5 tornadoes touched down across NC during Tuesday storms, officials say
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – At least seven tornadoes touched down in the Carolinas on Tuesday night during a string of severe storms that hit the area, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
The first of three happened in the Marion, S.C. area as an EF-1 tornado touched down briefly at around 6:10 p.m. and was on the ground until 6:13 p.m.
“The tornado formed near the intersection of Baker Street and Baptist Street in southeast Marion, S.C.,” according to a report from the National Weather Service. “Large limbs were down across nearby roadways and minor roof damage was observed near this location.”
VIDEO: Tornado, damage reported near Whiteville after tornado warnings in Columbus, Bladen counties
Other reported damage included fallen trees and power lines in the area, with the most significant damage occurring in downtown Marion along Main Street, the NWS survey said.
“A roof completely collapsed near the city center with limited damage to the exterior walls,” the report stated. Across the street, windows and window dividers were completely blown out. A wall on the second floor was pushed inward and its attached window and window seals were missing. An adjacent building lost a large portion of roof covering which fell to the street below. All debris was scattered in multiple directions.”
NWS officials said the tornado reached peak winds of 90 miles per hour, and the path lasted for 1.84 miles.
More than one hour later, another tornado formed at around 7:52 p.m. in Columbus County, N.C. with peaks winds of 75 miles per hour, according to the survey report. The tornado was classified as an EF-0.
A tornado touched down on the southwest corner of the intersection of Old Lumberton Road and Red Store Road, and was captured on video crossing Old Lumberton Road,” the NWS report stated. “A few outbuildings sustained moderate damage, including a blown in garage door and partial loss of roof panels.”
Officials said the tornado traveled 2.22 miles before dissolving at 7:58 p.m.
Less than 30 minutes later, another EF-0 tornado touched down at 8:16 p.m. in the Bladen County, N.C. area, only lasting for a few minutes, according to the survey report.
The tornado had estimated winds of 60 miles per hour and traveled 0.66 miles before dissipating, NWS officials said.
“The same storm that produced a tornado near the intersection of Old Lumberton Road and Red Store Road in Columbus County produced a second tornado two miles southeast of Clarkton,” the report stated. “The weak tornado was captured on video crossing Baldwin Elkins Road. Minor damage to a few trees was noted.”
On Wednesday night, the National Weather Service also confirmed two additional tornadoes formed in North Carolina during Tuesday’s storms, both taking place in Robeson County.
A short-lived tornado first originated at 5:52 p.m. near the Pembroke area, starting along Old Baker Road south of US-74 Alternate, according to the damage survey. The brief EF-0 tornado “tracked generally northward with converging uprooted and snapped trees and minor roofing damage observed along its path,” the NWS report stated.
It only traveled 0.13 miles before ending approximately one minute after formation.
Minutes later, the second EF-0 tornado in Robeson County also touched down in Pembroke, beginning its path on the west side of Townsends Chapel Road just north of Denae Drive, officials said.
The 80-mile-per-hour twister “uprooted a few oak trees, caused minor shingle loss on a home, and scattered loose building debris across a field,” the report stated.
It went 5.35 miles until finally dissipating north of Dixie Drive in the Rennert area, officials said. The only reported damage was fallen tree limbs and minor home damage, including to several chicken coops that had “significant steel roof panel loss while an open-ended tractor shelter mostly collapsed at the end of Dixie Drive,” according to the NWS survey.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service confirmed two additional tornadoes from Tuesday, including another one in Robeson County as well as an EF-0 that landed in Marlboro County, S.C.
A tornado warning was issued around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday for Cumberland County and then an hour later for Sampson County. Both were allowed to expire.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
