A line of showers and thunderstorms entered the mountains of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during the late afternoon hours. The line intensified and expanded northward as it moved out of the mountains. An environment of high shear and moderate instability supported several strong to severe storms within the line. Most the severe weather was the result of straight line winds, though a little large hail was also reported. The storms crossed the rest of the foothills and western piedmont during the early evening hours, a little ways ahead of a strong cold front.

Thunderstorm Wind in SWAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 15:40:00 to 28-FEB-11 15:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALMOND
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Several trees were blown down from the Almond area to the Alarka area.

Thunderstorm Wind in YANCEY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 15:40:00 to 28-FEB-11 15:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMRICK
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: COOP Observer

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:08:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: CULLOWHEE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees were blown down across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:09:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: GLENWOOD
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees were blown down along Mudcut Rd in the Glenwood community. Several trees fell on homes and automobiles.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:10:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: MORGANTON
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Quite a few trees were blown down in Morganton, with one on a home on Avery Ave. A section of roof was blown off a large barn near the intersection of Bethel Rd and I-40. Other large trees were blown down along Bethel Rd, some of which fell on homes. Downburst damage continued east to the Connelly Springs and Icard area.

Thunderstorm Wind in UNION, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 18:22:00 to 28-FEB-11 18:22:00 (EST-5)
Location: UNIONVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Several trees were blown down a little ways south of Fairview.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROWAN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 28-FEB-11 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLEVELAND
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A scattering of trees were blown down, roughly paralleling Statesville Blvd west of Salisbury. A metal awning was also blown away and some power lines downed in the area as well.

Hail in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:12:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:16:00 (EST-5)
Location: MORGANTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to penny size fell just to the north of an area of damaging winds.

Lightning in BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:20:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: AVERY CREEK
Property damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck a home
on Owenby Lane, igniting
a fire.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:21:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRANITE FALLS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Trees were blown down in the Granite Falls area. A peak wind gust of 56 mph was measured at the Hickory Airport during this time.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:29:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: HICKORY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several trees were blown down from the Hickory area to the St. Peters Church Rd area north of Conover.

Hail in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:36:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:36:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLAREMONT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:38:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: SELICA
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

A tractor trailer was blown over and greenhouses were damaged at a plant nursery on Hannah Ford Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:40:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: CATAWBA
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Several large trees were blown down on the western shores of Lookout Shoals Lake. Several homes were damaged by falling trees.

Lightning in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:40:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLANTYRE
Property damage: 30.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A lightning strike damaged a home on Sandrock Trail.

Thunderstorm Wind in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:42:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:52:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Trees were blown down, some onto homes, from the Lookout Shoals Lake area, including Island Ford Rd and Cubs Paw Lane, to the city of Statesville. Numerous trees were blown down in and around the city of Statesville.

Thunderstorm Wind in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:56:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: OSWALT
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A sunroom and part of the roof was torn off a mobile home on Pilch Rd. Part of the metal roofing was torn off some buildings at a zoo on Ostwalt Amity Rd.  Trees were also blown down near the Shiloh Rd, Amity Hill Rd intersection.

Hail in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:55:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATESVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging in size from pennies to quarters was reported on the north side of Statesville.

Hail in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 16:57:00 to 28-FEB-11 16:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: TURNERSBURG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging in size from pennies to quarters was reported in Turnersburg.

Hail in ROWAN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 17:13:00 to 28-FEB-11 17:13:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAJOLICA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in AVERY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-FEB-11 13:52:00 to 28-FEB-11 13:52:00 (EST-5)
Location: LINVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

Several trees were blown down in the Grandfather Mountain area, with one tree on a building.