PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down several times in three Rhode Island communities Friday morning.

Surveyors determined that the tornado “caused significant damage” on a discontinuous path through Scituate, Johnston and North Providence. The NWS said that at its peak, the tornado reached wind speeds of up to 115 mph.

It first touched down as an EF-2 tornado near Byron Randall Road in Scituate, where the NWS said hundreds of trees were toppled, uprooted and snapped in half. 12 News Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca joined surveyors on a walking tour of the damage.

WATCH: Tony Petrarca surveys tornado damage in Scituate (Story continues below.)

The tornado was then tracked to Johnston, according to the NWS, where it weakened to an EF-1. The NWS said the tornado crossed I-295 and briefly lifted a car several feet off the ground before dropping it back onto the highway. It then moved further into town, knocking down dozens of trees and disturbing gravestones at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery.

The NWS said the tornado stopped briefly in North Providence as well, where a number of trees were snapped and uprooted near Mineral Spring Avenue. The hardest hit neighborhoods included Lydia Avenue, Armand Drive and Bennett Street, where the NWS said two homes were significantly damaged by fallen trees.

The tornado was the strongest tornado to touch down in the Ocean State in nearly 40 years, according to the NWS. The last EF-2 tornado to touch down in Rhode Island did so in Cranston and Providence back in August 1986.

The NWS also confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down just over the state line in North Attleboro. The tornado briefly lifted before forming again along Gilbert Street in Mansfield, where the NWS said it tossed a 1,000-pound air conditioning unit over a one-story building.

VIDEO PLAYLIST: See the damage in different parts of RI, MA

VIDEO: George Viau not only saw a car get picked up off the highway from the apparent tornado in Johnston–it also made its way through his backyard. https://t.co/oKp1of7POW pic.twitter.com/K5cE1iM38q

— Adriana Rozas Rivera (@AdrianaRozas) August 18, 2023

We’re on Byron Randall Road in #Scituate, where @NWSBoston confirms a tornado touched down here this morning. NWS teams are still working to determine the strength of the storm.

Public works director says this forested area used to be “pristine.” @wpri12 https://t.co/nLmVMC7i4O pic.twitter.com/9GQg3Fv9g0

— Kayla Fish (@KaylaFishTV) August 18, 2023

Just finished a walking tour of the damage with @tony_tpetrarca on Byron Randall Rd in Scituate, RI… here's what he had to say: pic.twitter.com/h6kZfUIZuQ

— Corey Welch (@CoreyWelch) August 18, 2023

Officials with the RI Emergency Agency are on the ground in Scituate, RI right now. They’re surveying possible tornado touch-down locations in the area and are expecting the National Weather Service to arrive shortly. @wpri12 @MattPaddockTV pic.twitter.com/uFR1wxUUof

— Corey Welch (@CoreyWelch) August 18, 2023

Completely uprooted trees hanging on power lines, damage to homes and vehicles. The scene on Byron Randall Rd indescribable. Neighbors tell me that homes at one point that they couldnt see through the wooded areas and trees are now clear as day. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/0PBhjxta6c

— Matt Paddock WPRI (@MattPaddockTV) August 18, 2023

#New three cars were crushed by a tree that fell right off Douglas Avenue in North Providence, spoke to a tenant who said no one was hurt @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/8ytj32kQ8P

— Joe Cortese “Cortez” (@JoeNews42) August 18, 2023

Storm damage in Johnston, tree partially onto a house. @wpri12 @PinpointWXTeam pic.twitter.com/AvHTg83Nuy

— Johnny Villella (@JohnnyVillella) August 18, 2023

Heavy rain and wind on Rt. 114. Driving conditions poor. @PinpointWXTeam @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/eeLMXgT6V8

— Johnny Villella (@JohnnyVillella) August 18, 2023