on the Ones forecast team will inform you throughout the week about hurricanes, their impact on our state and how you can stay safe during this season.

The Atlantic Basin Hurricane season begins June 1st and runs through November 30th.



Names for tropical systems are rotated every 6 years, with deadly or psrticularly costly storms retired by the World Meteorological Association. Names for this year are:


Arthur ,Bertha ,Cristobal ,Dolly ,Edouard ,Fay ,
Gustav , Hanna ,Ike ,Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana ,Omar ,Paloma ,Rene ,Sally, Teddy ,
Vicky & Wilfred


If you grew up in North Carolina a number of hurricanes probably come to mind that caused damage or took lives. Three in particular on record that have a place in our state's hurricane history are Fran, Hazel and Floyd.

Hazel crossed our state in 1954. The storm was a category 4 with winds of 144 mph . Hazel caused over $1 billion in damage (2008 USD) and 19 deaths. Hazel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane to hit our state until Floyd in 1999.

Floyd became the costliest and deadliest , causing 35 fatalities and record–breaking flooding in the eastern portion of the state .NC hurricane records ranked Fran (a 1996 season hurricane) the next costliest after Floyd. Fran was most damaging to the barrier islands on the our coastline. At least six people were killed in the Carolinas. Most of them were from auto accidents. In NC 1.3 million people were left without power



The National Weather Service has put together information on their website to keep you up to date on these powerful storms. You can see this on their website at:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/rah/

Have a safe weekend.

Improving Weather for the Rest of the Holiday Weekend

Strong Storms this Afternoon...

The Storm Prediction Center has issed a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the viewing area until 8pm Tuesday evening. Locally heavy rain, strong winds, frequent lightning, and large hail are all possible from a line that'll race across the are this afternoon and evening.


This watch closely mirrors the slight risk for severe storms that we're been monitoring all day long.

Temperatures and dew points are all on the rise across the region. These parameters combined with a sharp front will allow for storms to develop and move through the Triangle through 5pm

Afternoon Update

Evening Update

Beautiful Saturday, Chance of a shower / storm Sunday

Happy saturday! Take a drive with the top down or on the Harley! Here's your Weather on the Ones Forecast Discussion:

okay, I mentioned at the end of the discussion a type of cloud that was not a sundog or a rainbow. Here's what it looked like:

This is courtesy of the National Weather Service in Spokane, Washington.

Its called a circumhorizon arc. This definition is courtesy of the NWS Spokane:

" A circumhorizon arc is one of the rarest halos one can witness. First. it requires a very high sun angle of approximately 58° or higher. A sun angle this high can only occur at northern latitudes during a small portion of the year centered around the summer solstice.
But a high sun angle is only part of the recipe. The other ingredient is even more restrictive. This ingredient is a cluster of perfectly aligned (i.e. nearly perpendicular to the sunlight) ice crystals. This alignment allows the light to enter the nearly vertical side of the ice crystal and exit the relatively horizontal bottom of the crystal. The crystals refract the light approximately 46°, resulting in a very pure spectrum of colors and a vivid light display.
For more information about circumhorizon arcs and other atmospheric optical phenomena please direct your favorite search engine to "Atmospheric Optics."

Have a great day!

Pati Darak

Weather on the Ones Meteorologist,

News 14 Carolina

Afternoon Update

Afternoon Update

Friday Night/Saturday Early Morning Storms

Strong to severe storms tracked across parts of the Triangle late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Numerous reports of hail were received around the area. Here's a look at some hail photos News 14 Carolina viewers submitted to weather@news14.com --

Photo of marble to pea sized hail in Chapel Hill submitted by News 14 Carolina viewer David Elliot.

Hail near Chapel Hill along the Orange/Durham County line. Photo submitted by News 14 Carolina viewer Nicole Bales.

Above two photos are from hail that fell in Carborro. Submitted by Jeff.

Pea size hail in Garner. Photo submitted by anonymous News 14 Carolina viewer.

Lightning photo over Smithfield. Submitted by News 14 Carolina viewer Heather Braswell.

Hail photo taken near Chapel Hill. Submitted by News 14 Carolina viewer Lindsey Pandorf.

Thursday's Storms in the Triad

Thursday, May 8 brought a round of severe storms to North Carolina including a couple of tornadoes that caused damage around the Triad. One of the tornadoes was rated up to EF-3 strength in Forsyth County near Clemmons where 2 people were injured. Another tornado in Guilford County near Greensboro produced EF-2 damage. One fatality was reported in the Guilford County tornado.

Here's a look at damage photos submitted by News 14 Carolina viewers in the Triad --

Above two photos of storm damage 6 miles south of Kenersville in Forsyth County. Photos submitted by Ken Karns.

Above two photos taken by News 14 Carolina reporter Bob Costner in Clemmons.

Triad storm damage submitted by an anonymous News 14 Carolina viewer. Location is unknown.

Possible Severe Weather once again for Mother's Day

After a relatively quiet start to the weekend (once the severe storms passed through the area late Friday night / Early Saturday) we are monitoring the possibility of another round of severe storms for Sunday.

As of this post, (1pm Saturday) The Storm Prediction Center has placed portions of North Carolina in a slight to moderate risk for strong to severe storms for Mother's Day Sunday. The greatest risk appears to be in the southernmost portion of the state near Lumberton to Wilmington. A slight risk is forecast for the Triangle, Sandhills and Down east of I-95.

(Risk for strong to severe storms Saturday into Sunday. This map shows some of southern NC having a change for storms and a slight risk for strong to severe storms for extreme southern NC near Raeford and Lumberton later tonight/ early Sunday)

(This map for Sunday morning through Monday morning shows more of NC in a slight risk area for strong to severe storms, and extreme southern NC in a more moderate risk area for severe weather)

Our main weather threats are expected to be heavy downpours, large hail, frequent lightning, high winds and of course a chance for isolated tornadoes.

Our surface map on Sunday shows a strong area of low pressure approaching NC. What will be key for us will be a couple of things; the timing of the northward progression of a front shown here across South Carolina early Sunday and the development of an area of low pressure (shown here in the next graphic for later Sunday over NC). This development could enhance and direct where we have severe storms for the second half of the weekend. If it develops over central NC, more of the state will see severe weather. If it develops more to the East, the coastal areas will see the brunt of the severe storms.

Stay tuned to your Weather on the Ones Forecast center as we get into Sunday for your latest forecast. Have a safe and happy Mother's Day.

Pati Darak,

News 14 Carolina

National Weather Service Confirms May 8-9th Triad-Area Tornadoes

The National weather Service in Raleigh confirmed 2 tornadoes in the Triad region May 8-9th ; an EF-3 tornado in Clemmons, Forsyth county that injured 2 and an EF-2 tornado in Guilford county which killed one and injured 3. Both produced severe damage which we have reported to you through the day Friday and into the weekend here at News 14 Carolina.

For more information from the National Weather Service regarding this event, please follow this link:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/20080509/index.html

Pati Darak,
News 14 Carolina

Friday Night Storm Pictures, and Perhaps Another Round for Sunday

(Hail Photo courtesy of Lindsey Pandorf, Chapel Hill)

(Lightning Photo courtesy of Heather Braswell, Smithfield)

Some areas had strong to severe storms as a low level disturbance made its way through North carolina last night. We had reports from viewers of hail and strong winds, especially in Wake county. Amy Barrington reported to us that in morrisville there was 'prolific hail, the size of cherries' while josh English e-mailed us to tell us that hail in Cary 'was quarter sized and came down solid for about 4-5 minutes.' We always welcome your weather reports and pictures! You can send those to us at weather@news14.com

Here are some of the weather photos sent in by our viewers:

Jeff from Carrboro showing that most of the hail in his backyard was nickel-sized from overnight storms.

Kayo Terada in chapel Hill sent in these pictures of hail:

Nicole Bales of

Chapel Hill sent in her hail pictures....

Orange county was not the only location of hail-producing storms last night, as this viewer in Garner sent in this hail shot.

Calmer weather is in store for Saturday with partly to mostly sunny skies on Saturday. A stronger system will move toward North Carolina on Sunday. This system will at the least give us rain. At the most it could pose another severe weather threat. The forecast is not clear on the path of this system at this time. Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina throughout the weekend for updates on your weekend forecast.

Have a safe and pleasant weekend

Pati Darak

Severe Weather Brings Damage to NC, More Storms Possible Sunday

Fortunately, we have a quiet day after some very dangerous storms came through North Carolina.

I want to thank our viewers for submitting photos after the storms passed Thursday night and Friday morning. You can submit storm reports and photos as well if severe weather comes to where you are . Our address is weather@news14.com remember to include the city and county that you're reporting from.

Here are some of our submitted photos:

These are from News 14 Carolina Triad Reporter Bob Costner in Clemmons where a reported tornado damaged several homes.

These are just a couple of the photos sent in from Ken Karns of Kernersville. More of his photos (as well as all the photos submitted at the time of this blog) are included in our Weather on the Ones Video Blog. Our video blog is also included at the end of this post.

Johnathan lowe, one of our Triad producers at News 14 Carolina sent these photos along of severe structural damage in Advance, NC.

Our video blog discusses damage reports from last night and early this morning.

In the Triad region, there have been reports of 1 fatality and numerous injuries from a tornado in Guilford county. Guilford county was also the location of structural damage, vehicles blown off the road or overturned, and reports of small planes blown off the runway at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

In all, there were 5 reports Thursday and early Friday of tornadoes, reports of hail ranging from penny to golf-ball sized, wind damage and flash flooding.

Some additional reports are coming in from reported tornadoes in eastern NC. The Storm Prediction Center has 2 reports of tornadoes in Bertie and Hertford counties in NE North Carolina. Damage from these storms include barns damaged and trees down. The National Weather Service has the duty of following up on storm damage to verify if there were tornadoes and then how many. They will be quite busy as we enter the weekend.

There is also a chance for severe storms on Sunday. This will be a big weekend throughout the area as graduations take place throughout the weekend and Mother's day on Sunday will have many people out and about. We will continue to monitor that possibility and keep you posted.

Here's your Weather on the Ones Video Blog:

Have a safe weekend.

Pati Darak

Threat for Severe Weather

The Storm Prediction Center has placed North Carolina under a slight risk for severe weather for late Thursday and Thursday night. We'll see a few scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Some of the storms could become strong this afternoon, but the greatest threat for strong to severe storms looks to come late Thurday night into early Friday morning.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh outlines the severe weather threat for today, tonight, and tomorrow in this morning's hazardous weather statement posted below --

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
511 AM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-090900-
PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-

511 AM EDT THU MAY 8 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

WHILE AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON.... THE MAIN MECHANISMS TO PRODUCE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME... THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE GREATEST BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS POSSIBLE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP FRIDAY AFTERNOON... MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND SANDHILLS. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT... AS YET ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. SPOTTERS SHOULD KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST FORECASTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND LISTEN FOR STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

The News 14 Carolina forecast office will be staffed around the clock this afternoon, tonight, and early Friday morning. Keep checking Weather on the Ones for the very latest weather information.

Afternoon Update

Active Weather Ahead

News 14 Carolina's newsrooms have been buzzing over the last several days preparing for yesterday's primary election. Over the coming days, it may be our weather centers that are buzzing tracking strong to severe storms across the state. A couple of weather systems will be tracking toward North Carolina bringing the chance for storms late Thursday into Friday and again for Mother's Day.

The National Weather Service outlines the severe weather threat in this morning's hazardous weather statement posted below --

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
519 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2008

NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-080930-PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE-ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON-

519 AM EDT WED MAY 7 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS JUST NORTHWEST OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL TRIGGER TWO TO POSSIBLY THREE BANDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY ALSO OCCUR. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING... MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT AS YET ANOTHER STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSES NORTH OF THE AREA. RESIDENTS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA ARE ADVISED TO KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST FORECASTS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

Afternoon Update

Monday Afternoon Storm Chance

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across parts of our area Monday afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center has places parts of southeastern North Carolina under a slight risk for severe weather. The storms are expected to be scattered across the area today, so not everyone will see the rain. However, if storms develop, hail and damaging winds could be a threat from the strongest storms.

Stay with News 14 Carolina for Weather on the Ones updates through the afternoon and evening.

Weekend Weather Update

Here's Saturday morning's video blog update with more on severe weather across the U.S. the last couple of days and more on our chance for rain this weekend...

Tornadoes in the Plains

Strong thunderstorms produced several tornadoes in Oklahoma and Kansas late Thursday. Here's a look at video of some of the tornadoes shot by storm chasers with tornadovideos.net

The risk for severe storms today will move to the east across Illinois through Missouri and Arkansas and perhaps into western Kentucky and Tennessee by tonight.

This is all part of the storm system that will eventually bring us a chance for rain over the weekend. We do not expect anything like the storms from yesterday and what is expected today. We can expect scattered showers and a few thunderstorms late Saturday night through Sunday morning. Stay tuned to Weather on the Ones for your latest weekend forecast!