Trees were damaged, power was knocked out and some minor roof damage was reported Friday evening when a line of storms rolled through Columbus County, producing three tornado warnings and one unconfirmed tornado between Evergreen and Cerro Gordo.
An earlier, incorrect report indicated that tornado watches had been issued for the area. Severe thunderstorm watches began being issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) around 4:30 p.m., but no tornado watch was issued for our area. A watch indicates conditions are favorable for the development of dangerous weather, while a warning means dangerous weather is imminent, as indicated by radar or by trained observers. Watches do not always precede warnings.
A thunderstorm capable of producing a funnel cloud was reported by radar at 6:03 p.m. near Evergreen, the NWS said. First responders and witnesses on the ground also reported seeing a funnel cloud touch down from near Haynes Lennon Road to Cerro Gordo.
Multiple trees were taken down for approximately a mile Evergreen and Cerro Cordo. Terry and Teresa Thompson said the twister went between their homes on Haynes Lennon Road, off N.C. 242 North.
“It sounded just like a train,” Teresa Thompson said.
Terry Thompson said the only damage on their property was to a number of pine trees.
“They’re all twisted and broken about 20 feet up,” he said. “The houses are okay, and we are too. I just have a mess to clean up now.”
Utility crews were called in to restore power on Mangum Road and in several other places. An unused building along Haynes Lennon had roof damage, according to a first responder on the scene.
