EF1 tornado in Columbus County, North Carolina

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded a tornado was responsible for the damage 9 miles south of Whiteville, North Carolina. The tornado was rated up to an EF1 with winds to 100 mph. The path length was just over 1 mile. The maximum path width was 50 yards. The tornado touched down in a field west of Lebanon Church Road and caused significant damage to a stand of two dozen trees which were mainly snapped just west of the roadway. The tornado crossed Lebanon Church Road, passing near two homes. Trees fell onto the homes causing damage. The damage was rated EF1. The tornado then moved across a wooded area behind the homes and emerged onto a field before affecting two homes on Gores Trailer Road. The homes sustained minor damage. There were also several trees uprooted near Gores Trailer Road. The damage was rated EF0. The tornado lifted as it crossed into the field on the north side of Gores Trailer Road.

A powerful storm system that had moved across the deep south during previous days, swept across the eastern Carolinas during the afternoon and evening hours. Instability and shear values were highly supportive of super-cell thunderstorms. The result was a large outbreak of severe weather including strong and deadly tornadoes across eastern North Carolina.