Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, April 16, 2011

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in North Carolina, April 16, 2011
Start: 2011-04-16T14:33
End: 2011-04-16T18:02
Location: North Carolina

April 16, 2011 · NWS ILM · 13 events in 3 counties and zones

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: 4
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $8.8 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 ILM wrote it up.

A powerful storm system that had moved across the deep south during previous days, swept across the eastern Carolinas during the afternoon and evening hours. Instability and shear values were highly supportive of super-cell thunderstorms. The result was a large outbreak of severe weather including strong and deadly tornadoes across eastern North Carolina.

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 Apr 16, 12:33 PM EST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 12:33 PM EST, 2 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
133 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
BLUSTERY SOUTH WINDS WILL PRECEDE A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING
FROM THE WEST TODAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE. THE COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE OFFSHORE TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL SETTLE OVER
THE REGION SUNDAY...SHIFTING OFFSHORE MONDAY AND MOVING OFF TO THE
NORTHEAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE
NORTHWEST THURSDAY PRODUCING UNSETTLED WEATHER LATE IN THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 1230 PM SATURDAY...FORECAST HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR TORNADO
WATCH. REST OF ONGOING FORECAST LOOKS ON TRACK FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE AFTERNOON.  PREVIOUS DISCUSSION STILL APPLIES AND FOLLOWS BELOW:

ALL EYES ON THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND ATTENDANT LIKELIHOOD OF
STRONG TO SEVERE WEATHER. ANALYSIS OF MORNING SOUNDINGS SHOW NO
CHANGE FROM EARLIER THINKING REGARDING TIME AND NATURE OF EVENT AS
DETAILED IN THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION BELOW. ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME TODAY...THE LEADING EDGE OF
THE SQUALL LINE AND ASSOCIATED STRONGEST STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO
ENTER THE WESTERN FRINGES OF THE FORECAST AREA UNTIL AROUND 2 PM.
HOWEVER...LATER THIS MORNING...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT INDIVIDUAL STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS MAY FORM WELL AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE. PREVIOUS
DISCUSSION FOLLOWS:

SUBSTANTIAL UPPER LOW BARRELING ACROSS THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY DOMINATING IMAGERY EARLY THIS MORNING. AHEAD OF THIS
FEATURE A FRACTURED LINE OF STRONG TSTMS EXTENDED FROM THE
MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA TO THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA.

STAGE APPEARS TO BE SET FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH OUR FORECAST AREA UNDER A MODERATE
RISK. ANY LOCATION IS TARGETED BY A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF WIND
DAMAGE AND A 15 PERCENT CHANCE OF TORNADIC ACTIVITY PER THE LATEST
SPC STATISTICAL OUTPUT OF THE GRAPHICAL DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK.

COINCIDENT WITH MOUNTING AFTERNOON CAPE VALUES IN EXCESS OF 2000
J/KG...POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND STRONG LOW-LEVEL SHEAR WILL
INTERACT WITH UPDRAFTS TO INTRODUCE A SUPER-CELL CHARACTER TO
STORMS AS BOTH 1/3 KM HELICITY FIELDS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF ROTATION
AMID STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL WIND AND LARGE HODOGRAPH PROFILES. THE
60 DEGREE DEWPOINT ISOTHERM WILL LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS THE AREA
SUPPLYING ADEQUATE FUEL...WITH OUR AREA BENEATH AN EXIT REGION OF
A STRONG JET LATER TODAY. ALSO AS THE BOUNDARY LAYER BECOMES
UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON...A LOW LEVEL JET STRENGTHENS IN GOOD
TIMING WITH UNFOLDING PEAK DIURNAL HEATING.

HAM ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TODAY AND AN SPS WILL ADDRESS
TODAYS HAZARDOUS WEATHER SINCE CONFIDENCE REMAINS HIGH THAT A
CONVECTIVE WATCH BOX WILL BE ISSUED BY THIS AFTERNOON FOR OUR
COUNTY WARNING AREA...AND THAT SOME DAMAGE APPEARS LIKELY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL SETTLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST
ON SUNDAY BEFORE MOVING OFF SHORE SUN NIGHT INTO MONDAY. WINDS MAY
START OUT NW OR WEST BUT WILL BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE BY AFTERNOON.
A BIT TRICKY WITH THE TEMPS AS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE A WESTERLY
COMPONENT TO WIND FLOW SHOULD HELP TO PRODUCE WARMER TEMPS BUT AS
HIGH SHIFTS EAST AND WINDS LIGHTEN...A DECENT SEA BREEZE SHOULD
DEVELOP. DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY THE SEA BREEZE DEVELOPS AND
PUSHES INLAND WILL INFLUENCE THE MAX TEMPS FOR THE DAY. OVERALL
EXPECT DRY AND SUNNY WEATHER WITH TEMPS BETWEEN 70 AND 75 MOST
PLACES BUT COOLER ALONG THE COAST. DEWPOINT TEMPS SUN AFTN WILL
DROP INTO THE 30S

AS HIGH SHIFTS OVERHEAD LATE SUN AND OFF SHORE BY MON...A WEAK
RETURN FLOW WILL SET UP. EXPECT WINDS TO COME AROUND TO THE SOUTH
BUT REMAIN LIGHT THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. PCP WATER
VALUES LESS THAN A HALF INCH ON SUN WILL REBOUND SLIGHTLY UP TO
AROUND .75 INCHES BUT STILL EXPECTING PLENTY OF SUNSHINE FOR
MONDAY. TEMPS SHOULD REACH TOWARD THE UPPER END OF THE 70S.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FARTHER
OFF SHORE TUES THROUGH WED WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW.
MID TO UPPER RIDGE BUILDS UP THE EAST COAST THROUGH MID WEEK BUT
EVENTUALLY SHIFTS OFF SHORE AS SHORTWAVE MOVES ACROSS THE GREAT
LAKES PUSHING A COLD FRONT INTO AREA THURS. GFS SHOWING A WAVE OF
LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING ALONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND WINDS ABOVE THE
SURFACE REMAINING WEST TO SOUTHWEST...POSSIBLY KEEPING WEATHER
UNSETTLED FOR THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. INCLUDED LOW END POPS AS
EARLY AS WED AS DEEPER LAYER MOISTURE INCREASES BUT EXPECT MOST
PCP ASSOCIATED WITH COLD FRONT THURS/FRI. OVERALL EXPECT SUNSHINE
AND WARM TEMPS THROUGH MID WEEK WITH INCREASING CHC OF PCP THURS
AND FRI ASSOCIATED WITH COLD FRONT.

H5 HEIGHTS PEAK TUES AND WED AS RIDGE AXIS ALIGNS ITSELF UP THE
SOUTHEAST COAST. EXPECT TEMPS TO WARM INTO THE 80S TUES AND WED
AND LEFT 80S FOR THURS BUT DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY RIDGE BREAKS
DOWN ALLOWING COLD FRONT TO MOVE INTO AREA...TEMPS COULD TREND
COOLER FOR THURS.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 18Z...MODERATE CONFIDENCE FORECAST THROUGH TONIGHT DUE TO
CONVECTION AND IFR POTENTIAL.

RAPIDLY EVOLVING SITUATION ONGOING SO WILL FOCUS ON NEXT 6 HOURS FOR
THIS DISCUSSION. LOW LEVEL WINDS OF 50 KTS AT 2 KFT NOW SHOWING UP
ON VWP IS MIXING DOWN TO THE SURFACE AND MANY SITES REPORTING 30 TO
35 KT GUSTS FROM THE SOUTH. THIS MIXING WILL PREVENT ANY LLWS...BUT
WILL MENTION INCREASINGLY STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS...UP TO 60 KTS BY
THIS EVENING AT 2 KFT. SURFACE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST ABOVE 30
KTS...GUSTING TO 40 KTS OR MORE IN ANY CONVECTION. COLD FRONT WILL
COME THROUGH TONIGHT VEERING WINDS TO THE W AND THEN N DURING THE
OVERNIGHT...AND DECREASING TO LESS THAN 10 KTS.

OF EQUAL CONCERN IS CONVECTION DEVELOPING ACROSS THE REGION.
DISCRETE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEGINNING TO FIRE THANKS TO A VERY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS ACROSS THE CWA...AND ALL TERMINALS ARE LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE MAIN SQUALL LINE.
HAVE USED TEMPO GROUPS TO EXPRESS THIS SINCE TIMING OF DISCRETE
CELLS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. STRONGLY FORCED SQUALL LINE JUST AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT WILL THEN WORK THROUGH THE AREA. GUIDANCE IN GOOD
AGREEMENT ON TIMING AND EXPECT FLO TO GET THE SQUALL LINE BY
20Z...MOVING EAST TO THE COAST BY 00Z. HAVE USED A SHORT DURATION
TEMPO GROUP TO EXPRESS UNCERTAINTY IN THE SQUALL LINE...AND WILL AMD
AS THE LINE EXITS EACH SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL.

BEHIND THE SQUALL LINE THE COLUMN WILL RAPIDLY DRY AS THE COLD FRONT
APPROACHES...AND MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. VFR IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT
AND SUNDAY.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK...VFR THROUGH TUESDAY. LOW CONFIDENCE IN FOG
WEDNESDAY MORNING. CHANCE OF SHOWERS THURSDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AS OF 8 AM SATURDAY...SEAS JUST A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE OF THE
FORECAST BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD TODAY TO ADVISORY LEVELS. NO
CHANGES TO CURRENT THINKING. GREATEST HAZARD TODAY MAY ACTUALLY BE
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE WATERS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS:

ADVISORY FLAGS ARE POSTED FOR STRONG SOUTH WINDS TODAY AHEAD OF A
POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM. WHILE WE MAY SEE GALE GUSTS AND STRONG
CONVECTIVE GUSTS...THE MAJORITY OF THE SUSTAINED WINDS WILL REMAIN
IN THE "STRONG SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY" CATEGORY. SEAS WILL PEAK AT
7-10 FEET THIS EVENING JUST AHEAD OF A PRE- FRONTAL SQUALL LINE
EXPECTED TO SWEEP ACROSS THE 0-20NM WATERS IN THE EARLY TO MIDDLE
EVENING. MARINERS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM VENTURING OUT SINCE SPECIAL
MARINE WARNINGS ARE LIKELY BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING AS
A STRONG TO SEVERE SQUALLY LINE OF TSTMS RAKE THE WATERS. THIS
WILL LIKELY GENERATE VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOCALLY HIGH AND STEEP
WAVE FACES. CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE INTO DAYBREAK SUNDAY WHEN
FLAGS WILL LIKELY LOWER AND WINDS SHARPLY TAPER OFF.

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL SETTLE OVER THE SOUTHEAST
ON SUN WITH A NW-W WIND 10 TO 15 KTS TO START THE DAY. AS HIGH
SHIFTS CLOSER OVER HEAD THE WINDS WILL LIGHTEN ALLOWING A SEA
BREEZE TO DEVELOP BY AFTN. WINDS SHOULD COME AROUND TO THE S TO SW
IN THE AFTERNOON BUT OVERALL EXPECT SEAS TO DIMINISH TO 3 FT OR
LESS BY THE END OF THE DAY WITH LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. A LIGHT
RETURN FLOW WILL SET UP HEADING INTO MON AS HIGH SHIFTS OFF SHORE.
WINDS WILL REMAIN 10 KTS OR LESS WITH SEAS LESS THAN 3 FT MOST
WATERS.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 3 AM SATURDAY...A SLIGHTLY BETTER DEFINED SOUTHEASTERLY
FLOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TUES THROUGH WED AS GRADIENT BEGINS TO
TIGHTEN BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE OFF SHORE AND NEXT SYSTEM
APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST. WINDS WILL START OUT S AROUND 10
KTS TUES AND WILL REACH UP AROUND 15 KTS BY LATE WED. EXPECT
SLIGHT INCREASE IN WINDS AND SEAS NEAR SHORE IN AFTN SEA BREEZE.
OTHERWISE SEAS WILL START OUT LESS THAN 3 FT AND WILL INCREASE
SLIGHTLY HEADING INTO WED IN RESPONSE TO TIGHTENED GRADIENT FLOW
OUT OF THE SOUTH. MAY SEE SEAS REACH 3 TO 5 FT WED NIGHT IN
SOUTHERLY PUSH.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...NONE.
NC...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR
     AMZ254-256.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ250-252.

&&

SYNOPSIS...MJC/REK
NEAR TERM...REK/RAN
SHORT TERM...RGZ
LONG TERM...RGZ
AVIATION...JDW

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 16, 11:31 AM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1231 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCZ087-096-099-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-171645-
ROBESON-BLADEN-COLUMBUS-MARLBORO-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-MARION-
WILLIAMSBURG-
1231 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   TORNADO WATCH.

...DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE REGION...WILL BRING SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND NORTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.

WIND DAMAGE MAY RESULT FROM THE STORMS...AND ATMOSPHERIC ROTATION
COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS THE AREA. SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN ADVANCE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
THAT WILL CROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

KEEP SAFE AND CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER AND RADAR TRENDS THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ254-256-171645-
LITTLE RIVER INLET TO MURRELLS INLET SC OUT 20 NM-
MURRELLS INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM-
1231 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY. WINDS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST 20 TO 30 KNOTS WITH
GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. SEAS
PEAKING AT 7 TO 10 FEET THIS EVENING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WATERS THIS
AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS ARE LIKELY FOR
WIND GUSTS OVER 50 KT AND ISOLATED STRONG WATERSPOUTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ250-252-171645-
SURF CITY TO CAPE FEAR NC OUT 20 NM-
CAPE FEAR NC TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SC OUT 20 NM-
1231 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT SUNDAY...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY. WINDS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST 20 TO 30 KNOTS WITH
GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. SEAS
PEAKING AT 7 TO 10 FEET THIS EVENING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WATERS THIS
AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS ARE LIKELY FOR
WIND GUSTS OVER 50 KT AND ISOLATED STRONG WATERSPOUTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-171645-
PENDER-BRUNSWICK-NEW HANOVER-HORRY-GEORGETOWN-
1231 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
   TORNADO WATCH.

MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE REGION...WILL BRING SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND NORTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING.

WIND DAMAGE MAY RESULT FROM THE STORMS...AND ATMOSPHERIC ROTATION
COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS THE AREA. SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN ADVANCE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
THAT WILL CROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

KEEP SAFE AND CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER AND RADAR TRENDS THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

31

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 16, 1:36 PM EST, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
236 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0220 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG ELIZABETHTOWN           34.62N  78.61W
04/16/2011                   BLADEN             NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN IN ROADWAY ON WILLIAMS STREET

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100166

RAS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 1:37 PM EST, 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
237 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0220 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG DUBLIN                  34.66N  78.72W
04/16/2011                   BLADEN             NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100167

RAS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 1:38 PM EST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
238 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0220 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG BLADENBORO              34.54N  78.80W
04/16/2011                   BLADEN             NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TWO TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100168

RAS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 1:50 PM EST, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
250 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0246 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DARLINGTON              34.30N  79.87W
04/16/2011                   DARLINGTON         SC   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON MT CLAIR RD... JEFFORDS MILL RD... INDIAN
            BRANCH RD... AND SILVIA LN.

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100169

43

Local storm report, Apr 16, 1:56 PM EST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
256 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0253 PM     HAIL             DARLINGTON              34.30N  79.87W
04/16/2011  E0.88 INCH       DARLINGTON         SC   PUBLIC

            NICKLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED 3 MI E OF DARLINTON JET PORT

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100170

ZERR

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:11 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
311 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0302 PM     HAIL             3 W BROWNSVILLE         34.40N  79.65W
04/16/2011  E0.88 INCH       MARLBORO           SC   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL

&&

EVENT NUMBER ILM1100171

RAS

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 tornado, 4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:33 PM EST to 2:35 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 1.15 mi W of Rowland to 0.67 mi NW of Rowland
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.69 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.531, -79.300

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF1 tornado touched down near Rowland, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 105 mph. The path length was just over two-thirds of a mile. The maximum path width was 50 yards. Significant damage occurred to about 50 homes as a result of snapped pine trees, up to two feet in diameter. Shingles were observed to be missing from many roofs. A detached garage was pushed several feet off its foundation and a few outbuildings were destroyed. Significant damage was reported to an elementary school. Straight-line wind damage to trees was apparent for another mile beyond the point where the tornado lifted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:35 PM EST to 2:37 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 0.67 mi NW of Rowland to 1.08 mi N of Rowland
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.536, -79.289

Significant tree damage was apparent for an additional mile beyond the point where the EF1 tornado lifted. The roof was blown off a very large shed. A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team estimated straight-line winds to 75 mph.

Hail, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:36 PM EST to 2:38 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 0.98 mi SE of Alfords
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.569, -79.310

Hail up to the size of quarters was reported.

Hail, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:38 PM EST to 2:53 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 1.14 mi W of Pembroke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.680, -79.200

Hail to the size of golf balls was reported near the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The hail lasted for about 15 minutes.

Hail, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:46 PM EST to 2:48 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 2.88 mi E of Buie
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.727, -79.100

Hail to the size of quarters was reportedly covering a portion of Highway 211.

Tornado, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:47 PM EST to 2:49 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 1.7 mi W of Powers to 0.57 mi NW of Powers
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.48 mi
Path width: 352 yd
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.678, -79.010

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF1 tornado touched down near Barker Ten Mile, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 105 mph. The path length was near one and a half miles. The maximum path width was 352 yards. Several headstones were turned over in a cemetery on Highway 301. Several ornamental trees, up to eight inches in diameter, were snapped. A half dozen power poles were leaning over and a flag pole was completely bent over. Numerous trees were snapped along Interstate-95. Several dozen large hardwood and pine trees, up to two feet in diameter, were snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees caused substantial damage to over 100 homes along Robin Road, Castle Road and Sherwood Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Robeson

When: April 16, 2:55 PM EST to 2:57 PM EST
Where: Robeson County, 2.14 mi SSE of Lumberton
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.590, -78.992

A wind gust to 73 mph was measured. Trees were reportedly snapped.

Tornado, Bladen

When: April 16, 3:25 PM EST to 3:27 PM EST
Where: Bladen County, 3.7 mi ENE of Live Oak to 4.61 mi NW of Ammon
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.5 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Continued into: Cumberland, Nc (RAH)
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.842, -78.656

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team found evidence of a strong tornado in northern Bladen County, near Ammon, North Carolina. The damage was rated up to an EF2. The maximum wind speed was estimated up to 130 mph. The path length was one and a half miles in Bladen County. However, the tornado remained on the ground as it moved into southeast Cumberland County. The maximum path width was 200 yards. The tornado first touched down southwest of Old Fayetteville Road and severely impacted Foxfire Nursery in northern Bladen County. The tornado completely destroyed four large hog houses and significantly damaged two others. More than one hundred hogs were killed by the tornado. Small offices and outbuildings near the hog houses were either completely destroyed or significantly damaged. There were a couple dozen trees downed in the area. Power lines were also downed. The damage was rated EF1 with winds to 105 mph. The tornado moved across a wooded area and as it approached Old Fayetteville Road, it completely destroyed three manufactured homes, two singlewide trailers and a doublewide. A fourth singlewide manufactured home was broken from its foundation and turned 90 degrees on the north side of Old Fayetteville Road. All of the homes appeared to have been strapped down. There were three fatalities. Several dozen pine and hardwood trees were snapped off as were a few power poles. The damage near and along Old Fayetteville Road was rated EF2 with winds to 130 mph. The damage path then crossed into southeast Cumberland County (WFO Raleigh, North Carolina's County Warning Area).

Tornado, Bladen

When: April 16, 3:58 PM EST to 4:18 PM EST
Where: Bladen County, 0.82 mi SSW of Bladenboro Arpt to 1.78 mi NE of Elizabethtown
Rating: EF2
Path length: 13.13 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $3.1 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.540, -78.787

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team found evidence of a strong tornado in Bladen County, North Carolina. The damage was rated up to an EF2. The maximum wind speed was estimated up to 120 mph. The path length was just over 13 miles. The maximum path width was 440 yards. The tornado first touched down at 458 pm EDT in downtown Bladenboro at the intersection of Seaboard Street and Highway 242. A gas station had its asphalt roof entirely ripped off and tossed into the aluminum awning over the pumps, damaging the awning. A small industrial building also had its asphalt roof entirely removed and tossed 30 yards downwind. The tornado then came entirely to the ground decimating a grove of about 75 trees, consisting of maple and oak, some up to 2 ft in diameter. The path width at this point was approximately 150 yards. The damage was rated EF1 with winds up to 100 mph. |The tornado tracked along and just west of Highway 242 causing damage to a series of singlewide mobile homes. Of these homes, one un-mounted home was flipped onto its side, a second was partially destroyed, while a third had its entire metal roof ripped off and tossed up into a tree. Just beyond these homes the Bladenboro EMS |building was also damaged. Partial uplift of the roof of this brick building was noted, as well as the complete destruction of a small shed. In addition, many large hardwood trees were uprooted. This damage was rated EF1 with winds to 100 mph.|The tornado then widened to 200 yards as it moved across a neighborhood of mobile homes in the Ronald Britt Road area. Almost every tree in this neighborhood, mostly consisting of oak, was snapped about halfway up the trunk. Many of the homes sustained at least minor cosmetic damage. Three of the homes were completely destroyed including one in which even the debris had been deposited well downwind of where the home initially stood. There was one fatality in this location. Damage in this neighborhood was rated up to EF2 with winds to 120 mph. The tornado widened further as it moved adjacent to Highway 242. Near Bill Crawley Road at around 508 pm, a single wide mobile home was completely demolished and its debris was spread 50 yards to the other side of Highway 242. Up to 80 percent of all trees were snapped or uprooted in this area. The tornado then crossed back across Highway 242 and reached its maximum path width of 440 yards as it crossed Guyton Road and encountered a series of single family homes. A large brick home had approximately half of its roof destroyed and blown away while the other homes suffered significant cosmetic damage. Additionally, a few empty galvanized steel grain silos were lifted and moved 100 yards. This damage was rated EF2 with winds around 120 mph. |The tornado continued across mostly forested areas before impacting the Hayfield neighborhood of Elizabethtown around 512 pm. Extensive damage was observed between Singletary Avenue and Doll Street. A well constructed home had its roof partially lifted, causing the exterior walls to bow out. Significant structural damage was noted to the roof and to the upper portion of the exterior walls. Many other homes in this neighborhood experienced significant cosmetic damage. As the tornado moved across Cromartie Road, it snapped or uprooted virtually all of the trees in the area as its width decreased to about 300 yards. Most of the observed structural damage to homes was from falling trees. The damage directly related to winds was mostly cosmetic with shingles torn off and siding damaged. As the tornado crossed Highway 87, it made a direct hit on Elizabethtown Baptist Church. Moderate roof damage was noted to several of the buildings, and a brick covered walkway was almost completely leveled. The damage in this area was rated EF1 with winds to 100 mph. The tornado then moved across mostly rural and forested areas as it began to weaken. The tornado crossed Highway 53, taking down a swath of pine trees 100 yards wide, some of which blocked the road. This damage was rated EF1 with winds to 95 mph. At this point the tornado began to lift and subsequent tree damage was more consistent with straight line winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bladen

When: April 16, 4:18 PM EST to 4:20 PM EST
Where: Bladen County, 1.78 mi NE of Elizabethtown to 2.95 mi NE of Elizabethtown
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.648, -78.598

As the tornado lifted and dissipated, a strong rear flank downdraft likely wrapped around the funnel and caused significant tree damage for an additional mile. Many large oak trees were uprooted from just north of Highway 53 to the Oak Tree Trail area. A few snapped pine trees were noted just to the northeast of Willard Tatum Road. This represented the last of the damage observed. A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team estimated straight-line winds to 80 mph.

Tornado, Columbus

When: April 16, 4:33 PM EST to 4:34 PM EST
Where: Columbus County, 5.75 mi W of Rico to 5.55 mi W of Rico
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.22 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.422, -78.730

A tornado was captured on video by a trained spotter 6 miles southwest of Clarkton, North Carolina at 533 pm EDT on 4/16/11. The tornado formed about one-quarter mile north of the intersection of Highway 701 and 131. The tornado quickly formed and dissipated in an open field near Highway 701. A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team investigated, but found no damage. After the team viewed the video and collaborated with the spotter who observed the tornado, they estimated the tornado had a path length of near one-quarter of a mile and a maximum path width of 25 yards. The tornado was rated EF0 with winds to 70 mph.

Tornado, Columbus

When: April 16, 5:05 PM EST to 5:07 PM EST
Where: Columbus County, 2.53 mi SSW of Whiter Crossing to 1.46 mi SSW of Whiter Crossing
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.199, -78.743

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded a tornado was responsible for the damage 9 miles south of Whiteville, North Carolina. The tornado was rated up to an EF1 with winds to 100 mph. The path length was just over 1 mile. The maximum path width was 50 yards. The tornado touched down in a field west of Lebanon Church Road and caused significant damage to a stand of two dozen trees which were mainly snapped just west of the roadway. The tornado crossed Lebanon Church Road, passing near two homes. Trees fell onto the homes causing damage. The damage was rated EF1. The tornado then moved across a wooded area behind the homes and emerged onto a field before affecting two homes on Gores Trailer Road. The homes sustained minor damage. There were also several trees uprooted near Gores Trailer Road. The damage was rated EF0. The tornado lifted as it crossed into the field on the north side of Gores Trailer Road.

Hail, Columbus

When: April 16, 6:00 PM EST to 6:02 PM EST
Where: Columbus County, 6.22 mi NNW of Whiteville
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.410, -78.750

Hail to the size of quarters was reported.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Bladen	2011-04-16	92	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Bladen	2011-04-16	50	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Bladen	2011-04-16	54	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Tornado, Bladen	2011-04-16	50	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for North Carolina, 2011 Warnings in North Carolina, April 2011

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: 298778, 298808, 299568, 299569, 299570, 299661, 299605, 300477, 300502, 300572, 300636, 301080, 301084.