National Weather Service Raw Text Product

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NOUS42 KRAH 210432
PNSRAH
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-211645-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service RALEIGH NC
1232 AM EDT Sun Apr 21 2019


...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 04/19/19 EDGECOMBE/HALIFAX COUNTY 
TORNADO EVENT...

.EF-1 Tornado confirmed east of Whitakers, North Carolina on Friday...

Start Location...3 SSE Whitakers in Edgecombe County, NC.
End Location...3 E Enfield in Halifax County, NC.
Date...April 19, 2019
Estimated Time...6:16 PM EDT - 6:25 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...95 - 105 mph
Maximum Path Width...75 yards
Path Length...8.8 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...36.0706/-77.6867
Ending Lat/Lon...36.1801/-77.6232
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
A tornado briefly touched down just southwest of Whitakers, not 
far from the Swift Creek crossing along Seven Bridges Road. The 
tornado continued north northeastward for a total path length of 
8.8 Miles, causing primarily vegetation damage in the form of 
intermittent uprooted and snapped trees. The tornado reached its 
max intensity just prior to crossing Speights Chapel Road where it
directly hit a fifty year old single-wide trailer home, 
completely destroying it, and lofting debris from the structure 
for several hundred yards downstream. The home was unoccupied at 
the time, and the neighboring structures of similar build only 
received minor structural damage. The tornado continued 
northeastward, damaging some farm outbuildings on the north side 
of NC 33 before it ventured into Halifax County, only causing 
intermittent tree damage as it ventured into marshlands. The 
tornado lifted and dissipated rapidly after approaching Beech 
Swamp.

A Tornado Debris Signature (TDS) was clearly evident from the KRAX
Weather Radar in Johnson County, NC, primarily after the tornado 
hit the single-wide home structure. 

The NWS in Raleigh would like to thank the Emergency Managers from
Edgecombe and Halifax Counties for their guidance and assistance
throughout the survey process.


EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$