Tornadoes in North Carolina, April 16, 2011

The tornado first touched down at Bethel Methodist Church Road, snapping some trees thirty feet off the ground and uprooting several other large trees. Similar but slightly heavier damage was noted on Aunt Mary`s Road including the uprooting of a four foot diameter oak tree. A roof was also blown off a two story residence. The tornado continued to move northeast along Altamahaw Union Ridge Road where a home had one wall collapse. Another home had its roof ripped off along with some minor damage to the attached garage. The roof of the home was deposited along the storm track and across the street. The home across the street lost windows and had a portion of its roof removed. Snapped and downed trees in this area covered a width of approximately 200 feet. At Hickory Nut Point on the northeast shore of Lake Burlington, the tornado damaged two homes with one losing three quarters of its roof. A truck in the driveway was also destroyed by a fallen oak tree. Multiple trees were uprooted or snapped in the area, many of which exceeded one foot in diameter. The tornado continued to move northeast, paralleling Union Ridge Road. Several residences sustained roof damage along this road with numerous trees snapped or uprooted. The tornado exited the county just east of Union Ridge Road, damaging one last residence. The roof of the home was partially removed. A nearby storage shed was also heavily damaged with a second storage shed completely destroyed. In total, 20 homes were damaged, including 6 homes that were completely destroyed.

The tornado initially touched down 4 miles north northwest of Roxboro on 3922 Chub Lake Road near a golf course in Person County as an EF0. The tornado strengthened to an EF1 as it passed near the Bethel Hill Charter School and then strengthened to an EF2 as it crossed 220 North Point Drive. The tornado continued intermittently as an EF2 with intermittent EF1 damage until it crossed the Virginia state line. The roof of the Bethel Hill Charter School was ripped off. Two homes were destroyed in Person County with minor damage to 10 additional homes. Two schools, including Bethel Hill Charter School sustained moderate damage. There was also 2 reported injuries.

A tornado touched down in northeastern Moore County, west of Cameron near the |intersection of Red Hill Road and Gilchrist Road. The initial tornado touchdown intensity was EF0 with only minor damage reported to a few homes, consisting of mainly shingle |damage.

The tornado exited Moore County and proceeded to strengthen to an EF1 as it moved into Lee County along Wildlife Road. The tornado blew a single wide trailer off its foundation, while also damaging the home home next door. The tornado continued to intensify to EF3 intensity along Lemon Springs Road striking the St. Andrews Subdivision. One fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a vehicle along Lemon Springs Road, crushing the driver. Numerous homes were completely destroyed and several two story homes had their upper floors removed. Wind speeds were estimated at 140 mph with a path length of over one quarter mile. Additional homes were blown off their foundations on Cemetery Drive. The tornado continued to produce major damage as it moved east along Cameron drive. The upper floor was blown off of two apartment buildings. The tornado then entered an industrial complex along Industrial Drive, where multiple steel constructed retail buildings were destroyed, in addition to 3 large warehouses at the static control facility. Winds In this area likely exceeded 160 mph. The tornado then destroyed the Tractor Supply Company, Big Lots and the Lowes Home Improvement Store along highway 421. Winds in this area were estimated around 140 mph. Two homes were blown off their foundations along Rice Road, north of NC Highway 42. Another fatality occurred along Poplar Spring Church Road when a mobile home was lifted off the ground and and then thrown into the woods and destroyed. In total, 457 homes were damaged with 116 homes being destroyed. Seventeen businesses were damaged as well. The tornado continued northeast along Avent Ferry Road, crossing into Chatham County, just east of Harris Lake.

The tornado exited Lee County and move into extreme southeastern Chatham County, just south and east of Harris Lake. Only 2 homes sustained damage, with moderate|to major roof damage to one of the homes, when a tree crashed through it.

The tornado exited Chatham County and entered southwest Wake County as an EF0. There was multiple tree and roof damage along Avent Ferry Road, southwest of Holly Springs. The tornado intensified to an EF1 with winds of 86 mph as it reached Fire Station Number Two and the Holly Glenn Subdivision before crossing highway 55 and tracking through the Remington subdivision. The tornado continued to track northeastward and caused extensive tree damage and damage to numerous homes, mainly from fallen trees along Pierce Olive, Ten-Ten, Penny Road, and Yates Mill Pond roads, as wind speeds increased to around 100 mph. The tornado crossed Tryon Road, between Lake Wheeler Road and the Raleigh Golf Association Golf Course, before tracking northeast across the entire City of Raleigh, producing EF1 damage in a narrow swath between 50 to 100 yards. It crossed directly over Interstates 40-440, between exits 297 and 298 with damage on both sides of the interstate clearly visible. The tornado continued northeast across South Saunders Street, where 4 businesses were damaged. A body shop was completely destroyed when the roof was ripped off and the side walls collapsed. The tornado continued to snap hardwood trees and power-lines near Mount Hope Cemetery and nearby homes. The tornado weakened as it moved northeast towards Shaw University. Campus dormitories and the university student center had windows blown in with roof damage. The tornado moved northeast along the east side of the major high rise buildings in downtown Raleigh, downing hundreds of trees, many of which fell on houses. The historic Oakwood to Lion`s Park sections of town, including the historic Oakwood Cemetery were hardest hit. Also in the path of the tornado was Saint Augustine`s College, which sustained roof damage to every building on campus. The tornado continued to down trees on numerous homes as it crossed North King Charles Road to Yonkers Road, producing EF1 damage to several businesses. The tornado crossed the 440 beltline for a second time, this time on the northeast side of downtown Raleigh near the intersections of Westinghouse and Brentwood roads, again causing damages to several businesses, including the Raleigh Iceplex. The tornado then strengthened to an EF2 with winds greater than 110 mph as it continued northeast producing extensive tree damage in a 100 to 200 yard wide path from Stony Brook Drive to Buffalo Road. Snapped trees crashed onto and through numerous homes all along the path. Four fatalities occurred when a large tree fell|onto a mobile home. Two other mobile homes were thrown 30 to 50 feet when the tie downs snapped from their anchor points with nearly all of the mobile homes in the Stony Brook mobile home park sustained some type of damage. The EF2 tornado continued to move northeast across Buffalo Road, near the Cardinal Grove Subdivision. Several two story homes were completely destroyed with numerous other homes sustaining moderate to major damage. Damage consistent with an EF2 tornado continued with widespread damage in a 200 yard wide swath along Forestville road. A couple of mobile homes were destroyed and several two story homes suffered extensive roof damage, with continued numerous snapped trees falling on houses. The tornado weakened or lifted as it moved northeast towards Rolesville. Damage became very sporadic and isolated in nature as it neared the Franklin County line. In total, 2270 homes were damaged, including 67 homes that were destroyed, with another 184 homes experiencing major damage. There were also 34 businesses damaged.

A tornado initially formed near the Wayside and Johnsons Mill communities in Hoke County. EF0 damage was observed in this area with mostly tree damage. The tornado continued to move northeast crossing into Cumberland County just north of NC Highway 401. One home was destroyed with 60 other homes sustaining some damage.

The tornado exited Hoke County and continued to move northeast crossing into Cumberland County, just north of NC Highway 401. EF0 damage continued near the Clifdale community, where the damage was more sporadic across Bones Creek and Stewarts Creek. Strong tornado damage then occurred in and near the Beaver Creek community along Reilly Road and Yadkin Road west of Fayetteville. Damage was mostly EF1 and EF2, but was briefly EF3 damage, with wind speeds near 140 mph, causing major damage to a business and some dwellings along Yadkin Road. EF0 and EF1 damage was then observed across Simmons Army Airfield, along Andrews Road and across from the Pine Forest High School. The Goodyear Plant on NC Highway 401 sustained minor damage as well. The tornado continued northeast through the Carlos and Slocomb communities, with mainly EF0 tree damage. Just south of the Linden community, a small area of EF2 damage occurred near McBryde Road where several homes were heavily damaged, including a mobile home that was completely destroyed. One fatality occurred when the tornado hit a double-wide mobile home. The victim suffered massive head injuries. Two other occupants of the mobile home survived and were taken to Betsy Johnson Hospital. In total, approximately 1000 homes were damaged, of which 310 homes suffered major damage, with 287 homes being destroyed. There were also 40 businesses that experienced damage as well.

The tornado exited Cumberland County and entered Harnett County just south of Dunn. EF1 damage was common in the Dunn area, with areas of EF2 damage with wind speeds up to 130 mph. Mobile homes were completely wiped off of their foundations and trees were debarked. A second fatality occurred here when a 42 year-old Hispanic male died from injuries suffered from the tornado. The victim’s body was found lying on a concrete slab, thrown from a mobile home that was destroyed. Several other residents in the mobile home park were injured, including one that was ejected from a trailer and impaled with an object, with another person trapped underneath debris. In total, 200 homes and businesses were damaged, with 40 home destroyed and another 40 homes having major damage.

The tornado exited Harnett County and continued northeast into southern Johnston County. The tornado track south of Benson, where it crossed NC Highway 242 and NC Highway 50. Several modular homes were destroyed, and numerous other homes sustained major damage. There was also hundreds of trees that were uprooted or snapped in half. The tornado subsequently crossed Interstate 40 near mile Marker 330 and continued moving northeast to just south of Four Oaks before crossing Interstate 95 near mile marker 90. The tornado lifted just before reaching Smithfield, where little or no damage was observed. Throughout this part of the track there was a broad swath of EF0 damage with embedded areas of EF1 and EF2 damage. In total, 450 homes were damaged, of which 287 homes were completely destroyed.

The tornado exited Bladen County and moved into Cumberland County just west of NC Highway 242. The tornado moved northeast, crossing NC Highway 210 near Smith Road and Peters Creek road. In this area, a few homes were damaged with one home sustaining heavy damage rated EF2. There were four injuries sustained by some of the occupants. Hundreds of trees were also downed in this vicinity. Damage was also observed along Broadwater Bridge Road, east of Smith Road.

The tornado exited Cumberland County and moved into Sampson County, just southwest of Roseboro. The tornado tracked northeast along NC Highway 24, between Roseboro and Clinton. Cyclic damage between EF1 to EF2 was observed with the most extensive damage observed between Bonnetsville Road and Clinton, including Bass Lake Road and Dixie Road. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Highways 421 and 701 on the north side of Clinton. A roof was completely blown off of a home on Isaac Weeks Road. As the tornado moved farther northeast, the tornado was mostly of Ef1 strength damage to homes were minor, with outbuildings and power poles bent or blown down. The tornado weakened and quickly lifted in the vicinity of Highway 403 and East Darden Road, with minor roof damage to a home. In total, there were 85 to 90 residential structures were damaged, with 25 destroyed; and 13 businesses damaged, with 3 destroyed.

A tornado touched down near Pine level, just south of Highway 70 and tracked northeast towards Micro in the vicinity of Highway 301. The tornado lifted just southwest of Kenly. Numerous trees were snapped in half or uprooted resulting in downed power-lines and damage to homes and businesses. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.

A tornado touched down just just north of the town of Lucama, where several homes were heavily damaged and numerous large pine trees were snapped in half or uprooted. Several vehicles were blown over and rolled as much as 100 feet. Winds in this location were estimated at 120 mph. The tornado continued moving northeast and crossed NC Highway 42 on the western side of Wilson where 25 homes and a dozen businesses were heavily damaged, in addition to numerous downed trees and power-lines. Several air conditioning units were blown off the top of businesses and onto the street...and dozens of vehicles at an automotive dealership were heavily damaged by wind blown debris. At this point peak winds were also estimated at 120 mph. The tornado continued moving northeast to NC Highway 264 on the western |Side of Wilson where a family medical supply building and the Parkwood Village Apartments received minor roof and window damage from wind blown debris. Winds in this area were estimated at 80 mph. The tornado continued to weaken and lifted near NC Highway 58 on the northwest side of Wilson. In total, approximately 175 homes were damaged, including 40 homes that were completely destroyed.

A tornado touched down southwest of Roanoke Rapids near Rhea Smith Road. At Sam Powell Dam Road a house was shifted off of its foundation. The tornado then entered Roanoke Rapids as an EF1. Numerous hardwood trees were blown down. Numerous cars and homes were damaged at Rosemary Street. As the tornado continued into downtown, an industrial building and Sonic restaurant were damaged. The tornado reached EF2 intensity at this point. The worst damage occurred at 10th Street. In total, 90 structures were damaged. Of those 90, 15 homes and businesses were destroyed. The tornado continued into Northhampton County of the Wakefield WFO warning area.

The tornado touched down just east of North Beston Road, between Guy Smith and Old Jason Roads. Tornado damage was mostly minor, consisting mainly of siding shingle damage and isolated tree damage. The end section of a farm building was blown down and heavily damaged along Parkstown Road just west of the Greene County line. This portion of the tornado was rated EF0 with winds around 80 mph. The tornado eventually strengthened to an EF3 as it moved into Greene County.