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F0 tornado in Onslow County, North Carolina

Tornado August 14, 2004 · Onslow County, North Carolina

F0
Rating
0.1 mi
Path length
20 yd
Path width
$10K
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

NOAA recorded where this tornado touched down but not where it lifted, so it appears as a point. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F0 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F0 meant light damage: shingles and siding peeled, gutters torn, branches broken; the scale paired it with winds of 40–72 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

Emergency Manager reported minor structural damage at the Beachman Apartments south of Highway 17.

The wider storm

Tropical Storm Charley moved northeast across the Coastal Plains of Eastern North Carolina during the afternoon hours on August 14th. Onslow county received the most damage, with estimates over 5 million dollars, as winds gusted to near hurricane force toppling trees and power lines with structural damage to homes and businesses. Winds gusted from 60-70 mph across Inland areas near the center of the storm resulting in wind damage to structures, and damage to crops reaching into the millions. Winds gusted from 40 to 50 mph across locations across Eastern North Carolina with minor wind damage reported. Storm surge values were highest along the Onslow County coastline where a 2 to 3 foot surge was estimated, and 8 foot waves caused minor beach erosion along the south facing beaches. Water levels rose up to 2 feet across the lower reaches of the Neuse and the Pamlico Rivers, and across the Outer Banks. Storm total rainfall, estimated between 4 to 6 inches, occurred across a large part of the area resulting in freshwater flooding in 7 counties across the Coastal Plains. Five weak tornadoes were reported across the area associated with Charley with damage reported. The most significant damage related to a tornado occurred along the Outer Banks in Nags Head.

Began near Jacksonville (34.7500, -77.4167).

Other tornadoes from the same storm system

4 more tornadoes the National Weather Service filed under this storm episode.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5421570. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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