Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued for Wilmington Area

News Summary

The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Wilmington, NC, with high winds and potential hail. Alerts affect several counties including Georgetown and Columbus, predicting wind gusts up to 60 mph and risks of lightning and tornadoes. Residents are advised to stay indoors and report any damage. A severe thunderstorm watch remains active until 10 p.m. Monday.

Wilmington, NC – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the Wilmington area, emphasizing high winds and potential hail through Monday evening. The warning first activated early Sunday morning and remains effective for several counties, including Inland Georgetown, Conway, Marion, and Williamsburg.

The initial warning, which began at 3:18 a.m. and lasted until 4:15 a.m., forecast wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph with hail expected to be pea-sized, measuring approximately 0.25 inches. Doppler radar indicated a significant thunderstorm over Warsaw, situated 17 miles northwest of Georgetown, moving northeast at 35 mph as of 3:17 a.m. This storm poses risks of downed tree limbs and flying debris, potentially damaging vegetation.

Areas directly affected by this morning’s alert encompass Conway, Red Hill, Socastee, Andrews, Rhems, Warsaw, and several educational institutions such as Horry Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University.

In a further update issued at 9:44 p.m. on Sunday, the NWS extended the severe thunderstorm warnings to Bladen and Columbus counties until 10:30 p.m. Strong thunderstorm activity was reported near Hallsboro, fast approaching from the east at 25 mph. This alert impacts areas like Lake Waccamaw, Sandyfield, and Council.

Lightning risks accompany these storms, with data indicating that around 25 million lightning strikes occur across the United States annually, leading to approximately 20 fatalities each year. The chances of lightning tend to rise as thunderstorms approach and peak when storms are overhead, decreasing afterward. Thus, residents are urged to stay indoors when storms advance.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains active for the Wilmington area until 10 p.m. Monday, with wind gusts anticipated to reach up to 60 mph and possible tornado development. Heavy rains and severe thunderstorms are expected to initially impact areas further inland before traveling toward the coast throughout the evening. Coastal Brunswick County is under a high surf advisory until 8 p.m. Monday due to large waves between 4-6 feet, and dangerous rip currents are anticipated along the coastline.

In case of tornado warnings, the public is advised to move to interior rooms on the lowest levels of their homes, away from windows. Residents living in mobile homes or spending time outdoors must seek sturdier shelters and protect themselves from flying debris.

This is not the first severe thunderstorm warning this weekend. A previous warning was issued for Brunswick and Columbus counties at 5:03 a.m. on Sunday, predicting similar wind gusts of up to 60 mph. The storm was reported near Grissettown, moving northeast at 45 mph, affecting surrounding locations like Leland and Sunset Beach.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any observations of hail or wind damage to local emergency services or the NWS. Monitoring updates from the NWS will be essential for ensuring safety as severe weather conditions progress through the region.

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HERE Resources

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Additional Resources

• Charlotte Observer
• Wikipedia: Severe Thunderstorm
• Star News Online
• Google Search: Wilmington NC severe weather
• Weather.com
• Google Scholar: thunderstorm warning North Carolina
• Charlotte Observer
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Thunderstorm
• Fox Weather
• Google News: severe weather Wilmington