EF1 tornado in Cleveland County, North Carolina

NWS storm survey found the path of an EF1 tornado that first developed west of Lawndale in the area around W Stage Coach Trail and Church View Dr. The tornado tracked northeast from there, crossing Hicks Hill Rd, Casar Lawndale Rd, and New Bethel Church Rd. Damage was primarily limited to snapped and uprooted trees in this area, although one mobile home received minor roof damage off New Bethel Church Rd while an outbuilding was destroyed on Hicks Hill Rd. The tornado continued to snap and uproot numerous trees and tree limbs as it tracked northeast, crossing Will Dixon Rd, Warlick Rd, and Highway 18 just north of Fallston. The tornado weakened from that point as it passed into Lincoln County in the Hull Rd area.

Unusually high levels of moisture for early February combined with a slow-moving frontal system to produce an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall across western North Carolina from the morning of the 5th until the early morning hours of the 7th. Intense rain rates associated with bands of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing along the front during the morning and afternoon of the 7th resulted in rather widespread flash flooding. Isolated tornadoes also developed during this time across the Piedmont. Total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches resulted in flooding persisting along some main stem rivers and larger streams well into the 7th.