National Weather Service confirms two tornadoes in North Carolina

ROANOKE, Va – The National Weather Service sent two damage survey teams into extreme northern North Carolina Thursday. The teams confirmed that two tornadoes touched down doing damage to homes, schools, and business.

Both tornadoes were rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The maximum winds in both twisters were estimated to be 125 miles per hour.

Unlike hurricanes, the wind speeds of tornadoes are estimated by the amount of damage done to structures.

Here is what the radar looked like Wednesday afternoon when Storm Team was tracking the intense tornadic thunderstorm just south of the Virginia state line. Note the signature hook of the supercell thunderstorm as it crossed Highway 8 in North Carolina.

Patrick and Henry counties were under a tornado warning for a time from the same cell that caused major damage in North Carolina. No reports of tornadoes touching down in Virginia have been confirmed.

More severe weather is possible as we head into the holiday weekend.