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Tornado may have touched down near Blowing Rock
A tornado may have 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, 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.
Hurricane Helene was not the cause of the tornado; a band of storms lingering in the mountains is to blame.
A tornado warning was issued in Watauga County Wednesday night as the storm continued to hammer the mountains.
Authorities said several trees and powerlines were brought down as the system moved through the mountains. It’s unclear if anyone was hurt.
Helene is expected to impact the North Carolina mountains with intense flooding and strong winds beginning Thursday.
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