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Mountain Snow and Heavy Winds in the Northwest; Fire Weather Conditions in California; Tropical Storm Rafael

A storm system is bringing strong winds and heavy mountain snow to the Cascades into the Northern Rockies. Santa Ana winds and dry conditions will support elevated to critical fire weather over coastal portions of California. Snow, strong winds, blizzard conditions, and high seas are impacting Southwestern Alaska. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Florida Keys from Tropical Storm Rafael. Read More >

Tornadoes Confirmed in Bealeton and Chantilly, VA
March 10, 2011


000
NOUS41 KLWX 112251
PNSLWX
DCZ001-MDZ003>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-501-502-VAZ025>031-
036>040-042-050>057-501>504-WVZ050>053-055-501>506-121100-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-
PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA-
ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-
ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
KING GEORGE-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-
WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-
WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
551 PM EST FRI MAR 11 2011

...TORNADOES CONFIRMED IN BEALETON VIRGINIA AND CHANTILLY VIRGINIA...

LOCATION...BEALETON IN FAUQUIER COUNTY VIRGINIA
DATE...MARCH 10 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...617 PM TO 620 PM EST
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...75 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...4 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.5750N / 77.7605W
ENDING LAT/LON...38.6189N / 77.7013W
* FATALITIES...NONE
* INJURIES...NONE
* THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT
TO CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT(S) AND
PUBLICATION IN NWS STORM DATA.

...SUMMARY...

AFTER AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WEATHER RADARS...GROUND OBSERVATIONS...AND A
NWS GROUND SURVEY...THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE
OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETERMINED THAT A TORNADO STRUCK
SOUTHERN FAUQUIER COUNTY. THE TORNADO WAS RATED TO BE A CATEGORY 1
ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE AND STRUCK DURING THE EVENING HOURS OF
THURSDAY MARCH 10H...WITH ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS UP TO 90 MPH.

THE TORNADO FORMED WITHIN A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVED
NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTHERN VIRGINIA THAT EVENING. THE TORNADO MOVED
RAPIDLY NORTHEAST AND CAUSED POCKETS OF DAMAGE ALONG A 4 MILE
TRACK. DAMAGE INCLUDED MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AND A COLLAPSE OF A WELL
CONSTRUCTED BARN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 28 AND OLD CAROLINA
ROAD.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
THE REGION AT 1:25 PM. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS.

THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE ISSUED A TORNADO
WARNING FOR THE AFFECTED AREA AT 6:14 PM.

WHEN SECONDS COUNT...RECEIVING LIFE SAVING WARNINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED
WITH A NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THESE CAN BE SET TO ALARM ONLY FOR LIFE
THREATENING WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR COUNTY. FOR
MORE INFORMATION...VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NWR

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK FAUQUIER DEPARTMENT
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE SURVEY.

&&

...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN CHANTILLY VIRGINIA...

LOCATION...CHANTILLY IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA
DATE...MARCH 10 2011
ESTIMATED TIME...659 PM TO 703 PM EST
MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF0
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...65 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...75 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...4.5 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.8517N / 77.4508W
ENDING LAT/LON...38.8986N / 77.3824W
* FATALITIES...NONE
* INJURIES...NONE
* THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT
TO CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT(S) AND
PUBLICATION IN NWS STORM DATA.

...SUMMARY...

A NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT A EF-0 TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR
CHANTILLY IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA ON THURSDAY EVENING MARCH 10
2011.  THIS TORNADO PRODUCED MINOR TREE DAMAGE ACROSS AN APPROXIMATE
4.5 MILE PATH.

THE FIRST DAMAGE NOTED WAS NEAR THE SULLY STATION SHOPPING CENTER
WEST OF BRADDOCK ROAD...WHERE THERE WERE MANY BROKEN TREE BRANCHES.
AS THE TORNADO PROGRESSED TO THE NORTHEAST...PINE TREES WERE SNAPPED
IN ELLANOR LAWRENCE PARK ALONG SOUTHBOUND VIRGINIA ROUTE 28.  THE
TORNADO CONTINUED ITS NORTHEAST TREK ACROSS ROUTE 28...WHERE MORE
PINE TREES WERE FOUND SNAPPED IN THE WOODS OF LAWRENCE PARK NORTH OF
THE WALNEY HOUSE.  SPORADIC DAMAGE CONTINUED THROUGH THE
SUBDIVISIONS SURROUNDING FROG BRANCH STREAM VALLEY PARK. THE MINOR
TREE DAMAGE CONTINUE ACROSS US ROUTE 50 NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL
TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB.  THE LAST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN THE
CAMERLEY SUBDIVISION BETWEEN FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY AND WEST OX ROAD.

THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE ISSUED A TORNADO
WARNING FOR THE AFFECTED AREA AT 6:58 PM.

WHEN SECONDS COUNT...RECEIVING LIFE SAVING WARNINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED
WITH A NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THESE CAN BE SET TO ALARM ONLY FOR LIFE
THREATENING WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR COUNTY. FOR
MORE INFORMATION...VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NWR

$$