A Deadly EF-3 Tornado Hits North Carolina Late Monday Night

16 Feb 2021, 5:05 pm

A supercell moved onshore in Southwest Brunswick County, North Carolina (South of Wilmington) just prior to midnight last night. Tornado damage was reported near Grissettown in the Ocean Ridge Plantation division. The tornado was spotted as far north as Honey Island.

The initial rating from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, NC arrived earlier Tuesday. The tornado is initially rated as an EF-3 with max winds of 160 mph.

The @NWSWilmingtonNC has issued an initial rating on the fatal tornado that occurred late Monday night in Brunswick County, NC as an EF-3 with estimated max winds of 160 mph. #ncwx pic.twitter.com/ssNPanRhWM

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) February 16, 2021

At least three deaths, a number of injuries and damage to dozens of homes caused by a fierce tornado in Brunswick County last night. I have spoken with Sheriff Ingram and County Commission Chair Thompson, and the state has sent help. Our prayers are with them all. – RC

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) February 16, 2021

Here are some photos of the damage from the Brunswick County Sherrif’s Office.

More severe weather is on the way for Wednesday and Thursday for the Southeast. For more on that severe chance—->Wed/Thu Severe

About the author

Devon Lucie

Devon is a native of Macomb in Western, Illinois but has made his travels across the country from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C. with stops in Tulsa, Little Rock, Kansas City, and Salt Lake City. His passion for weather developed at an early age and can be traced back to when he was 5 years old and dressed up as a walking tornado for Halloween. His college education came through the Universit... Load Morey of Oklahoma where he completed his B.S. in meteorology with a minor in math. Devon has been through weather extremes from 110°+ heat in Las Vegas, to 3 feet of snow in Washington, D.C. where in his first winter experienced the all-time record snowfall for the season (winter of 2009/2010)! He’s also chased tornadoes in Oklahoma and saw his very first off of I-70 on the front range of Colorado.