Strong Wind — Rockingham, North Carolina

2024-01-19 · Rockingham, North Carolina

Event narrative

Two trees were downed by strong winds on North Main Street, which caused a couple of road closures and power outages.

Wider weather episode

A front ahead of a very cold airmass moved westward and into the Central Appalachians and Mid Atlantic through January 19. A strong 850mb jet associated with this frontal system followed quickly behind the system, and when combined with the cold air advection and steep pressure rises, resulted in strong surface winds, especially along the higher elevations of the southern Blue Ridge and mountains of northwest North Carolina. Some stronger gusts were able to mix down and lead to some wind damage in the Piedmont of North Carolina as well.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1155421. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.