EF1 tornado in Union County, North Carolina

A weakening tornado moved into Union County from Mecklenburg County near Idlewild Rd. Damage in Union County was generally confined to downed weakened and dead trees before the tornado lifted near Hawthorne Drive in Indian Trail.

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.