Union County Faces EF-1 Tornado’s Wrath, Minimal Damage Reported

News Summary

On March 5, 2025, Union County experienced an EF-1 tornado with winds reaching 90 mph, causing minimal damage and no injuries. The tornado touched down near Porter Ridge High School, traveling about 2.24 miles before dissipating after just three minutes. Despite uprooted trees and downed structures, most homes were left intact. Power outages affected around 1,700 customers, prompting school closures and flight delays at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Fortunately, clear skies and a sunny forecast are expected for the following days.

Union County Faces EF-1 Tornado’s Wrath, Minimal Damage Reported

Good morning, folks of Union County! The skies brought a wild surprise on the morning of March 5, 2025, when an EF-1 tornado with winds roaring at 90 mph touched down, leaving a trail of damage but thankfully no injuries to report. Can you believe that?

A Twisting Journey

The tornado made its entrance around 8:35 a.m., right near Porter Ridge High School. It quickly painted a path across the county, traveling about 2.24 miles before dissipating after a whirlwind of just three minutes. That’s a brief yet powerful show!

What Got Blown Away?

As the tornado carved its way through, it certainly left some marks. On its journey, it knocked over fences, brought down storage buildings, and caused a house under construction to suffer some serious roof damage. In an unusual twist, air managed to sneak into one house through its windows and garage door, causing a section of the roof to lift off. Talk about a surprise renovation!

Nature’s Fury on the Roads

Over on Friendship Baptist Church Road, many trees were uprooted or snapped as if they were made of toothpicks. And nearby, along Lawyers Road, several hundred yards of wooden power poles were snapped, although homes nearby were left unscathed. How lucky can you get?

Stormy Conditions Leads to Power Outages

While the tornado was short-lived, the storms that accompanied it were fierce enough to cause approximately 1,700 power outages in Union County. Duke Energy reported nearly 14,000 customers across the Carolinas without power. It sure was a challenging morning for many.

Schools and Flights Affected

In the wake of the stormy chaos, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools made the call to cancel classes for the day, while other schools shifted to remote learning. And if you were planning to fly, you’d need a lot of patience—with at least 112 flights delayed and 170 cancellations reported at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by 10:45 a.m..

Aftermath and Clear Skies Ahead

By 11 a.m., the skies began to finally clear up, much to the relief of residents. Looking ahead, a sunny forecast is coming our way, with temperatures projected to reach a cozy 53°F on Thursday and a delightful 60°F on Friday. A wonderful turnaround after a tempestuous morning!

Ongoing Assessments

As cleanup efforts continue, storm assessments are ongoing in Union County, with officials monitoring the damage, especially around Lawyers and Friendly Baptist Church roads. It’s a community effort to gauge the extent of the storm’s impact, but so far, it appears the area can count its blessings with the absence of serious injuries.

So there you have it, Union County! Nature can be fierce, but quick action and a little luck can go a long way. Let’s all stay safe and enjoy the sunshine headed our way!

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Charlotte School Closures Due to Severe Weather Threat

Additional Resources

• WBTV: Crews Investigate Possible Union County Tornado
• Wikipedia: Tornado
• WSOC TV: EF-1 Tornado Touches Down in Union County
• Google Search: Union County tornado March 2025
• News Observer: Union County Storm Damage
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Tornado
• WRAL: Storm Damage Reported in Union County
• Google News: Union County Storm Damage