A strong, fast-moving squall line out ahead of a frontal system was plowing through the Carolinas. I estimated its arrival in Raleigh near 8pm. The storm had a history of causing damage (see photos from AR). A Severe Thunderstorm Watch had gone up for a large portion of the state and a Warning would be added at 8pm.

The radars showed it ever quickly closing in on us. The line was really trucking... it was impressive to see TWC's local loop.

I decided to hold my position; a Travelling LSI wouldn't do anybody any good with this storm: it was moving too fast to catch, it was already dark outside, and it appeared to be heading straight for us.

The radar showed that the line had been cut in two as it passed through the NC mountains, and the very top of the second line was expanding to the North. That should put the top of the line near HQ at about 8pm.

It was literally amazing how fast the whole thing came through.

At 7:58 PM, I heard it start to rain.

At 8:00 PM, I went outside with the camera, and the high winds began. Seconds earlier, the RDU airport (just west of HQ) had recorded a gust of 64 mph. The NWS began composing a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

At 8:01 PM, the winds crashed through the area, throwing a waterfall of rain 20 feet into the covered foyer, drenching myself and the videocamera. The wind before the worst of it hit made sheets of rain hang vertically in the air.

The NWS's Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued, for Western Wake county (the location of HQ).

At 8:02 PM, the wind ceased.

It was over.

At 8:03 PM, the Weather Channel broadcast the Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Although the storms were now leaving the area,

the warning served as a wake-up call to those in the area yet to receive the full power of the storm.

Luckily the only injury that I could see was the neighbor's doormat which had become airborne briefly.

I was astounded - the line had passed completely over us in a matter of minutes.

The spotter reports began to come in over the scanner:

"...65 mph estimated...christmas tree from 3 or 4 houses over just blew across the yard..."

"...winds were as strong as anything I've ever seen..."

"...this is a very fast moving, very frightening storm... the electricity went off, and 30 seconds later everything hit..."

The reports themselves wouldn't normally have been enough to spawn a PSI, but with the wind gust recorded at the airport, I knew this storm wasn't kidding around.