20 tornadoes reported in the Carolinas as Hurricane Dorian nears coast, one touches down at Emerald Isle

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Thursday, September 5, 2019
Tornado off the coast of Emerald Isle
Jimmy Sullivan recorded video of a tornado off the coast of Emerald Isle.

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Twenty tornadoes have been reported in the Carolinas Thursday morning as Hurricane Dorian approaches the shore of North Carolina. Emerald Isle experienced a tornado Thursday, damaging homes and property as Dorian started to impact the coast.

Shortly after 9 a.m., the town's Twitter account posted some photos of serious destruction to homes just off Highway 58.

Several modular homes were seen badly damaged around Islander Drive and Reed Drive. A nearby RV park sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries.

The National Weather Service confirmed at 11 a.m. that a tornado caused the damage at the RV park.

Allen Saunders, who witnessed the Emerald Isle tornado, spoke to ABC11 about what he saw.

RELATED: How tropical storms and hurricanes can cause tornadoes

Up to half a foot of rain was reported near Charleston, South Carolina. Winds have gusted just off Fripp Island, South Carolina to 92 mph, reaching up to 80 mph off Dewees Island, South Carolina, and 76 mph Winyah Bay, South Carolina. Video provided from Wayne W. in North Myrtle Beach shows possible tornado Thursday morning as Hurricane Dorian continues to move closer to land.

Thursday evening, the center of the storm is expected to pass Myrtle Beach, with gusts potentially reaching near 75 mph.

Friday morning, Dorian is expected to make landfall somewhere near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, with winds gusting 70 to 90 plus mph on the Outer Banks. By Friday evening, the storm should recede back into the Atlantic and gusty winds are expected to hit the Virginia coast.

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