An historic tornado outbreak affected areas from the Deep South to the Mid-Atlantic states April 27-28. A strong tornado touched down in Rabun County late on the 27th, with additional tornadoes affecting the North Carolina foothills during the early morning hours of the 28th. At least three supercell thunderstorms crossed the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during this time. A greater number of supercells and tornadoes affected areas to the west of the Appalachians. Scattered areas of straight line wind damage and large hail also accompanied the storms.

Tornado in ALEXANDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:33:00 to 28-APR-11 02:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALL HEALING SPGS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An area of weak tornado damage began in the Ellendale community, along Caldwell Pond Rd, just south of highway 64 90, uprooting and snapping off some trees. The tornado moved northeast into a forested area and may have lifted briefly. However, the damage path picked up again on Studebaker Rd just off highway 64. Part of the roof was removed from a house and part of the porch blown away. An outbuilding was also destroyed and numerous trees were snapped off and uprooted at this location. The tornado continued northeast across highway 64, peeling roofing off a barn and shifting a mobile home off its foundation. The tornado continued northeast across All Healing Springs Rd, then on to a farmstead off David Herman Rd, where siding and roofing were stripped from several outbuildings. The tornado lifted just past David Herman Rd, but not before destroying another outbuilding.

Tornado in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:22:00 to 28-APR-11 02:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: SAW MILLS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A continuous path of tornado damage began near Deal Mill Rd, about 3.5 miles east of Hudson. The damage extended in a northeast direction, affecting Boyd McRary Rd and Campground Rd, where numerous large trees were uprooted, portions of the roof of a home were removed, and some outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado continued to take down trees as it moved to Temple Hill Church Rd, where some shingles were removed from homes and a porch was destroyed. Gutters were blown off a home, a carport blown away, sheds destroyed, and part of a roof removed from a mobile home on Burns Rd. The tornado continued northeast to Beatrice Lane, where much of the outer structure of a double-wide mobile home was destroyed. The tornado appeared to lift in this area.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROWAN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:27:00 to 28-APR-11 02:27:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCKWELL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

A few trees and large limbs were blown down in the Rockwell area.

Tornado in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 21:45:00 to 27-APR-11 21:46:00 (EST-5)
Location: ANTIOCH
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A short path of tornado damage was found embedded within a larger area of downburst wind damage. However, the damage associated with this path was no more severe than the damage associated with the downburst. Multiple large trees were blown down, a shed was destroyed and another tossed, and the roof was peeled from an outbuilding. One fallen tree clipped a home in this area as well.

Hail in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 22:17:00 to 27-APR-11 22:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: SEALY MTN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail reported in the Scaly Mountain area.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 22:40:00 to 27-APR-11 22:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: CASHIERS
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Law enforcement reported trees blown down in the Cashiers, Sapphire area with three different severe thunderstorms that moved across the region during the late night and early morning hours.

Lightning in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 22:40:00 to 27-APR-11 22:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: BESSIE
Property damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck a home in the Finley Forest area, igniting a fire that destroyed the home.

Tornado in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 23:31:00 to 27-APR-11 23:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: SEALY MTN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An area of weak tornado damage began in the Dryman Ridge Rd area of Scaly Mountain. A mobile home was flipped and several trees were downed. The tornado appeared to lift briefly as it moved toward the north northeast, before touching down again briefly just north of highway 106, where the tops of several trees were snapped.

Hail in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 00:37:00 to 28-APR-11 00:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: POWELLTOWN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: County Official

Thunderstorm Wind in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 00:50:00 to 28-APR-11 00:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRANGE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Trees and power lines were blown down in the Little River area.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 23:48:00 to 27-APR-11 23:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: CASHIERS
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees blown down in the Cashiers area with all three severe thunderstorms that moved across the region during the late night and early morning hours.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 00:24:00 to 28-APR-11 00:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: SAPPHIRE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Law enforcement reported trees blown down in the Sapphire area with all three severe thunderstorms that moved across the region during the late night and early morning hours.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 01:19:00 to 28-APR-11 01:19:00 (EST-5)
Location: HORACE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Trees and power lines were blown down.

Hail in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:16:00 to 28-APR-11 02:16:00 (EST-5)
Location: LENOIR
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: County Official

Hail in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:12:00 to 28-APR-11 02:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: GAMEWELL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in CABARRUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 28-APR-11 02:20:00 to 28-APR-11 02:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH CONCORD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Two large pine trees were blown down on Southcircle Dr. Another tree was blown onto a home on Kannpolis Highway about 3.5 miles northwest of Concord.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 27-APR-11 21:45:00 to 27-APR-11 21:47:00 (EST-5)
Location: ANTIOCH
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS storm survey found that a tornadic thunderstorm over Greene County, TN produced an area of downburst damage just across the state line from the Grassy Creek Rd area to U.S. Highway 25/70 in far western Madison County. Numerous trees were blown down. The roof of one home on Azalea Lane was damaged by a falling tree. Another home had part of its roof removed. A couple of outbuildings were also destroyed.