October 13, 2011 Severe Weather

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 >

...EF-0 TORNADO CONFIRMED NEAR AQUIA HARBOUR VA... LOCATION...AQUIA HARBOUR IN STAFFORD COUNTY VIRGINIA DATE...OCTOBER 13 2011 ESTIMATED TIME...5:22 PM TO 5:29 PM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-0 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...80 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...75 YARDS LENGTH...2.7 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.492N / 77.381W ENDING LAT/LON...38.529N / 77.364W * 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 GROUND SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...TOGETHER WITH RADAR DATA AND VIDEO REPORTS DETERMINED THAT AN EF-0 TORNADO TRACKED FROM NORTHERN AQUIA HARBOUR...NORTH OVER THE BORDER INTO PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY. ALONG THE WAY IT SPORADICALLY UPROOTED AND SNAPPED ABOUT A DOZEN TREES. HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY OFF MERRYVIEW DRIVE HAD MINOR ROOFING AND SIDING DAMAGE AS WELL AS A CHAIN LINK FENCE THAT WAS DOWNED. A BILLBOARD AND ITS POST WERE PUSHED NEARLY OVER. STAFFORD COUNTY FIRE ASSISTED WITH THE SURVEY.