A quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) developed along a strong cold front which moved across the area the evening of January 9, 2024. Scattered severe storms ahead of the line, as well as strong gradient winds, contributed to widespread wind damage across North and South Carolina. Multiple trees and power lines were knocked down across the area, along with structural damage.
Radar loop (KLTX) from 11:30am through 9pm ET on January 9th, 2024.
A warm front moved north across the area the morning of January 9th. Environment was primed for severe weather behind the front, with very high shear (around 80 knots of effective bulk shear) and decent instability (around 500-1000 J/kg of CAPE). In addition to the ingredients for severe storms, strong pressure gradient associated with the expansive low pressure system created elevated gradient winds across the area. NWS Wilmington issued a High Wind Warning for the immediate coastline for wind gusts up to 50 to 60 mph (outside of storms), and a Wind Advisory for the rest of the forecast area for gusts up to 50 mph.
Surface analysis loop from NWS Weather Prediction Center from 1am ET January 9th - 1am ET January 10th.
Combination of scattered severe storms in the afternoon, strong gradient winds, and QLCS in the evening led to wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph measured across the area, with a few gusts to 70 mph recorded along the Cape Fear coastline. The table below lists the highest wind gusts measured on January 9th. To view the full PNS of highest wind gusts reported across the area, visit https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSILM&e=202401100323.
| Location | Max Wind Gust (mph) |
|---|---|
| Federal Point, NC | 76 |
| Southport, NC | 75 |
| Oak Island, NC | 72 |
| Wilmington, NC | 72 |
| Florence, SC | 63 |
| Lumberton, NC | 62 |
| Georgetown, SC | 62 |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 62 |
Strong winds, convective and gradient, caused widespread wind damage across the Carolinas. Trees and power lines were knocked down across northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina, with several trees falling on houses or cars. A brick wall separated from a building and collapsed in downtown Marion, SC. Significant roof damage occurred to a mobile home in Georgetown, SC. Winds also ripped the roof off of a building in Whiteville, NC.
| Time | Location | County | Storm Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:09 AM | 1 W Lake City | Florence, SC | Downed tree on Deep River St near Moore St. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 2:12 PM | 2 SW Conway | Horry, SC | SC Highway Patrol reports tree done in roadway on Faulk Circle near Kates Bay Highway. |
| 3:08 PM | 5 SSW Elizabethtown | Bladen, NC | Tree down along Mercer Mill Brown Marsh Rd. |
| 3:11 PM | 4 SW North Myrtle Beach | Horry, SC | Waterspout observed offshore of Windy Hill Beach. |
| 3:18 PM | 7 ENE Elizabethtown | Bladen, NC | Power line down along Hope Drive near intersection with White Lake Drive. |
| 3:50 PM | 5 ESE Elizabethtown | Bladen, NC | Tree down along NC-87 near East Bladen High School. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 4:10 PM | 2 SSW Carolina Beach | New Hanover, NC | Large branches reported along Spot Lane in Carolina Beach. Winds outside of showers or storms estimated between 58-70 mph. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 4:22 PM | 1 SE Bald Head Island | Brunswick, NC | Residential weather station recorded a 65 mph wind gust in Bald Head Island. |
| 4:24 PM | Timmonsville | Florence, SC | Funnel cloud reported just west of Timmonsville. |
| 4:39 PM | 3 N Wallace | Marlboro, SC | Trees and powerlines down along Old Wire Rd. |
| 4:39 PM | 2 SSW Carolina Beach | New Hanover, NC | Quarter-sized hail reported near Spot Lane in Carolina Beach. |
| 4:40 PM | 3 NNW Oats | Darlington, SC | 65 mph wind gust estimated in the town of Lydia. |
| 4:40 PM | 1 SW Florence | Florence, SC | Two 12 inch diameter trees down near intersection of Wisteria Drive and Edisto Drive. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 4:50 PM | 9 NE Elizabethtown | Bladen, NC | Tree down along Johnsontown Rd. near the intersection with US-701. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 4:55 PM | Georgetown | Georgetown, SC | The AWOS station at KGGE recorded a wind gust of 52 knots (60 mph). |
| 4:55 PM | 1 W Blenheim | Marlboro, SC | Tree down at Gravel Pit Road and Johns Road near Blenheim. |
| 4:58 PM | Bennettsville | Marlboro, SC | Several reports of trees and power lines down including along Willamette Rd, Hodges Ave, Salem Rd, and Ancil St. |
| 4:58 PM | 3 NW Florence | Florence, SC | A pine tree of about 16 inches in diameter snapped, along with several downed limbs of about 5 inches in diameter, near the intersection of Trotter Road and Chatsworth Lane in Florence. |
| 5:05 PM | 7 ENE Darlington | Darlington, SC | Several trees reported down in the eastern part of Darlington County. |
| 5:06 PM | Florence | Florence, SC | The ASOS station at KFLO recorded a wind gust of 55 knots (63 mph). |
| 5:10 PM | 4 E Bennettsville | Marlboro, SC | 3 power poles snapped along Mt Zion Church Rd near Tatum. |
| 5:15 PM | 6 NNE Whiteville | Columbus, NC | Tree down along Red Hill Rd. south of intersection with Cruz Lane. (Non-thunderstorm) |
| 5:15 PM | 5 SE Kingstree | Williamsburg, SC | Tree down on power lines southeast of Kingstree along Millwood Road. |
| 5:16 PM | 2 WNW Blenheim | Marlboro, SC | Tree down near intersection of Foxhaven Rd and Bingham Rd. |
| 5:27 PM | 1 SE Latta | Dillon, SC | A Bradford pear tree with about a 20-inch trunk fell near Highway 917. |
| 5:30 PM | 5 ENE Tar Heel | Bladen, NC | Tree down at Burney Rd and Jessie Dr, and tree down near the White Oak Fire Department on Hwy 53. |
| 5:30 PM | Dillon | Dillon, SC | Numerous reports of trees down in the Dillon area. |
| 5:35 PM | 1 ENE Marion | Marion, SC | Multiple large trees down on homes and blocking roadways in and near the 900 block of Jones Avenue/NC-41. In addition, a large brick wall in Main Street Commons in downtown Marion separated from a building and collapsed. |
| 5:38 PM | 7 SSW Loris | Horry, SC | Tree down in roadway on Adrian Highway (Hwy 139) near New Home Circle. |
| 5:45 PM | 7 NNW St Pauls | Robeson, NC | Numerous trees and power lines down in the Parkton area. |
| 5:45 PM | Red Springs | Robeson, NC | Numerous trees and power lines down in the Red Springs area. |
| 5:45 PM | 1 ENE Marion | Marion, SC | Tree down on house along NC-41 near intersection with Walnut St. |
| 5:50 PM | 2 NNW Mullins | Marion, SC | Tree down on car near SC-41 and Zion Rd. |
| 5:50 PM | 4 W Nakina | Columbus, NC | Tree down along Furnie Hammond Rd. |
| 5:54 PM | 7 NNW St Pauls | Robeson, NC | A sign blew off a gas station near the intersection of North Fayetteville Street and David Parnell Street in Parkton. |
| 5:56 PM | Lumberton | Robeson, NC | The ASOS station at KLBT recorded a wind gust of 54 knots (62 mph). |
| 6:00 PM | 1 N Georgetown | Georgetown, SC | Significant roof damage to mobile home on Lafayette Street near intersection with Church Street with half of roof torn off. |
| 6:11 PM | 2 N Hampstead | Pender, NC | Wind gust to 60mph estimated in the Castle Bay Golf Course community. |
| 6:11 PM | 10 NNE Fair Bluff | Columbus, NC | A cedar tree fell on a house along Old Boardman Road in Evergreen. Damage is consistent with straight line winds at about 75 mph. |
| 6:13 PM | 9 NW Chadbourn | Columbus, NC | Tree down along Old US Hwy 74 near intersection with Mangum Rd. |
| 6:13 PM | 6 NNW Chadbourn | Columbus, NC | Tree down at MM230 along US-74. |
| 6:15 PM | 6 WNW Chadbourn | Columbus, NC | Tree blocking Princess Ann Rd. |
| 6:25 PM | 3 WNW Chadbourn | Columbus, NC | Tree down at Princess Ann Rd and Alfred Hayes Dr. |
| 6:25 PM | Chadbourn | Columbus, NC | Tree down on Main Street in Chadbourn. |
| 6:45 PM | Elizabethtown | Bladen, NC | Several trees and some power lines down in the Elizabethtown area. |
| 6:45 PM | Whiteville | Columbus, NC | Structural damage at a building on Lee Avenue in Whiteville. Winds ripped the roof off the building at this location. |
| 6:45 PM | 9 ESE Bladenboro | Bladen, NC | Trees down on Brown Marsh Rd, Red Hill Rd, and W S Railroad St in the Clarkton area. |
| 6:49 PM | North Myrtle Beach | Horry, SC | The ASOS station at KCRE recorded a wind gust of 54 knots (62 mph). |
| 7:13 PM | Darlington | Darlington, SC | The AWOS station at KUDG recorded a wind gust of 51 knots (59 mph). |
| 7:16 PM | Winyah Bay | AMZ256 (SC) | The WeatherFlow station off of Winyah Bay recorded a wind gust of 76 mph (instrument is 50 feet off the ground). |
| 7:21 PM | 2 NNW Silver Lake | New Hanover, NC | Tree down blocking roadway in the 300 block of Raleigh St. |
| 7:22 PM | 2 NNW Wilmington | New Hanover, NC | Large tree down partially blocking Market St. between 17th St and 18th St. |
| 7:23 PM | Wilmington | New Hanover, NC | The ASOS station at KILM recorded a wind gust of 73 mph. |
| 7:24 PM | 2 NE Wilmington | New Hanover, NC | Tree down blocking roadway in 4100 block of Emerson St, near intersection with Marlboro St. |
| 7:25 PM | 1 SSE Windmere | New Hanover, NC | Tree down blocking Rogersville Rd near intersection with Telephone Rd. |
| 7:28 PM | 2 SW Wilmington | New Hanover, NC | A wooden facade along a staircase in an apartment building was pushed out onto the sidewalk by about 8-10 inches. This splinted the wooden facade and broke the plastic siding. |
| 7:57 PM | 1 E Surf City | Pender, NC | Davis weather station at the Surf City Ocean Pier recorded a wind gust of 80 mph. |
| 8:05 PM | 1 ENE Surf City | Pender, NC | Peak gust of 72 mph measured on Surf City Bridge. Sensor located near Topsail Island side, well below peak bridge elevation. |
Map of Local Storm Reports issued by local NWS offices on January 9th. (W = wind; T = tornado; H = hail)
SPC Storm Reports Webpage for January 9, 2024.
Research & Page Author: Victoria Oliva
Page Last Updated: October 31, 2024
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