April 27-28, 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-1 TORNADO CONFIRMED NEAR STAUNTON VIRGINIA... LOCATION...CHURCHVILLE IN AUGUSTA COUNTY VA DATE...APRIL 28 2011 ESTIMATED TIME...2:17 AM TO 2:23 AM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-1 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...100 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...150 YARDS LENGTH...4.0 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.179N / 79.215W ENDING LAT/LON...38.225N / 79.170W * 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 AUGUSTA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...TOGETHER WITH RADAR AND EYEWITNESS REPORTS DETERMINED THAT AN EF-1 TORNADO TRACKED FROM CHRISTIAN TO CHURCHVILLE VIRGINIA...5 MILES NORTHWEST OF STAUNTON. THE TORNADO SNAPPED AND UPROOTED NUMEROUS LARGE TREES...DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES... REMOVED ROOFING ON MULTIPLE RESIDENCES AND DESTROYED SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS.