Storm Survey Results from May 8-9 Event: Four Tornadoes Confirmed (2024)

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NWS Damage Survey Results for May 8-9, 2024 Severe Weather Event

Information as of 10 PM Friday, May 10Polkville-Cherryville TornadoRating: EF1Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mphPath Length /statute/: 21.99 milesPath Width /maximum/: 100 yardsFatalities: 0Injuries: 0Start Date: 05/08/2024Start Time: 03:00 PM EDTStart Location: 1 NNW Polkville / Cleveland County / NCStart Lat/Lon: 35.4339 / -81.651End Date: 05/08/2024End Time: 03:44 PM EDTEnd Location: 4 NNW Bessemer City / Gaston County / NCEnd Lat/Lon: 35.3399 / -81.288Survey Summary:This tornado touched down along Polkville Road, just on the north side of Polkville, where several treeswere uprooted. The tornado moved southeast across Casar Road where additional trees were uprootedand snapped. Tree damage continued along W Stage Coach Trail as the tornado moved through theLawndale area. The tornado crossed Fallston Road just south of Fallston where more tree damage wasnoted. The tornado reached peak intensity as it approached and moved through Cherryville, uprootingand snapping numerous trees. The greatest area of damage was observed near the intersection ofHelton Road and Greenway Ave where dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped. The tornado tookanother turn to the southeast and downed several more trees near Tryon School Road and Dameron Road.The tornado lifted in a wooded area along Abel Road.Gastonia-Belmont TornadoRating: EF1Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mphPath Length /statute/: 8.29 milesPath Width /maximum/: 60 yardsFatalities: 0Injuries: 2Start Date: 05/08/2024Start Time: 03:40 PM EDTStart Location: 3 WNW Gastonia / Gaston County / NCStart Lat/Lon: 35.2807 / -81.2094End Date: 05/08/2024End Time: 03:50 PM EDTEnd Location: 1 ENE Mcadenville / Gaston County / NCEnd Lat/Lon: 35.2693 / -81.0648Survey Summary:This tornado touched down near West Davidson Ave snapping several trees. The tornado quicklymoved to the east and crossed US Highway 321 near the I-85 interchange, reaching peak intensity.Two people were injured by falling trees near that interchange. Several buildings sustained minorroof damage, multiple power poles were snapped, and numerous trees were uprooted or snappedin a wooded area/Sims Legion Park. The tornado snapped additional trees as it crossed I-85 andmoved through East Gastonia. Numerous trees were downed or snapped as the tornado movedthrough East Gastonia along with a warehouse sustaining roof damage. The tornado continuedto produce tree damage as it moved through the Lowell area and crossed the South Fork CatawbaRiver. Several more trees were downed in Belmont before the tornado lifted near Oak Street in theSpringwood Community.Preliminary Jackson County Tornado InformationThe National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg SC performed a storm survey for anarea between Cullowhee and Glenville in Jackson County North Carolina. The survey is in relationto the severe thunderstorms that moved through the area just after midnight, very early in themorning of Thursday, May 9 2024.The team surveyed a path east of US Highway 23/441, in rural areas between Cullowhee and Glenville.A path of damage consistent with a tornado was found, with damage observed near Ellijay Rd, WhiteRock Rd, Highway 107, and Trout Creek Rd. Damage was limited to uprooted or snapped tree trunks,or large branches being downed. The tornado so far has been rated at EF1 with peak winds of 110mph. Path width is assessed to be 75 yards, and path length at least 6.5 miles.Due to rugged terrain and the lack of roads into areas where damage is believed to have occurred,county officials will be using drone photography and other imagery to supplement the observationsof NWS meteorologists. These efforts may not be completed until next week. After our meteorologistsreceive the results of the county surveys, a full statement with more specific details of the tornadowill be transmitted by our office. That statement will provide precise start, end and path locations.Black Mountain TornadoRating: EF0Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mphPath Length /statute/: 2.47 milesPath Width /maximum/: 30 yardsFatalities: 0Injuries: 0Start Date: 05/09/2024Start Time: 12:15 AM EDTStart Location: 2 NW Black Mountain / Buncombe County / NCStart Lat/Lon: 35.6423 / -82.3492End Date: 05/09/2024End Time: 12:18 AM EDTEnd Location: 1 NE Black Mountain / Buncombe County / NCEnd Lat/Lon: 35.6199 / -82.3177Survey Summary:This tornado touched down along North Fork Road where several trees were uprooted. The tornadomoved southeast across Allen Mountain and across the Black Mountain Golf Course where additionaltrees were uprooted along with large limbs snapped. The most concentrated damage occurred fromLaurel Ave to just north of downtown Black Mountain where multiple trees were uprooted along withnumerous large limbs snapped. Several homes sustained damage from falling trees. A radio tower atthe Black Mountain fire station was also toppled. The tornado lifted along East State Street.Straight-Line Winds in Anderson, Laurens CountiesThe National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg SC has completed a storm survey inAnderson and Laurens counties of South Carolina. The survey is in relation to the severe stormsthat moved through the area Wednesday evening, May 8, 2024.The survey team began in Anderson County, traveling a path including Northlake, Anderson,Belton, and Princeton. The team found evidence only of straight-line winds, with peak intensity of75 mph in downtown Anderson, where minor structural damage occurred to a building. Numeroustrees were on houses. This damage was all west of US Highway 25 and extended into far westernLaurens County.The team picked up the survey again near US Highway 221 north of Waterloo in Laurens County,traveling generally southeast to near Mountville and Cross Hill. The observed damage was notalong a clear path indicative of a tornado, so this too was attributed to straight-line winds ofless than 75 mph. The survey ended before the team reached the Newberry County line.The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:EF0.....65 to 85 mphEF1.....86 to 110 mphEF2.....111 to 135 mphEF3.....136 to 165 mphEF4.....166 to 200 mphEF5.....>200 mphNOTE:The information presented above is preliminary and subject to change pending final reviewof the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.