National Weather Service Raw Text Product

100 
NOUS42 KRAH 200442
PNSRAH
NCZ027-028-201645-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1242 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2023

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR JULY 19, 2023 TORNADO EVENT IN NASH AND 
EDGECOMBE COUNTIES...

Rating:                 EF-3
Estimated Peak Wind:    150 mph
Path Length /statute/:  16.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   0.35 miles (approx 600 yards)
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               16 (per media reports)

Start Date:             July 19, 2023
Start Time:             Approximately 12:25 PM EDT 
Start Location:         Dortches, Nash County, NC 
Start Lat/Lon:          36.0009 / -77.8778

End Date:               July 19, 2023
End Time:               Approximately 12:58 PM EDT
End Location:           9 miles ENE of Battleboro, Edgecombe County NC
End Lat/Lon:            36.0613 / -77.6477

The remnants of a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) initiated a 
tornadic supercell on its southeastern quadrant as it quickly moved 
into the northern Coastal Plain early Wednesday morning. The tornado 
initially touched down southwest of Dortches, NC where power poles 
were bent and hardwoods snapped at the trunk were observed. The
tornado crossed I-95 just north of exit 138 and produced
widespread tree damage on both sides of I-95 and in the median. As
it moved into the municipality of Dortches the first instances of
EF-2 damage was observed as it entered into a neighborhood 
comprised of single-wide units. Multiple single-wide homes were 
completely destroyed and removed 20-30 yards from their 
foundation. As the tornado continued along its east-northeast 
path, a row of 10-15 power poles were snapped and laid out across 
S Browntown Road, continuing the path of EF-2 damage. Farther to 
the northeast, the tornado ripped across NC-48 where more power 
poles were snapped at the base and a residence building suffered 
major damage as all exterior walls had collapsed with only 
interior walls and a brick fireplace remained standing. The 
tornado then progressed into the Belmont Lake Golf Club where it 
strengthened into an EF-3 tornado with winds of 140-150 mph. The 
tornado flattened a metal truss tower connected to the electrical 
transmission line as well as caused significant damage to a metal 
warehouse building. Additionally, semi-trucks were 
flipped/destroyed that where located in a large parking lot near 
the warehouse. The tornado then weakened slightly as it crossed 
into Edgecombe County causing damage to a metal structure before 
lifting 9 miles ESE of Battleboro, NC. 

The National Weather Service in Raleigh would like to extend a thank 
you to the Nash and Edgecombe Emergency Management Departments, the 
Red Oak Fire Department, and the North Carolina Forest Service for 
their assistance gathering data and assisting with the survey. 

&&

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

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

$$

np