NWS officials: Microburst caused damage in Steedman, tornado touched down in Dixiana

National Weather Service officials are saying that damage caused by heavy winds Wednesday afternoon in the Steedman community were not done by a tornado.

Officials said a microburst with winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour hit the community of Steedman, a 15-minute drive on U.S. 178 from Batesburg-Leesville, causing damage to vehicles, buildings and powerlines.

A microburst storm is defined as a localized column of downward sinking air within a thunderstorm, which is roughly 2.5 miles in diameter, according to a definition from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Such a storm can generate wind speeds of 100 miles per hour and can cause damage to structures and vegetation.

 

NWS officials also said an EF-0 tornado touched down north of the Farmers Market in the Dixiana community.

The tornado’s path stretched for .6 miles and was roughly 50 to 75-yards wide, officials said. Several cars were damaged or destroyed in a car storage lot, but no structural damage was reported in the area.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 10:06 AM with the headline "NWS officials: Microburst caused damage in Steedman, tornado touched down in Dixiana."