EF1 Tornado — Gaston, North Carolina

2024-05-08 · near Gastonia, Gaston, North Carolina

Event narrative

NWS storm survey found the path of an EF1 tornado that touched down near West Davidson Ave, snapping several trees. The tornado quickly moved east, crossing Highway 321 near I-85, where the tornado reached peak intensity. Several buildings sustained minor roof damage, multiple power poles were snapped, and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped in a wooded area around Sims Legion Park. Two people were injured by falling trees in this area. The tornado snapped additional trees as it crossed I-85 and moved through east Gastonia. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped in this area, while a warehouse sustained minor-to-moderate roof damage. The tornado continued to produce tree damage as it moved through the Lowell area, where it crossed the South Fork Catawba River. Several more trees were downed in Belmont before the tornado lifted near Oak St in the Springwood community.

Wider weather episode

A couple of waves of strong to severe thunderstorms moved from east Tennessee into western North Carolina...one during the afternoon and evening of the 8th, and another during the early morning of the 9th. Scattered severe storms produced several EF1 tornadoes, large to very large hail, and isolated swaths of damaging winds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2810, -81.2100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1186748. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.