5/5/09 NOW: Carolinas

[Dan Robinson]

Yet another surprise tornado event under way in North Carolina. Upper levels are fairly unidirectional, but winds at the surface are backed, the sun has come out and storms have been staying discrete/broken. Reflectivities are not very impressive but some of the velocity couplets have been potent. One cell heading into the Raleigh metro ATTM.

 

[Chad Ringley]

Cell on Chatham/Wake County line had a very robust hook echo on last scan; wonder if that tornado is rain wrapped but on the ground. Another tornadic cell E of Raleigh in Wilson County headed NE presently as well.

 

[Bryce Stone]

Multiple tornadoes have already occurred with possible injuries. I count no less than five tornado warnings currently in the Carolinas and an additional warning in Georgia. One tornado warning mentions that the warned storm has already produced major damage in Johnston County.

 

[Dan Robinson]

WRAL is streaming live at:

http://www.wral.com/news/video/5087354/

 

[Bill Hark]

Dan, thanks for the link. They were interviewing someone from downtown Raleigh who saw a funnel cloud over the city. He was watching from one of the office buildings.

No, I am not out chasing. This event was too unexpected to try and take off from work. Arghh!! I hope someone is chasing.

Bill Hark

 

[Elinor McLennon]

Amazing shots from that tower cam. Believe it's located near North Carolina State University.

 

[Elinor McLennon]

WRAL reporting from sources at the Red Cross that approx. 32 homes in Johnson and Wilson county heavily damaged....some completely destroyed.

 

[Dan Robinson]

My brother was shooting photos and video from South Saunders just south of downtown Raleigh when the storm moved overhead. He saw strong rising motion over downtown, as well as a chaser convergence right there on S. Saunders. NC State sounded their sirens. I agree those towercam shots were pretty impressive.

Some of the viewer photos show pretty nice structure and a couple of tornadoes around Wilson and Sims. I am always skeptical about trusting viewer-submitted shots, but some appear to be of the same scene from different people at different angles, and therefore more believable.