Southern Tornadic Supercell (Supercell #2)
Carr Tornado
The National Weather Service in Raleigh, NC confirmed a tornado near Carr in Orange County,
North Carolina on 27 October, 2010.
A mini-supercell thunderstorm produced a series of tornadoes across portions of Orange,
Granville, and Vance counties in central North Carolina on 27 October, 2010. The first
tornado associated with this supercell produced a tornado with EF-1 damage from
winds between 90 to 95 MPH along Carr Store Road near Allie
Mae Road in northern Orange County. At this location, a church sustained significant damage,
with two walls made of cinder blocks blown down. Numerous hard and soft wood trees were also
snapped off and uprooted at this location. The tornado continued to track east northeast and
damaged two homes along Pentecost Road. Both homes sustained roof damage, including a partially
collapsed chimney. Two individuals were home at the time of the tornado and were not injured.
Numerous trees were snapped off and uprooted at this location as well.
The tornado weakened as it continued to track east north-east across
McDade Store Road and Efland-Cedar Grove Road before lifting of the ground.
Numerous trees were either damaged or downed in this area.
Special thanks to Orange County Emergency Management and local
residents for assisting with the tornado survey.
Time/Date: 530 PM EDT, Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tornado: EF-1
Peak Wind: 95 MPH
Path Length: 2.5 miles
Path Width: 50 yards
Beginning Lat/Lon...36.19 / -79.22W
Ending Lat/Lon...36.20 / -79.17W
Injuries: none
Fatalities: none
Carr Tornado Radar Imagery -
This second mini-supercell, which eventually spawned three tornadoes across
Orange, Granville, and Vance counties developed well before it ever
crossed into Orange County. While the storm can be traced back to the southwestern
Piedmont of North Carolina and it was responsible for some
Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings in the WFO Greenville-Spartanburg CWA,
it was of modest intensity as it moved into the WFO Raleigh CWA. The
storm intensified as it moved south and east of Greensboro as it moved
across Guilford and Alamance Counties.
A weak echo region forms on the south side of the
storm at 2117 UTC at 0.5 degrees and quickly forms into a BWER five minutes
later as the storm passes to the north of Green Level in eastern
Alamance County. A very broad circulation can be seen at 2117 on
both the 0.5 and 0.9 storm relative velocity images. A tightening mesocyclone
can be seen at 1.4 degrees. After several minutes of development,
the tornado cyclone is visible on radar by 2131 UTC. At 2131 UTC a gate to gate
signature of 42 knots inbound adjacent to 33 knots outbound can be seen on the 0.5
degree storm relative velocity product with results in a rotational velocity
of 38 knots. The spectrum width imagery shows a core of 32 knot
velocity differences. The highest echo tops observed during the tornado were
only in the 20 kft range.
Carr Tornado Photos -
Photos courtesy of the National Weather Service.
(click on the image to enlarge)
Berea Tornado
The National Weather Service in Raleigh, NC confirmed an EF-0 tornado just east of Berea in
Granville County, North Carolina on 27 October, 2010.
The mini-supercell thunderstorm that moved northeast across Orange County
previously produced a tornado near Carr in northern Orange County and then
moved northeast into Person County and Granville County.
This same mini-supercell produced a second tornado which touched down just east of
Berea in Granville County. This EF-0 tornado tracked over 5 miles with a
path width near 100 yards and winds of 80 to 85 MPH. The tornado touched down north
of Highway 158 near the intersection of Bob Daniel Road and Hebron Road.
Numerous trees were uprooted and shingles were blown off houses in this area. The tornado
continued moving east-northeast while partially removing the
roof from a house on Hebron Road and destroying 2 sheds at 1657 Elam Currin
Road. A neighbor on Elam Currin Road stated he heard the warning on NOAA
Weather Radio before the tornado struck and took cover with his wife in an
interior hallway.
The tornado then crossed Pine Town Road where more minor damage to tin
roofing and shingles was noted before crossing Graham-Hobgood Road. Numerous
outbuildings were severely damaged along Joe Pruitt Road near its intersection
with Graham-Hobgood Road. At least 2 outbuildings were destroyed and as many
as 4 others suffered substantial damage. A single wide mobile home was shifted
about 2 feet off of its foundation, however, the tie downs and anchors held, which kept the trailer
from overturning. Winds in this area were rated around 80 to 85 MPH based on
the noted damage. The tornado then turned a little more to the northeast,
crossing Bodie Currin Road causing minor roof damage to a residence at 2543
Bodie Currin Road. Numerous trees were blown down in this area and other
homes suffered shingle and siding damage. The tornado then crossed Highway
96 lifting off the ground near the intersection of Cornwall Road and Sterl
Carrington Road.
All residents interviewed were aware of the tornado warnings via television
and radio. Special thanks to Granville County Emergency Management and local
residents for assisting with the tornado survey.
Time/Date: 615 PM EDT, Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tornado: EF-0
Peak Wind: 80 to 85 MPH
Path Length: 5.25 miles
Path Width: 100 yards
Beginning Lat/Lon...36.33N / -78.71W
Ending Lat/Lon...36.35N / -78.63
Injuries: none
Fatalities: none
Berea Tornado Radar Imagery -
After spawning the tornado in Orange county, the storm weakened
slightly as it moved into Person County. As the storm
travelled across Person County it began to reorganize. Another weak
echo region formed, this one was well defined, indicative of stronger
inflow than previously. Another strong BWER formed at
2159 UTC as the storm approached Granville County. Velocity signatures
across Person County showed that the storm maintained a broad
circulation at low levels which started to lose definition above eight thousand feet.
Storm relative velocities began to tighten and increase in magnitude
as the storm moved into Granville County. At
2213 UTC, two minutes
before the estimated tornado touchdown, several bins of 66 knot outbounds were
located adjacent to 15 knot inbounds, which resulted in a rotational
velocity of 41 knots. This tornado was the most
impressive in the sense that it was the longest lived of the five,
creating a damage path of more than 5 miles. In this case, the spectrum width
data did not peak until 5 minutes after touchdown. Despite the
impressive radar velocity signatures, this storm was only estimated
to be an EF-0.
Berea Tornado Photos -
Photos courtesy of the National Weather Service.
(click on the image to enlarge)
Middleburg Tornado
The National Weather Service in Raleigh, NC confirmed an EF-0 tornado just west of
Middleburg in Vance County, North Carolina on 27 October, 2010.
A mini-supercell thunderstorm that moved across Orange, Person and Granville counties
previously produced a tornado near Carr in Orange County and a second tornado
near Berea in Granville County. The same supercell produced a third tornado north of
Henderson and just west of Middleburg in Granville County. This EF-0 tornado, which was the weakest of
the three, tracked nearly 3 miles with a path width of 50 yards and winds of 75 to 80 MPH.
The tornado initially touched down on Coopers Grove Road blowing limbs out of trees
and causing minor damage to a couple of sheds and outbuildings. The tornado tracked
east-northeast crossing Satterwhite Point Road while blowing down and snapping numerous
trees. Some minor damage to 2 homes occurred along with some damage to an above ground
pool. The tornado then crossed Mabry Mill Road causing extensive damage to trees
which blocked Mabry Mill Road and damaged some guardrails. As the tornado continued east,
it crossed Interstate 85 and produced some minor awning and roof damage to the Snackers
BP gas station at exit 220. The tornado then lifted off the ground after striking the
gas station.
Nearly all residents interviewed were aware of the tornado warnings via television,
radio and scanners. Special thanks to Vance County Emergency Management and local
residents for assisting with the tornado survey.
Time/Date: 650 PM EDT, Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tornado: EF-0
Peak Wind: 75 to 80 MPH
Path Length: 2.75 miles
Path Width: 50 yards
Beginning Lat/Lon...36.38N / -78.38W
Ending Lat/Lon...336.39N / -78.33
Injuries: none
Fatalities: none
Middleburg Tornado Radar Imagery -
The mini-supercell that produced a tornado near Berea and Middleburg
tracked northeastward into Vance County eventually
spawning the final tornado of the event. This final tornado was not as
well defined as the prior two tornadoes produced by this cell, which
showed more and more signs of decay as it moved northeastward towards
the Virginia border. A weak echo region evolves from
2236 UTC through 2245 UTC prior to touchdown. Storm relative velocities
showed a circulation that was rather broad and the spectrum width
data was not useful in this case. Based on the radar data, this was a storm
that was slow to produce a tornado, possibly exhibiting elevated
rotation and a funnel cloud for a more extended period of time before touchdown.
The storm survey team eventually determined a touchdown time of 2250 UTC
for the final EF-0 tornado in Vance County.
Middleburg Tornado Photos -
Photos courtesy of the National Weather Service.
(click on the image to enlarge)
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