If a tornado watch is issued, you should have your supplies, choose a safe place and have a plan in place just in case a tornado develops. CoCoRaHS When the tornado reached NC Highway 904 (Seaside Rd) it damaged a church, a large metal building, and overturned a number of RVs. The National Weather Service says parts of North Carolina, including Charlotte, are now under a tornado warning. Track all current severe weather warnings, watches and advisories for Asheville, North Carolina and other areas in the United States on the interactive weather alerts page. NWS confirms three tornadoes touched down in North Carolina from Thursdays severe weather, Waxhaw native Saldiveri becomes first player from his Union Co. school drafted into NFL, Police searching for driver in deadly hit-and-run in Salisbury, Stretch of dry weather begins week with mostly mild high temperatures, Cold front sliding in for cooler, drier weather this week, First Alert Weather Day: Rounds of rain, storms return Sunday, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Continuing northeastward, the tornado crossed Saw Pit Swamp and entered the Ocean Ridge Plantation community. This only means to be on watch and stay informed about the weather in your area in case things intensify. Rain and Rivers Although most are weaker tornadoes, North Carolina has seen strong tornadoes as well. Track all current severe weather warnings, watches and advisories for Asheville, North Carolina and other areas in the United States on the interactive weather alerts page. This storm tracker contains data from 1851. Newsletter TheStorm Prediction Centerand localNational Weather Serviceoffices closely monitor developing thunderstorms and issue a watch or warning if the storm warrants an alert. North Carolina is no stranger to tornadoes and the damage they bring. We have seen tornadoes develop from strong cold fronts, tropical systems, and everything in between. The frequency and intensity of tornadoes varies across our state, but most tend to occur in eastern North Carolina. And much more of the Southeast is at risk of severe weather today. A tornado touched down Monday in southern Brunswick County, killing three people, injuring 10 and damaging at least 50 homes. NWS officials say this tornado remained on the ground for about six minutes. Brunswick County's tornado history since 1950, Washington Post: 3 dead, 10 injured as tornado tears through North Carolina coast, WWAY TV: EF-3 tornado leaves three dead, 10 injured in Brunswick County, WECT TV: Community comes together to support those hit by deadly tornado, Wilmington Star-News: A freak storm: Brunswick County tornado victims held on with prayer as the storm passed, Page Author: Tim Armstrong Since 1980, the average number of reported tornadoes of EF1 strength or greater in North Carolina declined from 13.3 annually for the 20-year period of 1980-1999 to 12.2 annually for 2000-2019. NWS The F4 killed four people and injured more than 150 others. The data is updated every month. Hazardous Weather Outlook |. EM Briefing Copyright 2021 WBTV. Space Weather, Office Programs By Associated Press. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Local Observations (List) Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Automated mesoanalysis from the Storm Prediction Center showed instability had grown to over 1000 J/kg with effective bulk shear around 45 knots at 11pm EST on February 15. Updated: 1:21 PM EDT March 18, 2021 GREENSBORO, N.C. We're watching our first threat of severe weather of the year this afternoon. Additional investigation will take place this weekend. Around 50 homes sustained damage the Brunswick County sheriff called "devastating" in a Facebook post. A powerful tornado developed across southwestern Brunswick County, NC late in the evening of February 15, 2021, causing severe damage to homes in the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood on US Highway 17. After surveying the site on Tuesday andWednesday, the weather service gave the tornado a "high-end EF3 rating" on the Enhanced Fujita damage scale, with the wind speed estimated at 160 mph. Rivers/Lakes Weather Safety The latest look at the Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) outage map shows more than 800 Brunswick County customers without power. WebThis interactive map, which contains data from January 1950 to January 31, 2023, pinpoints where a cyclone touched down and traces its path of destruction. This includes Louisville and Evansville in Indiana and Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Jonesboro in Arkansas. Social Media Feeds This data is updated every 5 minutes. Catawba County, North Carolina, is located in the western part of the state in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It wasnt until about two minutes after the storm passed that a tornado warning popped up on his cellphone, he said. Please try another search. Deadly tornado carved 22-mile path of destruction in NC. The Air Quality Index (AQI) translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health. Current data typically are recorded at 15- to 60-minute intervals. Eight EF3 tornadoes hit North Carolina since 2010. U.S. 17 northbound was closed from Thomasboro Road to Ocean Isle Beach Road due to downed power lines with traffic being diverted, according to the sheriff's office. The tornado continued moving northeastward for almost 3 miles into private logging land, damaging many more trees before finally lifting. When the tornado reached NC Highway 904 (Seaside Rd) it damaged a church, a large metal building, and overturned a number of RVs. Wind speeds here estimated to have reached 115 mph. This heat, in addition to the high humidity, are two important ingredients needed for severe weather, and its this region where the Storm Prediction Center is most concerned for tornadoes. On the southern end of the county, it sits in the middle of downtown Wilmington and the heart of Myrtle Beach, S.C., about 40-to-45 miles from each. The Air Quality Index (AQI) translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health. A detailed NWS storm survey along the tornado's 22 mile long path cataloged damage consistent with wind speeds of up to 160mph (EF3) and a damage swath up to 275 yards wide. Rip Current Risk This file is no longer being updated. Southeast Regional Radar rain totals were below 4 and no tornadoes were spawned. National Hurricane Center The tornado was on the ground intermittently for approximately 5 min. Power is expected to be restored sometime Wednesday, according to spokesmanCorey Thurlow. Questions? Observations Map Brunswick County Emergency Management reports there were three fatalities and ten injuries directly associated with this tornado, concentrated in the Ocean Ridge Plantation area. Along the boundary where that cold and warm air converges, especially along a cold front, we can see severe weather events.. Important note: These paths represent the approximate center of the damage path. A tornado with 100 mph peak winds touched down in northwestern Orange County. Model Data, Hazards Careers in the National Weather Service All rights reserved. Corey Davis is the Assistant State Climatologist for North Carolina. Known as a family friendly vacation area, Ocean Isle Beach is home to two local hotels, locally owned waterfront restaurants, and various options for house and condo rentals. Damage observed here implied wind speeds near 135 mph. A warning means you need to seek shelter immediately. ET. Enhanced National Radar A tornado that was a F/EF-3 or F/EF-4 was only 3.5% of the reported tornadoes. This includes Charlotte and Rockingham in North Carolina, and Columbia and Greenwood in South Carolina and Augusta in Georgia. The data is updated every month. As the tornado moved to the east-southeast, roof damage was observed to one residence and a church. Weather Prediction Center forecasts the probability that rainfall will exceed flash flood guidance within 25 miles of a point. Mark Willis, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Services office in nearby Wilmington, said the tornado was spawned when warm air collided with a cold front that has brought ice, snow and subzero temperatures to much of the nation. Local Research Tropical Local Climate Records The National Weather Service tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the tornado was a ferocious EF3, with winds estimated at 160 mph (257 kph). By late afternoon, quickly moving thunderstorms will begin to form and they will persist into the night. The team's Twitter account said that they were OK. Parts of Atlanta were briefly put under a tornado warning this morning for a radar-confirmed tornado. Stream and Lake Levels NOAA Weather Radio For more recent tornadoes, clicking deeper provides more details, damage estimates and whether someone was injured or killed in the storm. The data is updated every month. The last data received from this weather station at 11:36 pm showed a 0.07 in Hg (2.4 millibar) drop in pressure in just two minutes as the tornado approached. These caused 2,752 injuries, 132 deaths and more than $1.7 billion in property and crop damage. Weather Activity Planner While that warning has been lifted, a tornado watch is still in effect for the entire metro-Atlanta area, as well as much of west-central Georgia and portions of eastern Alabama until 4 p.m. EF0 Light Damage (40 72 mph), EF1 Moderate Damage (73 112 mph), EF2 Significant damage (113 157 mph), EF3 Severe Damage (158 206 mph), EF4 Devastating Damage (207 260 mph), EF5 Incredible Damage (261 318 mph), Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On February 15, 2021 a warm front was lifting north across the Carolinas ahead of low pressure approaching from the west. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, from 1950 to 2019, North Carolina saw a total of 1,387 tornadoes. Graphical Forecasts Debris from one home was swept completely clear of the foundation. The twister tore through the Ocean Ridge Plantation, a complex of expensive residences clustered around a golf course, collapsing some homes and damaging dozens of others. This means a tornado is imminent. SEL1 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 41 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 205 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has Click on each county to see the details. Science and Technology, Office Programs Thats when all the damage occurred. Benson said her roof was damaged, several windows were shattered and her garage door was blown off. WebTornadoes show up as spinning, funnel-shaped clouds that reach from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. April and May are the months with the most tornadic activity in North Carolina.