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NOUS42 KILM 101759
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NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059-
110600-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
159 PM EDT SUN MAY 10 2026
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 05/09/2026 TORNADO EVENT
DELCO EF1
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 100 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 1.38 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 100 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/09/2026
START TIME: 03:23 PM EDT
START LOCATION: DELCO / COLUMBUS COUNTY / NC
START LAT/LON: 34.3177 / -78.2174
END DATE: 05/09/2026
END TIME: 03:26 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 1 ENE DELCO / COLUMBUS COUNTY / NC
END LAT/LON: 34.321 / -78.1936
SURVEY SUMMARY:
DAMAGE BEGAN NEAR 356 DELCO SCHOOL ROAD, WHERE SEVERAL TREES WERE
SNAPPED AND POWER LINES WERE DOWNED. A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY AT
MCPHERSON'S ACME GENERAL STORE (1355 OLD STAGE ROAD), A METAL
AWNING WAS TORN FROM THE STRUCTURE AND DESTROYED, DAMAGING A
NEARBY 500-GALLON PROPANE TANK AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE
TORNADO CONTINUED EAST-NORTHEAST APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILES WITH
ONLY INTERMITTENT DAMAGE BEFORE INTENSIFYING NEAR THE 1225 BLOCK
OF FERTILIZER ROAD. THERE, THREE STRUCTURES SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT
ROOF DAMAGE, INCLUDING TWO SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES, AND A LARGE
OAK TREE WAS UPROOTED. THE TORNADO THEN RAPIDLY DISSIPATED WITH
NO FURTHER DAMAGE NOTED.
ALL DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH EF1 INTENSITY, WITH ESTIMATED WIND
SPEEDS BETWEEN 90 TO 100 MPH.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK COLUMBUS COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE
WITH THIS DAMAGE SURVEY.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
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