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Possible tornado seen near Blowing Rock ahead of Hurricane Helene arrival
A possible tornado touched down Wednesday afternoon in Burke County, near Blowing Rock.
WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich shared video sent in by a viewer showing strong rotation at Chetola Resort just north of Blowing Rock just before 6 p.m. Panovich said he had “very high confidence” that a tornado touched down. The National Weather Service has not confirmed if a tornado formed.
A tornado warning was issued in Watauga County Wednesday night as the storm cell continued to hammer the mountains.
While Hurricane Helene is still moving in, it was not the cause of the tornado as a band of storms is lingering in the mountains.
Authorities said several trees and powerlines were brought down as the system was moving through the mountains, but it is unclear if anyone was hurt.
Helene is expected to impact the North Carolina mountains with intense flooding and strong winds beginning Thursday. Some areas will also see wind gusts up to 70 mph.