The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in northwestern Orange County during severe storms on Thursday.

According Orange County authorities, the tornado struck the area near Pentecost Road in northern Orange County and Cedar Grove. At least one large tree was uprooted, but no injuries were immediately reported from the incident. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado was on the ground intermittently for six minutes.

Images captured by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office showed how destructive the weather was — tearing the metal straight from the roof of a home.

According to WRAL, tornado surveyors from the National Weather Service were in Orange County on Friday to assess damage from the severe weather.

A tornado warning was issued specifically for Hillsborough and northern Orange County from 6:40 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening — which followed a tornado watch for the entirety of Orange County for the majority of the evening.

This occurred as a storm system blew through much of the South on Thursday evening, bringing with it the potential for damaging winds, thunderstorms and “significant severe tornadoes.” While Orange County escaped relatively unharmed, other parts of North Carolina experienced significant damage.

The last time a tornado touched down in Orange County was in 2019, when an EF-2 tornado struck the area during severe storms — destroying one residence and causing $1 million in damages to local properties.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is working with other emergency services Friday morning to map out the path of Thursday’s storm and make thorough a damage assessment. The office said the effort will help determine if Orange County meets state and federal thresholds for financial assistance.

 If you have damage to your property, like trees, buildings or vehicles, the sheriff’s office requests you submit a report here.

Featured image via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

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