EF3 Tornado — Forsyth, North Carolina

2008-05-08 · near Clemmons Station, Forsyth, North Carolina

Event narrative

This tornado originated from the same parent supercell that produced the tornado in Davie County which lifted in Forsyth County just across the Yadkin River. This second tornado touched down just southwest of Hampton Road. Three metal barns sustained major damage around the 4800 block of Hampton Road with minor damage to two homes. The tornado continued northeast through wooded farmland before hitting the Bridgepoint Subdivision where the tornado strengthened to EF-3 intensity. Three homes were destroyed and approximately thirty homes sustained moderate damage. There were only two minor injuries in the subdivision.

The tornado continued to track to the northeast across Frye Bridge Road and through a heavily wooded area. It then dissipated near the intersection of Cooper Road and Fraternity Church Road. A few homes suffered damage, primarily due to fallen trees. Hardwood tree damage in the area was consistent with EF-2 intensity as tree trunks were snapped in a 200 to 300 yard path. The overall path length of the tornado was around 3 miles with a maximum width of 300 yards.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level low moving east-northeast across Kentucky and Tennessee, triggered several instances of severe damaging winds and two tornadoes across the Triad region in the northwest piedmont of North Carolina.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.9835, -80.3753)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 98573. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.