Thunderstorm Wind in Pender County, North Carolina

Numerous pine trees were blown down or snapped along a path about 100 yards wide and 300 yards long. Five mobile homes were damaged by downed trees in the Interstate Mobile Home Park and adjacent Cedar Grove Mobile Home Park. Two of these homes were knocked off of their foundations and sustained major damage. A National Weather Service Storm Survey concluded the damage was the result of straight-line winds between 90 and 95 mph. Pender County officials estimated all storm related damage totaled $2 million dollars.

A surface warm front lifted northward across the area just a few hours prior to the onset of a severe weather outbreak while a cold front approached from the northwest. A meso-low developed across northeast Georgia and enhanced the shear through the low-levels of the atmosphere. The arrival of a potent shortwave and associated strong dynamics by late afternoon were able to overcome limited instability and the stabilizing influences of the chilly Atlantic Ocean, allowing for a long-lived severe weather outbreak. National Weather Service Storm Damage Teams confirmed eight tornadoes, up to an EF1 on the Enhanced F-scale. The teams also observed evidence of strong microbursts and rear-flank downdraft damage. Large hail up to 1.75 inches and straight line wind damage up to 95 mph also occurred. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center upgraded the area from a moderate risk for severe weather to a PDS high risk early in the afternoon.