Thunderstorm Wind — Waynesboro (c), Virginia

2001-05-22 · near Waynesboro, Waynesboro (c), Virginia

Event narrative

Trees were downed.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms that produced wind gusts in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and isolated tornadoes crossed the area during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 22nd. In Augusta County and in the city of Waynesboro, trees were felled by high winds. Trees and power lines were downed in Staunton. A total of 1.60 inches of rain was reported in Waynesboro. In Nelson County, a wind gust of 71 MPH was recorded near Lovingston. In Albemarle County, a tornado touched down 2 miles northeast of Woodridge near the intersection of Buck Island Road and Martin Kings Road, traveled northeast for 2.5 miles, then dissipated near Route 53. The tornado was 75 yards wide and was ranked as an F1. Several trees were damaged. Some houses in the path of the tornado had siding and shingles torn off and another home had a deck rail torn off. Across the rest of the county, including the town of Afton and the city of Charlottesville, straight line winds downed trees and power lines. In Greene County, trees were downed in Ruckersville. In Orange County, trees and power lines were downed in the town of Orange where 1.65 inches of rain was reported. Hail of unknown size also fell across the county. In Spotsylvania County, trees were downed in Partlow, Brokenburg, Thornburg, and across Interstate 95 near the Caroline County border. A wind gust of 60 MPH was reported at Route 3 near the town of Spotsylvania. Heavy downpours flooded Courthouse Road near Hilltop Plaza. Lightning struck a business in Thornburg, burning a hole in the roof. In Stafford County, trees were downed in the town of Stafford. In King George County, trees were downed in the town of King George and elsewhere across the county. In Fauquier County, trees were downed in Warrenton. In Prince William County, an F0 tornado touched down briefly in Dale City. It was on the ground for one mile and was 50 yards wide. A spotter and a county official sited the tornado and reported damage to trees and power lines in the path of the twister. Golfball sized hail preceded the tornado. Across the rest of the county, high winds reportedly downed additional trees and power lines. In the city of Manassas, a wind gust of 64 MPH was recorded. Heavy downpours flooded streets and some basements. Route 1 was also temporarily flooded when Neabisco Creek overflowed its banks. Some county roads including Route 234 were also flooded. Lightning strikes damaged two homes in Dale City. A lightning fire at a home in the town of Prince William displaced a family and resulted in $50,000 damage.In Loudoun County, heavy downpours dropped 2.09 inches of rain in Middleburg, 1.93 inches at Dulles International Airport and 1.78 inches in Leesburg. In Fairfax County, trees and power lines were downed in Lorton along Route 1. A funnel cloud was sited nearby. In Centreville, nickel sized hail fell and winds of 50 MPH were estimated. Flooding was reported on roads in Annandale, McLean, Reston, and along Route 1 in Mt. Vernon. Rainfall totals included 2.17 inches in Oak Hill, 1.94 inches in Reston, 1.92 inches in Mt. Vernon, 1.63 inches in Centreville, and 1.57 inches in Herndon where winds gusted to 41 MPH. In Arlington County, trees and power lines were downed. A total of 1.60 inches of rain was reported and a few basements were flooded. In Alexandria, trees and power lines were downed.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5248991. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.