NWS Wilmington, NC - How to Submit a Storm Report

Submit a Storm Report

Wait! Are you in the right place?

These instructions are only intended for reporting significant weather in northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina. To be sure that you're reporting to the right place, click on this link and enter your location to find your local NWS office. Our neighboring offices include Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Raleigh, NC; and Newport/Morehead City, NC.

The National Weather Service depends on accurate reporting of severe weather in its mission to protect lives and property. We would like to hear of any significant weather phenomena that you observe, though we are particularly interested in receiving timely reports of tornadoes, one inch (quarter-sized) and larger hail, damaging wind gusts and flash flooding (see the tabs below).

How to Report:

You have a variety of ways to contact us (see the bulleted list below). Any of these methods will work. Feel free to let us know if you are a trained SKYWARN storm spotter, a ham radio operator, a member of law enforcement, or other affiliation (if applicable). After some quality control, your report may be classified as an official Local Storm Report (LSR), which will be plotted on a map. If you are interested in becoming a SKYWARN spotter, learn more here.

Phone (toll free): 1 (800) 697-3901
- This line is for storm reports only.
Social Media (be sure to follow us):
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram
Email: ilm.wxreports@noaa.gov

What Are We Looking For?

Your reports can be a vital component of our decision to issue vs. not to issue warnings for hazardous weather. It's important that you provide information that is as accurate as possible.

Location
- Latitude and Longitude (most preferred method of reporting location)
- Road/street and city or zip code
- Distance/direction from nearest city (e.g., 4 NE Florence, SC...this is the least preferred method)
The type of weather you are reporting
Approximate time and duration that it occurred
PICTURES/VIDEOS!!
A phone number so we can contact you again in the future for further clarification.

Click on the tabs below for more detailed information on what to report. You can also refer to the Weather Spotter's Field Guide. Thank you for your reports!

Tornado

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Tornado Intensity Scale

EF Rating	3 Second Gust (mph)
0	65-85
1	86-110
2	111-135
3	136-165
4	166-200
5	Over 200

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Tornado Intensity Scale (seen above) is used to categorize the strength of tornadoes. We assign these ratings after we go out and survey the damage. More information about the EF scale and damage indicators are located here.

Funnel Cloud: A condensation funnel extending from the base of a towering cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud, associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground (therefore, different from a tornado). Not all funnel clouds will become tornadoes. A condensation funnel only becomes a tornado if either a) it is in contact with the ground or b) a debris cloud or dust whirl is visible beneath it.

Damaging Winds

What kind of damage did the wind cause?

Small limbs down (less than 2" in diameter)
Large limbs/branches down (more than 2" in diameter)
Trees snapped or uprooted
Power lines down (DO NOT TOUCH THESE)
Structural damage and/or roof damage
If you have an anemometer or an at-home weather station, wind gusts of 40 mph or greater are particularly important to know.

Hail

**Hail Size Chart**
Size Description	Diameter (inches)
Pea	1/4
Penny	3/4
Nickel	7/8
Quarter	1.00*
Half Dollar	1.25*
Ping Pong Ball	1.50*
Golf Ball	1.75*
Hen Egg	2.00*
Tennis Ball	2.50*
Baseball	2.75*
Grapefruit	4.00*
Softball	4.50*

*Any hail size at or above a quarter (1.00 inches) is considered to be a severe thunderstorm.