EF2 Tornado — Brunswick, North Carolina

2019-09-05 · near Seaside, Brunswick, North Carolina

Event narrative

Video shared on social media showed the tornado moving onshore near

Tubbs Inlet. The tornado moved northwest causing moderate tree

damage and minor roof damage as it crossed Sunset Blvd N near

Sunset Beach Town Hall. Spotty tree and roof damage continued as

the tornado crossed Sea Trail Golf Resort and moved into a large

wooded area north of Old Georgetown Road SW (Hwy 179). To this

point along the path, damage was consistent with wind speeds in

the 80-90 mph range (EF-0/EF-1).

The tornado emerged near Bennett Trail SW at the intersection of

Thomasboro Road, and caused major roof damage to a few homes and a

horse barn. Large sections of roofs were blown off, and numerous

large trees were snapped as the tornado approached The Farms at

Brunswick community. In this area, the tornado strengthened to

EF-2 with a width of approximately 200 yards. Damage in The Farms

was extensive. Several dozen homes received minor to major damage

along Carolina Farms Blvd, Slippery Rock Way, Fence Post Lane and

Castle Run Lane. The tornado reached maximum intensity as it

crossed Slippery Rock Way near Fence Post Lane, where large

sections of roofs were blown off. There were several instances of

lumber piercing both exterior and interior walls of houses. The

only known injury, a broken arm, was sustained in this area.

The tornado exited The Farms at Brunswick and crossed Highway 17

just south of the intersection of Hickman Road (Hwy 57). Two open

air carports and a metal garage were destroyed on the north side

of Highway 17. It crossed the holes 14-16 of Crow Creek Golf

Club, snapping numerous large pine trees and causing minor roof

damage to homes along Honey Tree Lane. The tornado crossed

Hickman Road behind Beulah Baptist Church, traversed the north

end of Green Pastures Lane, and snapped numerous large hardwood

and pine trees throughout private game land. It caused minor

damage to a farmhouse and destroyed a chicken coop before crossing

Ash Little River Road NW. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted

on the west side of Ash Little River Road NW as the tornado moved

into swampland near the Waccamaw River. Damage along and north of

Hickman Road was consistent with maximum winds of 90-100 mph

winds (EF-1).

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Dorian strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane as it moved through the Bahamas, with devastating damage. It weakened as it moved up the eastern seaboard. The hurricane was a strong Category 1 as it passed just east of Bald Head Island. The hurricane spawned many tornadoes across eastern South and North Carolina. Rainfall amounts along the coast ranged from ten to fifteen inches with lesser amounts inland. Hurricane force winds remained offshore, with several sites along the coast reporting gusts over 60 mph. Damage was due mainly from the tornadoes, with many reports of flash flooding. Power outages were minimal. The hurricane exited the region by the afternoon of September 6th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.8736, -78.4796)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 857379. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.