Tornado, Waterspout, and Hail March 16 and 17, 2025

A strong early spring storm system brought severe weather and tornadoes across the eastern United States between March 14 and 16, 2025. Three tornadoes in Arkansas and Mississippi were rated EF4 (devastating) on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Storms spread eastward from the Plains states on March 14 to the Mid South on March 15, killing and injuring dozens of people across those regions.

Severe weather continued as the system approached the East Coast on March 16 where tornado touchdowns were confirmed across Georgia, Florida, South and North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Geocolor (day/night) satellite loop from the morning of March 16 until the afternoon of March 17, 2025

Composite radar loop with warnings overlaid from the morning of March 16 until the afternoon of March 17, 2025

Composite radar loop from the morning of March 16 until the afternoon of March 17, 2025. NWS warnings are overlaid.

Pender County Tornado on March 16

Across the area served by the National Weather Service in Wilmington, one tornado was confirmed to have touched down during the evening of March 16, 2025. A strong thunderstorm entered southwestern Pender County around 7:00 pm EDT. Radar velocity indicated a broad circulation developed within this storm. Between 7:22 and 7:24 pm, radar showed the circulation had become stronger and was tightening its horizontal extent. National Weather Service meteorologists immediately issued a tornado warning for Pender County effective until 8:00 pm EDT.

Radar imagery for the Malpass Corner tornado in Pender County, NC on March 16, 2025. The top-left panel is Reflectivity, top-right is Velocity, bottom-left is Storm-Relative Velocity, and bottom-right is Correlation Coefficient.

An NWS storm survey performed the next day near Malpass Corner, about midway between Currie and Burgaw, found a 3.15 mile long damage path to trees, roofs, and small outbuildings. Damage was first observed west of Herrings Chapel Rd about 4 miles east of Currie and was estimated to have occurred around 7:25 pm EDT. The tornado moved toward the north-northeast damaging a large number of trees and several dog kennels. The tornado crossed Herrings Chapel Rd. causing extensive tree damage in the area. The tornado then weakened as it moved into the woods. Roof damage to houses was observed along Fennell Town Rd. along with a few snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado dissipated north of Fennell Town Rd shortly after 7:28 pm.

Damage to trees along the west side of Herrings Chapel Rd

Additional widespread damage to trees near Herrings Chapel Rd

Tornado damage continued over to the east side of Herrings Chapel Rd.

Observed damage was consistent with maximum wind speeds around 95 mph, making this tornado an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. A Public Information Statement with details on this tornado is available here.

WWAY TV reporters visited the damaged area of Herrings Chapel Rd. WECT TV interviewed NWS Wilmington Meteorologist-in-Charge Steve Pfaff during the storm survey.

Cape Fear River Waterspout on March 17

Enough moisture lingered behind the cold front on March 17 to develop a second round of thunderstorms as very cold air 2 to 5 miles overhead moved across the coastal Carolinas and created an unstable atmosphere. Small hail fell in many locations, accumulating quite deeply in Burgaw. A long-lived waterspout formed over the lower Cape Fear River but fortunately dissipated before reaching land. Video shared with the NWS by Suzanne Snarzyk aboard the vessel "Dress Gray" shows the slow-moving waterspout churning over the river shortly after 1:00 pm EDT.

Location of the waterspout shown in the video over the Cape Fear River on March 17, 2025

Location of the waterspout shown in the video over the Cape Fear River on March 17, 2025. This is east of Southport and just outside of the main navigational channel of the river.

Additional Public Media of the Waterspout

Research and Page Author: Tim Armstrong
Last Updated: March 19, 2025