EF3 Tornado — Guilford, North Carolina

2010-03-28 · near High Pt, Guilford, North Carolina

Event narrative

The tornado initially touched down as an EF1 with winds around 100 mph near Old Plank Road in southwest Guilford County. It was in this area where the Apple Tree Academy sustained significant damage and two vehicles including a small bus were

rolled 50 yards across the street. From this point the tornado continued northeast

across Highway 311.

The next area to experience damage was just north of Highway 311 and south of Old Mill Road along Langdale, Imperial and Impala Drives. Tornado damage in this area continued to indicate EF1 winds with numerous trees down along with a number of home with roof and siding damage. The tornado intensified to an EF2 as it crossed Old Mill Road towards Johnson Street. The EF2 tornado severely damaged numerous homes along Brandon Drive. In on instance, an entire bedroom was blown off a single

story home. Three individuals who were taking shelter in a bedroom closet were carried 50 feet and were buried under the debris. One individual experienced several broken bones but overall injuries were not serious. The remainder of the house was shifted off the foundation approximately 8 inches.

EF2 tornado damage continued north of Old Mill Road to Skeet Club Road along either side of Johnson Road with winds around 130 mph for most of its duration but briefly

reached EF3 intensity with winds of 138 mph near Hampton Park Drive at 1278 Silverstone Court where the upper level of a two story home was blown off. Fifty to sixty homes along Hampton Park Drive, Scarlet Drive, Ruskin Drive and Johnson Road were severely damaged.

The tornado crossed Johnson Road as an EF2 crossing Elmwood Avenue, Oakforest Drive and Maplewood Avenue. Nearly every home in this highly urbanized area experienced minor to moderate damage. The upper floor of a two story home on Elmwood Avenue was blown off. The tornado weakened to an EF1 as it crossed Maplewood Avenue and Wellingham Lane, where numerous homes experienced roof and siding damage. The tornado finally lifted off the ground north of Kendale Road.

In total 603 single family homes were damaged with 21 homes being completely destoryed. Thirty-one multifamily homes were damaged with 16 reported destroyed.

Finally, eleven businesses sustained damage, with 3 businesses completely destroyed.

Wider weather episode

Convection developed ahead of an amplified upper trough across the Tennessee Valley

while a strong southerly mid and upper level jet provided strong shear across the region. Tornadoes formed and track ahead of a developing surface low across Georgia and along a wedge front located across the western Piedmont of NC.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.0049, -80.0396)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 218501. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.