Local Storm Report
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
692
NWUS52 KMHX 251925
LSRMHX
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
325 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0324 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ESE Tuscarora 35.13N 77.15W
08/24/2026 Craven NC 911 Call Center
Craven County 911 reports road sign blown
into road at MM141 of US 17 bypass
southbound. Time estimated by radar.
0434 PM Tornado 4 NNW Atlantic 34.94N 76.35W
08/24/2026 Carteret NC NWS Storm Survey
Top estimated winds: EF0 85 MPH. Path
Length: .18 miles, estimated. Path Width:
Unknown. Along Highway 12/Cedar Island Road,
just east of the Thorofare Bridge, two cedar
trees were snapped up from the base of the
trunk. The trees were on the smaller side
and an average between the expected values
for large branches broken but below trunks
snapped were used to account for this. With
extensive marshland in this area, the wind
estimate was quite difficult with no other
trees or buildings to determine a threshold
of damage. Powerlines along this road are
metal and have a high wind threshold. They
did not exhibit any damage. Eyewitnesses
reported a waterspout cross Highway 12
(Cedar Island Road) at the same time the
radar showed an intense area of rotation
just above the surface. A path width could
not be determined due to the extensive
marshland and lack of other areas of damage.
Confidence is high in the determination of a
tornado based on the combination of strong
radar evidence and eyewitness accounts that
match the exact location damage was found.
Wind estimate confidence is a bit lower than
usual given the lack of any trees or
buildings in that area to make a more
conclusive determination of wind speed. An
estimation of top wind speeds between 75 and
85 MPH is reasonable given the exhibited
damage. It should be noted that pictures of
a funnel cloud and potential tornado were
circulated on social media about the same
time the tornado above occurred. These
pictures however are likely from a separate
funnel cloud or tornado. The location of
where the pictures were taken was in Bettie,
NC, along highway 70. This was 16 miles to
the southwest of the storm survey location
above. In addition the tornado surveyed was
likely rain wrapped and would not be visible
from that distance. We have not received any
damage reports associated with this possible
second funnel cloud or tornado, despite
reaching out to Open Ground Farms. If
additional information comes into the
office, a second survey or additional
information will be sent out.
0440 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NW Atlantic 34.91N 76.37W
08/24/2026 Carteret NC NWS Storm Survey
10 to 12 inch diameter tree snapped near the
base and blown down.
0531 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Mitchell Village 34.73N 76.78W
08/24/2026 Carteret NC 911 Call Center
Tree down on railroad track in Morehead
City. Time estimated from radar.
0555 PM Marine Tstm Wind 1 ESE Smyrna 34.75N 76.51W
08/24/2026 M41 MPH AMZ156 NC Public
Tempest station reported a 36 kt wind gust.
0600 PM Marine Tstm Wind 1 SSW Cape Lookout Ligh 34.61N 76.53W
08/24/2026 M46 MPH Carteret NC C-Man Station
Cape Lookout recorded a gust of 40 knots.
&&
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Heden/tl