Thunderstorm Wind in Jones County, North Carolina

A severe thunderstorm produced damaging winds and large

hail along Lees Chapel Road, to the southwest of Pollocksville in Jones

County, NC. The damage path started along Lees Chapel Road where

multiple smaller branches and leaf debris were found. Near the

intersection of Lees Chapel Road and Riggstown Road, a large healthy

hardwood tree was uprooted. No other damage to adjacent buildings was

found in this area. The uprooted tree was pointed toward 140 degrees or

toward the southeast. With the damage path toward the same direction and

in a divergent pattern, this was likely caused by a microburst. The

damage path continued ended along Lees Chapel Road. Peak winds were estimated to be between 75 and 80 MPH with a path length of .92 miles and a path width of 400 yards. A special thanks to

Jones County EMA for helping us complete this survey along with the

residents who provided eyewitness accounts of the storm.

A cold front, aided by an unusually amplified mid level trough, moved through Eastern North Carolina during the peak heating of the afternoon. This combined with favorable instability and shear to produce organized clusters and lines of thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and large hail.