Two supercell thunderstorms entered the North Carolina mountains during the evening hours. One of the storms produced a strong tornado in the town of Murphy in Cherokee County. The supercell remained surprisingly strong as it crossed the southern mountains, producing large hail and eventually another weak tornado in Jackson County. Later at night, storms organized into a broken line across Upstate South Carolina. The northern part of the line crossed the southern North Carolina piedmont where it produced a strong, brief tornado on the northeast side of Charlotte. The storm did not exhibit supercell characteristics, and the tornado spun up quite quickly as the line intersected a low level boundary.

Thunderstorm Wind in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:46:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRANKLIN ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Several trees were blown down in the Franklin area.

Hail in YANCEY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:55:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: BURNSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: County Official

Thunderstorm Wind in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 21:20:00 to 02-MAR-12 21:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: BALSAM GROVE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

Scattered trees were blown down as a supercell thunderstorm moved across the northern part of the county.

Tornado in MECKLENBURG, NORTH CAROLINA
From 03-MAR-12 02:35:00 to 03-MAR-12 02:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILGROVE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.50M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey found the path of a strong tornado that developed rapidly over eastern portions of the Charlotte metro area during the early morning hours of March 3rd. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Dulin Creek Rd and Little Whiteoak Rd, moving just south of Plaza Rd extension. The tornado affected two subdivisions in Mecklenburg County. Four homes slid off their foundations and were completely destroyed.  Twenty-nine homes were rendered uninhabitable from collapsed exterior walls. A total of 162 homes were damaged in the county. Four people were injured in this area. The tornado crossed I-485, just south of Plaza Rd Extension before moving into Cabarrus County. The total path length in Mecklenburg County was a little over 1.5 miles, while the maximum width was 200 yards.

Hail in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:57:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELLNAY
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail between golf ball and baseball size was reported in the Cullasaja area.

Tornado in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 21:03:00 to 02-MAR-12 21:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: ERASTUS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 50.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS storm survey found the path of a weak tornado in the Lake Glenville area. The tornado began along Pine Creek Rd about halfway between the Macon County line and the Lake. It traveled east southeast from there, crossing North Norton Rd and Woods Mountain Trail. Multiple trees were uprooted and snapped and a few homes and one church received minor roof damage. The tornado then crossed the lake and affected Glenshore Dr snapping and uprooting more trees and causing a tree to fall on a home, damaging the roof. The damage path ended there, at the shore of Lake Glenville.

Hail in JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 21:05:00 to 02-MAR-12 21:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: GLENVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: County Official

Thunderstorm Wind in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 21:28:00 to 02-MAR-12 21:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: KYLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Additional trees were blown down as a second severe thunderstorm moved over the Nantahala Lake area.

Tornado in CABARRUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 03-MAR-12 02:37:00 to 03-MAR-12 02:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARRISBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.50M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado moved into Cabarrus County from Mecklenburg County, south of Harrisburg and west of the Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd intersection. The tornado affected several residential areas, damaging around 30 homes and destroying two homes which slid off their foundations. The tornado crossed Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd, lifting just short of Hickory Ridge Rd.

Tornado in SWAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 14:52:00 to 02-MAR-12 14:53:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOLOLA VLY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS Storm Survey found a short damage path of a weak tornado in a remote section of the Great Smoky Mountains. Several small trees were snapped and a large tree uprooted along the 100 yard path.

Thunderstorm Wind in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:24:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLOSSOMTOWN
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: County Official

Numerous trees were blown down in the Nantahala Lake area.

Hail in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:24:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLOSSOMTOWN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: County Official

Hail up to golf ball size fell in the Nantahala Lake area.

Hail in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:30:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAPEVINE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:44:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: BETHEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported near the Yancey County line.

Hail in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 02-MAR-12 20:45:00 to 02-MAR-12 20:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRANKLIN ARPT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: County Official

Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported on the north side of Franklin.