NWS confirms EF-1 tornado touched down in Marion County

MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in Marion County.

In a full report released Friday, the NWS says an EF-1 tornado touched down at around 7:45 p.m. Thursday.

The tornado formed near Old Nichols Highway just northeast of Mullins and ended less than five minutes later near Nichols.

The storm caused severe tree damage in the area of Ironwood Road and destroyed a small storage building. Minor damage was also reported to four single-wide homes near Gilcrist Road.

The tornado then moved across Gilrist Road into a nearby cornfield, causing more damage to trees along Sugar Shack Place as it lifted before reaching the Little Pee Dee River.

Steven Pfaff, of the NWS, said he went to the area Friday to check out the damage.

Video from a WMBF News crew shows a trampoline that was blown against a house, as well as a ceiling fan that was blown down on a patio.

Amanda Lane was at home with her kids last night when sirens rang out and her phone began buzzing with alerts of a tornado warning in her area.

Lane said she usually doesn’t pay much attention to the warnings, but last night she did.

“I said ‘Let’s go get this mattress out of the backroom and cover up with it,’” she said. “Me and my three children and my other kid was across the road with my husband.”

As they lay praying for safety, Lane could hear the tornado moving closer.

“It sounded like a train had come through the house,” she said. “A real strong wind and it felt like forever but probably only lasted two minutes.”

Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace added there was some damage reported on Double Loop, which is located off Old Nichols Highway, not far from Gilchrist Road.

Stay with WMBF News for more updates as they come in.

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