F1 tornado in Gaston County, North Carolina

Tornado July 12, 2003 · Gaston County, North Carolina

Rating

18.0 mi

Path length

200 yd

Path width

$2.0M

Damage as recorded

EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 200 yards (0.11 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

What the National Weather Service wrote

This weak tornado, or perhaps a series of weak tornadoes, caused widespread tree and power line damage as it tracked across northern Gaston County. The most significant damage occurred in the Mount Holly area, as well as far northern portions of Belmont. Many trees and power lines were blown onto homes and vehicles. Several buildings had significant roof damage, while numerous others incurred minor roof damage

Began near Cherryville (35.3667, -81.3500).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5329529. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

Tornadoes near your address

See every tornado that passed near a place you know, measured to its path.