EF1 tornado in Nash County, North Carolina

A tornado touched down just northwest of the City of Rocky Mount along the Thomas A Betts Parkway. The tornado continued north, producing intermittent tree damage in the form of snapped and uprooted hardwood trees, sliding just west of the Belmont Lake Golf course. The tornado strengthened and widened to a peak width of roughly 350 yards as it intersected NC-4 just West of Battleboro, producing a rather widespread swath of snapped and uprooted trees along with EF-1 damage to several farm outbuildings and one residence which lost considerable roof sheeting. A Tornado Debris Signature (TDS) from KRAX became rather apparent at this point. The storm continued north before taking a quick jog to the northeast as it began to weaken just west of Whitakers. The tornado remained on the ground producing intermittent tree damage as it passed over Fishing Creek, entering into Halifax County before lifting roughly a mile into the county just north of Low Ground Road. While tornado damage was not observed north of this point, debris continued to be deposited several miles north of the damage path.

A deepening upper-level trough, which featured a strong polar jet ejecting northeast atop an eastward advancing cold front, brought severe thunderstorms that produced

7 tornadoes and widespread damaging straight-line winds across central NC. The strongest tornado of the day in North Carolina formed in southwestern Orange County and reached EF-2 strength as it neared Hillsborough. Along its path estimated at 12 miles long and a maximum of 600 yards wide, the roof and exterior walls of one home were reported as completely destroyed.