EF1 Tornado — Jackson, North Carolina

2024-05-08 · near Pumpkintown, Jackson, North Carolina

Event narrative

NWS storm survey found the path of a strong EF1 tornado that touched down in a heavily wooded area in the Cowee Mountains just east of Pumpkintown and near the Macon County line. The tornado produced minor tree damage as it ascended a ridge near Kirby Knob before rapidly strengthening as it descended through Cullowhee Gap and crossed Tilley Creek Rd. Multiple trees were uprooted along the road with numerous large branches snapped. The tornado quickly reached peak intensity just east of Tilley Creek Rd where an extensive swath of trees received considerable damage. Approximately 80% of the trees in this swath were either snapped or uprooted, with the trees still standing having multiple branches snapped off. The tornado continued as a high-end EF1, snapping or uprooting many trees as it passed just below Moss Knob, turning southeast into a remote and heavily wooded area as it continued to down numerous trees between Pine Knob and Low Ridge with the damage path focused near Whiterock Creek. Several trees were uprooted where the tornado crossed White Rock Rd near Cullowhee Mountain Rd before entering the Cullowhee Forest community where numerous trees were downed along Walking Stick Trail as the tornado paralleled Hunter Jim Creek. After exiting Cullowhee Forest, the tornado crossed the West Fork Tuckasegee River and Highway 107 just below Trout Creek Road. High-end EF1 damage was once again noted as the tornado crossed Highway 107 and ascended a ridge where a stand of trees received modest damage with approximately 60% of the trees felled. The tornado then passed through the northern portion of the Sims Valley community just on the south side of Trout Creek. Numerous trees were downed along the mountainside with several trees brought down in the Trout Creek Campground, which was on the northern fringes of the tornadic circulation. The tornado turned southeast one more time before dissipating in a wooded area near Big Ridge.

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 → (35.2460, -83.2590)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1186752. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.