UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg South Carolina confirmed on Thursday there was a tornado southwest of Monroe in Union County.
This tornado touched down Wednesday afternoon just north of the state line and tracked northeast for over seven miles.
Residents said Wednesday's damaging wind tore the roof off a shed and snapped just about every tree in its path.
“It was pretty intense for a minute,” a resident said. “It wasn't like a train. It was like a ‘whooooooo.’ It was just twirling around us and stuff was flying around us. It was in the eye of the storm.”
[IMAGES: Damage from storms in Union County]
Those residents had an experience they won’t forget after what they believe was a possible tornado touched down feet from their front door.
“Do you know what, I'm a praying woman and the only thing you can see, the one thing on my roof right there, that was it,” a resident said of the damage.
Massive clouds brushing the trees along Plyler Mill and Irby roads in Monroe moments before neighbors said it touched down.
“I hollered at my son, ‘Get in the bathroom, it's a tornado,’” a neighbor said.
Another woman said she was in her car when the storm hit and the wind nearly shattered her window.
“We got right here and couldn't go any further,” she said. “The pressure from the wind twirling, my car was not moving.”
Joseph Haigler rushed to check out the damage when he found an uprooted tree.
“I hope it can be saved,” Haigler said. “It was my grandpa's. It has sentimental value.”
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