The 16 April 2011 EF3 Tornado in Greene County, Eastern North Carolina

This paper presents a case study of an EF3 tornado that adversely impacted Greene and Pitt Counties in eastern North Carolina on 16 April 2011. This was one of the most damaging and longest-lived of the multiple tornados that occurred across central and eastern North Carolina that day, the most extensive outbreak in North Carolina since 1984. This event occurred during the month (April 2011) with the largest number of tornadoes on record in the United States. The focus of this case study was to examine the relationship between the mesocyclone evolution and the location and intensity of surface damage associated with the EF3 tornado. Results indicated that the initial contraction and spin up of the mesocyclone circulation preceded EF3 damage by about 20 minutes. At the time of mesocyclone intensification, the damage swath and tornado were situated much closer to the mesocyclone center than in the formative and dissipating stages. The weakened mesocyclone passed directly over a meteorological station at East Carolina University’s West Research Campus, providing a rare opportunity for surface measurements associated with a weakening tornadic mesocyclone.