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 7, 8:00 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
900 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004
.SHORT TERM (REMAINDER OF TONIGHT)...
FRANCES REMNANTS CAUSING HECTIC WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM TORNADIC ACTIVITY TO FLOODING. BULK
OF THE ACTION IN OUR PART OF THE REGION HAS TAKEN PLACE ALONG A
NEARLY W-E ORIENTED BOUNDARY WHICH IS CURRENTLY SITUATED FROM NEAR
DARLINGTON TO WHITEVILLE. MOISTURE FLUX CONVERGENCE REMAINS
IMPRESSIVE ALONG AND TO THE SOUTH OF THIS BOUNDARY WHERE DEWPOINTS
RANGE FROM THE MID TO UPPER 70S. THE BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT
NORTHWARD OVERNIGHT AND SHOWERS/TSTMS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN
COVERAGE FROM THE SW AND FROM OFF THE OCEAN. NO CHANGES PLANNED TO
THE CURRENT ZONE FORECAST PRODUCT. TORNADO WATCH WILL REMAIN IN
EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT...AND THE FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
THROUGH TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS FORECAST FOR THE TAF LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT. LOW
CEILINGS IN TANDEM WITH AREAS OF CONVECTION..OTHERWISE SCATTERED LOW
CLOUDS AND BROKEN MID/HIGH DECKS. EXPECT BREEZY CONDITIONS AROUND
AREAS OF CONVECTION...OTHERWISE INCREASING WIND DURING WED WITH THE
FLOW VEERING TO A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION.
&&
.MARINE...
STRONG SE FLOW CONTINUES ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS WITH THE BETTER
PRESSURE GRADIENT CURRENTLY IN PLACE OFF THE SC AND GA COASTS. NO
CHANGES PLANNED TO THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WHICH IS IN PLACE FROM
SURF CITY TO THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER. PLAN ON INCREASING SPEEDS A
NOTCH AND SEAS BY A FOOT WITH THE NEXT UPDATE. CURRENTLY EDISTO IS
RUNNING ABOUT 8 FT AND FRYING PAN 7 FT WITH SPEEDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS.
&&
.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...TORNADO WATCH FOR ZONES NCZ087-096-097-099>101 UNTIL 1 AM.
FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES NCZ087-096-097-099>101.
SC...TORNADO WATCH FOR SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046 UNTIL 1 AM.
FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ZONES AMZ250-252-254-256.
&&
SHORT TERM/AVIATION/MARINE...SRPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 645 PM 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 645 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM... ...A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... THE REMNANTS OF FRANCES WILL MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS TONIGHT. DEEP MOISTURE FROM BOTH THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA. THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING. ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WELL INTO THE NIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY... THE REMNANTS OF FRANCES WILL MOVE NORTH ALONG THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS...AND WILL MOVE NORTH OF OUR LATITUDE BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. THEREFORE THE THREAT FOR MORE HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE SEE OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ILM RJD
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.
&&
JANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
506 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM TORNADO 4 NW MARIETTA 34.41N 79.18W
09/07/2004 ROBESON NC TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOF DAMAGE TO HOME, SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON WEST WHITE
POND ROAD
&&
HAWKINSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 610 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004 AMZ250-252-254-256-NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-080930- BRUNSWICK-BRUNSWICK COASTAL WATERS-GEORGETOWN- GEORGETOWN COASTAL WATERS-HORRY-HORRY COASTAL WATERS-NEW HANOVER- NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COASTAL WATERS-PENDER- 610 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004 ...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS WEDNESDAY FOR THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST FACING BEACHES - MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS WEDNESDAY FOR THE EAST FACING BEACHES... LONG PERIOD SWELLS FROM THE SOUTH AND STRONG SOUTH WINDS WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WEDNESDAY FROM SOUTH BALD HEAD ISLAND NORTH CAROLINA TO SURFSIDE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA. A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS POSSIBLE FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO EAST BALD HEAD ISLAND...AND FROM SURFSIDE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE EFFECTS FROM RIP CURRENTS ARE MOST COMMONLY SEEN A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL BE AROUND 930 AM AND 11 PM WEDNESDAY. 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. RIP CURRENTS THAT OCCUR WEDNESDAY MAY BECOME LIFE THREATENING TO ANY PERSON WHO ENTERS THE SURF. IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED THAT PEOPLE REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL THE THREAT SUBSIDES OR ASK LIFEGUARDS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. GF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
611 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0145 PM TORNADO CERRO GORDO 34.32N 78.93W
09/07/2004 COLUMBUS NC EMERGENCY MNGR
2 HOMES AND 1 BUSINESS DESTROYED. 2 HOMES HAD MAJOR
DAMAGE. 6 HOMES HAD MINOR DAMAGE.
&&
TMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
705 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0702 PM TORNADO 5 S MCCOLL 34.60N 79.55W
09/07/2004 MARLBORO SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT OBSERVED A TORNADO IN A FIELD.
&&
SHKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
827 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TORNADO 10 S FAIRMONT 34.35N 79.11W
09/07/2004 ROBESON NC EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES DOWN, TREES DOWN, EXTENSIVE STRUCTURE DAMAGE
&&The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:06 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado damaged a steel conveyor belt track at a sand and gravel mine. Several trees were snapped, and the roof of a front porch of a church was lifted off.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2004Warnings in South 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: 5422276.