Event Summary      National Weather Service, Raleigh NC

July 21, 2005 Severe Weather Event Updated 2005/07/27 Event Headlines - ...Thunderstorm cell merger resulted in the development of a severe thunderstorm... ...A downburst produced by the severe thunderstorm produced damaging winds of between 70 to 80 MPH... Event Overview - On Thursday, July 21st, two strong thunderstorms merged over northern Edgecombe County near the town of Leggett (Loop of KRAX Radar Reflectivity Imagery from 2328Z (728 PM EDT) through 0131Z (931 PM EDT) Thursday, July 21, 2005). The thunderstorm merger resulted in a severe thunderstorm which produced damaging winds of between 70 to 80 MPH. Winds speeds were estimated based on the National Weather Service and Edgecombe County emergency management damage assessment. Damage in the Leggett area portrayed a classic straight line wind pattern resulting in a fan effect where strong winds emanate from one point and spread outward. The downburst originated just west northwest of the Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park over a bean field. This placed the strongest downburst winds in the area of the mobile home park. Four mobile homes were destroyed and six others were damaged in the Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park. Damage totals were estimated to be around 250,000 dollars. In the area where the downburst originated bean plants were laid flat on the ground. Many of the mobiles homes that were destroyed in the Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park were flipped over as a result of the high winds. In seemingly every case the anchors and tie down straps holding the mobile homes either snapped or were pulled completely out of the ground ( photo of anchors atop a flipped trailer |  photo of a hole where anchor was removed |  photo of broken strap). Several residents were home at the time and reported hearing the wind coming but not did not have enough time to react. Several folks crawled out of the debris of their homes after being turned upside down. A few individuals received minor scratches and bruises, but there were no serious injuries or fatalities. The area of damage originated near the intersection of west Logsboro and Battleboro road just south of Route 97. The damage area extended east for about three miles to Route 33. Snapped trees resulted in damage to roofs along west Logsboro Road and Route 33 from East Logsboro Road to Fishing Creek Road. At its widest point the damage area was as much as 1.5 miles wide. Map of Damage -

Radar Loop Java Loop of KRAX Radar Reflectivity Imagery from 2328Z (728 PM EDT) through 0131Z (931 PM EDT) Thursday, July 21, 2005

Radar Analysis The damage reports and calls to emergency responders started at about 915 PM EDT on Thursday, July 21, 2005 suggesting that the event occurred. The Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park is noted on the radar imagery with the "Home" label. NWS forecasters were monitoring the storm and issued a Special Weather Statement at 851 PM EDT. Radar analysis during and after the event indicated that there was a significant cell merger with this event (Loop of KRAX Radar Reflectivity Imagery from 2328Z (728 PM EDT) through 0131Z (931 PM EDT) Thursday, July 21, 2005) but no remarkable wind signature or storm structure that would indicate this storm would be severe. KRAX 4-Panel Reflectivity Imagery from 0105Z Friday, July 22, 2005. Four panel reflectivity imagery from 0105Z (905 PM EDT, Thursday, July 21, 2005 is shown below. The four panel image contains 8bit 0.5 degree Reflectivity (upper left), 8bit 1.3 degree Reflectivity (upper right), 8bit 2.4 degree Reflectivity (lower left), and 8bit 4.0 degree Reflectivity (lower right). The Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park is noted on the radar imagery with the "Home" label. Click on the image to enlarge. KRAX 4-Panel Velocity Imagery from 0105Z Friday, July 22, 2005. Four panel Velocity imagery from 0105Z (905 PM EDT, Thursday, July 21, 2005 is shown below. The four panel image contains 8bit 0.5 degree Velocity (upper left), 8bit 1.3 degree Velocity (upper right), 8bit 2.4 degree Velocity (lower left), and 8bit 4.0 degree Velocity (lower right). The Sandy Acres Mobile Home Park is noted on the radar imagery with the "Home" label. Click on the image to enlarge.

Selected Photographs of the Severe Weather Event Photos courtesy of Jeff Orrock. (Click the image to enlarge.)

Case study team - Gail Hartfield Jeff Orrock Kermit Keeter Jonathan Blaes For questions regarding the web site, please contact Jonathan Blaes. NWS Disclaimer.