Tornadoes · United States · North Carolina · 2008

EF0 tornado, West Concord, North Carolina, May 11, 2008

This EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Cabarrus County on May 11, 2008, touching down at 6:19 PM EDT and reaching 20 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

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

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 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.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 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.

  7. 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
EF0
Date
May 11, 2008
Touchdown
6:19 PM EDT (22:19 UTC)
Path length
0.1 miles (0.2 km)
Path width
20 yards (18 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Cabarrus County
Touchdown point
35.373, -80.551
Lift-off point
35.373, -80.551
Record number
0805111619-01

What the Weather Service recorded

An isolated supercell thunderstorm developed over the South Mountains in the North Carolina Piedmont. The storm then tracked east, producing large to very large hail and brief tornadoes during it's 3 hour lifetime. There was quite a bit of hail damage, particularly in the city of Concord in Cabarrus County, though no damage estimates were available.

A tornado touched down briefly near the intersection of highway 49 and highway 601.

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

The warnings

48 minutes of warning. NWS GSP issued a tornado warning for this county at 21:31 UTC, 48 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 22:24 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 18:10 UTC and running to 22:51 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
18:00 UTC19:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSP
18:10 UTC22:51 UTCTornado WatchGSP
21:31 UTC22:24 UTCTornado WarningGSP
22:08 UTC22:43 UTCTornado WarningGSP
00:36 UTC21:58 UTCLake Wind AdvisoryGSP

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 20:01 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

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.

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), 12:00Z

10.3 hours before the tornado, 98 km from the path. May 11, 2008.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-05-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -99425, lifted condensation level 951 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
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.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-05-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 63 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99425 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
951 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
262 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), 00:00Z

1.7 hours after it, 98 km from the path. May 12, 2008.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2008-05-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 256 joules per kilogram, CIN -61, lifted condensation level 748 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
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.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2008-05-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 164 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 32 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
256 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-61 J/kg
Surface CAPE
337 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
748 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
164 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.1
0-3 km lapse rate
6.7 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Concord (JQF), 14 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
20:55 UTC69.860.8240° 12 kt17995.9
21:55 UTC69.860.8270° 5 kt995.6
22:52 UTC71.657.2250° 10 kt994.9
23:55 UTC71.650240° 12 kt19994.9RA

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

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 161 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:19 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.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
21:17 UTCHAIL 17 Ne LincolntonLincoln, NC
21:21 UTCHAIL 1.755 E LincolntonLincoln, NCLINCOLNTON COUNTY AIRPORT.
21:25 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD7 E LincolntonLincoln, NCREPORT OF A FUNNEL CLOUD OVER HW-73.
21:50 UTCHAIL 1CorneliusMecklenburg, NCQUARTER SIZED HAIL ON W CATAWBA AVENUE IN CORNELIUS.
21:50 UTCHAIL 1.752 S CorneliusMecklenburg, NCFROM WCNC...REPORTER HAD GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL ON I-77.
22:00 UTCHAIL 0.25HuntersvilleMecklenburg, NCSPOTTER REPORTS PEA SIZE HAIL.
22:00 UTCHAIL 18 Wnw ConcordCabarrus, NCSPOTTER REPORTS QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND A WALL CLOUD AT THE INTERSECTION OF HW-73 AND ODELL SCHOOL ROAD.
22:06 UTCHAIL 2ConcordCabarrus, NC
22:10 UTCHAIL 2.754 W ConcordCabarrus, NCSPOTTER REPORTS HAIL AS LARGE AS BASEBALLS AT INTERNATIONAL DRIVE AND POPLAR TENT ROAD.
22:14 UTCHAIL 1.752 Nnw ConcordCabarrus, NC
22:15 UTCHAIL 0.88ConcordCabarrus, NCNICKEL SIZED HAIL AT BRANCH VIEW ROAD AND SOUTH UNION ROAD.
22:15 UTCHAIL 12 Sw ConcordCabarrus, NCCITY OF CONCORD EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS QUARTER SIZED HAIL AT HW-601 AND HW-29.
22:18 UTCHAIL 1ConcordCabarrus, NCSPOTTER REPORTS ONE INCH HAIL ON SOUTH UNION ROAD.
22:39 UTCHAIL 1.75Mount PleasantCabarrus, NCGOLF BALL SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN MOUNT PLEASANT. REPORT RELAYED BY NWS ILM.
22:44 UTCHAIL 0.752 Wnw PlylerStanly, NCPENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC ON HWY 73... 2 MILES TO THE WEST OF PLYER.
23:10 UTCHAIL 0.754 Sw TroyMontgomery, NCHIGHWAYS 24/27 AND 109.
23:10 UTCHAIL 0.884 Wsw TroyMontgomery, NCPEA TO NICKLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED 4 MILES TO THE WSW OF TROY.
00:00 UTCHAIL 0.88SalisburyRowan, NC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2008 tornado in North CarolinaEvery tornado in North Carolina since 1950Warnings in force in North Carolina nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 11, 2008

41 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 112:36 AM CDTEF1Cleburne, AL3.81,000$1.8 million
May 112:47 AM CDTEF1Cleburne, AL2.3150$50,000
May 114:08 AM EDTEF2Carroll, GA0.1100$2.0 million
May 114:08 AM EDTEF2Troup, GA1.0150$80,000
May 114:09 AM EDTEF0Edgefield, SC4.080
May 114:18 AM EDTEF2Troup, GA3.8300$80,000
May 114:25 AM EDTEF2Carroll, GA0.1100$7.0 million
May 114:31 AM EDTEF0Aiken, SC3.560
May 115:17 AM EDTEF2Clayton, GA17.5100$7.5 million
May 115:28 AM EDTEF0Aiken, SC1.050
May 115:50 AM EDTEF2Bibb, GA18.4100$5.0 million
May 116:07 AM EDTEF0Aiken, SC7.850
May 116:15 AM EDTEF1Twiggs, GA24.8100$4.0 million
May 116:36 AM EDTEF2Laurens, GA13.825022$1.4 million
May 116:44 AM EDTEF1Johnson, GA10.15815$16 million
May 116:45 AM EDTEF0Washington, GA33.6440$5.2 million
May 116:58 AM EDTEF1Laurens, GA0.4200$900,000
May 117:01 AM EDTEF2Johnson, GA7.58803$7.8 million
May 117:11 AM EDTEF3Treutlen, GA7.7150$225,000
May 117:20 AM EDTEF2Toombs, GA1.11503$500,000
May 117:33 AM EDTEF0Jenkins, GA1.71,2001$50,000
May 117:35 AM EDTEF3Toombs, GA7.32002$1.0 million
May 118:10 AM EDTEF1Bulloch, GA2.3300$125,000
May 118:25 AM EDTEF0Madison, IN0.110$15,000
May 118:30 AM EDTEF0Hampton, SC0.325
May 119:15 AM EDTEF1Whitley, KY1.6400$100,000
May 119:52 AM EDTEF4Darien tornado, GA11.07009$13 million
May 1110:20 AM EDTEF1Carter, KY1.3100$300,000
May 1110:27 AM EDTEF1Leslie, KY0.370$25,000
May 111:10 PM EDTEF0Madison, OH1.820$10,000
May 112:40 PM EDTEF1Glynn, GA5.2200
May 114:30 PM EDTEF0Burke, NC0.120
May 114:48 PM EDTEF0Lincoln, NC0.120
May 116:03 PM EDTEF0New Hanover, NC0.110
May 116:12 PM EDTEF2Charleston, SC12.01,760$1.2 million
May 116:25 PM EDTEF2Bertie, NC15.02002$1.0 million
May 116:57 PM EDTEF2Onslow, NC5.01006$155,000
May 117:28 PM EDTEF0Onslow, NC0.220
May 118:06 PM EDTEF1Carteret, NC2.730$30,000
May 118:17 PM EDTEF0Carteret, NC0.330$10,000
May 118:27 PM EDTEF0Carteret, NC0.110

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.