1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 10, 2:21 AM EST, 12 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 321 AM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... WEAK COLD FRONT IS CROSSING THE CWA THIS MORNING AND SHOULD BE MOVING TO THE COAST IN A FEW MORE HOURS. CONVECTION HAS REMAINED WELL OFFSHORE ON THE WESTERN WALL OF THE GULF STREAM SO FAR. THE SURFACE FRONT SHOULD STALL NEAR THE BEACHES TODAY AND TONIGHT. MOISTURE WILL INCREASE AT THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS THIS EVENING FROM THE SOUTH. THE GFS LOOKS TOO BULLISH WITH QPF FORECASTS AS IT DEVELOPS A LARGE AREA OF 500-700 MB LIFT AND ASSOCIATED VORTICITY AND RIDES IT UP ACROSS THE EASTERN CAROLINAS OVERNIGHT. CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK? POSSIBLY. MOS POPS OFF THE NGM AND ETA MODELS ARE STILL IN THE CHANCE RANGE INLAND TO NEAR LIKELY ALONG THE COAST...AND WILL FOLLOW THESE NUMBERS FOR THE FORECAST NEXT THREE PERIODS. TEMPS TODAY WILL BE SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. TEMPS SATURDAY WILL BE HELD BACK TO ONLY AROUND 80 WITH ADDITIONAL CLOUD COVER AND RESIDUAL PRECIP NEAR THE COAST. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... THE FRONT SLOWLY WASHES OUT ALONG THE BEACHES AS THE FLOW TURNS LARGELY EASTERLY THROUGH THE PERIOD. HURRICANE IVAN IS FORECAST BY THE HURRICANE CENTER TO BE LOCATED ON THE FLORIDA WEST COAST BY TUESDAY EVENING...MOVING GENERALLY NORTH ALONG THE LINES OF FRANCES. THE GFS FORECASTS CONTINUE TO BE FAR RIGHT OF THE OFFICIAL TRACK. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST. && .AVIATION... GENERALLY VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING GIVING WAY TO VFR CONDITIONS BY LATE MORNING. FRONT IN THE REGION WILL PROVIDE FOCUS FOR SHRA AND ISOLATED TSRA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. MVFR CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT WITH CONTINUED SHRA AND ISOLATED TSRA. && .MARINE... VERY WEAK COLD FRONT ALONG THE COAST THIS MORNING IS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPING OVER THE EDGE OF THE GULF STREAM. WHILE SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY MAY SPREAD WEST OVER THE ILM WATERS. WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT THRU THE WEEKEND WITH FRONT STALLED IN THE AREA. WIND SPEEDS THIS WEEKEND WILL GENERALLY BE AROUND 10 KT AND VARIABLE...DEPENDING UPON POSITION OF FRONT. SEAS AT 41013 ARE AROUND 5 FT AND CONTINUE TO DROP. SEAS WILL RANGE FROM AROUND 3 FT IN NORTHERN ZONES TO 2 TO 3 FT SOUTH. IVAN IS THE BIG QUESTION MARK TOWARD THE END OF THE FORECAST WITH TRACK STILL SOMEWHAT UP IN THE AIR. LATEST RUN OF THE GFS HAS SHIFTED THE STORM CLOSER TO THE NHC CURRENT FORECAST TRACK...WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE MODEL CONSENSUS. THIS TRACK WILL TAKE THE STORM WEST OF THE REGION WITH NORTHEAST TO EASTERLY FLOW OVER THE WATERS MON AND TUE. && .HYDROLOGY... RIVER FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA AS HEAVY FRANCES RAINS WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE RIVER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. THE WORST FLOODING IS OCCURRING ON THE BLACK CREEK NEAR QUINBY AT 6.7 FT ABOVE FLOOD STAGE...AND THE LUMBER RIVER NEAR LUMBERTON AT 6.3 FT ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. CRESTS ON MANY OF THESE RIVERS ARE STILL AT LEAST SEVERAL DAYS AWAY. ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL TONIGHT OR LATER NEXT WEEK WITH IVAN COULD DELAY THE CRESTS FURTHER. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. SHORT TERM...TRA LONG TERM...TRA MARINE...TRL AVIATION...TRL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED FOR RIP CURRENT INFO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 544 AM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-101400- BLADEN NC-BRUNSWICK NC-COLUMBUS NC-DARLINGTON SC-DILLON SC- FLORENCE SC-GEORGETOWN SC-HORRY SC-MARION SC-MARLBORO SC- NEW HANOVER NC-PENDER NC-ROBESON NC-WILLIAMSBURG SC- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...BURGAW...CONWAY... DARLINGTON...DILLON...ELIZABETHTOWN...FLORENCE...GEORGETOWN... HAMPSTEAD...HARTSVILLE...KINGSTREE...LAKE CITY...LELAND...LORIS... LUMBERTON...MARION...MULLINS...MURRELLS INLET...MYRTLE BEACH... SHALLOTTE...SOUTHPORT...TABOR CITY...WHITEVILLE AND WILMINGTON 544 AM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TODAY. THE BEST CHANCES ARE NEAR THE COAST. NO ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER OR WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS EXPECTED. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY FOR ALL BEACH EXPOSURES HERE IN THE EASTERN CAROLINAS. THREE TO FOUR FOOT SWELLS SWELLS PRODUCED SEVERAL DAYS AGO BY HURRICANE IVAN ARE REACHING THE COAST TODAY. THIS ADDED WAVE ENERGY WILL PRODUCE MORE FREQUENT AND STRONGER RIP CURRENTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD NEAR THE COAST. MONDAY AND TUESDAY SHOULD BE DRY FOR INLAND SECTIONS...WITH AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS THE REST OF THE PERIOD. NO ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING RAINFALL IS EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY. HURRICANE IVAN IS FORECAST BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER TO BE LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE STORM SHOULD BE MOVING NORTH AT THAT TIME IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS. EFFECTS FROM IVAN COULD BE FELT IN THE CAROLINAS ANYTIME THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT WEEK. KEEP UPDATED ON THE LATEST INFORMATION AND OFFICIAL FORECASTS AS IVAN APPROACHES A UNITED STATES LANDFALL NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TODAY. TRA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1206 PM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1235 PM TORNADO 2 SW HARTSVILLE 34.35N 80.10W
09/07/2004 F0 DARLINGTON SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 1.3 MILES...PATH WIDTH 50 YARDS. DAMAGE WAS
MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SEVERAL SNAPPED TREES...A FEW OF
WHICH FELL ONTO HOMES AND DAMAGED ROOFS.
0110 PM TORNADO 1 S SOCIETY HILL 34.50N 79.85W
09/07/2004 F0 DARLINGTON SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.7 MILES...PATH WIDTH 50 YARDS. SEVERAL
TREES SNAPPED...AND SOME TREE LIMBS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE
ROOF OF A HOME.
0138 PM TORNADO 2 ESE CERRO GORDO 34.31N 78.89W
09/07/2004 F1 COLUMBUS NC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 10 MILES...PATH WIDTH 40 YARDS. SPOTTY DAMAGE
OCCURRED ALONG PATH. 3 HOMES OR BUISINESSES DESTROYED...4
DAMAGED. TORNADO CONTINUED INTO ROBESON COUNTY.
0205 PM TORNADO 4 SSE CLIO 34.53N 79.52W
09/07/2004 F1 MARLBORO SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 5 MILES...PATH WIDTH 100 YARDS. TREES SNAPPED
OR UPROOTED...THIS RESULTED IN SOME DAMAGE TO HOMES.
0217 PM TORNADO 2 NE ORRUM 34.49N 78.98W
09/07/2004 F0 ROBESON NC NWS STORM SURVEY
A LARGE TREE WAS UPROOTED AND DOWN ACROSS SR 72E. TORNADO
ENTERED FROM COLUMBUS COUNTY.
0227 PM TORNADO 1 SW MCCOLL 34.66N 79.56W
09/07/2004 F1 MARLBORO SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.3 MILES...PATH WIDTH 25 YARDS. A STRAPPED
DOWN MOBILE HOME DEMOLISHED.
0247 PM TORNADO LUMBERTON 34.62N 79.01W
09/07/2004 F0 ROBESON NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN WITNESSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.
0311 PM TORNADO 7 NNE DARLINGTON 34.39N 79.83W
09/07/2004 F1 DARLINGTON SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.1 MILES...PATH WIDTH 30 YARDS. SEVERAL
TREES AND A MOBILE HOME DAMAGED. ESTIMATED 8K DOLLARS IN
DAMAGE.
0353 PM TORNADO 2 NW MARIETTA 34.39N 79.15W
09/07/2004 F1 ROBESON NC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH...4.2 MILES...PATH WIDTH 40 YARDS. SPOTTY
DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG PATH. 4 HOMES DAMAGED...1 SHED
DESTROYED...MANY TREES DOWN.
0545 PM TORNADO 2 N QUINBY 34.26N 79.73W
09/07/2004 F0 FLORENCE SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.4 MILES...PATH WIDTH 30 YARDS. DAMAGE TO A
BILLBOARD AND SEVERAL TREES ADJACENT TO THE PARKING LOT
OF A PETRO TRUCK STOP. TORNADO CONTINUED INTO DARLINGTON
COUNTY.
0547 PM TORNADO 7 ESE DARLINGTON 34.26N 79.76W
09/07/2004 F0 DARLINGTON SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.6 MILES...PATH WIDTH 30 YARDS. NUMEROUS
TREES SNAPPED. TORNADO ENTERED FROM FLORENCE COUNTY.
0610 PM TORNADO 3 ENE MARIETTA 34.39N 79.08W
09/07/2004 F0 ROBESON NC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 1.6 MILES...PATH WIDTH 40 YARDS. SPOTTY
DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG PATH. TREE DAMAGE...AND 1 SHED
DESTROYED.
0711 PM TORNADO 6 E DILLON 34.42N 79.27W
09/07/2004 F0 DILLON SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 1.3 MILES...PATH WIDTH 30 YARDS. AN OLD BARN
WAS FLATTENED AND PART OF THE ROOF ON A SHED WAS TORN
OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED...WHICH ALSO PRODUCED ROOF
DAMAGE TO A HOME.
0905 PM TORNADO 4 SW BENNETTSVILLE 34.58N 79.73W
09/07/2004 F0 MARLBORO SC NWS STORM SURVEY
PATH LENGTH 0.5 MILES...PATH WIDTH 25 YARDS. ONE STEEL
CONVEYOR BELT TRACK WAS TWISTED AT A SAND AND GRAVEL
MINE...SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED...AND THE FRONT PORCH
ROOF OF A CHURCH WAS LIFTED OFF.
&&
...FINAL SUMMARY OF DAMAGE FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH...
JAQSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 1220 PM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 AMZ250-252-254-256-NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-102130- BRUNSWICK-BRUNSWICK COASTAL WATERS-GEORGETOWN- GEORGETOWN COASTAL WATERS-HORRY-HORRY COASTAL WATERS-NEW HANOVER- NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COASTAL WATERS-PENDER- 1220 PM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 ...MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS TODAY FROM SURF CITY TO EAST BALD HEAD ISLAND... LONG PERIOD SWELLS FROM DISTANT HURRICANE IVAN WILL PRODUCE A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO EAST BALD HEAD ISLAND NORTH CAROLINA. THE EFFECTS FROM RIP CURRENTS ARE MOST COMMONLY SEEN A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WAS AROUND 1115 AM TODAY. REMEMBER...RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONG NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER THAT FLOW AWAY FROM THE BEACH. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...REMEMBER TO REMAIN CALM. TRY TO SWIM ON A COURSE THAT IS PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. ONCE YOU GET AWAY FROM THE RIP THEN BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST THE RIP...SINCE IT CAN EXHAUST OR EVEN KILL THE STRONGEST SWIMMER. BEFORE ENTERING THE WATER...HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFE GUARDS...OR LOOK FOR FLAGS OR SIGNS THAT MAY BE POSTED TO INFORM YOU ABOUT SURF CONDITIONS. DURING A MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK...ALL PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE SURF SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS...WHILE CONDITIONS MAY BE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR INEXPERIENCED SWIMMERS AND CHILDREN. GF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 340 PM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 NCZ097-101-110800- NEW HANOVER-PENDER- 340 PM EDT FRI SEP 10 2004 ...MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS SATURDAY FROM SURF CITY TO EAST BALD HEAD ISLAND... LONG PERIOD SWELLS FROM DISTANT HURRICANE IVAN WILL PRODUCE A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO EAST BALD HEAD ISLAND NORTH CAROLINA. THE EFFECTS FROM RIP CURRENTS ARE MOST COMMONLY SEEN A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL BE AROUND NOON ON SATURDAY. REMEMBER...RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONG NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER THAT FLOW AWAY FROM THE BEACH. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...REMEMBER TO REMAIN CALM. TRY TO SWIM ON A COURSE THAT IS PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. ONCE YOU GET AWAY FROM THE RIP THEN BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE. BEFORE ENTERING THE WATER...HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFE GUARDS...OR LOOK FOR FLAGS OR SIGNS THAT MAY BE POSTED TO INFORM YOU ABOUT SURF CONDITIONS. 43
The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:46 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Ham radio operator relayed a report of a tornado just southwest of St James Plantation. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2004Warnings in North Carolina, September 2004
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: 5424962.