ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A tornado that moved through Madison County during storms earlier this week has been rated an EF-0, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office said Thursday that the tornado touched down around 5:51 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the Allegheny area of Madison County and traveled about 1.1 miles before lifting at approximately 5:53 p.m.
The tornado had estimated peak winds of 80 mph and a maximum width of about 75 yards, according to the damage survey. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Survey crews found the first signs of damage along Rock Branch Road, including broken large branches and several uprooted or partially snapped trees. The tornado then moved southeast across N.C. 212, with the most concentrated damage reported along the south-facing slope of Shelton Laurel Creek.
Additional tree damage was found along Cutshall Town Road, where several pine trees were snapped.
The National Weather Service said the scattered tree damage was consistent with EF-0 intensity, the lowest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. EF-0 tornadoes have estimated winds between 65 and 85 mph.
Because of the rugged mountain terrain, survey teams were unable to access some areas along the possible path. The weather service said it will continue reviewing the tornado’s exact track if additional high-resolution satellite imagery becomes available.
The storms that moved through Western North Carolina on Tuesday brought strong winds, heavy rain and scattered damage reports across the region.
The National Weather Service said the tornado report is preliminary and could be updated after a final review.