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 CLIFTON VIRGINIA... LOCATION...2 MI NNE OF CLIFTON IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA DATE...OCTOBER 13 2011 ESTIMATED TIME...5:40 PM TO 5:46 PM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-0 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...65 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...50 YARDS LENGTH...3.0 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.804N / 77.376W ENDING LAT/LON...38.842N / 77.353W * 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... THIS TORNADO PRODUCED SPORADIC DAMAGE ALONG A PATH OF APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES STARTING 2 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF CLIFTON TO JUST WEST OF THE CITY OF FAIRFAX. INITIAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO SEVERAL TREES AND A POWER POLE LOCATED ON GROUNDS OF A RESIDENCE IN THE 6200 BLOCK OF NEWMAN ROAD. THE DAMAGE PATH WAS DISCONTINUOUS UNTIL LARGE BRANCHES WERE NOTED DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF VA STATE ROUTE 654 AND QUIET BROOK ROAD NEAR THE FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY. THE CIRCULATION THEN LIFTED OVER BRADDOCK ROAD AND FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY BEFORE PRODUCING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN THE SUBDIVISION ALONG VILLAGE DRIVE...WHERE NUMEROUS BRANCHES AND SEVERAL TREES WERE DAMAGED. THIS TORNADO HAS BEEN RATED MINIMAL EF-0 WITH MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED AT 65 MPH.