If a tornado didn’t hit York County, what did? Severe Weather Center 9 explains:

WSOCTV.com News Staff
·1 min read
19

People in York County had to take cover during severe weather tore through the area on Saturday.

The damage to homes, businesses, cars and roads was so intense that many viewers asked Channel 9 if it was a tornado.

>>> SEE PICTURES VIEWERS SENT FROM THE STORM DAMAGE BELOW:

A gas station on Highway 72 was twisted by the winds on Saturday.
A gas station on Highway 72 was twisted by the winds on Saturday.
Hail the size of golf balls pelted York County residents on Saturday.
Hail the size of golf balls pelted York County residents on Saturday.
Flooding on Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill
Flooding on Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
The storm blew in the windows of a store on Highway 72.
The storm blew in the windows of a store on Highway 72.
A gas station on Highway 72 was twisted by the winds on Saturday.
A gas station on Highway 72 was twisted by the winds on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
A tree fell into this home in Rock Hill.
A tree fell into this home in Rock Hill.
Wind gusts over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill.
Wind gusts over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
A tree knocked into a power line, catching fire.
A tree knocked into a power line, catching fire.
Winds over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Winds over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Hail littered the ground in Rock Hill.
Hail littered the ground in Rock Hill.
Hail littered the ground in Rock Hill.
Hail littered the ground in Rock Hill.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
A tree fell on a house on Lige Street in Rock Hill.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Winds over 60 mph uprooted trees throughout Rock Hill, like this one in Blanche Circle.
Wind gusts over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill.
Wind gusts over 60 mph knocked down trees throughout Rock Hill.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.
The Roddey Park neighborhood was hit hard by the macroblast on Saturday.

The National Weather Service clarified that there were no reports of a tornado, and “the environment was not conducive for tornado development.”

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At the moment, the NWS believes it may have been a “macroburst.”

Channel 9′s Severe Weather Center Meteorologist Madi Baggett explains that a macroburst is a quick hit of strong, straight-lined winds coming from a storm cloud.

“The air leaving the downburst is cooled and is capable of producing wind gusts over 160 mph. A macroburst is defined as a large downburst with a wind field extending over 2.5 miles long. Macrobursts are wider than a mircoburst but often not as strong.”

Baggett says the radar showed wind gusts faster than 60 mph in York’s Saturday night cell.

(WATCH: Severe thunderstorms bring large hail, knock down trees, cut power across area)