EF1 tornado in Alexander County, North Carolina

NWS storm survey found the path of a tornado that initially straddled the Caldwell/Alexander County line, roughly paralleling Icard Ridge Rd as it moved almost due north across far western Alexander County. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. The tornado path was lost in the vicinity of Caldwell Pond Rd, just south of Highway 64. However, additional tornado damage was found several miles away along Highway 64. The area between these two points was heavily wooded and largely inaccessible, but based upon the almost due north orientation of this damage path, and the more northeast orientation of the damage along Highway 64, they are treated as separate events.

A band of rain showers along and ahead of a strong cold front quickly intensified during the afternoon across Upstate South Carolina, then moved quickly northeast into the North Carolina foothills and far western Piedmont. Multiple severe and/or tornadic thunderstorms developed within the line, with multiple tornadoes, some of which were quite strong, reported across the area. This was the second tornado outbreak to impact the this area in just over two weeks, and for the most part, the same counties that were impacted on October 8th were once again affected on the 23rd. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain falling throughout the morning hours, followed by a brief period of intense rainfall associated with the band of rain showers resulted in areas of flooding and flash flooding near the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge.