Snowfall Totals Across the Region

Snowfall Map for Northeast Georgia and the Western Carolinas

Snowfall Totals

    
                        

096

NOUS42 KGSP 182010

PNSGSP

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068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-190815-



Public Information Statement

National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC

410 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026



...NWS Damage Survey for 03/16/2026 Tornado and Thunderstorm Wind

Event Update 1...



.Update... Added survey information for two additional tornadoes

in Madison County, NC, and combined with previous survey results

from Charlotte, NC, and Gaffney, SC. All events have been placed

in chronological order.



.Overview... A line of severe thunderstorms moved through

Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina, and the South Carolina

Upstate on the morning of March 16, 2026, producing areas of

straight-line wind damage and multiple brief tornadoes.



.Mars Hill, North Carolina Tornado...



Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    75 mph

Path Length /statute/:  0.44 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   50 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0



Start Date:             03/16/2026

Start Time:             07:11 AM EDT

Start Location:         2 SSE Mars Hill / Madison County / NC

Start Lat/Lon:          35.8062 / -82.5386



End Date:               03/16/2026

End Time:               07:12 AM EDT

End Location:           2 SE Mars Hill / Madison County / NC

End Lat/Lon:            35.8091 / -82.5317



Survey Summary:

A brief, weak tornado touched down just south of Mars Hill along

Interstate 26. It traveled for about half a mile, snapping several

branches and uprooting a few trees before lifting.



.Paint Fork, North Carolina Tornado...



Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph

Path Length /statute/:  2.32 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   50 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0



Start Date:             03/16/2026

Start Time:             07:15 AM EDT

Start Location:         4 E Mars Hill / Madison County / NC

Start Lat/Lon:          35.8260 / -82.4847



End Date:               03/16/2026

End Time:               07:18 AM EDT

End Location:           5 N Barnardsville / Madison County / NC

End Lat/Lon:            35.8450 / -82.4527



Survey Summary:

A second weak tornado touched down a couple of miles east of Mars

Hill, uprooting and snapping several trees along its path. The

path disappeared into the terrain approaching Chestnut Mountain. A

few additional trees were downed as part of the inflow into the

storm.



.Gaffney, South Carolina - Straight-Line Wind Damage...



Peak Wind /E/:          75 mph

Path Length /statute/:  0.33 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0



Start Date:             03/16/2026

Start Time:             08:32 AM EDT

Start Location:         Gaffney / Cherokee County / SC

Start Lat/Lon:          35.0801 / -81.6547



End Date:               03/16/2026

End Time:               08:33 AM EDT

End Location:           Gaffney / Cherokee County / SC

End Lat/Lon:            35.0801 / -81.6489



Survey Summary:

The National Weather Service conducted a storm damage survey in

Gaffney, SC. It was determined that damage was caused by straight-

line winds peaking around 75 mph. Damage was first observed within

the city limits, where corrugated metal roof panels, wooden joists,

and fascia were ripped off the front of a small business along West

Frederick Street (Route 11). The wind also shifted the exterior metal

wall of a nearby auto parts store, causing the corner panels to buckle

and separate. Approximately one-third mile east, a large tree was

uprooted next to a house between Marion Avenue and Mill Street. Based

on radar analysis, as well as the fact that the damage was sporadic

and lacked any signs of circulation, it was determined the damage was

caused by a localized downburst of straight-line winds.



.Charlotte, North Carolina Tornado...



Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph

Path Length /statute/:  1.45 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   25 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0



Start Date:             03/16/2026

Start Time:             09:39 AM EDT

Start Location:         2 NNE Charlotte / Mecklenburg County / NC

Start Lat/Lon:          35.2522 / -80.8265



End Date:               03/16/2026

End Time:               09:42 AM EDT

End Location:           1 SW Hidden Valley / Mecklenburg County / NC

End Lat/Lon:            35.2614 / -80.8042



Survey Summary:

An EF-0 tornado touched down along N Graham St near the

intersection of Moretz Ave where several small trees were

snapped. The tornado moved northeast into a residential area

where additional large limbs were snapped. The tornado reached

peak intensity of 85 mph as it crossed Atando Ave where sheet

metal was peeled back off a large industrial building. Another

warehouse sustained more significant roof damage with a large

section of roofing removed. Several large pine trees were snapped

behind the warehouse. The tornado weakened and eventually

dissipated as it moved into another residential area along Drury

Dr where a few small limbs were downed.



&&



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.



$$