EF1 tornado in Gaston County, North Carolina

NWS storm survey found a tornado that began in southeast Cleveland County moved into Gaston County in the Crowders Mountain State Park area. Numerous snapped trees were found as the tornado moved east crossing Pinnacle Rd and Sparrow Springs Rd. The damage ended near Freedom Mill Rd with snapped and broken large branches.

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.