Powerful EF-3 tornado rips through Brunswick County, North Carolina
A high-end EF-3 tornado with estimated winds of 255 km/h (160 mph) ripped through the south end of Brunswick County, North Carolina at 23:30 LT on February 15, 2021 (04:30 UTC, February 16), leaving at least 3 people dead and injuring at least 10 others.
The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office said the tornado caused devastating damage to many homes, especially in the Ocean Ridge Plantation area.
More than 50 homes were damaged and multiple completely destroyed, with a number of people trapped, Brunswick County Emergency Management said.
More than 37 000 customers were left without power after the twister downed multiple power lines.
The hardest-hit locations are the tows of Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, and Carolina Shores.
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
Another tornado made landfall near Damascus, Georgia, around 17:00 LT on Monday, February 15. Preliminary damage assessments from the NWS confirmed it to have inflicted EF-2 damage.
The tornado damaged several homes and left one person injured.
Featured image: EF-3 tornado damage in Brunswick County, North Carolina on February 15, 2021. Credit: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
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