A tornado warning was in effect late Sunday morning along the North Carolina–South Carolina border, while a much larger tornado watch covering 38 counties remains active across both states until 5:00 PM EDT on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The National Weather Service office in Wilmington, North Carolina, said in an 11:08 AM update that a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Mullins, South Carolina, moving east at 30 mph. Forecasters based the warning on radar-indicated rotation, and it was set to run until 11:30 AM EDT.
LATEST UPDATE:
Where the Tornado Warning Applied
The warning covered parts of five counties straddling the state line:
- North Carolina: western Columbus County and southern Robeson County
- South Carolina: southeastern Dillon County, north central Horry County and northeastern Marion County
Communities named in the storm’s path included Fair Bluff, Lake View, Cherry Grove, Kemper, Nichols and Cerro Gordo. Hail was expected to stay under one inch in diameter, leaving the tornado threat as the main hazard.
The agency did not soften its language on the potential impact. “Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the NWS statement said, adding that mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed and that damage to roofs, windows, vehicles and trees was likely.
Tornado Watch 680 Runs Until 5 PM
The warned storm formed inside Tornado Watch 680, issued by the Storm Prediction Center at 9:55 AM EDT. A watch means conditions favor tornado development over a broad area, while a warning means a tornado is occurring or imminent in a specific location.
The watch takes in 34 North Carolina counties, including Wake, Durham, Orange, Cumberland, Johnston, Pitt, New Hanover and Brunswick. That puts Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, Greenville and Wilmington inside the watch area through the afternoon.
In South Carolina, the watch covers Dillon, Horry, Marion and Marlboro counties, an area that includes the Myrtle Beach coastline. Coastal waters from Surf City, North Carolina, to Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, out to 20 nautical miles are also included.
What Travelers and Residents Should Do
Additional warnings are possible at short notice anywhere in the watch area until it expires. Drivers on Interstate 95 through Robeson and Dillon counties, and on U.S. 76 and U.S. 501 toward the Grand Strand, should keep a way to receive alerts and be ready to leave the road for a sturdy building.
If a warning is issued for your location, the NWS advises the following:
- Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building, away from windows.
- If you are outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle, get to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
- Do not wait to see or hear the tornado before taking cover.
Beachgoers and boaters along the Cape Fear and Grand Strand coasts should watch the sky and head to shore early if storms approach. The agency’s tornado safety guidance explains how to prepare before a warning is issued.
Residents can report hail or wind damage to the NWS Wilmington office at 1-800-697-3901. Check the latest local forecast and active alerts before traveling through eastern North Carolina or northeastern South Carolina this afternoon.
