National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Tornadoes and Damaging Winds

 

January 9-10, 2024

 

Overview

 

Late on the evening of January 9, 2024, a strong cold front moved east across the Carolinas, and was accompanied by a line of severe thunderstorms. A period of strong southerly winds (not associated with thunderstorms) developed ahead of the cold front, followed by widespread strong to damaging winds associated with the line of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms produced wind gusts as high as 100 mph, caused tree and structure damage, and spawned multiple tornadoes. Since 1950, only one other time in Eastern North Carolina history has a storm system produced 3, or more, tornadoes in one event during the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb). The last time was February 18, 2008. The strong onshore winds also led to coastal flooding, especially across the Outer Banks from Ocracoke north. In all, over 60 reports of severe weather or coastal flooding were received, and over 20 Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warnings were issued. This event will go down as one of the more notable winter season severe weather events for Eastern North Carolina.

Severe Weather Reports

 

 


Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
427 PM EST Wed Jan 10 2024

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

0830 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 S Plymouth            35.83N 76.75W
01/09/2024                   Washington         NC   Utility Company  

            Tideland Electric Cooperative relayed report 
            of a tree down on Morattock Rd. just south 
            of Plymouth. Time based on radar. 

0933 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Gum Neck                35.72N 76.15W
01/09/2024                   Tyrrell            NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Tyrrell County Emergency Management reported 
            a snapped power pole in Gum Neck. Time based 
            on radar. 

0625 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ESE Minnesott Beach   34.97N 76.79W
01/09/2024                   Pamlico            NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Pamlico Co EM reports multiple trees down, 
            building damage, and a tractor trailer 
            turned over. Time estimated by radar. 

0525 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NE Sea View Pier      34.52N 77.37W
01/09/2024                   Onslow             NC   Utility Company  

            Jones Onslow Electric Cooperative reported 
            trees on powerlines. Time based on radar. 

0535 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Verona                  34.67N 77.47W
01/09/2024                   Onslow             NC   Utility Company  

            Jones Onslow Electric Cooperative reported 
            trees on powerlines in Verona. Time based on 
            radar. 

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Pollocksville           35.01N 77.23W
01/09/2024                   Jones              NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Jones County Emergency Management reported 
            trees down in Pollocksville. Time based on 
            radar. 

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Maysville               34.92N 77.23W
01/09/2024                   Jones              NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Jones County Emergency Management reported 
            trees down in Maysville. Time based on 
            radar. 

1133 AM     Coastal Flood    Northern Ocracoke Islan 35.18N 75.79W
01/10/2024                   Hyde               NC   Dept of Highways 

            NC DOT reported HWY 12 closed on Ocracoke 
            between the Pony Pens and the Ferry 
            Terminal. 

0705 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 WNW Albertson         35.14N 77.90W
01/09/2024                   Duplin             NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Duplin County Emergency Management observed 
            multiple trees down across roadway. Time 
            based on radar. 

0715 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 South Beulaville      34.88N 77.77W
01/09/2024                   Duplin             NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Duplin County Emergency Management reported 
            roof partially blown off, no injuries. Time 
            based on radar. 

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 W Teachey             34.77N 78.08W
01/09/2024                   Duplin             NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Duplin County Emergency Management reported 
            a trampoline blown into powerlines. Time 
            based on radar. 

0735 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Wallace             34.74N 78.01W
01/09/2024                   Duplin             NC   Emergency Mngr   

            Duplin County Emergency Management reported 
            trees down on an apartment, partial roof 
            collapse. No injuries. Time based on radar. 

1021 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Avon Pier               35.35N 75.50W
01/09/2024  M62 MPH          Dare               NC   Mesonet          

            WxFlow gauge at Avon Pier reported a 54 knot 
            (62 mph) thunderstorm wind gust. 

1024 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Oregon Inlet            35.79N 75.55W
01/09/2024  M58 MPH          Dare               NC   Official NWS Obs 

            National Ocean Service tide gauge (ORIN7) 
            reported a 50 knot (58 mph) thunderstorm 
            wind gust. 

1030 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 NW Nags Head Fishing  35.99N 75.65W
01/09/2024  M67 MPH          Dare               NC   Public           

            Corrected time on previous thunderstorm wind 
            gust report from 1 NW Nags Head Fishing 
            Pier. Public weather station observed a 67 
            mph thunderstorm wind gust. 

0700 AM     Coastal Flood    Rodanthe                35.59N 75.47W
01/10/2024                   Dare               NC   Dept of Highways 

            NC DOT reported secondary roads in and 
            around Rodanthe received minor ocean 
            overwash. Public shared photos of water 
            covering HWY 12. 

0700 AM     Coastal Flood    Pea Island              35.74N 75.50W
01/10/2024                   Dare               NC   Dept of Highways 

            NC DOT reported HWY 12 had a layer of blown 
            sand on the roadway at Pea Island with 
            several areas of standing water. 

0839 AM     Coastal Flood    1 NE Colington          36.02N 75.69W
01/10/2024                   Dare               NC   Law Enforcement  

            Dare County Sheriffs Office reports water 
            coming across roads near Billys Seafood in 
            Colington. 

0755 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Dover                   35.22N 77.44W
01/09/2024                   Craven             NC   Public           

            Emergency Management reported damage to a 
            gas station in Dover along HWY 70. Time 
            based on radar. 

0820 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Askin             35.23N 77.05W
01/09/2024                   Craven             NC   Public           

            Damage to a barn and several large trees 
            down off of Aurora Rd. 

0853 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Adams Creek             34.91N 76.71W
01/09/2024                   Craven             NC   Utility Company  

            Carteret Craven Electric Cooperative 
            reported trees on powerlines along Adams 
            Creek Rd. 

0840 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Indian Beach            34.69N 76.89W
01/09/2024                   Carteret           NC   Utility Company  

            Carteret Craven Electric Cooperative 
            reported trees on powerlines at Paradise Bay 
            Mobile Home Park in Indian Beach. 

0910 PM     Tornado          1 W Harkers Island      34.70N 76.58W
01/09/2024                   Carteret           NC   Public           

            NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 tornado in 
            Harkers Island with maximum sustained winds 
            of 85 mph, path length of 0.14 miles, and 
            path width of 60 yards. No injuries were 
            reported. 

0910 PM     Tornado          Harkers Island          34.69N 76.56W
01/09/2024                   Carteret           NC   NWS Storm Survey 

            NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF1 tornado in 
            Harkers Island with maximum sustained winds 
            of 100 mph, path length of 0.25 miles, and 
            path width of 75 yards. No injuries were 
            reported. 

0845 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bath                    35.48N 76.81W
01/09/2024                   Beaufort           NC   Utility Company  

            Tideland Electric Cooperative reported a 
            tree on powerlines in the Everett community 
            of Bath. Time based on radar. 

0612 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SSE Bogue             34.69N 77.02W
01/09/2024  M62 MPH          AMZ158             NC   ASOS             

            Marine Corp Air Station Bogue Field (NJM) 
            observed a 54 knot (62 mph) thunderstorm 
            wind gust. 

0851 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 SW Bettie             34.77N 76.62W
01/09/2024  M56 MPH          AMZ158             NC   Public           

            WxFlow site in North River observed a 56 mph 
            (49 knot) thunderstorm wind gust. 

1040 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     17 SSE Cape Hatteras Li 35.01N 75.46W
01/09/2024  M60 MPH          AMZ154             NC   Buoy             

            Diamond Shoals Buoy (41025) observed a 52 
            knot (60 mph) thunderstorm wind gust. 

1018 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Whalebone               35.91N 75.59W
01/09/2024  M101 MPH         AMZ150             NC   Mesonet          

            Jennettes Pier WxFlow station reported a 
            gust of 88 kt. 

January 9th Tornadoes

 

Storm Survey Results

 

Note: Since 1950, only one other time in Eastern NC history has 3, or more, tornadoes occurred in one event during the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb). The last time this occurred was on February 18, 2008 (4 tornadoes occurred with that event).

 

Environment Environment
Environment

 

Storm Survey Pictures

 

Environment Environment
Environment Environment
Environment Environment

 

Environment Environment
This is an example of why we so often stress the importance of seeking shelter inside AND in an interior room that is away from windows or outer walls.

Severe Weather Environment Overview

 

Environment Environment

300mb Analysis

500mb Analysis

Environment Environment

850mb Analysis

Surface Analysis

Environment Environment

Instability (MLCAPE)

Significant Tornado Parameter (STP)

Environment Environment

0-3km Shear

Supercell Composite Parameter (SCP)

Wind Reports


...JAN 9-10, 2024 HIGHEST WIND REPORTS (75+ mph gusts in Red)...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Provider             

...North Carolina...

...Beaufort County...
Washington (OCW AWOS)        48 MPH    0525 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
NC Fire RAWS No. 4           46 MPH    0646 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Aurora 5.6 NE (Pamlico Aqua  42 MPH    0645 PM 01/09   NC-ECONET            
Bath                         41 MPH    0845 PM 01/09   DAVIS                              

...Carteret County...
Beaufort (MRH ASOS)          69 MPH    0844 PM 01/09   ASOS                 
Cape Lookout CMAN            62 MPH    0800 PM 01/09   NDBC                 
Bogue Field (NJM ASOS)       62 MPH    0829 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Fort Macon (WxFlow)          61 MPH    0905 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
North River (WxFlow)         56 MPH    0851 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Beaufort                     55 MPH    0820 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Beaufort (Duke Marine Lab)   51 MPH    0912 PM 01/09   NOS-NWLON            
Newport 7.5 E                48 MPH    0817 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Cape Carteret 0.6 E          46 MPH    0845 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Atlantic Beach 0.4 E         44 MPH    1045 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Cedar Island RAWS            43 MPH    1025 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Croatan RAWS                 41 MPH    0848 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Newport 10.3 ENE             40 MPH    0901 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Morehead City 4.7 W          40 MPH    1200 PM 01/09   CWOP                                 

...Craven County...
New Bern (EWN ASOS)          77 MPH    0816 PM 01/09   ASOS           
Cherry Point (NKT ASOS)      63 MPH    0532 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
New Bern RAWS                51 MPH    0817 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Havelock 0.7 NW              41 MPH    0815 PM 01/09   CWOP                               

...Dare County...
KHK Resort (WxFlow)          64 MPH    1033 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Avon (WxFlow)                62 MPH    1022 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Oregon Inlet CG (WxFlow)     60 MPH    0926 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Rodanthe 0.6 N               59 MPH    1016 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Real Slick (WxFlow)          59 MPH    1013 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Oregon Inlet Marina          58 MPH    1024 PM 01/09   NOS-NWLON            
Oregon Inlet (WxFlow)        58 MPH    0928 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Frisco (HSE ASOS)            56 MPH    0952 PM 01/09   ASOS                 
ECU Coastal Studies Institut 55 MPH    0740 PM 01/09   MESOWEST             
Nags Head                    55 MPH    0544 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Buxton (WxFlow)              50 MPH    1021 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Dare Bomb Range RAWS         49 MPH    0948 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS)  47 MPH    1003 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Manteo (MQI AWOS)            47 MPH    0750 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Frisco                       47 MPH    0505 AM 01/10   DAVIS                
Buxton RAWS                  46 MPH    1030 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Hatteras High (WxFlow)       46 MPH    1017 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Southern Shores 1.7 NNW      45 MPH    0718 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Kill Devil Hills             44 MPH    0515 PM 01/09   DAVIS                
Frisco 0.3 SW                43 MPH    0630 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
DVI11679                     43 MPH    0805 PM 01/09   DAVIS                
Kill Devil Hills             42 MPH    0330 PM 01/09   DAVIS                
Manteo 0.2 E                 42 MPH    0225 PM 01/09   DAVIS                
Buxton 0.7 SE                40 MPH    0945 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Manteo 0.5 SSE               40 MPH    0755 PM 01/09   DAVIS                                

...Duplin County...
Wallace 6.4 WNW (Williamsdal 52 MPH    0730 PM 01/09   NC-ECONET            
Kenansville                  50 MPH    0630 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Wallace (ACZ AWOS)           45 MPH    0705 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Kenansville (DPL AWOS)       41 MPH    0505 AM 01/10   AWOS                              

...Hyde County...
Engelhard (7W6 AWOS)         43 MPH    0930 PM 01/09   AWOS                                

...Lenoir County...
Kinston 2.5 NNE (Cunningham  46 MPH    0515 PM 01/09   NC-ECONET            
Kinston (ISO AWOS)           45 MPH    0556 PM 01/09   AWOS                 

...Martin County...
Williamston (MCZ AWOS)       46 MPH    0845 PM 01/09   AWOS                           

...Onslow County...
Jacksonville (NCA ASOS)      78 MPH    0737 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Jacksonville 1.7 NNW         77 MPH    0806 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Richlands (OAJ AWOS)         51 MPH    0713 PM 01/09   AWOS                                

...Pamlico County...
Oriental 1.7 NE              50 MPH    0900 PM 01/09   CWOP                                 

...Pitt County...
Greenville (PGV AWOS)        54 MPH    0605 PM 01/09   AWOS                 
Greenville (Dowdy Ficklen St 46 MPH    0720 PM 01/09   MESOWEST             
Farmville                    46 MPH    0530 PM 01/09   DAVIS                
FARMVILLE                    44 MPH    0605 PM 01/09   CWOP                                               

...Washington County...
Tidewater Research Station   52 MPH    0545 PM 01/09   NC-ECONET            
Pocosin Lakes RAWS           52 MPH    0917 PM 01/09   RAWS                 
Creswell 2.6 SSW             49 MPH    0945 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Roper 9.8 ENE                46 MPH    0645 PM 01/09   CWOP                 
Plymouth 12.2 SSE            42 MPH    0558 PM 01/09   CWOP                             

...Maritime Stations...
Atlantic Channel (WxFlow)    102 MPH   0926 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Jennettes Pier (WxFlow)      101 MPH   1018 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Pamlico Sound (WxFlow)       79 MPH    1002 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Ocracoke                     76 MPH    0941 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Duck Pier                    69 MPH    0948 PM 01/09   NOS-NWLON            
Diamond Buoy (41025)         67 MPH    0940 PM 01/09   NDBC                 
Alligator River Br (WxFlow)  67 MPH    0914 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Croatan Sound (WxFlow)       65 MPH    1019 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Duck Pier                    64 MPH    0648 PM 01/09   NOS-NWLON            
Onslow Bay Buoy (41064)      63 MPH    0708 PM 01/09   NDBC                 
Frisco Woods (WxFlow)        60 MPH    0955 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Avon Sound (WxFlow)          55 MPH    1030 PM 01/09   WXFLOW               
Crab Point (Wx Flow)         48 MPH    0856 PM 01/09   WXFLOW                         

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