A deep cutoff area of low pressure was located over the Great Lakes with a surface cold front trailing to the south. A humid air mass was in place at the surface with dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s contributing to very low LCLs, as low as 1000 ft. The initial round of severe thunderstorms developed during the morning as height falls and a developing low level jet accelerated. Severe thunderstorms redeveloped along an early afternoon surface convergent boundary in a zone of increasing low level Storm Relative Helicity. Severe thunderstorms persisted into the late afternoon.

Hail in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:09:00 to 28-APR-11 14:11:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail to the size of golf balls was reported.

Hail in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:15:00 to 28-APR-11 14:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHADBOURN
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail a little larger than golf balls smashed the windows out of two police vehicles. The diameter of the hail was measured by the officers.

Hail in PENDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 15:07:00 to 28-APR-11 15:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINEY WOOD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

In the conduction of a National Weather Service Storm Survey, those interviewed stated they observed hail to the size of quarters along Highway 421.

Tornado in PENDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 15:29:00 to 28-APR-11 15:34:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINEY WOOD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 105.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded a tornado touched down 5 miles west-southwest of Watha in Pender County, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 90 mph. The path length was just over three miles and the maximum path width was 60 yards. The tornado first touched down near the fish hatchery on the south side of Shiloh Road. As the tornado moved across Shiloh Road, it uprooted and snapped several dozen trees. Several large trees fell across houses causing roof damage. Other houses suffered minor roof, soffit and siding damage. The damage was rated EF1 in this area with winds to 90 mph. The tornado continued to the northeast and weakened, but did damage the roof of another house on Shiloh Road. The tornado continued to the northeast, crossing Penderlea Highway where it did substantial damage to a large storage building, uprooted several trees and ripped the top off a grain silo. The tornado finally lifted northeast of Penderlea Highway.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROBESON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 12:54:00 to 28-APR-11 12:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST LUMBERTON
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 70 mph near the intersection of Snake Road and Highway 211. No wind damage was reported.

Tornado in PENDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 15:07:00 to 28-APR-11 15:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATKINSON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 66.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded a tornado touched down two miles southwest of Atkinson, in Pender County North Carolina. The tornado was rated up to an EF1 with maximum winds estimated to 110 mph. The path length was just shy of a third of a mile and the maximum path width was 60 yards. The tornado first touched down as an EF0 near the edge of a field west of Slocum Trail Road with strong inflow noted on its southern flank causing extreme damage to two grain silos and a barn. The damaged silos and barn were blown across the road. The tornado strengthened to an EF1 along a stand of trees west of Slocum Road before weakening as it moved north-northeast across the road and lifting. A few dozen trees were snapped and uprooted along the path of the tornado.

Tornado in PENDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 15:38:00 to 28-APR-11 15:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLARD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 12.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF0 tornado touched down near Willard in northern Pender County, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 80 mph. The path length was near a quarter of a mile and the maximum path width was 30 yards. The tornado touched down near a turkey farm near Meadow Beauty Road. The tornado slammed into one of the turkey houses causing significant damage and killing several turkeys. The tornado lifted northeast of the turkey farm and prior to reaching a stand of trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:00:00 to 28-APR-11 14:02:00 (EST-5)
Location: EVERGREEN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded straight-line winds to 60 mph downed a large tree onto a house on Haynes Lennon Highway. Minor damage was observed to one of the bedrooms.

Tornado in PENDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 15:10:00 to 28-APR-11 15:19:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATKINSON
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 33.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF0 tornado touched down near Atkinson in Pender County, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 85 mph. The path length was near six and a half miles and the maximum path width was 50 yards. The tornado first touched down on the west side of Highway 11, south of Atkinson. The tornado damaged two dozen trees and caused minor damage to three homes. The tornado then moved northeast, crossing Highway 11, just south of Atkinson and then across Rooks Road, damaging more trees. The tornado then crossed Highway 53 in a narrow path, east of Atkinson, snapping a few dozen trees. Finally, as the tornado crossed Point Caswell Road, it downed dozens of trees before lifting.

Tornado in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:43:00 to 28-APR-11 14:46:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOLTON
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 27.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded an EF0 tornado touched down in northern Columbus County, North Carolina. The maximum wind speed was estimated to 75 mph. The path length was just over a half mile and the maximum path width was 20 yards. The tornado first touched down just south of Old Lake Road and then moved across Old Lake Road and ripped the roof off an upholstery shop. Six trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado then moved northeast of Old Lake Road and caused damage to a shed and six additional trees before lifting.

Hail in ROBESON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 12:54:00 to 28-APR-11 12:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST LUMBERTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail to the size of golf balls was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in BLADEN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:33:00 to 28-APR-11 14:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST ARCADIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team concluded a microburst with winds to 65 mph ripped some shingles off the roof of a brick home on Highway 87. An attached carport and porch partially collapsed. A 20x20 foot aluminum framed storage building was flipped and crushed. Several small trees were blown down. The microburst had a path length of 140 yards and a maximum path width of 90 yards. The time was estimated based on radar data.

Hail in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 13:52:00 to 28-APR-11 13:54:00 (EST-5)
Location: CERRO GORDO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail to the size of golf balls was reported.

Hail in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 13:56:00 to 28-APR-11 13:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHADBOURN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail to the size of quarters was reported.

Hail in COLUMBUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 14:04:00 to 28-APR-11 14:06:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRIST
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail to the size of baseballs was reported on Alfred Hayes Drive.