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NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-203>205-171315-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
913 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025



...NWS Damage Survey for May 15th 2025 Tornado Event...

.Wanchese Tornado...

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.82 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/15/25
Start Time:             05:22 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 SW Wanchese / Dare County / NC
Start Lat/Lon:          35.845732/-75.650045

End Date:               05/15/25
End Time:               05:24 PM EDT
End Location:           1 S Wanchese / Dare County / NC
End Lat/Lon:            35.839523/-75.637561

Survey Summary:
A brief, weak tornado touched down Thursday evening just south of
Wanchese on Roanoke Island. Video of the tornado was sent to the
office of a brief touchdown over the baseball fields of Pigum
Walker Park. The path consisted mainly of a mix of medium and
large limbs across the field. A bleacher was tossed about 10 to 15
feet into a concessions building where it then lifted toward the
parking lot. The concessions building lost shingles on both the
south and north side of the building, a strong indication of
rotation in this area, as confirmed by the video submitted to the
office. Peak wind speeds here were estimated at around 80 MPH.

A narrow and sporadic damage path continued to the southeast
across Brinkly Road, and near Old Schoolhouse Road. Damage here
again consisted of mainly medium sized limbs, but a few larger
limbs were noted. One tree was snapped halfway up the base but
were likely weaker due to disease in the middle, with winds
estimated around 75 MPH.

The path continued toward the southeast on Holly Lane, where a
medium, healthy tree was uprooted. Numerous medium to large
branches were found all along the path. While the tree was
uprooted to the south, numerous tree branches were bent back
toward the right of the path (or toward the east), confirming
rotation continued in this area. The damage path finally ended
near E R Daniels Road, where a shed was blown over, a few more
medium limbs were broken, and some horse training equipment was
blown over. Winds here likely weakened to 70 MPH.

The survey was conducted with the assistance of the Dare County
Emergency Management. NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC would like to
extend a note of appreciation for their assistance leading up to,
and during, the survey. We also want to thank the residents of
Wanchese for the video evidence submitted and their help in
locating damage.


&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita 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 in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$

OJC/Heden