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 NEAR TOWN CREEK MARYLAND... LOCATION...2 MI NORTH OF TOWN CREEK IN ALLEGANY COUNTY MARYLAND DATE...APRIL 28 2011 ESTIMATED TIME...1:27 AM TO 1:28 AM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF-0 MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...80 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...75 YARDS LENGTH...0.5 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...39.555N / 78.540W ENDING LAT/LON...39.562N / 78.535W * 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... THE TORNADO BEGAN ON A WOODED HILLSIDE JUST SOUTH OF THE 23200 BLOCK OF PACK HORSE ROAD. DAMAGE ALONG THE PATH LENGTH WAS LARGELY TO TREES. NUMEROUS TREES WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE HILLSIDE. A LARGE TREE THREE FEET IN DIAMETER PARTIALLY FELL ON A RESIDENCE ON PACK HORSE RD...CAUSING DAMAGE TO ONE WALL AND A PORTION OF THE ROOF. THE TORNADO DAMAGE EXTENDED NORTH FROM PACK HORSE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA EVIDENT BY MORE UPROOTED TREES. FARTHER ALONG THE PATH...DAMAGE TO TREES OCCURRED BEHIND A RESIDENCE ON MANIFORD RD SE ADJACENT TO THE BOUNDARY OF GREEN RIDGE STATE FOREST. AT THIS POINT THE DAMAGE PATH ENDED. THE DAMAGE PATH EXTENDED INTO A HEAVILY FORESTED INACCESSIBLE AREA THAT WAS NOT SURVEYED. THIS TORNADO HAS BEEN RATED EF-0 WITH MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED AT 80 MPH.