North Carolina, 2004

Tornado in North Carolina, September 7, 2004

September 7, 2004 · NWS ILM · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$200,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 7, 9:00 AM EST, 5 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 7, 9:00 AM EST, 5 hours 53 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1000 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

SHORT TERM (THIS AFTERNOON)
STILL EXPECT THE CWA TO BE AFFECTED BY HEAVY RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH
TD FRANCES AND WILL LEAVE FLOOD WATCH AS IS. SEVERE WEATHER HAS SO
FAR REMAINED JUST TO OUR SOUTH AND WEST...FOLLOWING THE NOSE OF THE H8
JET. SHOULD THIS TREND CONTINUE MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD BE SPARED MUCH
IN THE WAY OF SEVERE WX...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WESTERNMOST
COUNITES. WILL ISSUE AN UPDATE TO FRESHEN WORDING AT THIS POINT.
ANOTHER UPDATE WILL ALSO BE NEEDED BY 2PM AS THE SC TORNADO WATCH
EXPIRES OR GETS EXTENDED.

&&

.MARINE...
FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT NORTH AND INTO THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS TODAY. DEEP E TO SE FLOW WILL KEEP SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS NUMEROUS AT TIMES ACROSS THE AREA.

BUOYS THIS MORNING REPORTING 6 TO 7 FT SEAS. 41013 HAS A SE WIND AT
15 TO 20 KT. GRADIENT BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE TO NE AND LOW PRESSURE
TO SW WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN AND SO WINDS OF AROUND 20 KT LOOKS
GOOD. SEAS SHOULD STAY FAIRLY CLOSE TO CURRENT HEIGHTS ESPECIALLY
WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS KEEPING THE SEA AGITATED.

WITH TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT...WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION POSSIBLE
WATERSPOUTS...BUT ALL OF THE ACTION SO FAR TODAY HAS BEEN WELL W OF
THE WATERS AND ACROSS CAE FORECAST AREA.

&&

.AVIATION...
08/12Z. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAIN...AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL BE
POSSIBLE AT ALL TERMINALS THROUGH 08/12Z. DIFFICULT TO PEG EXACT
TIMING OF THE BANDS OF CONVECTION MOVING THROUGH. BUT BASICALLY
TERMINALS WILL HAVE PREDOMINATELY SCATTERED TO BROKEN MVFR CEILINGS
AND VFR VISIBILITIES...WITH TEMPO IFR CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
PRECIPITATION. WINDS GUSTING FROM THE EAST AND EAST SOUTHEAST AS
HIGH AS 20 KNOTS...GRADUALLY VEERING TO SOUTHEAST 08/09Z.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...FLOOD WATCH PENDER-NEW HANOVER-BRUNSWICK-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-
     ROBESON COUNTIES.
SC...FLOOD WATCH HORRY-GEORGETOWN-MARION-WILLIAMSBURG-FLORENCE-
     DARLINGTON-DILLON-MARLBORO COUNTIES
     TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 2 PM HORRY-GEORGETOWN-MARION-
     WILLIAMSBURG-FLORENCE-DARLINGTON-DILLON-MARLBORO COUNTIES.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SURF CITY TO S SANTEE RIVER.

PUBLIC...MBB
MARINE...RJD
AVIATION...MRR
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 7, 4:20 AM EST, 10 hours 33 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
520 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-081000-
BLADEN-BRUNSWICK-COLUMBUS-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-GEORGETOWN-
HORRY-MARION-MARLBORO-NEW HANOVER-PENDER-ROBESON-WILLIAMSBURG-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...BURGAW...DARLINGTON...
DILLON...ELIZABETHTOWN...FLORENCE...GEORGETOWN...KINGSTREE...
LUMBERTON...MARION...MYRTLE BEACH...SOUTHPORT...WHITEVILLE...
WILMINGTON...WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
520 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR NORTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA...SEE THE LATEST ZONE FORECAST FOR YOUR SPECIFIC COUNTY
WATCH INFORMATION...

...A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

...THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG ALL AREA BEACHES
TODAY...

TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES WILL MOVE NORTH THROUGH GEORGIA TODAY.
DEEP MOISTURE FROM BOTH THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TODAY. THIS WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR
HEAVY...AND POSSIBLY FLOODING RAINFALL. VEERING WINDS COULD ALSO
CAUSE ISOLATED TORNADOES TO DEVELOP.

STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES WILL CROSS INTO WEST VIRGINIA WEDNESDAY
AND MOVE INTO THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. THURSDAY. A TRAILING TROUGH OF
LOW PRESSURE WILL STALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS WEEKEND AND MAY PRODUCE
A FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. CHANCES FOR RAIN SHOULD RAPIDLY
DIMINISH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE ISOLATED
TORNADO THREAT TODAY. TORNADOES ARE LESS LIKELY ACROSS NORTH
CAROLINA...BUT THIS THREAT WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.

&&

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE SEE OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ILM

RJD

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:09 PM EST, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
309 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0253 PM     TORNADO          LUMBERTON               34.62N 79.01W
09/07/2004                   ROBESON            NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO MOVING ALONG NC 211 IS PICKING UP AND TOUCHING
            DOWN REPETITIVELY. IT IS TRACKING WEST NORTHWEST IN THE
            VICINITY OF LUMBERTON HIGH SCHOOL ON US 301 IN EAST
            LUMBERTON.

&&

JAN
Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:25 PM EST, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
325 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0205 PM     TORNADO          CHERRY GROVE            34.24N 78.97W
09/07/2004                   COLUMBUS           NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TORNADO TRACKED FROM CHERRY GROVE TO BOARDMAN. 2
            TORNADOES WERE REPORTED IN CERRO GORDO. 8 TO 10 HOMES HAD
            ROOFS BLOWN OFF FROM THIS TORNADO.

&&

JAN
Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:26 PM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
326 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0158 PM     TORNADO          CLIO                    34.58N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   AMATEUR RADIO

            MAIN STREET IS BLOCKED BY DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES.

&&

JAN
Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:26 PM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED SOURCE OF THE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
326 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0158 PM     TORNADO          CLIO                    34.58N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MAIN STREET IS BLOCKED BY DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES.

&&

JAN
Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:33 PM EST, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
333 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0225 PM     TORNADO          MCCOLL                  34.67N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN.

0225 PM     TORNADO          MCCOLL                  34.67N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

&&

JAN
Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:50 PM EST, 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
350 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TORNADO          SOCIETY HILL            34.51N 79.85W
09/07/2004                   DARLINGTON         SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO TOUCHDOWN SIGHTED AND TREE LIMBS DOWN.

&&

JAN

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Robeson

When
September 7, 2:53 PM EST to 2:59 PM EST
Where
Robeson County, 2 mi NW of Marietta
Rating
F1
Path length
4.2 mi
Path width
40 yd
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
34.383, -79.133

Tornado downed many trees and caused damage to four homes, with one shed destroyed.

What these are

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.

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, September 2004

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: 5422271.