13 years ago today: Looking back at biggest tornado outbreak in NC

Dave Downey
·1 min read

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Thirteen years ago today, the biggest tornado outbreak in North Carolina’s history took aim at the Triangle and much of central North Carolina.

Thirty tornadoes struck the Tar Heel State, the most tornadoes in a single day ever in NC. Thirteen of the 30 were significant tornadoes, meaning they were EF2 strength (111 miles per hour) or stronger.

Zooming in closer to central NC shows two long-track tornadoes that moved through both the Triangle and parts of the Sandhills.

A Tornado Emergency was issued for Wake County as a strong tornado crossed into the Raleigh metro area. The damage was extensive. Cars were tossed like toys. Some houses ended up mangled like a collapsed Jenga puzzle. There were $178 million in damages that came out of just that tornado. Total damages across the state came in around half a billion dollars.

Back in 2019, tornadoes struck the same week — April 19. Twelve tornadoes touched down across the state, including an EF2 tornado in Orange County. A dozen tornadoes make it top 10 on the most ever in a single day in North Carolina.

It’s not surprising we’re seeing these anniversaries. April is the second busiest month for tornadoes in the state, barely behind May. While we haven’t seen any tornadoes here in central NC yet this year, odds are, that’s going to change over the next month or so.

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