FIRST ON 3: Funnel cloud in Columbus County causes concern & confusion

Dozens of people saw it while dozens did not; just after 2:00 Wednesday afternoon Columbus County Emergency Services received several calls saying a funnel cloud was near HWY 701 and Old Lumberton Road, just north of Whiteville.

“It was just really dark,” said Columbus County resident Glen Soles.”It was nothing associated with a tornado, nothing what so ever.”

Soles and his family live close to Old Lumberton Road, he said the funnel cloud caused no damage.

“The wind was really calm,” said Soles “just darkness a lot of darkness.”

Other residents who live nearby agreed with Soles, many said the storm did nothing.

“Little bit of wind, nothing major,” said Derrick Edwards. “I heard the warning saying it was the emergency broadcast. Columbus County called saying it was at Peacock Road heading west. I was like that’s my house, so I started looking out the window and never saw anything, it did rain a little bit.”

Columbus County EMS said not one report of property damage came in. So despite how scary it may have looked, the question on whether this so-called tornado actually touched down is still up in the air.