EF2 Tornado — Wilson, North Carolina

2009-05-05 · near Buckhorn Xrds, Wilson, North Carolina

Event narrative

At the intersection of North Carolina highway 581 and North Carolina Highway 42 at Buckhorn Crossroads and EF-0 tornado touched down at 3:44 EST and tracked off to the northeast. At Buckhorn Crossroads several trees were snapped off and shingles blown off a house.

As the tornado moved to the northeast it tracked into a wooded area and began to intensive. It emerged from the wooded area just to the southwest of the intersection of Sadie Road and Rock Ridge School Road, into the Rock Ridge area, at 4:50 PM and had strengthen to an EF-2. At that time, peak winds were estimated at 120 to 135 mph with a path width of 100 yards. The first home that was damage to the southwest of the aforementioned intersection was a well built brick home that sustained roof and some structural damage. The carport attached to this house was destroyed as well. The tornado continued to track to the northeast uprooting and snapping off numerous hardwood trees, before crossing Sadie Road, just south of Rock Ridge School Road. In this area, the tornado caused significant roof and structural damage to two well built homes. Two garages where destroyed as well, one attached and one external. Other homes in the area sustained damage and downed trees as well. In all, eight house in the Rock Ridge area received some damage and downed trees.

The tornado then crossed Rock Ridge School Road and continued to track off to the northeast into a field and eventually a wooded area where the tornado lifted.

Wider weather episode

Two tornadic supercells developed along a stalled warm front that extended across souther piedmont and coastal plain of North Carolina.

The cells produced 4 tornadoes in Johnston, Nash and Wilson counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.6790, -78.1077)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 159950. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.