The April 15th, 2018 Tornadoes Event Summary

Summary:

The tornado first touched down in northwest Campbell County, just south of Waterlink Road and east of Timberlake Road (37.3264, -79.241), doing EF1 damage to trees as well as some roof damage, with an initial path width of about 100 yards. It then tracked NNW initially, then NNE and followed along the east side of Timberlake Road, damaging a number of businesses, flipping some cars and a truck trailer. Here it reached low-end EF2 wind speeds of 115 mph. It then crossed Timberlake Road as it moved into the western City limits of Lynchburg.

In Lynchburg, the tornado damaged a mobile home park, with minor damage to roofs of homes and business and snapping dozens of trees as it crossed Boonesboro Road. Here it widened to about 600 yards wide doing EF1 damage. It then crossed a small corner of Bedford County causing damage to Camp Sacajawea on Fox Hill Rd, before crossing the James River into Amherst County.

In Amherst County the tornado crossed Highway 130 in the Elon area and strengthened to its maximum intensity with winds estimated at 150 mph. Here dozens of homes were badly damaged, some nearly completely, and many large pine trees were snapped off and left with no branches. A motor home was carried about 30 feet and tipped over. The hardest hit areas were along Nottaway Drive and Deerfield Drive. The damage path was about 400 yards wide in this area, but the strong EF3 damage was about 100 yards wide. The tornado then continued moving NNE doing mainly damage to trees and some minor roof damage to homes. Many hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted as it tracked along parts of High Peak Road and appeared to be as wide as 400 yards at times, doing EF1 damage. It crossed Wares Gap Road, went up and over parts Shady Mountain Ridge, crossed Highway 60 (Lexington Turnpike), Thrashers Lake Park, and then finally dissipated soon after crossing parts of Mount Pleasant Road and Stonewall Creek Road. Most of the damage near the end of the track was downed trees, but some damage to roofs of farm buildings and fences was also observed. Damage near the end of the track appeared to be consistent with low-end EF1 and EF0 wind speeds.

Summary:

A tornado with a nearly continuous path entered Rockingham County NC from the south at approximately 525 PM EDT on Sunday April 15, 2018. The tornado moved rapidly at about 45 miles toward the north north-northeast, crossing Highway 87 about 5 miles southeast of Reidsville, and crossed Grooms Road and Brooks Road about 4 miles east of Reidsville. The storm progressed NNE crossing Highway 158 about 5 miles northeast of Reidsville, and then moved through the east side of Ruffin before finally lifting between Dibrell Road and Bradley Road, about 4 miles north-northeast of Ruffin, at around 546 PM EDT.

Numerous buildings,outbuildings, and barns were significantly damaged - including at least 20 homes and farms, and the Oak Haven Event Center in downtown Ruffin. Countless trees were snapped or uprooted along the nearly 18 mile tornadic path.

Seven individuals were injured - including one father and 7-year old son who were critically injured in their moving car when a doublewide home was lifted onto the 1300 Block of Grooms Road into oncoming traffic.

Summary:

On Sunday April 15, 2018, a tornado touched down in Caswell County near Dusty Lane, snapping numerous trees and damaging several outbuildings. The tornado then moved northeast doing EF1 damage as it passed through the Westover Area of the City of Danville, producing a continuous path of damage before lifting northeast of Pleasant Gap Drive, a few miles to the southwest of Dry Fork, VA.

Numerous trees were damaged or destroyed along the tornado path in the city of Danville and Pittsylvania County. Primarily minor roof damage occured to homes and several outbuildings were destroyed. The greatest damage was found on a farm at R and L Smith Road.

Summary:

The tornado first touched down five miles east-southeast of Rustburg near Carwile Road doing EF0 damage, where several small trees were uprooted or snapped. The tornado then tracked northeast peaking at EF1 along New Chapel Road and lifted just south of the New Chapel Road and Bethany Road intersection.

A roof was blown off a garage and a manufactured home was moved off its foundation. A metal roof from a large shed was also peeled off.

Summary:

A tornado briefly touched down along the 1800 Block of Mead Valley Road - approximately 4 miles northwest of the town of Moneta.

The tornado caused significant damage to the roof of a home on Mead Valley Road - also slightly moving the house from its cinder block foundation. Extensive damage to an adjacent barn, outbuilding, and trees was also noted at this location. Damage indicators were consistent with winds of approximately 105 mph.

The tornado then continued north-northeast at approximately 45 mph for the next minute before lifting at around 611 PM EDT along the 10000 Block of Dickerson Mill Road.

Although no additional homes were impacted along the 0.66 mile path of the tornado, approximately 50 trees, many mature, were either snapped or uprooted. Damage indicators along the path were consistent with winds of between 95 and 105 mph. .

Summary:

A tornado briefly touched down just south of Hawkins Lane and raced northward at approximately 60 mph, crossing Wild Cat Hollow Road before lifting. Although the tornado was on the ground for less than one minute, considerable damage to trees, homes, and outbuildings occurred.

Approximately six homes encountered damage, including extensive removal of roof shingles and exterior vinyl siding and trimming. Several outbuildings and garages were either destroyed or severely damaged.

Three cars and a large double-axle trailer were physically moved or rotated by the strong winds - including one truck that was flipped, coming to rest upside down on another significantly damaged vehicle.

Pieces of outbuildings and lawn equipment, including a garden cart, were lofted over 100 yards downstream and to the left of the storm motion. Two neighborhood dogs from two different homes, which were in strong outdoor enclosures, were either displaced or lofted over 100 yards when their respective pens were destroyed. Both animals were not significantly injured.

Approximately 50 hardwood and softwood trees in the neighborhood, some approximately 70 feet tall, were either uprooted or snapped.

Summary:

This tornado touched down on the north side of Piney Mountain and just west of Indian Creek Road in a forested area, and tracked toward the northwest roughly paralleling Indian Creek Road until it finally crossed near the west end of the road and went up the ridge on the other side but only a short distance. The damage was considered to be EF0, mostly in the form of uprooted trees. The damage path was about 1.5 miles long, and while difficult to tell, the width was likely only around 75 yards wide at the most.