EF1 tornado in Loudoun County, Virginia

National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office staff conducted a ground survey of storm damage in western Loudoun County, VA, into far eastern Clarke County, VA, that occurred on Thursday evening, August 8, 2024. NWS Doppler Radar in Sterling, Virginia showed a rotating severe thunderstorm that developed a tornado.

The tornado touched down north of Willisville where scattered tree damage in the form of downed and sheared off branches were observed. The tornado traveled west-northwest through the fields of horse farms along Foxlease Lane before producing additional tree damage along Newstead Lane. Several dozen trees were uprooted, branches sheared off, or otherwise damaged in this area. No damage to buildings or barns was noted. The tornado then continued moving west-northwest into rural farmland with sporadic tree damage.

By the time the tornado approached Trappe Road, the damage became more concentrated. Considerable tree damage was observed to the farmsteads east and west Trappe Road. Multiple tree lines had trees sheared off at the top. The most widespread damage was to wooded areas along the eastern facing slopes of the Blue Ridge. The hillside had approximately a hundred yard wide stretch of damage moving the entire way up the ridge. In this area, several hundreds of trees were visibly sheared at the top, uprooted, or otherwise damaged. The resulting downed trees were laying in every direction.

The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debby spawned a few tornadoes in northern Virginia and eastern West Virginia.