North Carolina, 2004

Hurricane and Tornadoes in North Carolina, August 14, 2004

August 14, 2004 · NWS MHX · 29 events in 19 counties and zones

Tropical Storm Charley moved northeast across the Coastal Plains of Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours on August 14th. Onslow county received the most damage, with estimates over 5 million dollars, as winds gusted to near hurricane force toppling trees and power lines with structural damage to homes and businesses.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$7.0 million
Crop damage
$2.9 million
Events
29

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MHX wrote it up.

Tropical Storm Charley moved northeast across the Coastal Plains of Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours on August 14th. Onslow county received the most damage, with estimates over 5 million dollars, as winds gusted to near hurricane force toppling trees and power lines with structural damage to homes and businesses. Winds gusted from 60-70 mph across Inland areas near the center of the storm resulting in wind damage to structures, and damage to crops reaching into the millions. Winds gusted from 40 to 50 mph across locations across Eastern North Carolina with minor wind damage reported. Storm surge values were highest along the Onslow County coastline where a 2 to 3 foot surge was estimated, and 8 foot waves caused minor beach erosion along the south facing beaches. Water levels rose up to 2 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse and the Pamlico Rivers, and across the Outer Banks. Storm total rainfall, estimated between 4 to 6 inches, occurred across a large part of the area resulting in freshwater flooding in 7 counties across the Coastal Plains. Five weak tornadoes were reported across the area associated with Charley with damage reported. The most significant damage related to a tornado occurred along the Outer Banks in Nags Head.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 13, 8:59 PM EST, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 8:59 PM EST, 3 hours 1 minute before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 13, 3:39 AM EST, 20 hours 21 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
439 AM EDT FRI AUG 13 2004

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-140839-
BEAUFORT NC-CARTERET NC-CRAVEN NC-DUPLIN NC-GREENE NC-JONES NC-
LENOIR NC-MAINLAND DARE NC-MAINLAND HYDE NC-MARTIN NC-ONSLOW NC-
OUTER BANKS DARE NC-OUTER BANKS HYDE NC-PAMLICO NC-PITT NC-
TYRRELL NC-WASHINGTON NC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC BEACH...BAYBORO...BEAUFORT...
BELHAVEN...BEULAVILLE...BUXTON...CEDAR ISLAND...COLUMBIA...DUCK...
EMERALD ISLE...ENGELHARD...FRISCO...GREENVILLE...HARKERS ISLAND...
HATTERAS VILLAGE...HAVELOCK...JACKSONVILLE...KENANSVILLE...
KILL DEVIL HILLS...KINSTON...KITTY HAWK...LA GRANGE...MANNS HARBOR...
MANTEO...MOREHEAD CITY...NAGS HEAD...NEW BERN...
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH...OCRACOKE...ORIENTAL...PLYMOUTH...SNOW HILL...
SWANQUARTER...SWANSBORO...TRENTON...WALLACE...WARSAW...
WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMSTON
439 AM EDT FRI AUG 13 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BONNIE WILL LIFT OUT OF THE REGION
TODAY. HEAVY RAINS THIS MORNING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING WILL
END EARLY THIS MORNING.

LATE THIS EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION FROM THE
SOUTH AHEAD OF THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE CHARLEY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS
MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS LATE THIS EVENING WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES THE
PRIMARY THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL REMAIN A THREAT EARLY SATURDAY WITH THE
REMNANTS OF HURRICANE CHARLEY LIFTING THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA ON
SATURDAY. HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO BE THREAT BY EARLY SATURDAY. THESE
HEAVY RAINS ON ALREADY SATURATED SOILS WILL PRODUCE A FLOODING THREAT
FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

MLF

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 hurricane (typhoon), 7 flash flood, 5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Beaufort

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Beaufort forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$125,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.486, -76.845 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Carteret

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Carteret forecast zone
Property damage
$250,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hurricane (Typhoon), Craven

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Craven forecast zone
Property damage
$525,000
Crop damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hurricane (Typhoon), Duplin

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Duplin forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$250,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.936, -77.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Eastern Dare

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Dare forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hurricane (Typhoon), Eastern Hyde

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Hyde forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hurricane (Typhoon), Greene

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Greene forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$250,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.485, -77.676 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Jones

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Jones forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$300,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.022, -77.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lenoir

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Lenoir forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$300,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.239, -77.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Martin

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Martin forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$150,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.842, -77.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Onslow

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Onslow forecast zone
Property damage
$5.0 million
Crop damage
$500,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hurricane (Typhoon), Pamlico

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Pamlico forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$200,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.152, -76.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Pitt

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Pitt forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Crop damage
$300,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.594, -77.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Tyrrell

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Tyrrell forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$150,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.870, -76.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Washington

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.839, -76.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Western Dare

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Western Dare forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.787, -75.781 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane (Typhoon), Western Hyde

When
August 14, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Western Hyde forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.410, -76.148 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Onslow

When
August 14, 12:30 PM EST
Where
Onslow County, Jacksonville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.750, -77.417

Emergency Manager reported minor structural damage at the Beachman Apartments south of Highway 17.

Flash Flood, Duplin

When
August 14, 1:15 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
Duplin County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.936, -77.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Jones

When
August 14, 1:15 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
Jones County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.022, -77.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Lenoir

When
August 14, 1:15 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
Lenoir County, Countywide
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.239, -77.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law Enforcement reported many streets flooded with homes and businesses flooded in Kinston.

Flash Flood, Onslow

When
August 14, 1:15 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where
Onslow County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.763, -77.393 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Greene

When
August 14, 2:00 PM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where
Greene County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.485, -77.676 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pitt

When
August 14, 2:00 PM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where
Pitt County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.594, -77.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Hyde

When
August 14, 2:40 PM EST
Where
Hyde County, Rose Bay
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.467, -76.383

Law enforcement reported several waterspouts, one of which moved onshore as a weak tornado.

Flash Flood, Martin

When
August 14, 3:00 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where
Martin County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.842, -77.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Pitt

When
August 14, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Pitt County, 2 mi E of Winterville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
35.533, -77.383

Minor damage to several structures with trees down.

Tornado, Tyrrell

When
August 14, 3:15 PM EST
Where
Tyrrell County, Columbia
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.917, -76.250

Numerous trees down with a tree on a mobile home. Outbuilding damaged in Cross Landing west of Highway 94.

Tornado, Dare

When
August 14, 5:15 PM EST to 5:17 PM EST
Where
Dare County, Nags Head
Rating
F1
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
30 yd
Property damage
$225,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.950, -75.617

Twenty structures were damaged in Nags Head on the Outer Banks.

What these are

Hurricane (Typhoon)
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or more, filed per forecast zone for its wind, and with separate events for its flooding, surge and tornadoes.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2004Warnings in North Carolina, August 2004The 2004 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5421504, 5421505, 5421506, 5421507, 5421508, 5421509, 5421510, 5421511, 5421512, 5421513, 5421514, 5421515, 5421516, 5421517, 5421518, 5421519, 5421520, 5421570, 5421521, 5421522, 5421523, 5421524, 5421525, 5421526, 5421571, 5421527, 5421572, 5421573, 5421574.