Tornado confirmed in NC as storm damages trees, property with hail, wind, heavy rain
Read the latest: EF-2 tornado tore through eastern Wake County on Monday
Trees toppled and a school bus was forced off the road after high winds and hail struck parts of the Triangle on Monday morning.
Later in the day, the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down and caused damage in Wake County, WNCN reported.
The strength of the tornado has not been determined, but the National Weather Service said it “left a path of destruction about eight miles” long, according to the TV station.
“The tornado traveled 7-8 miles on the ground, uprooting trees, downing power lines, leveling structures and bringing traffic to a standstill on U.S. Highway 64 and Highway 97,” Wake County official Darrell Alford said, according to WRAL.
No injuries were reported.
Parts of trees fell on homes near Knightdale and Wendell, with wind damage reported in other areas of Wake, Chatham, Martin and Nash counties, according to storm reports from the National Weather Service.
Pea-sized hail and 50-mph winds were reported in downtown Raleigh, according to ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.
Some hail in Garner was reportedly as large as the size of tennis balls, according to AccuWeather, which said parked cars were were dented and had windows shattered.
The Walmart in Garner temporarily closed during the afternoon storm, which also included “heavy rain,” WRAL reported.
A possible tornado touched down in the Rolesville area in eastern Wake County, damaging trees and some structures,” ABC11 said.
Near Zebulon, the station reported, a school bus was “forced off” a road; no one was hurt.
Most of the severe weather alerts in the Triangle were lifted by late morning. The forecast calls for clear skies Monday evening and sunshine Tuesday and Wednesday, forecasters say.
This story was originally published May 13, 2019 at 10:37 AM.
