FIRST ON 3: Waterspout-turned-tornado hits Carolina Beach, NWS confirms EF-0
CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, a waterspout was reported offshore of Carolina Beach. The waterspout eventually moved onshore, officially becoming a tornado just south of the Marriott hotel. The storm destroyed a dune bridge structure and caused minor damage to a light pole. No reports of major injuries have been received.
National Weather Service assessment teams have concluded the tornado reached EF-0 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (corresponding to winds of 65 mph). Reports of additional waterspouts in Brunswick county did not yield any touchdowns.
The NWS says it is very rare for a waterspout to make landfall.
“Every summer we typically have three or four days during the year that we get waterspouts, but it’s maybe every five to 10 years one will actually move on shore and affect the people along the beaches,” NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Steve Pfaff said.
If you have pictures or video, post them on our Facebook page or send them to pictures@wwaytv3.com. You can see some of those images already on our Facebook page.
Waterspouts seen across the area; landfall seen at Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach Waterspout Courtesy: Annelies Gentile
Carolina Beach Waterspout Courtesy: Keegan Payne
Carolina Beach Waterspout Courtesy: Randall Smith
Carolina Beach Waterspout Courtesy: Ginger Kozlowski
Carolina Beach Waterspout Courtesy: Dane Wagget
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