EF2 tornado in Cabarrus County, North Carolina

NWS storm survey found the damage path of an EF2 tornado that began just west of I-85 near Lane St where trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado crossed the interstate and moved east along Lane St. The awning of a service station was also damaged. The tornado then moved along Old Salisbury-Concord Rd snapping and uprooting trees until it reached Gold Fish Rd where several homes were damaged. The tornado then moved east along Irish Potato Rd snapping and uprooting trees. Farther along this road another home was damaged. Little damage was noted as the tornado moved east until it crossed Dutch Buffalo Creek where trees were snapped and uprooted. The strongest damage was found just east along Pless Rd where several homes were damaged. The tornado weakened as it moved east snapping and uprooting trees as it went. The tornado ended near Sisk-Carter Rd.

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.