SUFFOLK, Va. — The National Weather Service says at least one tornado touched down in Suffolk during strong storms on Christmas Eve.
According to Jeff Orrock, Meteorologist in Charge at NWS Wakefield, radar data and debris indicates a tornado did touch down, although meteorologists are still working to confirm if there were one or two tornadoes.
"The one near Holland shows up well on radar but was brief," Orrock told 13News Now in an email. "We will also be looking at some damage to the west closer to Southampton High School."
Suffolk Emergency Communications said they began receiving multiple calls around 11:43 p.m. Thursday of damage in the Holland area of the city.
The major area affected was between the Dutch Road, Gates Road, and Corinth Chapel Road, a city spokesperson said.
Five homes in that area sustained minor to moderate damage.
The damage forced six people to move out of their homes for the time being. That includes two adults and two children from a residence in the 1200 block of Dutch Road. Family members are helping them out. That block was also partially impassable due to downed trees and damaged power poles.
Just three blocks over in the 1500 block of Dutch Road, a barn was completely destroyed.
A home in the 7800 block of Corinth Chapel Road was also damaged, displacing two adults who are also being helped out by their relatives. At another home on that road, a pickup truck and two enclosed trailers overturned and were left damaged.
A tree fell on a house in the 7100 block of Gates Road, ripping off the siding and some shingles. It also sustained some minor roof damage.
The storms ended up knocking out power in the area, but crews from Community Electric were able to restore power.
Suffolk Public Works crews are also on the scene in the affected area for tree removal from the roadways.
Suffolk had been under a Tornado Warning at the time of the reported damage.
PHOTOS: Christmas Eve storms in Suffolk damage homes, down power poles
Heavy downpours also left behind some standing water Friday morning. City officials say there was some flooding in the 4000 block of Lummis Road and the 7000 block, but the water is subsiding. There was also some standing water on Holland Corner Road and Quaker Drive but the roadway is passable.
There are also signs at the 4400 block of Holy Neck Road notifying drivers that that part of the road has been closed due to high flooding.
Suffolk Police and Suffolk Fire & Rescue crews are continuing to canvas the rural area and checking on residences.