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Two tornadoes touched down in western NC Wednesday, NWS says
Two tornadoes touched down in western North Carolina Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed.
A tornado touched down southeast of Asheville in Rutherford County Wednesday evening, the NWS confirmed. This happened at 8:07 p.m., according to the NWS.
Another tornado touched down Wednesday night in Watauga County near Blowing Rock. The NWS confirmed that the tornado touched down at 10:35 p.m.
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.
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. Helene is expected to impact the North Carolina mountains with intense flooding and strong winds beginning Thursday.
Although these tornadoes were not a result of Helene, isolated tornadoes will be possible Friday after Helene moves into the area.
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