EF1 tornado in Rowan County, North Carolina

This tornado touched down along highway 29 in Spencer, just east of the town center, where the facade and roof of a shopping center were damaged. The tornado traveled northeast along Salisbury Ave, causing mainly minor roof damage to numerous homes, and blowing the awning off a business. The brick chimney was blown off a home and two trees fell on another home in this area. The tornado continued northeast to the Yadkin Ave/Cain St area, where numerous trees were blown down, one on a home, another on an apartment building, and one on an automobile. Numerous homes received minor roof damage as the tornado continued northeast, eventually crossing N Salisbury Ave again. The most significant damage occurred in the Hackett St area, where a shed and boat awning were destroyed. A large tree also fell on a house in this area, causing significant damage. The tornado then caused minor damage at a factory before took on more of a east/northeast heading, roughly paralleling Hackett St, where additional tree damage occurred. The tornado continued east/northeast, crossing I-85 just north of Hackett St before crossing the Yadkin River into Davidson County.

Strong wind shear and moderate instability developed over the region ahead of a cold front. Several severe storms affected the western Carolinas during the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail and straight line winds were the most commonly reported severe weather, though one supercell thunderstorm produced two tornadoes over the western piedmont of North Carolina.