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-0 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN RESTON VIRGINIA... LOCATION...RESTON IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA DATE...APRIL 27 2011 ESTIMATED TIME...11:25 PM TO 11:28 PM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-0 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...80 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...75 YARDS LENGTH...1.2 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...38.952N / 77.345W ENDING LAT/LON...38.964N / 77.331W * 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... DAMAGE ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE PATH WAS PRIMARILY TO TREES. THE TORNADO BEGAN IN A PARKING LOT ALONG SUNSET HILLS ROAD...WHERE SMALL LIMBS WERE SNAPPED FROM A HARDWOOD TREE...AND A LARGE LIMB WAS SNAPPED FROM A SOFTWOOD TREE. IT CROSSED SUNSET HILLS ROAD AND ENTERED THE HIDDEN CREEK COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE...WHERE IT INTENSIFIED AND UPROOTED OR SNAPPED SEVERAL HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD TREES. THE TORNADO WEAKENED SLIGHTLY AS IT CROSSED NORTH SHORE DRIVE AND WEDGE ROAD...WHERE A FEW TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. A FEW HOMES APPEARED TO SUFFER MINOR DAMAGE FROM FALLEN TREES. AS IT CROSSED WIEHLE AVENUE...THE TORNADO INTENSIFIED AGAIN...SNAPPING OR UPROOTING NUMEROUS TREES ADJACENT TO TALL OAKS VILLAGE CENTER BEFORE WEAKENING RAPIDLY. THE TORNADO ENDED BEHIND THE COLVIN WOODS APARTMENTS. THIS TORNADO HAS BEEN RATED EF-0.