SC-NC-VA Tornado Outbreak
Encyclopedia
The May 1989 tornado outbreak occurred on May 5, 1989. The outbreak spawned 17 tornadoes in Georgia
, South Carolina
, North Carolina
and Virginia
, and was responsible for a combined total of $169 million dollars in damage in the four states. It also caused 7 deaths and 168 injuries.
The first tornadoes of this outbreak were reported between 1 and 2 P.M. near Gainesville, Georgia
and Toccoa, Georgia
. During the mid-afternoon, severe storms began moving northeast into the northwest corner of South Carolina, spawning additional tornadoes in Oconee County.
The first violent tornadoes (F3 or F4 intensity - see Fujita scale
) of the outbreak were reported shortly thereafter, north and northeast of Spartanburg
and Gaffney, South Carolina
. These tornadoes crossed into North Carolina, entering Rutherford County in North Carolina.
to southwest of Hickory), and also in Union County
, southeast of Charlotte
. The Cleveland-Lincoln-Catawba tornado caused 30 injuries and $20 million in property damage in the Belwood community, before then causing 4 fatalities and 19 additional injuries in the Vale community in northwestern Lincoln County
. Weaker tornadoes were noted in the NC foothills near Lenoir
, and the Union County supercell later spawned F1 tornadoes in nearby Anson
and Stanly counties
.
Later in the afternoon, a strong F3 tornado produced $25 million in damage on a southwest-to-northeast path through the city of Winston-Salem
. Damage from this storm was visible along Business I-40 and US 421 in southwest Winston-Salem. The historic Old Salem
area was also hard hit; many century-old trees in Salem Square and God's Acre
were heavily damaged by the tornado and had to be removed. In the surrounding areas of Forsyth County, NC, two other tornadoes were confirmed between 5:30 and 6:15 P.M. Strong winds associated with the same squall line downed a radio transmission tower in nearby High Point
. Winds toppled large trees and caused roof damage in the Emerywood neighborhood of the city. At about the same time, a series of weaker and short-lived tornadoes nonetheless also managed to produce $27.5 million in damage in northern Durham
and southwest Granville counties
.
Later in the evening, the last two tornadoes of the outbreak produced minor damage in Louisa County
, between Richmond
and Charlottesville
.
and Monroe, North Carolina
, with severe wind reports from over 100 counties from Georgia to Maryland. Some form of storm damage was noted in almost every North Carolina county between I-95
and the Blue Ridge Mountains
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and was responsible for a combined total of $169 million dollars in damage in the four states. It also caused 7 deaths and 168 injuries.
Confirmed tornadoes
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (EST) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
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| F1 | near Gainesville Gainesville, Georgia -Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring... |
Hall Hall County, Georgia Hall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2000, the population was 139,277. It is included in the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
03:20 | 1 mile |
Minor damage northeast of Gainesville. | |
| F2 | near Toccoa Toccoa, Georgia Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census... |
Stephens Stephens County, Georgia Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 26,175. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,268. The county seat is Toccoa.-History:... GA, Oconee SC |
04:00 | 8 miles |
Tornado crossed from Georgia into South Carolina near Toccoa and Westminster. $2.9 million in damage. | |
| South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
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| F1 | near Walhalla Walhalla, South Carolina Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The population was 3,801 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Oconee County... |
Oconee | 04:40 | 2 miles |
Brief touchdown. | |
| F4 | near Chesnee Chesnee, South Carolina Chesnee is a city in Cherokee and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 868 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:Chesnee is located at .... |
Spartanburg SC, Cherokee Cherokee County, South Carolina Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's... SC, Rutherford Rutherford County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile... NC |
05:20 | 9 miles |
2 Deaths, 35 Injuries. First violent tornado of the outbreak passed close to Chesnee before crossing the NC/SC state line into SE Rutherford County. Homes swept away S of Chesnee. | |
| North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
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| F4 | SW of Henrietta Henrietta, North Carolina Henrietta is an unincorporated community in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States.Religion in Henrietta is mainly Baptist.... |
Rutherford Rutherford County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile... |
05:35 | 6 miles |
Homes and businesses damaged (several destroyed) in the SE corner of Rutherford County. Tornado moved N. | |
| F4 | Belwood Belwood, North Carolina Belwood is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 962 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Belwood is located at .... , Vale |
Cleveland Cleveland County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile... , Lincoln Lincoln County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile... , Catawba Catawba County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 160,000 people, 55,533 households, and 39,095 families residing in the county. The population density was 354 people per square mile . There were 59,919 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile... |
05:50 | 14 miles |
4 Deaths, 52 Injuries. Half-mile wide, multi-votex tornado causes severe damage in the communities of Belwood and Vale. Storm began NW of Lawndale; 15 homes destroyed in Cleveland County. Deaths in the Toluca community in Lincoln County, where homes were destroyed and several cars were carried 300 yards. Tornado weakened and dissipated as it approached Newton. | |
| F2 | Durham Durham, North Carolina Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census... |
Durham Durham County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile... |
06:20 | 9 miles |
Second tornado family begins with this tornado, which moved through southern and eastern Durham. $15,000,000 in damage; no deaths or injuries, although nearly 75 buildings were damaged or destroyed. | |
| F2 | near Lenoir Lenoir, North Carolina Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains... |
Caldwell Caldwell County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile... |
06:28 | 15 miles |
Moderate damage near Lenoir. | |
| F4 | Indian Trail Indian Trail, North Carolina Indian Trail is a town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. Founded on March 12, 1861, the town holds a history of traders traveling along the "Indian Trail," which ran from Petersburg, Virginia, to the Waxhaw Indians, and gold mining. Indian Trail was first a farming community; however,... |
Union Union County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,677 people, 43,390 households, and 34,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile . There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile... |
07:00 | 13 miles |
1 Death, 6 Injuries. 20 miles SE of Charlotte; tornado began west of Monroe, before moving through the SE edge of Indian Trail and dissipating in the rural town of Fairview. 12 homes completely destroyed along a path up to 1/3 mile in width; another two dozen homes heavily damaged. | |
| F1 | west of Oxford Oxford, North Carolina Oxford is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,461 at the 2010 census It is the county seat of Granville County.-History:... |
Granville Granville County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile... |
07:05 | 3 miles |
Second and last tornado from the Durham supercell. | |
| F2 | Clemmons Clemmons, North Carolina Clemmons is a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina and a suburb of Winston-Salem. The population was 18,627 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Clemmons is located at .... |
Forsyth Forsyth County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile... |
07:45 | 1 mile |
Moderate damage from brief touchdown in the Winston-Salem suburb of Clemmons. | |
| F3 | Winston-Salem Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to... |
Forsyth Forsyth County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile... |
07:50 | 11 miles |
2nd Forsyth County tornado produces over $25 million in F3 damage on a SW to NE track through the city, striking colonial-era neighborhoods and just missing downtown. Storm criss-crossed old I-40 in multiple locations. Widespread downburst damage in many locations around Winston-Salem. | |
| F2 | near Morven Morven, North Carolina Morven is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 579 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a mountain in Scotland.-Geography:Morven is located at .... |
Anson Anson County, North Carolina -See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina-External links:*... |
07:50 | 5 miles |
SE of Wadesboro. Several homes damaged, one destroyed. | |
| F1 | Oakboro Oakboro, North Carolina Oakboro is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,198 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oakboro is located at .... |
Stanly Stanly County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile... |
08:00 | 0.5 mile |
Very brief touchdown, from the same storm producing the earlier Indian Trail tornado. | |
| F2 | north of Walkertown Walkertown, North Carolina Walkertown is a town in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Piedmont Triad. The population was 4,009 at the 2000 census.It is named after an early resident.-Geography:Walkertown is located at .... |
Forsyth Forsyth County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile... |
08:05 | 6 miles |
Third Forsyth County tornado, formed almost immediately after the Winston-Salem tornado dissipated, and continued along an extension of the same path. 30 aircraft at Smith-Reynolds Airport were damaged. | |
| F1 | Burlington Burlington, North Carolina Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010... , Elon Elon, North Carolina Elon is a town in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 7,060. The town of Elon is home to Elon University. The town was called "Elon College" until the college known as Elon... |
Alamance Alamance County, North Carolina Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
unk time | 3 miles |
Tornado produces F1 damage in western Burlington and Elon. | |
| Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
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| F1 | near Louisa Louisa, Virginia Louisa is a town in Louisa County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,401 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Louisa County.-Geography:Louisa is located at .... |
Louisa Louisa County, Virginia Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :... |
09:00 | 2 miles |
Isolated tornado touches down between Charlottesville and Richmond. F1 damage on a short, but wide path. | |
| F1 | near Louisa Louisa, Virginia Louisa is a town in Louisa County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,401 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Louisa County.-Geography:Louisa is located at .... |
Louisa Louisa County, Virginia Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :... |
09:50 | 2 miles |
Second Louisa County tornado touches down from separate thunderstorm, several miles east of previous Louisa tornado. | |
Georgia and South Carolina
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
5 | Lincoln Lincoln County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile... |
4 |
| Union Union County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,677 people, 43,390 households, and 34,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile . There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile... |
1 | ||
| South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
2 | Spartanburg | 2 |
| Totals | 7 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
The first tornadoes of this outbreak were reported between 1 and 2 P.M. near Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
and Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census...
. During the mid-afternoon, severe storms began moving northeast into the northwest corner of South Carolina, spawning additional tornadoes in Oconee County.
The first violent tornadoes (F3 or F4 intensity - see Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
) of the outbreak were reported shortly thereafter, north and northeast of Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
and Gaffney, South Carolina
Gaffney, South Carolina
Gaffney is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States, in the upstate region of South Carolina. Gaffney is also sometimes referred to as the Peach capital of South Carolina. The population was 12,414 at the 2010 census...
. These tornadoes crossed into North Carolina, entering Rutherford County in North Carolina.
North Carolina and Virginia
Other F4 tornadoes soon formed just to the north (on a path from northern Cleveland CountyCleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
to southwest of Hickory), and also in Union County
Union County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,677 people, 43,390 households, and 34,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile . There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
, southeast of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The Cleveland-Lincoln-Catawba tornado caused 30 injuries and $20 million in property damage in the Belwood community, before then causing 4 fatalities and 19 additional injuries in the Vale community in northwestern Lincoln County
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
. Weaker tornadoes were noted in the NC foothills near Lenoir
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
, and the Union County supercell later spawned F1 tornadoes in nearby Anson
Anson County, North Carolina
-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina-External links:*...
and Stanly counties
Stanly County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
.
Later in the afternoon, a strong F3 tornado produced $25 million in damage on a southwest-to-northeast path through the city of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. Damage from this storm was visible along Business I-40 and US 421 in southwest Winston-Salem. The historic Old Salem
Old Salem
Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It features a living history museum that interprets the restored Moravian community. The non-profit organization began its work in 1950, although some private residents had restored buildings earlier...
area was also hard hit; many century-old trees in Salem Square and God's Acre
God's Acre
God's Acre is an ancient Germanic designation for a burial ground. In his poem "God's-Acre," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow attributes the term to ancient Saxons.-In Christianity:...
were heavily damaged by the tornado and had to be removed. In the surrounding areas of Forsyth County, NC, two other tornadoes were confirmed between 5:30 and 6:15 P.M. Strong winds associated with the same squall line downed a radio transmission tower in nearby High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
. Winds toppled large trees and caused roof damage in the Emerywood neighborhood of the city. At about the same time, a series of weaker and short-lived tornadoes nonetheless also managed to produce $27.5 million in damage in northern Durham
Durham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile...
and southwest Granville counties
Granville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
.
Later in the evening, the last two tornadoes of the outbreak produced minor damage in Louisa County
Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
, between Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
Ultimate toll
Large hail and wind damage reports were widespread - golf-ball sized hail was recorded near Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
, with severe wind reports from over 100 counties from Georgia to Maryland. Some form of storm damage was noted in almost every North Carolina county between I-95
Interstate 95 in North Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
.