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 JUST WEST OF MANASSAS VIRGINIA... LOCATION...NOKESVILLE AND BRISTOW IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VIRGINIA DATE...APRIL 27 2011 ESTIMATED TIME... 10:46 PM EDT TO 11:01 PM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-1 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...125 YARDS LENGTH...5.8 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.659N / 77.592W ENDING LAT/LON...38.735N / 77.547W * 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 INFORMATION AND EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS CONFIRMED THAT AN EF-1 TORNADO TRACKED FROM THE CEDAR RUN PLANTATION AREA OF NOKESVILLE TO BRISTOW...JUST WEST OF THE CITY OF MANASSAS. THE TORNADO FORMED ALONG CARRIAGE FORD ROAD BETWEEN WARRENTON ROAD AND BELMONT GROVE ROAD AND PROCEEDED NORTHEASTWARD...WHERE IT SNAPPED OR UPROOTED NUMEROUS TREES ALONG CARRIAGE FORD ROAD...ADEN ROAD AND GARMAN DRIVE. SIDING AND SHINGLES WERE REMOVED FROM SEVERAL HOMES IN THIS AREA...AND WINDOW SEALS WERE REMOVED ALONG A WEST-FACING WALL ON ONE HOUSE. HORSE RUN-INS AND SHEDS ALSO WERE DAMAGED...AND GARAGE DOORS WERE BLOWN IN ON A DETACHED GARAGE. THE CIRCULATION WEAKENED AS IT CROSSED COLVIN LANE AND CURVED NORTHWARD THROUGH THE NEW BRISTOW VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING AREA. TREE...SHINGLE AND SIDING DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE TORNADO DAMAGED A FENCE...SOME SIGNS AND SMALL TREES IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE SHOPPING CENTER. THE FINAL DAMAGE OCCURRED AS THE TORNADO CROSSED LINTON HALL ROAD AND SNAPPED A FEW TREES AS IT DIMINISHED.