NWS: Small EF1 tornado touches down near Castle Hayne

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Despite what the calendar says, it feels more like spring than Christmas Eve.

Strong to severe thunderstorms have been moving through the area. One cell even produced a small, powerful tornado, National Weather Service meteorologists say. The tornado was reported off of Castle Hayne Road and Gladiolus Road around 10:30 a.m. The tornado has been classified as an EF1 tornado with estimated winds of 105mph. It was only about 25 yards wide and stayed on the ground for about 2-3 mintues. The estimated path traveled about 380 yards. Residents affected by this storm say it damaged a storage shed and home. There also was one injury reported due to flying glass.

Dean Johnson lost thousands of dollars worth of antiques and collectibles to the storm. He says thirty years of his life was thrown out into the mud today. He and his wife tried to salvage as much as they could, but the driving rain made it difficult to save much.

The heavy rains in the area also caused a sanitary sewer overflow. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority crews responded and stopped the leak at the Wastewater Treatment Plant near Castle Hayne. The plant remains operational. The CFPUA said the spill was small in size and diluted from all the rain.

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