Storm Survey Results from May 8-9 Event: Four Tornadoes Confirmed

NWS Damage Survey Results for May 8-9, 2024 Severe Weather Event

Information as of 10 PM Friday, May 10

Polkville-Cherryville Tornado

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  21.99 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/08/2024
Start Time:             03:00 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 NNW Polkville / Cleveland County / NC
Start Lat/Lon:          35.4339 / -81.651

End Date:               05/08/2024
End Time:               03:44 PM EDT
End Location:           4 NNW Bessemer City / Gaston County / NC
End Lat/Lon:            35.3399 / -81.288

Survey Summary:
This tornado touched down along Polkville Road, just on the north side of Polkville, where several trees
were uprooted. The tornado moved southeast across Casar Road where additional trees were uprooted
and snapped. Tree damage continued along W Stage Coach Trail as the tornado moved through the
Lawndale area. The tornado crossed Fallston Road just south of Fallston where more tree damage was
noted. The tornado reached peak intensity as it approached and moved through Cherryville, uprooting
and snapping numerous trees. The greatest area of damage was observed near the intersection of
Helton Road and Greenway Ave where dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped. The tornado took
another turn to the southeast and downed several more trees near Tryon School Road and Dameron Road.
The tornado lifted in a wooded area along Abel Road.

Gastonia-Belmont Tornado

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  8.29 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   60 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               2

Start Date:             05/08/2024
Start Time:             03:40 PM EDT
Start Location:         3 WNW Gastonia / Gaston County / NC
Start Lat/Lon:          35.2807 / -81.2094

End Date:               05/08/2024
End Time:               03:50 PM EDT
End Location:           1 ENE Mcadenville / Gaston County / NC
End Lat/Lon:            35.2693 / -81.0648

Survey Summary:
This tornado touched down near West Davidson Ave snapping several trees. The tornado quickly
moved to the east and crossed US Highway 321 near the I-85 interchange, reaching peak intensity.
Two people were injured by falling trees near that interchange. Several buildings sustained minor
roof damage, multiple power poles were snapped, and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped
in a wooded area/Sims Legion Park. The tornado snapped additional trees as it crossed I-85 and
moved through East Gastonia. Numerous trees were downed or snapped as the tornado moved
through East Gastonia along with a warehouse sustaining roof damage. The tornado continued
to produce tree damage as it moved through the Lowell area and crossed the South Fork Catawba
River. Several more trees were downed in Belmont before the tornado lifted near Oak Street in the
Springwood Community.

Preliminary Jackson County Tornado Information

The National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg SC performed a storm survey for an
area between Cullowhee and Glenville in Jackson County North Carolina. The survey is in relation
to the severe thunderstorms that moved through the area just after midnight, very early in the
morning of Thursday, May 9 2024.

The team surveyed a path east of US Highway 23/441, in rural areas between Cullowhee and Glenville.
A path of damage consistent with a tornado was found, with damage observed near Ellijay Rd, White
Rock Rd, Highway 107, and Trout Creek Rd. Damage was limited to uprooted or snapped tree trunks,
or large branches being downed. The tornado so far has been rated at EF1 with peak winds of 110
mph. Path width is assessed to be 75 yards, and path length at least 6.5 miles.

Due to rugged terrain and the lack of roads into areas where damage is believed to have occurred,
county officials will be using drone photography and other imagery to supplement the observations
of NWS meteorologists. These efforts may not be completed until next week. After our meteorologists
receive the results of the county surveys, a full statement with more specific details of the tornado
will be transmitted by our office. That statement will provide precise start, end and path locations.

Black Mountain Tornado

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph
Path Length /statute/:  2.47 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   30 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/09/2024
Start Time:             12:15 AM EDT
Start Location:         2 NW Black Mountain / Buncombe County / NC
Start Lat/Lon:          35.6423 / -82.3492

End Date:               05/09/2024
End Time:               12:18 AM EDT
End Location:           1 NE Black Mountain / Buncombe County / NC
End Lat/Lon:            35.6199 / -82.3177

Survey Summary:
This tornado touched down along North Fork Road where several trees were uprooted. The tornado
moved southeast across Allen Mountain and across the Black Mountain Golf Course where additional
trees were uprooted along with large limbs snapped. The most concentrated damage occurred from
Laurel Ave to just north of downtown Black Mountain where multiple trees were uprooted along with
numerous large limbs snapped. Several homes sustained damage from falling trees. A radio tower at
the Black Mountain fire station was also toppled. The tornado lifted along East State Street.

Straight-Line Winds in Anderson, Laurens Counties

The National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg SC has completed a storm survey in
Anderson and Laurens counties of South Carolina. The survey is in relation to the severe storms
that moved through the area Wednesday evening, May 8, 2024.

The survey team began in Anderson County, traveling a path including Northlake, Anderson,
Belton, and Princeton. The team found evidence only of straight-line winds, with peak intensity of
75 mph in downtown Anderson, where minor structural damage occurred to a building. Numerous
trees were on houses. This damage was all west of US Highway 25 and extended into far western
Laurens County.

The team picked up the survey again near US Highway 221 north of Waterloo in Laurens County,
traveling generally southeast to near Mountville and Cross Hill. The observed damage was not
along a clear path indicative of a tornado, so this too was attributed to straight-line winds of
less than 75 mph. The survey ended before the team reached the Newberry County line.



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

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


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