Scattered supercell thunderstorms developed over the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia as strong wind shear and moderate instability overspread the region ahead of a strong cold front. A number of tornadoes were spawned by the storms. Two strong tornadoes affected the western piedmont and foothills of North Carolina.

Tornado in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 19:15:00 to 26-OCT-10 19:16:00 (EST-5)
Location: FOREST CITY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado began just southwest of Crowe Dairy Rd, where the tops of several trees were blown out. The tornado intensified as it moved northeast, blowing the porch off a home and scattering debris as far as 50 yards. In addition, part of the roof was  lifted off an attached garage and doors were blown in on a shed at this location.

Thunderstorm Wind in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 21:58:00 to 26-OCT-10 21:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATESVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several trees were blown down just south of Statesville.

Tornado in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 18:12:00 to 26-OCT-10 18:13:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLATEAU
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado moved from Lincoln County, into southwest Catawba County, with intermittent damage noted to trees. The tornado finally lifted near Cat Square Rd, where a school received some minor structural damage.

Hail in POLK, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 18:34:00 to 26-OCT-10 18:34:00 (EST-5)
Location: TRYON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Newspaper

Thunderstorm Wind in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 22:15:00 to 26-OCT-10 22:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARMONY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Post Office

Several trees were blown down in the Olin community.

Tornado in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 22:35:00 to 26-OCT-10 22:36:00 (EST-5)
Location: TERRELL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in extreme southeast Catawba, on a Lake Norman peninsula. Damage was first observed in the area around Kiser Island Rd and Barbor Circle. Numerous trees and large limbs were downed along Harbor Circle, with the roofs of several homes damaged by falling debris. Some minor roof damage was observed due to wind. A boat docked near Harbor Circle was blown across the lake, washing up on shore on the Iredell County side of the lake. The tornado continued east northeast over Lake Norman, crossing into Iredell County just west of the Hager Creek access area.

Tornado in POLK, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 19:03:00 to 26-OCT-10 19:04:00 (EST-5)
Location: RODDY STORE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Sandy Plains Rd area just north of White Oak Creek, breaking off the tops of several trees and some large branches. The tornado then skipped east northeast, snapping and uprooting a small but concentrated area of trees in the Coxe Rd area. One large tree fell on a home on Coxe Rd before the tornado lifted.

Tornado in LINCOLN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 18:08:00 to 26-OCT-10 18:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: TOLUCA
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.20M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This strong tornado touched down near the intersection of Locust Trail and Tola Houser Lane. Several homes at the beginning of the track received major damage to the roof and exterior wall. One home was shifted off its foundation by nearly 20 feet, with an upstairs room removed. Two vehicles at this location were rolled several yards. The tornado moved northeast across Northbrook III School Rd. Several homes were damaged or destroyed and numerous trees snapped off or uprooted just north of the Reeps Grove Church Rd intersection. The damage path at this point was nearly 200 yards wide. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Macedonia Church Rd, Peeler Rd and Patriot Way, with additional homes as well as barns and a chicken house damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off in this area as well. As the tornado continued east northeast, damage became more intermittent in the area around Palm Tree Church Rd, where only the tops of trees were snapped. The tornado entered into Catawba County in the vicinity of Dansbury Lane. Eleven people were injured, two seriously.

Tornado in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 18:44:00 to 26-OCT-10 18:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLAREMONT
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 6.61M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down initially in an industrial park near Penny Rd, where two large buildings sustained significant roof damage. Part of the exterior wall of one of the buildings collapsed. The tornado moved northeast, causing damage to shingles and siding at several homes on St Vincent Dr. Two outbuildings were thrown 30 to 40 feet and numerous trees were snapped off or uprooted in this area as well. The tornado continued to cause severe damage to trees and generally minor structural damage to homes and a church as it moved northeast toward Catawba St. The damage path continued in a east northeast direction from there, roughly paralleling highway 70. Major roof damage occurred to a food processing plant on highway 70 and several outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous headstones were blown down in a cemetery adjacent to the plant. Numerous trailers were then overturned and part of a building destroyed at a truck depot near Liberty Hill Church Rd. The tornado continued east northeast for about another half mile before lifting.

Tornado in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 26-OCT-10 22:36:00 to 26-OCT-10 22:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAYHEW
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado that began in extreme southeast Catawba County entered Iredell County over Lake Norman, just west of the Hager Creek access area. The tornado continued northeast, downing trees in an area just north of the Hager Creek area. The tornado continued northeast to the Kemp Rd area, where numerous trees were blown down along the waterfront. Several homes were damaged by falling trees in this area. Tree damage continued northeast to Bayberry Creek Rd and Ardmore Place, where the tornado apparently lifted.