Power Pacific system will continue to bring significant impacts for Pacific Northwest into northern California the remainder of the week. Dangerous coastal affects, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow continues. Meanwhile, a storm across the east is set to bring the first accumulating snow to many higher elevations of the Catskills into the central Appalachians. Read More >
...Seven tornadoes confirmed on April 6 2017... A line of severe thunderstorms produced numerous instances of straight-line wind damage from central through northern Virginia and north-central Maryland, including the Washington DC and Baltimore MD metro areas. Embedded along the line were seven instances of brief tornadic damage. Below is a summary of tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling VA following extensive surveys and data analysis. =========================================================================​ ...Tornado confirmed near Unionville in Orange County Virginia... Location...north of Unionville in Orange County Virginia Date...April 6, 2017 Estimated Time...1229 PM EDT to 1233 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph Maximum Path Width...175 yards Path Length...2.7 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.28 N / 77.97 W Ending Lat/Lon...38.31 N / 77.94 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 * The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. ...Summary... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed a tornado near Unionville in Orange County Virginia on April 6, 2017. The tornado caused extensive convergent tree damage intermittently along its path, along with some minor structural damage. The first instances of uprooted and snapped trees occurred near the intersection of Everona Road and Deertrail Lane. The tornado continued north-northeast, causing additional tree damage on Signal Hill Lane. The most extensive impacts occurred along US Route 522 near Ida Mae Lane, where many of the trees in the concentrated path of the tornado were either snapped or uprooted in differing directions. At least two trees fell on structures. Metal roofing and siding were removed from a business on the sides of the building opposing storm motion. Some of this material was lofted and landed in a yard 0.4 miles away. The wall of an outbuilding was displaced several inches off its foundation. Several homes received minor damage to shingles, gutters, and siding. Two residents in this area witnessed the tornado and observed debris being lofted and swirling in the air. The survey concluded that this concentrated tornadic damage was embedded within a larger area of very strong straight-line winds, as numerous trees were downed in unidirectional fashion along a 0.7 mile stretch of US 522. The next observable damage occurred on Pine Stake Road near Clover Hill Farm Lane. Trees were downed in a convergent pattern along a narrow path, and a wooden fence sustained damage. The tornado lifted after this point, as no further damage was observed to the north- northeast. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Orange County Emergency Management Agency and the residents interviewed for their assistance in this survey. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && ADS ========================================================================= ...Tornado confirmed southwest of Warrenton VA... Location...southwest of Warrenton in Fauquier County Virginia Date...April 6 2017 Estimated time...1258 PM EDT to 1259 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...80 mph Maximum Path Width...50 yards Path Length...0.3 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.68 N / 77.86 W Ending Lat/Lon...38.68 N / 77.86 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 * The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. ...Summary... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed a tornado southwest of Warrenton in Fauquier County Virginia on April 6, 2017. An extensive area of tree damage was noted along a several mile long path in west-central Fauquier County. Embedded within this straight- line wind damage was a small concentrated area of convergent tree damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado. A row of trees just north of Harts Mill Road was blown down towards the west-northwest, while several other trees just south of the road were snapped and fell towards the northeast. A similar pattern of tree damage was found at a residence on Woodbourne Lane a quarter mile to the northeast, where several dozen hardwood trees were uprooted, mainly falling towards the east but a couple fell towards the west. Further southwest and to the northeast of the tornadic damage, hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted but all falling to the northeast over a nearly mile-wide swath, indicating straight-line wind damage. It is notable that the straight-line wind damage was more severe than that caused by the brief tornado. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Fauquier County Emergency Management Agency and the residents interviewed for their assistance in this survey. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && SMZ ========================================================================= ...Tornado confirmed north of Airlie VA... Location...north of Airlie in Fauquier County Virginia Date...April 6 2017 Estimated Time...108 PM EDT to 114 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph Maximum Path Width...75 yards Path Length...5.9 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.75 N / 77.82W Ending Lat/Lon...38.82 N / 77.75 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 *The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. ...Summary... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed a tornado near Airlie in Fauquier County Virginia on April 6, 2017. The tornado caused a nearly continuous path of convergent tree damage. Large to mid sized trees were snapped and uprooted. The most intense of which was the result of estimated wind speeds of 85 mph that snapped several large trees on Airlie Road between Artillery Road and The Rainforest Trust. The first trees downed were noted just west of US 17. After crossing Airlie Road, the tornado snapped and uprooted trees all along Blantyre Road. Continuous damage stopped just prior to Interstate 66. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Fauquier County Emergency Management Agency and the residents interviewed for their assistance in this survey. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && CAS/ADS ========================================================================= ​ ...Tornado confirmed near New Baltimore VA... Location...near New Baltimore in Fauquier County Virginia Date...April 6 2017 Estimated Time...108 PM EDT to 110 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph Maximum Path Width...75 yards Path Length...1 mile Beginning Lat/Lon...38.77 N / 77.72W Ending lat/Lon...38.78 N / 77.72 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 *The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. ...Summary... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed a tornado near New Baltimore in Fauquier County Virginia on April 6, 2017. The tornado caused a continuous path of extensive tree damage, along with some minor structural damage. The first instances of uprooted and snapped trees occurred just northwest of the intersection of Lee Highway and Electric Avenue. The tornado continued north-northeast, generally along Beverlys Mill Road, causing additional damage to just north of Fairview Lane. Extensive tree damage was found along the tornado`s path, where many hardwood and softwood trees were either snapped, topped or uprooted in a convergent pattern. Several trees fell on vehicles. Wooded fences were blown down in several locations along its path. A roof was partially removed from a barn. Other metal roofing was removed from smaller outbuildings. Several sheds were either destroyed or severely damaged. Most homes in the path had minor damage to shingles, gutters and siding. Two residents in the area witnessed the tornado with debris being lofted. The National Weather Service would like to thank Fauquier County Emergency Management Agency and the residents interviewed for their assistance in this survey. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && IMR ========================================================================= ...Tornado confirmed near Herndon and Sterling Park VA... Location...Herndon to Sterling Park in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia Date...April 6 2017 Estimated Time...134 PM EDT to 139 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...70 mph Maximum Path Width...25 yards Path Length...3.3 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.97 N / 77.41W Ending lat/Lon...39.01 N / 77.38 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 * The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. ...Summary... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed a tornado near Herndon and Sterling Park in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia on April 6, 2017. A path of sporadic damage, mainly to trees, began just east of Rock Hill Road in between the Dulles Greene and Capstone apartment complexes in Herndon. About a half dozen trees here were either snapped or uprooted in a convergent pattern. One of the trees was thrown into the window of a nearby apartment building. The tornado continued north-northeast, where additional tree damage was noted near the intersections of Summerfield Drive and Autumn Breeze Court, and Sterling Road (VA-606) and Herndon Parkway. Several trees were downed from east to west, and fencing was blown down north to south. It appears the tornado lifted briefly as it continued north-northeast, before touching down again near the intersection of Crestview Drive and Builders Road. Here, nearly a dozen trees were snapped or uprooted, mainly to the north, with fencing blown down towards the trees (to the west). Additional minor and sporadic tree damage was noted in a north-northeastward path, with several trees snapped and uprooted and an instance of siding damage noted by a trained spotter just east of South Lincoln Avenue. The tornado likely lifted for a final time just northeast of the intersection of East Frederick Drive and Sugarland Road in Sterling Park. The National Weather Service would like to thank Fairfax and Loudoun County Emergency Management Agency and the residents interviewed for their assistance in this survey. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && LEE/SMZ ========================================================================= ...Tornado Confirmed in Arlington VA and Washington DC... Location...Arlington Virginia to Washington DC Date...April 6 2017 Estimated Time...139 PM EDT to 145 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...70 mph Maximum Path Width...50 yards Path Length...4.5 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.85 N / 77.07 W Ending lat/Lon...38.90 N / 77.01 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...1 * 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... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed an EF-0 tornado initiating in Arlington VA and ending in Washington DC on April 6, 2017. Trees were snapped along Interstate 395 adjacent to Army-Navy Country Club at approximately 1:39 PM EDT. Video of a portion of the Pentagon Parking Lot showed a vortex cross between two light poles, ripping off one lamp from the top of the poles. Additional video from the Pentagon showed two rope-like funnel clouds form at the same time, although it could not be determined from the video whether these funnels touched the ground or were attached to the cloud base. Arlington County Fire Department in Crystal City provided care for 1 patient with minor injuries when part of a Macys storefront fell on a car. Video from the National Park Service National Mall and Memorial Parks showed a waterspout over the Potomac River west of the Tidal Basin; however, it is not clear the vertical extent of this waterspout and whether it was sourced from the cloud base, or an independent vortex associated with the gust front. The waterspout then moved onshore near the George Mason Memorial at the Tidal Basin at approximately 1:41 PM EDT. Here, multiple large softwood and hardwood trees, including several ornamental cherry trees, had large branches downed and/or were uprooted around the Tidal Basin. While some minor tree damage was evidenced near the George Mason Memorial on the southwest side of the Tidal Basin, the most concentrated damage was in the grove of trees directly adjacent to the parking lot of the Tidal Basin Marina. The last damage reported to the NWS was to the roof of the St. Aloysius Church at the intersection of North Capitol and I Streets NW at 145 PM EDT. This tornado is rated EF-0 with estimated winds 65-70 mph, path length of 4.5 miles, and a path width of 25-50 yards. The wind estimates were based on the damage observed, weather radar velocity observations from the KLWX WSR-88D and from Federal Aviation Administration Terminal Doppler Weather Radars at Joint Base Andrews and Reagan National Airport, and the fact that several of the larger downed trees around the Tidal Basin had evidence of ample rot in the base of their trunks. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && LEE ========================================================================= ...Tornado confirmed near Anacostia in southeast Washington DC... Location...Joint Base Anacostia Bolling and Anacostia DC Date...April 6 2017 Estimated Time...141 PM EDT to 143 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...75 mph Maximum Path Width...25 yards Path Length...2.2 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...38.84 N / 77.02 W Ending lat/Lon...38.86 N / 76.99 W * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...1 * 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... The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington DC has confirmed an EF-0 tornado initiating in Joint Base Anacostia Bolling and continuing into Anacostia DC on April 6, 2017. On the two mile path, the weak tornado caused several small and midsized trees to be snapped and uprooted on base in a convergent manner. Flags were stripped off their posts in the central roundabout. A large soccer net was thrown from the athletic field. Shingle damage was noted to one of the buildings. As the tornado crossed over Interstate 295 it likely lifted off the ground. Trees were snapped higher up on the trunks on the hill just east of the interstate. An apartment complex was unroofed on Stanton Rd SE. Media reported one person was injured by flying drywall. This information can also be found on our website at weather.gov/washington. For reference...the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...wind speeds 65 to 85 mph. EF1...wind speeds 86 to 110 mph. EF2...wind speeds 111 to 135 mph. EF3...wind speeds 136 to 165 mph. EF4...wind speeds 166 to 200 mph. EF5...wind speeds greater than 200 mph. && CAS $$ DH/IMR/SMZ