Dry and warm weather continues into the weekend, not much help for SC wildfire

As of 11am Thursday, The Governor of South Carolina issued a state of emergency with regard to the wildfire which has rapidly grown since its origin yesterday afternoon.
In a statement from South Carolina Gov. Sanford's office:
'....DOZENS OF HOMES ALREADY DESTROYED AS FIRE NOW COVERS MORE THAN 15,000 ACRES
Columbia, S.C. - April 23, 2009 - Governor Sanford today issued a State of Emergency for Horry County as a wildfire that has already consumed 15,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 70 homes continued.
The state Forestry Commission is the primary agency in charge of fighting the fire, and the state Emergency Management Division has also deployed support assets to the scene in consultation with the Governor’s Office. The state Emergency Operations Center has been activated, with assets dispatched to fight the fire including a National Guard helicopter and other personnel.
State and local officials have already evacuated 2,500 people from their homes, and may evacuate more as the fire continues to spread. Three shelters to accommodate those leaving their homes have been opened, and those shelters are currently housing approximately 250 people. ..'
Areas of southeast North Carolina , especially Brunswick county, will see areas of smoke today as the sea breeze sets up into the afternoon. The National Weather Service has a portion of their site devoted to fire weather forecasting. I'll include it here for your information ( http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ilm/fire/ ) , however, we will also have updates available on News 14 Carolina and on our website www.news14.com .

Dry conditions will persist through the rest of the work week and into the weekend as we see a more summertime weather pattern set up off of our coast. High pressure overhead will drift eastward over Bermuda , increasing our temperatures and our humidity this weekend. Combine that with upper-level ridging and we have a dry, warm pattern into next week!

This week's drought monitor map keeps central NC out of any drought and has continued to keep SW North Carolina out of the 'severe drought' category. Moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions exist in western NC, and abnormally dry conditions persist in SE North Carolina, which is not helpful with the wildfire just to the south. Drought Monitor: http://drought.unl.edu/DM/DM_state.htm?NC,SE

Monday Storm Reports

Scattered strong storms over eastern North Carolina produced hail and spotty wind damage on Monday. Here's a look at reports of severe weather in the News 14 Carolina viewing area passed along by the National Weather Service.

• 3:45pm - Nickel size hail reported west-northwest of Hillsborough in Orange County.
• 4:30pm - Penny size hail reported near Berea in Granville County.
• 4:30pm - Marble to dime size hail covering the ground in town of Clarkton in Bladen County.
• 4:31pm - Penny size hail reported near Whiteville in Columbus County
• 4:33pm - Dime to nickel size hail reported just east of Clarkton in Bladen County.
• 4:35pm - Nickel size hail reported in Bladen County.
• 4:42pm - Penny size hail reported near Webb High School near Oxford in Granville County.
• 4:48pm - Penny size hail reported at the Oxford-Henderson Airport.
• 4:52pm - One inch size hail reported along US 258 in Farmville in Pitt County.
• 4:55pm - Nickel size hail reported in Bladen County.
• 5:00pm - Quarter size hail reported at the Kerr Lake Regional Water Plant in Vance County.
• 5:10pm - Golf ball to possibly baseball sized hail reported near Oak Hill in Granville County.
• 5:10pm - Golf ball size hail near Drewery in Vance County. Hail reportedly damaged a propane tank and caused a leak.
• 5:20pm - Trees down near Exit 220 on I-85 in Vance County. Report of a tree on a car. Penny size hail also reported at the time.
• 5:23pm - Golfball size hail near Norlina on I-85 in Warren County. Report of windshield damagine to cars on I-85 at the time. Trees also reported down from wind in the same area.
• 5:32pm - Nickel size hail reported in Pender County.
• 5:44pm - Penny size hail reported near Four Oaks in Johnston County.

Slight Risk for Severe Storms Monday

The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of central and eastern North Carolina under the slight risk for severe weather on Monday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Sunday night, but the chance for stronger storms appears a little greater for Monday.

We expect the clouds to break some during the day Monday allowing sunshine to warm temperatures into the mid 70s adding instability to the atmosphere. That instability acts as fuel for thunderstorms. While scattered showers and storms are possible during the day, the chance appears higher for stronger storms in the afternoon. The threat from these strong to severe storms will include large hail, damaging winds, and frequent lightning.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina and news14.com for the latest updates...

Storm Reports from Tuesday

Showers and thunderstorms rumbled across North Carolina on Tuesday. Here's a look at severe weather reports from the National Weather Service --

• 2:15pm - 0.5" size hail near Spivey's Corner in Sampson County
• 3:00pm - 0.75" or penny size hail near Biscoe in Moore County
• 3:35pm - 0.75" or penny size hail near El Dorado in Montgomery County
• 3:35pm - 1.75" or golf ball size hail near Cherry Grove in Columbus County
• 5:05pm - 0.75" or penny size hail covered the ground near Kelly in Bladen County
• 7:00pm - 1.75" or golf ball size hail covered the ground near Whiteville in Columbus County

Slight Risk for Strong to Severe Storms Tuesday

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the eastern Carolinas under a slight risk for severe weather today. As thunderstorms develop this morning, some could become strong. In the strongest storms, hail up to the size of nickels, damaging winds, and frequent lightning will be possible. There also is a small risk for an isolated tornado to develop.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina and Weather on the Ones for the latest updates through the day.

Storms Possible Late Friday Afternoon and Evening

Severe storms are expected over portions of the southeast this Good Friday. The greatest threat for storms will come this afternoon over northern Georgia and western South Carolina. However, those storms will move into North Carolina this afternoon bringing our area a "slight risk" for severe weather particular during the late afternoon and evening hours.

Here's the hazardous weather outlook from the Raleigh National Weather Service this morning -

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

A VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE EASTWARD THROUGH VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA TODAY AND TONIGHT. AS THIS SYSTEM APPROACHES... WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE SOUTHWEST... AND GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. SUCH GUSTS COULD TOSS AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH CANS.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT LATE THIS AFTERNOON... THEN TRACK EAST THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE EVENING AND EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE... ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 64. THE GREATEST RISK WILL BE OVER THE SOUTHWEST COUNTIES NEAR WADESBORO... ALBEMARLE... TROY... ROCKINGHAM... AND LAURINBURG. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS OVER 60 MPH AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN 6 PM AND 3 AM TONIGHT.

EVERYONE IN THE AREA SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST CONDITIONS AND FORECASTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON... BUT THESE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME STRONG. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 6 PM AND 3 AM THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. SPOTTERS SHOULD STAY TUNED AND REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER IMMEDIATELY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH.

Storm Chance Late Friday Night?

We'll enjoy pleasant and mild weather Thursday afternoon into the day Friday, but storms may be brewing for Friday night. A front moving toward North Carolina may help to produce severe storms across the southeast Friday afternoon that will move east into the Carolinas Friday evening and Friday night. Those storms may not arrive in our area until the overnight hours into early Saturday morning. Right now we just expect a "slight risk" of severe weather.

Here is this morning's hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service in Raleigh:

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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

A STORM SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST LATE FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WILL BRING A RISK OF STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS. AT THIS TIME... IT APPEARS THAT THE GREATESTTHREAT WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS... AND WOULD OCCUR PRIMARILY BETWEEN 8 PM FRIDAY EVENING AND 5 AM SATURDAY MORNING.

PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY NIGHT.

Monday's Storm Damage

Above photos from the National Weather Service Office in Wilmington.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has confirmed an EF-2 tornado touched down near Clarkton in Bladen County on Monday.

Here's the official storm report --

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
536 PM EDT MON APR 6 2009

...TORNADO CONFIRMED SOUTHEAST OF CLARKTON NC ON APRIL 6...

LOCATION...5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLARKTON NC
ESTIMATED TIME...1040 TO 1042 AM EDT
BEGINNING LAT/LON...34.4393/-78.5929
ENDING LAT/LON...34.4490/-78.5719
EF-SCALE RATING...EF2
ESTIMATED WIND SPEED...115 MPH
PATH WIDTH...100 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...1.5 MILES
INJURIES...NONE
FATALITIES...NONE

...SUMMARY...

A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED AN EF2 TORNADO WITH WINDS UP TO 115 MPH ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLARKTON NC. THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ON FARMERS UNION ROAD ABOUT 0.3 MILE SOUTH OF PORTERVILLE SCHOOL ROAD. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED TO FOUR HOMES IN THIS AREA... INCLUDING ONE WHICH WAS PUSHED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET OFF ITS FOUNDATION. A STORAGE TRAILER WEIGHING MORE THAN 8500 LBS WAS BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 40 FT...FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN AND ROTATED 180 DEGREES. A FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK WAS BLOWN 15 FT ACROSS A YARD... AND A 12 X 12 FT STRUCTURE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DAMAGE IN THIS AREA WAS RATED AS EF2 AS A RESULT OF WINDSPEEDS REACHING 115 MPH. THE WIDTH OF THE DAMAGE PATH IN THIS AREA WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS.

THE TORNADO BRIEFLY WEAKENED AS IT TRACKED TO THE NORTHEAST. NUMEROUS 12-18 INCH DIAMETER TREETOPS WERE SNAPPED... AND A FEW TREES UP TO 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER WERE UPROOTED AS THE TORNADO APPROACHED CHANCEY RD. TWO HOMES ON CHANCEY ROAD SUFFERED EF0 DAMAGE PRIMARILY TO ROOFS AND WINDOWS. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS MAINLY WOODS AND FARMLAND WHERE SPOTTY EF0 DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO TREES.

IT STRENGTHENED ONCE AGAIN AS IT CROSSED BAER MILL DRIVE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TWO HOMES. THE FRONT PORCH OF ONE HOME WAS DESTROYED AND ALL THE ROOF COVERING MATERIAL ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE WAS STRIPPED. THE WIND PENETRATED THE SECOND STORY OF THE HOME AND BLEW OUT TWO UPSTAIRS WINDOWS. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES UP TO 2 FT IN DIAMETER WERE SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED. ONE WOODEN STORAGE SHED WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DAMAGE IN THIS AREA WAS RATED AS EF2 WITH WIND SPEED ESTIMATED TO BE 115 MPH. THE WIDTH OF THE DAMAGE PATH WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 YARDS AT THIS LOCATION.

THE TORNADO WEAKENED AS IT MOVED NORTHEAST FROM BAER MILL DRIVE. SPOTTY MINOR TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED BETWEEN BAER MILL DRIVE AND SUSIE BALDWIN ROAD.

Here's a look at other storm damage reports in the News 14 Carolina viewing area from National Weather Service Offices around the state --

• 9:42am -- Lightning damage reported 5 miles west-northwest of Fayetteville. Emergency management report lightning split a tree and the tree struck a home and camper.
• 10:15am-- Law enforcement reported penny size hail near Princeton in Johnston County.
• 10:31am -- A trained weather spotter reported pea size hail near Pikeville in Wayne County.
• 10:37am -- Penny size hail was reported near Fremont in Wayne County.
• 10:54am -- Half inch size hail was reported near Farmville in Pitt County.

Overnight Storms?

The Storm Prediction Center has southeastern North Carolina outlined with a slight risk of severe weather Thursday into early Friday. That threat for our area will mainly come late tonight and early Friday morning in an area from Fayetteville to Goldsboro southeast to the coast. The severe weather threat is much higher across Mississippi, Alabama, and the Gulf Coast today, but a few storms that could produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are not out of the question late tonight in the slight risk area of southeastern North Carolina. While it is just a slight risk, the threat is dangerous since it will come overnight while most folks will be sleeping.

Here are the latest Hazardous Weather Outlooks from National Weather Service Offices in the slight risk area...

From the Raleigh NWS:

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA LATE THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS INCLUDES AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF ROCKY MOUNT... FAYETTEVILLE AND LAURINBURG.

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTHEAST FROM THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO THE OHIO VALLEY LATE THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY. A WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH INTO THE CAROLINAS LATE THURSDAY... WHILE THE TRAILING COLD FRONT SWEEPS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA EARLY FRIDAY.

AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THE THREAT OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE CONFINED TO PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS.

DUE TO THE POTENTIAL THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER LATE AT NIGHT...RESIDENTS IN THE AREA SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THE THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.

From the Morehead City/Newport NWS:

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA LATE TONIGHT. THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE ALONG AND EAST OF THE HIGHWAY 17 CORRIDOR MAINLY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6AM. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES... ALTHOUGH SMALL HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

RESIDENTS ACROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE LATE NIGHT HOURS AND LISTEN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.

From the Wilmington NWS:

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER RISK WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES.

Threat for Storms Late Thursday - Friday

Severe weather will threaten much of the southeast Thursday. During the day, the greatest threat will exist over Mississippi and Alabama. Those states are outlined in the above forecast from the Storm Prediction Center to have a moderate risk for severe weather. A slight risk exists east of there into the Carolinas. The threat for strong storms will arrive here mainly late Thursday night into the early morning hours Friday.

Here's the latest hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh:

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 CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL APPROACH CENTRAL NC THURSDAY NIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION ON FRIDAY. WINDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL INCREASE THURSDAY NIGHT AS WARM AND MOIST GULF AIR SPREADS NORTH INTO THE AREA. THIS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TO CENTRAL NC THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY MORNING. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE GREATEST THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED IN LOCATIONS SOUTH OF US 64 AND EAST OF US 1.

DUE TO POSSIBLE NOCTURNAL TIMING OF THIS EVENT...NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE ADVISED TO MAINTAIN AWARENESS BY CHECKING THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS... ESPECIALLY BEFORE BEDTIME THURSDAY EVENING.