Viewer “J” recently inquired: [March 29] around 10 pm I saw a bright light in the northeastern sky. I looked like a meterorite burning up in the atmosphere. It lit up the sky briefly and the colors alternated between orange and green before disappearing. I was wondering if anyone else saw this?

Viewer “PJ” wrote to tell us: We were driving toward the Pamlico River on River Hills Road, Blounts Creek, @ ~9:21 p.m. [March 29] and saw a VERY bright ‘burning/glowing’ object high in the sky, fall toward the opposite side of the river with a bright yellow tail behind it (almost looked like a comet) then while it was still high in sky it extinguished and it was gone.

Thanks for the emails, viewers!  My response:

I just spoke with the National Weather Service in Newport on these emails.  The meteorologist-on-duty said that last night’s shift got word of this phenomenon, too.  Also, they heard of a large number of reports - similar in nature to our local reports - about the sky over southeastern Virginia.  The geography would fit in with our local reports i.e. “J” claims he was looking “in the northeastern sky” and “PJ” claims she was on the south side of Beaufort County and the light was coming from the “opposite”, or north, side of the river. 

I suppose there’s no way to confirm the “space junk” theory.  But, I did ask that the NWS in Newport email me if they heard anything more on the matter.

For an article on this matter from Associated Press, click here.

If I hear more, I will post.  Also, viewers, if you hear anything on this matter, please post.

Thanks for checking into my blog.

A complex storm system spawned widespread heavy showers and isolated severe weather in Eastern Carolina this weekend past.

Friday brought mainly tame showers, except for a narrow window of time (6 - 7pm).  At that time, heavy convective rain showers interacted with a temperature and wind boundary draped across Pitt and Greene Counties (In the northern parts of these counties, temperatures were holding in the low / mid 60s with easterly winds.  In the southern parts of these counties, temperatures had warmed into the 70-degree-range with south breezes).  The boundary was able to infuse the heavy convective showers with just enough energy and spin to allow them to produce brief, weak tornadoes:

Greenville Case: At ~6:05pm, an EF1 tornado, with winds estimated between 85 and 95mph, produced minor damage to several homes along Firetower Road between Evans Street and Corey Road. 

Hookerton Case: Also around 6:05pm, an EF1 tornado, with winds estimated between 105 and 115mph, produced some damage around 2 miles west of town.

Going into this past weekend, Storm Team 9 had been particularly concerned with the severe weather potential for Saturday night.  Most of the Channel 9 viewing area went under a Tornado Watch Saturday evening / night, but thankfully, no severe weather actually occurred here.  In nearby Bladen County, an EF2 tornado damaged homes and left some people trapped under debris Saturday evening, but the rotating thunderstorm that spawned this tornado failed to produce any subsequent tornadoes or wind damage as it crossed through Sampson, Duplin, and Wayne Counties.  Given the ominous setup but the benign outcome, I believe the Channel 9 viewing area dodged a bullet Saturday night.

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Thanks for checking into my blog!  Here is a drought / rainfall progress report for Eastern North Carolina from the past month:

February 17, 2009: A drier-than-average January and early February prompt NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to place most of Eastern North Carolina in a D1 / Moderate Drought stage.

February 18, 2009: Around 1” of soaking rain falls area-wide.

February 24, 2009: Rainfall from the previous week prevents the drought level from worsening.  NOAA holds most of Eastern Carolina in a D1 / Moderate Drought stage. 

March 1, 2009: A weekend washout brings a widespread 1 to 3.5” of soaking rain area-wide!

March 3, 2009: Given the recent soaking, NOAA no longer classifies any part of Eastern North Carolina as having a D1 / Moderate Drought stage.  A D0 / Abnormally Dry stage remains effective for all counties except Duplin.

March 10, 2009: Despite a full week of dry weather, Eastern Carolina drought stages progress to levels no worse than D0 / Abnormally Dry.

March 16, 2009: Most of Eastern Carolina receives between 0.75” and 2.75” of soaking rainfall between Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16. 

I surmise that the recent dose of significant rain will hoist more - or even most - of Eastern North Carolina out the of D0 / Abnormally Dry stage.  New NOAA drought statistics will be released Thursday.  Check back for updates!

North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week concludes this Friday on the topic of severe weather bulletins.  Storm Team 9 reminds you to tune to 9 whenever severe weather threatens!  We’ll pass along the latest severe weather watches and /or warnings (as issued by the National Weather Service) along with the meteorological perspective you expect from us.  For more information on severe weather bulletins, click here.

Thanks for checking into my blog!

North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week continues this Thursday with the topic of flooding.  Statistically, flooding is the most deadly weather phenomenon associated with thunderstorms.  Read more about the flooding and its dangers here.

Any time the National Weather Service issues a flood warning, Storm Team 9 will bring you the critical details immediately.  Always heed flood warning!  Also, when driving, I can never stress this safety motto enough: “turn around, don’t drown” if you happen upon a floodwater-covered roadway!

Thanks for checking into my blog!  Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week.

North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week continues this Wednesday.  Yesterday’s topic - lightning - is a phenomenon that occurs in all thunderstorms, but today’s topic - the tornado - is a particularly dangerous phenomenon common to only the most severe thunderstorms. 

For more information on tornadoes and today’s statewide tornado drill, click here. 

As severe thunderstorm season nears, stay with Storm Team 9 for the latest forecasts and timely updates on any tornado bulletins the National Weather Service may issue.  Also, be sure to check back to this blog for more severe weather awareness information.

What packs 1,000,000,000 volts, heats anything it touches to 50,000 degrees, and visits North Carolina around 500,000 times a year? 

It’s today’s North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week Topic: lightning!  Click here for life-saving information on the awe-inspiring, but potentially deadly thunderstorm phenomenon.

Also, be sure to check back to my blog for future North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week information.  Tomorrow’s topic is tornadoes*.

* A state-wide tornado drill will occur at 9:30am Wednesday, March 4.

North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week is here!  Today’s topic: a reminder of the definition of a “severe” thunderstorm.  A severe thunderstorm produces any of the following three items (or any combination of the three):

- a tornado

- hailstones greater than or equal to the diameter of a penny

- a wind gust exceeding 58mph

For more information on severe thunderstorms, follow this link.

Thanks for checking into my blog!  Look for more Severe Weather Awareness Week postings to follow.

Keep the great weather questions coming, viewers!  Here’s a recent good one:

I recently purchased a weather station.  What does the weather term “BFT” on the weather station mean?  What is the meaning of the number beside the BFT?

Here was my reply:

Good question!  I’d guess that “BFT” on your station refers to the “Beaufort Wind Scale”, often used as a kind of meteorological short-hand for mariners (0 = calm, 2 = light breeze, 8 = gale, etc.).

Gannon Medwick
Storm Team 9 Meteorologist

For more information on the Beaufort Wind Scale (including a full version of the scale), click here.

Thanks for checking into my blog!

Rainfall* has been scarce in 2009, and accordingly, the year-to-date rainfall deficit** is already large across our region:

New Bern deficit: 4.79”
Raleigh deficit: 3.15”
Hatteras deficit: 5.93”
Elizabeth City deficit: 4.82”
Wilmington deficit:4.35”

* Statistically, “rainfall” really means liquid precipitation which includes both rainfall and melted snow / ice.
** Rainfall Deficit = Average Rain - Actual Rain

Welcome rain remains in the forecast for Wednesday, February 18.  A widespread .5”+ rainfall is possible.

Thanks for checking into my blog!