Tornadoes · United States · North Carolina · 2006

F1 tornado, Columbia, North Carolina, May 14, 2006

Name: F1 tornado, Columbia, North Carolina, May 14, 2006
Start: 2006-05-15T01:25:00.000Z
Location: Columbia, North Carolina

This F1 tornado ran 2.0 miles across Tyrrell County on May 14, 2006, touching down at 9:25 PM EDT and reaching 150 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $70,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating: F1
Date: May 14, 2006
Touchdown: 9:25 PM EDT (01:25 UTC)
Path length: 2.0 miles (3.2 km)
Path width: 150 yards (137 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $70,000
County: Tyrrell County
Touchdown point: 35.920, -76.250
Lift-off point: 35.920, -76.250
Record number: 550

What the Weather Service recorded

Tornado moved northeast across the southern part of Columbia causing light to moderate damage to many structures. Many trees, signs, and power lines were down across the town.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at May 14, 9:22 PM EDT, 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 14, 9:22 PM EDT, 3 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 14, 4:30 AM EDT, 16 hours 55 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
430 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>094-104-150830-
MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT-
MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
430 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL LOW AND SURFACE COLD FRONT MOVING
THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA WILL PRODUCE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE TSTMS
TODAY. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THE STORMS WILL STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MAINLY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY.

AMZ130-135-150-152-154-156-158-170-150830-
ALBEMARLE SOUND-PAMLICO SOUND-
S OF CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO OREGON INLET NC OUT 20 NM-
S OF OREGON INLET TO CAPE HATTERAS NC OUT 20 NM-
S OF CAPE HATTERAS TO OCRACOKE INLET NC OUT 20 NM
INCLUDING THE MONITOR NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
S OF OCRACOKE INLET TO CAPE LOOKOUT NC OUT 20 NM-
S OF CAPE LOOKOUT TO N OF SURF CITY NC OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO SURF CITY NC FROM 20 TO
40 NM-
430 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL LOW AND SURFACE COLD FRONT MOVING
THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA WILL PRODUCE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE TSTMS
TODAY. BOATERS SHOULD EXPECT STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS IN
AND NEAR THE STRONGER STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ095-098-103-150830-
CARTERET-ONSLOW-OUTER BANKS DARE-
430 AM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL LOW AND SURFACE COLD FRONT MOVING
THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA WILL PRODUCE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE TSTMS
TODAY. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THE STORMS WILL STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MAINLY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING HOURS.

THERE WILL BE A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 14, 5:19 PM EDT, 4 hours 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
519 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

NCZ047-103-142215-
OUTER BANKS DARE-MAINLAND DARE-
519 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT DARE COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM EDT...

AT 519 PM EDT...THERE WERE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
DUCK...OR ABOUT 11 MILES SOUTH OF GRANDY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR DUCK AT 530 PM EDT. OTHER
LOCATIONS TO BE AFFECTED BY THE STORMS INCLUDE SOUTHERN SHORES.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN ON
AREA ROADWAYS TO AVOID HYDROPLANING. MOST LIGHTNING FATALITIES AND
INJURIES OCCUR IN OPEN AREAS OR UNDER TREES. IF OUTDOORS...SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR CAR. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER IN SMALL
SHEDS...UNDER ISOLATED TREES...OR IN CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILES.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
FURTHER UPDATES ON THE WEATHER SITUATION ACROSS THE AREA.

8

Local storm report, May 14, 5:36 PM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
536 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

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

0506 PM     TORNADO          8 ENE ROPER             35.92N 76.49W
05/14/2006                   WASHINGTON         NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PUBLIC REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO, DAMAGE TO SEVERAL TREES
            AND A HOUSE

&&

KLAWS

Local storm report, May 14, 6:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
626 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

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

0508 PM     TORNADO          6 NW CRESWELL           35.93N 76.47W
05/14/2006                   WASHINGTON         NC   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TORNADO IN PEA RIDGE. EIGHT LARGE TREES
            UPROOTED. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOME AND OUT
            BUILDING. UPDATE TO PRIOR REPORT PROVIDED BY EM.

&&

Local storm report, May 14, 6:54 PM EDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
654 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

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

0515 PM     TSTM WND GST     SCUPPERNONG             35.91N 76.46W
05/14/2006  E60 MPH          WASHINGTON         NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, May 14, 8:35 PM EDT, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
835 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

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

0825 PM     TORNADO          BETHEL                  35.81N 77.38W
05/14/2006                   PITT               NC   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO ALONG HIGHWAY 64 NEAR
            BETHEL MOVING EAST.

&&

Local storm report, May 14, 9:03 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
903 PM EDT SUN MAY 14 2006

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

0854 PM     HAIL             WILLIAMSTON             35.85N 77.06W
05/14/2006  E0.75 INCH       MARTIN             NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

0856 PM     HAIL             5 S WILLIAMSTON         35.78N 77.06W
05/14/2006  E0.75 INCH       MARTIN             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Newport, NC (KMHX), 00:00Z

1.4 hours before the tornado, 139 km from the path. May 15, 2006.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 113 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -155 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 744 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1231 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 57 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 255 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 304 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.0
0-3 km lapse rate: 6.6 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Newport, NC (KMHX), 12:00Z

10.6 hours after it, 139 km from the path. May 15, 2006.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.

Hodograph

Mixed-layer CAPE: 121 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -36 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 67 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 888 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 71 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 148 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.6
0-3 km lapse rate: 5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Edenton_northea (EDE), 31 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 01:25 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2006 tornado in North Carolina Every tornado in North Carolina since 1950 Warnings in force in North Carolina now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 14, 2006

15 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
May 14	2:49 PM EDT	F1	Cabarrus, NC	0.2	50		$10,000
May 14	3:50 PM CDT	F0	Williamson, TX	0.2	70
May 14	5:06 PM EDT	F0	Washington, NC	1.0	25		$10,000
May 14	4:40 PM CDT	F0	Brazoria, TX	1.0	30		$10,000
May 14	5:40 PM EDT	F1	Darlington, SC	0.6	15	1	$400,000
May 14	5:55 PM EDT	F1	Florence, SC	0.3	15		$250,000
May 14	6:10 PM EDT	F0	Durham, NC	0.5	50
May 14	6:43 PM EDT	F0	Franklin, NC	0.5	50
May 14	7:00 PM EDT	F2	Florence, SC	0.6	150		$1.3 million
May 14	7:15 PM EDT	F0	Nash, NC	1.0	100
May 14	7:42 PM EDT	F0	Berkeley, SC	0.1	25		$1,000
May 14	7:45 PM EDT	F1	Lee, NC	1.5	100
May 14	8:25 PM EDT	F0	Pitt, NC	0.1	25
May 14	8:46 PM EDT	F0	Martin, NC	0.1	25
May 14	8:48 PM EDT	F1	Charleston, SC	1.8	175

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.