Tornado Warning Issued for Brunswick and Columbus Counties in North Carolina Until 1:30 PM EDT

Source: NOAA · Southeastern North Carolina

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued an immediate Tornado Warning for parts of Brunswick and Columbus Counties as a severe thunderstorm with radar-indicated rotation moves southeast.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Tornado Warning
Affected area
Southeastern North Carolina
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Wilmington NC

Tornado warnings are short-window notices for the named area. The issuing office is the authority on whether the warning remains active or has been replaced.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southeastern North Carolina.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a Tornado Warning (NWS Alert Type: TOW). This alert is based on radar-indicated rotation from a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following regions in southeastern North Carolina:

  • West central Brunswick County
  • East central Columbus County

Specific locations in the path of this storm include Crusoe Island, Exum, Makatoka, and Honey Island.

What You Should Do

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

Do not wait to see or hear the tornado, as heavy rainfall may hide it from view. Residents are encouraged to report hail or wind damage to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington at 1-800-697-3901.

Expected Conditions

  • Hazard: Tornado
  • Source: Radar indicated rotation
  • Impact: Flying debris will be dangerous to those without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles is expected, and tree damage is likely.
  • Storm Movement: At 1:05 PM EDT, the storm was located near Crusoe Island (10 miles southeast of Whiteville), moving southeast at 45 mph.

Timeline

The warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 1:30 PM EDT on March 12, 2026.

Estimated Arrival Times:

  • Crusoe Island: 1:10 PM EDT
  • Exum and Makatoka: 1:20 PM EDT
  • Honey Island: 1:25 PM EDT

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued an immediate Tornado Warning for parts of Brunswick and Columbus Counties as a severe thunderstorm with radar-indicated rotation moves southeast.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Southeastern North Carolina. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.