# 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak

On March 28, 1984, a deadly and destructive tornado outbreak impacted the Southeastern United States, lasting about seven hours. Striking mainly the Carolinas, it was the most damaging to hit the two states since the Enigma outbreak, which struck a century and a month earlier. Individual storms traveled at up to 65 mph (105 km/h), producing many large and strong tornadoes, several of them 3⁄4 to 1 mi (1.2 to 1.6 km) wide; a long-lived supercell tracked more than 250 mi (400 km) across both states, generating a dozen intense tornadoes. Prior to the outbreak, the National Severe Storms Forecast Center, now the Storm Prediction Center, issued a high risk for parts of eastern North Carolina—the first such severe weather prognosis for the Carolinas before April 16, 2011. Several tornadoes were long-tracked and paralleled an intense low-pressure area, prompting comparisons to the 1925 Tri-State tornado. One of the tornadoes reportedly reached a width of 2+1⁄2 mi (4.0 km) as well.$^{:1254}$$^{:203}$

## Summary

On the evening of March 27, upper-air plots identified a broad and powerful upper-level trough exiting the southern Rocky Mountains into the Great Plains. Winds in the upper reaches of the troposphere accelerated upwards of 140 kn (160 mph; 260 km/h) across Texas and Mississippi. In the mid-levels of the atmosphere, the trough detached into a cut-off low, while a potent shortwave trough rounded the base of this feature into the Gulf Coast of the United States. Winds at this level increased to 95 kn (110 mph; 175 km/h), and notably, became increasingly diffluent across the Southeastern United States. Early on March 28, a surface area of low pressure developed over eastern Texas and reached a minimum barometric pressure of 987 mb (29.1 inHg) as it pushed into western Tennessee later that day. Winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere intensified to 50–60 kn (60–70 mph; 95–110 km/h) and likewise increased at the surface, contributing to significant warm air advection to the south of a warm front draped across the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. By 15:00 UTC, surface dewpoints had surged in excess of 60 °F (16 °C) across Georgia and South Carolina, at which time forecasters at the National Weather Service Severe Local Storms Unit (SLSU) – equivalent to the modern-day Storm Prediction Center – outlined a Moderate risk of severe weather from southwestern Georgia northeastward into southern Maryland. Within three hours, these moist dewpoints surged well into eastern North Carolina as the surface low pushed into southern Kentucky.
To the south of the original area of low pressure, a distinct mesolow developed along the warm front across northern Alabama. This feature first began to form around 18:00 UTC, and within three hours, it had rapidly deepened to a barometric pressure of 976 mb (28.82 inHg). This system moved rapidly northeast at speeds up to 55 kn (65 mph; 100 km/h), thus crossing into eastern North Carolina during the evening hours. As it did so, low-level winds across the eastern Carolinas originated from a southerly direction instead of a southwesterly direction; this shift in flow created a strongly sheared environment across the region. Meanwhile, afternoon temperatures climbed above 80 °F (27 °C), contributing to significant destabilization. Convective available potential energy values rose between 2,000 and 3,000 J/kg into North Carolina, with locally higher values observed in northeastern South Carolina.
These environmental conditions bore strong resemblance to the idealized tornado setup across the Carolinas, and they prompted the SLSU to upgrade areas from eastern Alabama into the Outer Banks of North Carolina to a High risk of severe weather, the first occurrence on record in this portion of the United States. As the mesolow moved across the Carolinas, it was supported by a surface trough to its east-northeast which likely formed as a result of differential heating. Strong low-level convergence associated with this feature led to vigorous thunderstorm development in close proximity to the low, where low-level helicity was maximized and highly supportive of supercell thunderstorms. These supercells first began producing tornadoes across Upstate South Carolina around 19:15 UTC and continued to do so as they moved northeast, passing between Columbia and Charlotte around 22:00 UTC, near Fayetteville around 00:00 UTC on March 29, and finally ending north of the Albemarle Sound in northeastern North Carolina around 02:00 UTC. In total, 24 tornadoes were confirmed, with 11 each in the Carolinas and 2 in Georgia. The size and scope of the event drew parallels to the 1884 Enigma tornado outbreak and tornado outbreak on April 16, 2011, and it held the record for number of tornadoes in the Carolinas until that 2011 event. Comparisons were also drawn to the 1925 Tri-State tornado outbreak given the progression of an intense collection of tornadoes located near the mesolow.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 24* |
A preliminary reanalysis by meteorologist Jonathan D. Finch uncovered many unconfirmed and/or possible tornadoes, including the following:

### Georgia

* A possible tornado hit Lithonia at 3:13 p.m. local standard time (20:13 UTC), significantly damaging the roof of a business, while also causing roof damage to a nearby apartment. A piece of roofing fell onto an automobile, badly damaging the latter.
* A tornado was seen north of Statham around 3:30 p.m. (20:30 UTC), but without damage.
* A 15-mile-long (24 km) tornado formed on Nowhere Road near Sanford around 3:45 p.m. (20:45 UTC), hitting trees and various structures. 35 homes incurred moderate to severe damage, including partial roof loss, breakage of windows, and the destruction of carports. 50 more received slight damage. A few trailers were wrecked, and half a dozen others were knocked off their foundations; 35 more were damaged to varying degrees. Six chicken coops were destroyed, and 17 others had roof damage. Additionally, five utility buildings and barns were destroyed, while 28 others sustained roof damage. 3-foot-diameter (0.91 m) trees were downed and thrown across roads, striking buildings.
* A likely tornado hit Point Peter around 3:57 p.m. (20:57 UTC), collapsing a brick building.
* An apparent tornado occurred south of Elberton, where fallen trees hit a home and automobile.
List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, March 28, 1984 :
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
| F1 | SW of Winder to Fort Yargo State Park | Barrow | GA | 33°55′N 83°46′W﻿ / ﻿33.92°N 83.77°W﻿ / 33.92; -83.77﻿ (Winder (Mar. 28, F1)) | 20:25 | 12 mi (19 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Hundreds of trees were downed. Thirty chicken houses, a manufactured home, a golf course, and more than one hundred buildings sustained minor roof damage. A child in the manufactured home sustained minor injuries. |
| F0 | N of McDonough | Henry | GA | 33°29′N 84°09′W﻿ / ﻿33.48°N 84.15°W﻿ / 33.48; -84.15﻿ (McDonough (Mar. 28, F0)) | 21:30 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | A large pine tree was twisted. |
| F1 | NE of Ware Shoals | Laurens | SC | 34°25′N 82°20′W﻿ / ﻿34.42°N 82.33°W﻿ / 34.42; -82.33﻿ (Ware Shoals (Mar. 28, F1)) | 21:30 | 3 mi (4.8 km) | 177 yd (162 m) | An F1 tornado tracked to the northeast of Ware Shoals. It was embedded within a larger area of downburst winds that also moved across Anderson and Abbeville counties. In the latter, more than 18 homes were damaged or destroyed and 24 people were injured. |
| F2 | N of Laurens | Laurens | SC | 34°33′N 82°05′W﻿ / ﻿34.55°N 82.08°W﻿ / 34.55; -82.08﻿ (Laurens (Mar. 28, F2)) | 21:40 | 18 mi (29 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | A large and significant tornado destroyed 19 manufactured homes and damaged another 13 others. It also damaged or destroyed 5 community buildings and 500 acres (200 ha) of timber. A total of 43 people were injured.$^{:1253}$ |
| F2 | Newberry | Newberry | SC | 34°14′N 81°45′W﻿ / ﻿34.23°N 81.75°W﻿ / 34.23; -81.75﻿ (Newberry (Mar. 28, F2)) | 22:20 | 23 mi (37 km) | 1,000 yd (910 m) | 1 death – A large F2 tornado moved northeast through downtown Newberry, which reportedly resembled a "war zone" after the tornado struck. It damaged or destroyed 80 businesses, including a church lost its roof and a wall, as well as a dance academy building that partially collapsed. The fatality occurred when an automotive shop was destroyed. An additional 38 people were injured. The tornado hit near the Broad River.$^{:1253}$ |
| F3 | New Hope | Newberry, Fairfield | SC | 34°19′N 81°25′W﻿ / ﻿34.32°N 81.42°W﻿ / 34.32; -81.42﻿ (New Hope (Mar. 28, F3)) | 22:40–22:53 | 34 mi (55 km) | 870 yd (800 m) | A large and intense tornado began near New Hope and continued eastward into Fairfield County. This tornado and the previous one collectively destroyed 254 houses, 86 businesses, 68 farm buildings, 45 manufactured homes, and 7 large public buildings. This second tornado injured 10 people.$^{:1253}$ |
| F4 | Winnsboro to Lake Wateree | Fairfield, Kershaw | SC | 34°22′N 81°19′W﻿ / ﻿34.37°N 81.32°W﻿ / 34.37; -81.32﻿ (Winnsboro (Mar. 28, F4)) | 23:00 | 21 mi (34 km) | 1,000 yd (910 m) | 6 deaths – An F4 tornado moved east through the northern edge of Winnsboro before crossing Interstate 77, parallel to the previous tornado along much of its path. A private school was severely damaged, where witnesses reported buses thrown into the air. A church and several masonry retail buildings collapsed as well. In total, the violent tornado damaged or destroyed 40 houses, 24 manufactured homes, 5 communities, and 4 businesses. It killed 6 people, of which 5 were in mobile homes and 1 died from a heart attack, and injured 49 others. Strong downburst winds accompanied this tornado and three subsequent ones. A 1⁄4-mile-wide (0.40 km) swath of damaged trees was discernible "for years", and 39 boats were damaged near Lake Wateree.$^{:647–648}$ |
| F1 | N of Monroe | Union | NC | 35°08′N 80°33′W﻿ / ﻿35.13°N 80.55°W﻿ / 35.13; -80.55﻿ (Monroe (Mar. 28, F1)) | 23:10 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 33 yd (30 m) | One manufactured home was destroyed and two others were damaged. A garage was demolished as well. |
| F4 | SE of Kershaw | Lancaster, Kershaw | 34°32′N 80°38′W﻿ / ﻿34.53°N 80.63°W﻿ / 34.53; -80.63﻿ (Kershaw (Mar. 28, F4)) | SC | 23:20–23:25 | 4 mi (6.4 km) | 530 yd (480 m) | Another violent tornado damaged several buildings, caused extensive tree damage, and injured five people in Lancaster County. It crossed into Kershaw County, demolishing a manufactured home park, destroying half a dozen trailers, and injuring 31 more people. |
| F2 | N of McBee | Chesterfield | SC | 34°34′N 80°10′W﻿ / ﻿34.57°N 80.17°W﻿ / 34.57; -80.17﻿ (McBee (Mar. 28, F2)) | 23:40 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 530 yd (480 m) | A strong tornado moved through a pine forest, shifting or otherwise damaging outbuildings. The tornado also downed trees and power lines, leveling the forest; it partly devastated the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. It was accompanied by strong downburst winds that caused considerable damage southeast of Kershaw in Kershaw County to west of Patrick in Chesterfield County.$^{:1253}$ |
| F4 | Cash area | Chesterfield | SC | 34°35′N 79°55′W﻿ / ﻿34.58°N 79.92°W﻿ / 34.58; -79.92﻿ (Cash (Mar. 28, F4)) | 23:45 | 7 mi (11 km) | 700 yd (640 m) | A violent tornado damaged or destroyed 36 farm buildings, 4 homes, 2 businesses, and large swaths of forest. It injured 24 people. This tornado may have been the same as the next event, but hit only woodland between Cash and Bennettsville. |
| F4 | Northern Bennettsville, SC to Laurinburg, NC | Marlboro (SC), Scotland (NC) | SC, NC | 34°39′N 79°45′W﻿ / ﻿34.65°N 79.75°W﻿ / 34.65; -79.75﻿ (Bennettsville (Mar. 28, F4)) | 00:10–00:25 | 16 mi (26 km) | 2,113 yd (1,932 m) | 7 deaths – A violent tornado moved through the north side of Bennettsville before dissipating near Laurinburg. It first hit the Marlboro County Jetport, doing minimal damage there, before extensively damaging roofs and downing trees in northern Bennettsville. Barns and a large home were demolished as well, while a number of other homes were rendered uninhabitable. Leaving Bennettsville, the tornado formed multiple vortices, inflicting spotty F4 damage. Now quite large, it killed three people in the rural community of Lester and four others in Fletcher before crossing the state line. A trailer park in Lester was destroyed, along with many homes in Fletcher; four of the seven deaths were in trailers, the rest in frame homes. Near Laurinburg the tornado badly damaged two more trailer parks, just before dissipation; there it injured many people. In total, 100 people were injured.$^{:1253}$ |
| F4 | E of Bennettsville, SC to Parkton, NC | Marlboro (SC), Scotland (NC), Robeson (NC), Cumberland (NC) | SC, NC | 34°38′N 79°36′W﻿ / ﻿34.63°N 79.60°W﻿ / 34.63; -79.60﻿ (Bennettsville (Mar. 28, F4)) | 00:20–01:30 | 45 mi (72 km) | 4,400 yd (4,000 m) | 5 deaths – Another F4 tornado touched down near Bennettsville. To the east, the tornado devastated the towns of Tatum and McColl. Near Tatum twin multiple-vortex tornadoes were reported, along with fallen trees, damage to several outbuildings, and the destruction of a 137-year-old commissary. In Tatum the tornado destroyed "several" buildings. In South Carolina 150 trailers and homes were wrecked. The tornado crossed the state line and struck the towns of Johns and Maxton before obliterating Red Springs; all of Red Springs received at least F1 or F2 damage, and parts of downtown were shorn of buildings. Barns, a few trailers, and an automobile were destroyed near Parkton. The tornado dissipated near Parkton, after injuring 395 people, and was up to 2+1⁄2 mi (4.0 km) wide at one point.$^{:1254}$$^{:203}$ |
| F3 | NE of Tobermory to NE of Giddensville | Bladen, Cumberland, Sampson | NC | 34°50′N 78°52′W﻿ / ﻿34.83°N 78.87°W﻿ / 34.83; -78.87﻿ (Tobermory (Mar. 28, F3)) | 00:45–01:15 | 41 mi (66 km) | 1,407 yd (1.287 km) | 12 deaths – An intense tornado, traveling at 60 mph (97 km/h), first struck Beaver Dam, north of White Oak, killing two people and leveling a large swath of pine forest. Up to 20 homes were destroyed, several of which were swept away, including a large, newly-built brick home. Trees were "shredded", sandblasted, and debarked; vehicles were moved up to 3⁄4 mi (1.2 km); and a mobile home was tossed 4 mi (6.4 km). In the Beaver Dam–Cedar Creek area the tornado was up to 1.3 mi (2.1 km) wide. The tornado then killed two persons near Roseboro before striking Salemburg, killing another there. In the Roseboro–Salemburg area a farm, trailers, and several homes were destroyed or damaged; "hundreds" of trees were splintered 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) above ground level, while dozens more were left standing at inclines. The tornado then hit Kitty Fork, destroying or damaging many homes there. Along US 701 a store was reduced to its concrete slab foundation, and a nearby hog was pierced by a 2-by-4-inch (51 by 102 mm) board. Near Poplar Grove twin tornadoes reportedly paralleled each other, and a sign from a local farm was found 25 mi (40 km) away. Six people were killed in the Clinton area before the tornado dissipated. The tornado injured 101 people and may have been the same as the Faison–Calypso–Mount Olive F4.$^{:1254}$ |
| F2 | Rocky Mount to West Mount | Nash | NC | 35°57′N 77°50′W﻿ / ﻿35.95°N 77.83°W﻿ / 35.95; -77.83﻿ (Rocky Mount (Mar. 28, F2)) | 01:10 | 2 mi (3.2 km) | 177 yd (162 m) | F2 damage occurred in West Mount. A quartet of well-built homes were destroyed, along with a pair of mobile homes, and 30 other homes were damaged.$^{:1254}$ |
| F4 | NE of Clinton to SW of Walnut Creek | Sampson, Duplin, Wayne | NC | 35°03′N 78°15′W﻿ / ﻿35.05°N 78.25°W﻿ / 35.05; -78.25﻿ (Clinton (Mar. 28, F4)) | 01:15–01:40 | 21 mi (34 km) | 1,407 yd (1,287 m) | 3 deaths – A violent tornado began northeast of Clinton, killing one person in central Sampson County. It continued into Duplin County, causing severe damage near Faison and Calypso; automobiles and trailers were flipped, homes wrecked, and tin roofing twisted around trees. In Wayne County, another two people died in Mount Olive, where the Pine Forest subdivision lost 27 of its 28 homes. A factory near Mount Olive was badly damaged as well, a house stripped of its roof, and a 6-foot-diameter (1.8 m) pecan felled. Some homes were destroyed outside Mount Olive as well. Otherwise, 149 people were injured. |
| F3 | SE of LaGrange | Wayne, Lenoir | NC | 35°12′N 77°54′W﻿ / ﻿35.20°N 77.90°W﻿ / 35.20; -77.90﻿ (LaGrange (Mar. 28, F3)) | 01:30–01:37 | 9 mi (14 km) | 527 yd (482 m) | An intense tornado injured 81 people, sweeping homes off of their foundations. Mobile homes, outbuildings, and farm equipment were wrecked as well. An automobile was left in a treetop, and a trailer was tossed into a tree, shattering upon impact; the latter was lofted 150 yd (450 ft). The tornado lost force near LaGrange, where F1 and F2 damage occurred; in this area it unroofed and partly destroyed a number of buildings, including a high school. |
| F4 | NE of LaGrange to NE of Greenville | Wayne, Lenoir, Greene, Pitt | NC | 35°11′N 78°04′W﻿ / ﻿35.18°N 78.07°W﻿ / 35.18; -78.07﻿ (LaGrange (Mar. 28, F4)) | 01:45–02:20 | 46 mi (74 km) | 1,407 yd (1,287 m) | 16 deaths – This violent tornado was the deadliest of the outbreak, causing fatalities and major damage in and around Snow Hill, Winterville, Ayden, and Greenville. Across southern Greene County it leveled 25 homes and damaged as many as 100 in a 12-mile-long (19 km) swath; Scuffleton was particularly hard hit. In total, 153 people were injured and about 300 homes were wrecked.$^{:1254}$ |
| F3 | NW of Lewiston | Bertie | NC | 36°08′N 77°12′W﻿ / ﻿36.13°N 77.20°W﻿ / 36.13; -77.20﻿ (Lewiston (Mar. 28, F3)) | 01:55 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | 6 deaths – An intense tornado moved near Lewiston, demolishing a manufactured home park and killing six people; five deaths originated from the same family. Nineteen people were also injured. This and the following tornado may have been the same event, tracking for 80 to 90 mi (130 to 140 km); damage in Virginia may have been related. |
| F2 | SE of Earleys to E of Ahoskie | Bertie, Hertford | NC | 36°14′N 77°00′W﻿ / ﻿36.23°N 77.00°W﻿ / 36.23; -77.00﻿ (Ahoskie (Mar. 28, F2)) | 02:10–02:15 | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 527 yd (482 m) | A significant tornado caused F2 damage and seven injuries near Ahoskie, significantly damaging a trailer park and a home. |
| F1 | E of Cambridge | Hertford | NC | 36°20′N 76°48′W﻿ / ﻿36.33°N 76.80°W﻿ / 36.33; -76.80﻿ (Cambridge (Mar. 28, F1)) | 02:17 | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 177 yd (162 m) | A weak tornado caused damage near Harrellsville. |
| F2 | W of Loris, SC to Tabor City, NC | Horry (SC), Columbus (NC) | SC, NC | 34°03′N 78°59′W﻿ / ﻿34.05°N 78.98°W﻿ / 34.05; -78.98﻿ (Loris (Mar. 28, F2)) | 02:35–02:45 | 9 mi (14 km) | 353 yd (323 m) | An intense tornado crossed the South Carolina–North Carolina line, destroying two manufactured homes and damaging another house. It also inflicted considerable damage to utilities and injured eight people. |
| F3 | S of Flat Branch to NE of Acorn Hill | Gates | NC | 36°22′N 76°42′W﻿ / ﻿36.37°N 76.70°W﻿ / 36.37; -76.70﻿ (Gatesville (Mar. 28, F3)) | 02:30 | 14 mi (23 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | 2 deaths – Near Gatesville nine houses and seven manufactured homes were destroyed, and thirty-nine other houses were damaged. A historic plantation home, built in 1800, was leveled, along with a "solid brick" home. A trailer was reduced to chassis and its debris carried 400 yd (1,200 ft). Entering the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the tornado felled many trees and possibly continued into Pasquotank County. Ten people were injured. |
| F2 | Snug Harbor | Chowan, Perquimans | NC | 36°04′N 76°35′W﻿ / ﻿36.07°N 76.58°W﻿ / 36.07; -76.58﻿ (Snug Harbor (Mar. 28, F2)) | 03:15–03:20 | 6 mi (9.7 km) | 177 yd (162 m) | 1 death – The last tornado of the outbreak touched down as a waterspout over the Albemarle Sound before moving onshore. A tree was blown over, crushing a manufactured home and resulting in one fatality and an injury. |
Outbreak death toll :
| State | Total | County | County total |
| North Carolina | 42 | Bertie | 6 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Cumberland | 2 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Gates | 2 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Greene | 7 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Perquimans | 1 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Pitt | 9 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Robeson | 2 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Sampson | 10 |
| North Carolina | 42 | Wayne | 3 |
| South Carolina | 15 | Fairfield | 5 |
| South Carolina | 15 | Marlboro | 9 |
| South Carolina | 15 | Newberry | 1 |
| Totals | 57 | | |
| All deaths were tornado-related ||||

## Aftermath

Ultimately this outbreak was responsible for 57 deaths, 1,249 injuries, and confirmed tornado damage in 2 counties in Georgia, 8 counties in South Carolina, and 17 counties in North Carolina, according to data from the National Weather Service and the National Climatic Data Center records and statistical data.
This was an unusual East Coast outbreak both in its sustained intensity and in some of its meteorological specifics. It was noted by Grazulis and other researchers$^{:648}$ that this outbreak developed near the center of a large-scale low, in a fashion resembling the 1925 Tri-State tornado. In this outbreak, the damage path was attributed to separate tornadoes, though one storm produced (on an estimated 250+ mile track) a family of 13 large tornadoes, 10 of which produced F3 or F4 damage, which was occasionally connected by swaths of downburst damage. The resulting tornado family, the series of tornadoes in totality is among the longest on record.
This outbreak was also part of a larger storm system that was responsible for producing severe weather across a much wider area of the eastern U.S. On the previous day, weaker tornadoes had been reported in scattered locations from Louisiana to Alabama, and a thunderstorm-caused flash flood was suspected to be the cause of a train derailment in north Florida. The northern part of the same system first spawned additional severe (non-tornadic) thunderstorms, which caused 4 additional deaths in Maryland and Pennsylvania, before then dropping snow, sleet and ice across a wide area of the northeast. The thunderstorms which produced the tornado outbreak were also responsible (according to the same data) for numerous reports of large hail and wind damage in Appalachian southwest North Carolina, and numerous larger cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Greenville, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, Dover, Delaware, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, North Carolina, Suffolk, Virginia, Norfolk, Virginia) at the periphery of the outbreak, with wind damage from thunderstorms reported as far north as Delaware.