April 16, 2011, will mark a dark weather anniversary for North Carolina. It was one of the most active severe weather days in the state's weather history.
On April 16, 2011, multiple tornadoes were responsible for death and destruction across the region.
Thankfully, weather events of this magnitude are rare in North Carolina.
The last tornado outbreak occurred on March 28, 1984. On that day, 11 confirmed tornadoes touched down from the Sandhills through the Coastal Plain. There were 42 fatalities in the state. It was named the "Carolinas Outbreak."
In the days leading up to April 16, 2011, all indications were that North Carolina was looking at a significant severe weather threat.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) targeted the state with a severe weather potential on that Saturday. Local National Weather Service offices were preparing their areas for the storm threat. On television, we were warning viewers of the chance of tornadoes.
At that time, the SPC had the old three-level severe weather threat, Slight, Moderate and High. On Friday, April 15, central and eastern North Carolina was at a Moderate Risk. By noon on April 16, the area was placed at a High Risk.
Only once had North Carolina seen a "High" severe weather risk level from SPC. That was on March 28, 1984.
On that Saturday afternoon, there were 30 confirmed tornadoes across North Carolina, with 24 storm-related fatalities and over 400 injured. There were over 300 million dollars in damage across the state, with most of that damage coming from just two of the strongest tornadoes.
Five of the tornadoes were rated as an EF3, with winds at or greater than 136 mph.
One of the strongest tornadoes cut a path from Lee County into Wake County. It destroyed a Lowes in Sanford and was responsible for two deaths in Lee County and four deaths in Wake County.
That storm prompted the issuance of a "Tornado Emergency" for the city of Raleigh. It also caused the evacuation of the Raleigh National Weather Service office, and it passed within a few miles of our Spectrum News 1 studios.
A second EF3 moved from Cumberland County into Harnett and Johnston Counties. Two people died along that storm's damage path.
Another strong EF3 rated tornado, and the deadliest, hit Bertie County that afternoon. The storm killed twelve people, and another 58 were injured.
April 16, 2011, was a stark reminder that our state sees deadly tornado outbreaks.
They are rare, but they happen.
It is also a reminder that all it takes is one tornado to change lives. We all need to know what to do, where to go, and always be ready to take action if severe weather impacts us.
Always have a severe weather plan. Be severe weather aware on active weather days and keep an eye on the sky.