Tornado damage reported in southern NC after Tuesday's severe storms

The National Weather Service has confirmed several tornadoes in southern North Carolina on Tuesday.

According to the Wilmington NWS:

• EF-0 tornado damage was found in Columbus County near Red Store Road and Old Lumberton Road
• EF-0 tornado damage was found in Bladen County near Baldwin-Elkins Road and N.C. Highway 211
• EF-1 tornado damage (90 mph) was found in the city of Marion
• A tornado was confirmed in Robeson County between Pembroke and Red Springs

Additionally, a survey team will be sent to Marlboro County to assess possible tornado damage.

Storms Tuesday moved through central North Carolina and produced heavy rain and tornado warnings. Heavy rain hit Wake County and surrounding counties, causing crashes and backing up traffic for several hours in Cumberland County.

Wake County was under a flash flood warning during the storms, with some areas reporting at least two inches of rain and minor street flooding.

One accident brought U.S. Highway 64 near the Walnut Street exit to a standstill in Cary. The weather also caused a crash between a car and a small school bus in Holly Springs.

Wind and apparent tornadoes also made a mess around central North Carolina.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Cumberland and Sampson counties Tuesday. Both warnings were over by 8:15 p.m.

Several residents on Facebook reported seeing a “small tornado” touch down in Columbus County on Old Lumberton Road and Red Store Road.

In Red Springs in Robeson County, several residents reported downed trees, including a local fire department in the county.

A trees also fell around Orange County. Around 6:30 p.m., a tree blocked Miller Road near Greetree road in Hillsborough.

Residents are now cleaning up and bracing for more rain tomorrow, as central North Carolina will be under a level 1 risk for severe weather on Wednesday.