Lightning — Fauquier, Virginia

2001-08-30 · near Remington, Fauquier, Virginia

Event narrative

Two farmhands in a three-sided metal calf feeding pen were killed by lightning.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms with deadly lightning, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall moved through the northern half of Virginia between 3:30 and 6:30 PM EDT on the 30th. In Orange County, winds measured at 59 MPH downed several trees and power lines about 2 miles south of Orange. The Northern Piedmont Research Center reported damage to a trailer which was hit by two downed trees. Agricultural damage included flattened corn and soybean crops, leaves plastered on barns, and two dump truck loads of downed trees and branches. Pea to dime sized hail also fell. Nearby, two large garage doors on a farm implement shop were damaged and another large garage door was bent. A tin roof near an overhang was rolled up into a ball. Just east of Orange, a large tree was downed onto Route 20 directly in the path of a car. The car was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the tree. A second car ran into the first car immediately after it hit the tree. One minor injury was reported. In Stafford County, high winds downed several pine trees on Augustine Golf Course about 2 miles north of Mountain View. In Rockingham County, power lines were downed in Elkton. Basements were reportedly flooded by heavy downpours. In Albemarle County, dime sized hail was reported 3 miles north of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In Fauquier County, two farmhands at Cool Lawn Farms about 4 miles north of Remington were killed by lightning. The 21 and 27 year old men were feeding a calf in a three-sided covered metal pen which was 25 feet from a high-tension electric tower. The bolt scorched one man's upper body and was believed to have ricocheted to the other who was feeding a calf. The calf was also killed. In Fairfax County, pea to dime sized hail fell in Reston. Flooding was reported on Route 66 and on Route 7 at the intersection of Baron Cameron Road (Route 606).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5263679. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.