Tropical Storm Fred (2021)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 9, 2021 to August 20, 2021

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 55 kt (63 mph)

Lowest pressure

991 mb (29.26 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

2.4

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

130 nmi (241 km, 150 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

30 nmi (56 km, 35 mi)

Overall size

150 nmi (278 km, 173 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

65 kt (75 mph)

Fastest the center moved

22 kt (25 mph)

Identifier

AL062021

Radar at KEVX as it neared land, Aug 16, 19:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

8 (7 direct, 1 indirect)

Injuries

2

Property damage

$255 million

Crop damage

none recorded

Events recorded

436 in 36 reports from 17 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

150 flash flood, 60 thunderstorm wind, 59 marine thunderstorm wind, 50 heavy rain, 45 tropical storm, 32 tornado, 24 flood, 11 marine tropical storm, 1 lightning, 1 debris flow, 1 hail, 1 storm surge/tide, 1 marine dense fog.

32 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Very heavy rainfall caused water to encroach on business entrances in the Mid Beach area of Miami Beach near 40 Street and Collins Avenue. Business owners placed sandbags at entrances to prevent additional water from entering buildings. Water was at least as deep as the bumpers of vehicles. Rain gauges in the general area measured around 3 inches of rain which fell in a short period of time.

Miami-Dade, Florida · Flash Flood · Aug 13, 02:50 UTC

Observations received from CoCoRaHS, mesonet, and Cooperative Observer showed that between 5 to 8 inches of rain fell in the Stuart area from the evening of August 13 into the early morning of August 14. This heavy rain occurred across Stuart, Port Salerno, eastern Palm City, North River Shores, and Jensen Beach. Observations over near 7 inches were received from four recording stations within Stuart (highest value was from a CoCoRaHS station in Stuart; 7.91 inches).

Martin, Florida · Heavy Rain · Aug 13, 23:00 UTC

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 85 mph and a maximum path width of 150 yards touched down near Coleman Creek Circle just east of Highway 27/41 (Roosevelt Highway) in northwest Meriwether County, snapping several large trees along Coleman Creek Circle. The tornado moved west northwest, crossing Roosevelt Highway downing additional trees across Sawmill Road to Charlie Fuller Road before dissipating just west of Charlie Fuller Road. [8/17/21: Tornado #2, County #1/1, EF-0, Meriwether, 2021:016].

Meriwether, Georgia · Tornado · Aug 17, 08:34 UTC

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph and a maximum path width of 150 yards touched down just south of I-16 near exit 24. The tornado moved north across I-16 flipping several boats outside of a distribution center for Academy Sports and Outdoors on the north side of the interstate. The distribution center sustaining minor roof damage with pieces of metal sheeting blown into a nearby fence along Missile Base Road. One wall on a small pump station near a well was also blown in. The tornado continued north with trees blown down around the intersection of Prospect Church Road and Highway 96. The tornado dissipated just north of this intersection. [8/17/21: Tornado #3, County #1/1, EF-0, Twiggs, 2021:017].

Twiggs, Georgia · Tornado · Aug 17, 09:47 UTC

A National Weather Service Storm Survey team confirmed an EF1 tornado, with peak winds of 90 mph, west-northwest of Murphys Estates in Edgefield County, SC. The tornado began near Briggs Road, where it snapped and uprooted multiple trees and destroyed a small shed. The tornado then continued north-northeast, crossing Big Branch Court and Moore Road, where it snapped multiple softwood trees. The survey team was not able to confirm any additional damage north of this immediate area due to a lack of access from the ground. However, the South Carolina Forestry Commission assisted the survey using a fixed wing aircraft and was not able to determine any additional areas with significant damage. The survey team did note isolated tree damage along Dry Bridge Road and Republican Road, but there is not enough evidence that this was the result of a tornado.

Edgefield, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 17, 17:03 UTC

Stream gauges indicated significant flash flooding developed for the second day in a row near the upper reaches of the French Broad River after 3 to 6 inches of rain fell in the headwaters in just a few hours. This was on top of the 6-12 inches that fell durimg the morning of the 16th. Flooding was slightly worse in the Rosman and Balsam Grove area than what was observed on the 16th, with the stream gauge at Rosman reaching its second highest level on record (4 October 1964). Multiple structures along the river were once again inundated, including on Depot St, Highway 178, Main St, and Chestnut St in Rosman. Flash flooding again developed along the Davidson River in the Pisgah Forest area, overflowing portions of Davidson River Rd and Deavor Rd and inundating several businesses near the intersection of Highways 64 and 276.

Transylvania, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Aug 17, 19:15 UTC

The tornado initially formed over Lexington County near Windmill Road. The tornado continued northeast moving over Lake Murray and crossing the peninsula near Dreher Island State Park in Newberry County. Video provided the NWS showed the tornado developing multiple vorticies over Lake Murray approximately 0.5 miles from Dreher Island State Park. The ground survey indicated several trees snapped or uprooted on Sassafras Lane. One of the trees fell on a home damaging the roof. The tornado then continued to move northeast crossing near the entrance to Dreher Island State Park, where it snapped or uprooted multiple trees. The tornado then moved north-northeast back over Lake Murray toward Lexington County. Winds were estimated to be around 95 mph with a path width of 100 yards.

Newberry, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 17, 19:49 UTC

A stream gauge on the French Broad River near Marshall indicated flash flooding developed along the river in the town of Marshall after widespread heavy rainfall occurred throughout the basin over 24 hours, with a good bit of that falling in just a few hours during the afternoon of the 17th. Multiple roads were flooded throughout the Marshall area, while many buildings in downtown Marshall experienced at least some inundation. Although the rivers rapid rise leveled off during the late evening as heavy rainfall came to an end, runoff working its way downstream through the basin resulted in moderate flooding persisting along the river until around sunrise on the 18th, while the river didnt return to its banks until late morning. This was the worst flooding that developed along this portion of the French Broad River since Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

Madison, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Aug 17, 21:30 UTC

There were reports of multiple cars stuck in flooded roadways. PA-462 was closed in both directions between Belmont Road and Eastern Boulevard in Springettsbury Township. PennDOT cameras showed Interstate 83 at Exit 19: PA-462 is flooded with several stranded cars (842 pm EDT). Video of some of the flooding was found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Gm3007vk8 .

York, Pennsylvania · Flash Flood · Aug 19, 00:00 UTC

A line of thunderstorms moved across Montgomery and Bucks Counties early on the morning of August 19th as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred moved across central Pennsylvania. As a velocity couplet formed across Montgomery County, a tornado formed roughly a mile and a half south of Souderton, PA around 12:25 AM EDT, where it brought down a tree branch and tore siding off of a residence on Garrison Lane. From there, the tornado appears to have lifted briefly before bringing down a few small trees and branches along Township Line Road, near County Line Rd at Bethlehem Pike. The tornado then moved into Bucks County, where its path continued.

Montgomery, Pennsylvania · Tornado · Aug 19, 04:25 UTC

A velocity couplet formed in Morris County early in the morning of August 19th in association with thunderstorms as the remnants of Tropical storm Fred moved across the region. A weak tornado formed from this couplet, first touching down along Mount Pleasant Avenue and Irwin Place in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, where several small branches and a portion of a vinyl fence were brought down. From there, the tornado moved through a subdivision, bringing down several small pine trees and branches along Lenox Road, Arlene Drive, and Miller Avenue. A few small branches were then brought down as the tornado proceeded northeast across Fleetwood Drive. The tornado then crossed Interstate 80, snapping several trees along Reservoir and Katherine Road. A few large branches were also knocked down in this area as the tornado lifted.

Morris, New Jersey · Tornado · Aug 19, 06:38 UTC

Significant urban flash flooding occurred in Hartford. The Fire Dept. reported that Homestead Avenue was closed due to flash flooding. Cars were stuck, with water up to the roofs of the cars. Amateur radio operators reported that sections of Albany Avenue, Laurel Street, and Farmington Acenue were all closed due to flash flooding. On South Whitney Street at Warrenton Avenue, there was 3 feet of water at the intersection. There was basement flooding inside St. Francis Hospital. Rainfall totals ended up between 5.0 and 5.8 inches in northern Hartford and Tolland Counties.

Hartford, Connecticut · Flash Flood · Aug 19, 12:16 UTC

In Worcester, there were numerous road closures due to urban flash flooding, after approximately 3 to 4 inches of rain fell. The following areas were flooded and impassable... William Street at Somerset Street, Southbridge Street, McKeon Road, Quinsigamond Avenue at Lamartine Street, East Central Street under the I-290 bridge, Glennie Street, Milbrook Street under the I-90 bridge, and Enid Street at Commonwealth Avenue.

Worcester, Massachusetts · Flash Flood · Aug 19, 15:38 UTC

In Worcester, there were numerous road closures due to urban flash flooding, after approximately 3 to 4 inches of rain fell. The following areas were flooded and impassable... William Street at Somerset Street, Southbridge Street, McKeon Road, Quinsigamond Avenue at Lamartine Street, East Central Street under the I-290 bridge, Glennie Street, Milbrook Street under the I-90 bridge, and Enid Street at Commonwealth Avenue.

Worcester, Massachusetts · Flash Flood · Aug 19, 15:38 UTC

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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Tropical Storm Fred