The National Weather Service confirmed today that seven tornadoes touched down in Virginia and D.C. on April 6, including three in Fauquier County.
The first, with wind speeds of 80 mph, hit southwest of Warrenton at 12:58 p.m. The twister, rated an EF-0, traveled a 50-yard path over less than half a mile.
NWS investigators found extensive tree damage in the area of Harts Mill Road, much of it caused by straight line winds with a tornado embedded in the storm.
“A row of trees just north of Harts Mill Road was blown down towards the west-northwest, while several other trees just south of the road were snapped and fell towards the northeast. A similar pattern of tree damage was found at a residence on Woodbourne Lane a quarter mile to the northeast, where several dozen hardwood trees were uprooted, mainly falling towards the east but a couple fell towards the west,” the weather service report said.
Northeast of the tornado, investigators found several hardwood and softwood trees snapped and uprooted but all falling to the northeast over a nearly mile-wide swath, indicating straight-line wind damage.
“It is notable that the straight-line wind damage was more severe than that caused by the brief tornado,” the report said.
The second tornado in Fauquier occurred at 1:08 p.m. just north of Airlie, with 85 mph winds cutting a 75-yard path over 5.9 miles. The tornado was rated an E-0.
“The tornado caused a nearly continuous path of convergent tree damage,” the weather service reported. “Large to mid-sized trees were snapped and uprooted. The most intense of which was the result of estimated wind speeds of 85 mph that snapped several large trees on Airlie Road between Artillery Road and The Rainforest Trust. The first trees downed were noted just west of U.S. 17.”
The tornado crossed Airlie Road, snapping and uprooting trees all along Blantyre Road.
“Continuous damage stopped just prior to Interstate 66,” the weather service said.
Fauquier’s third tornado touched down near New Baltimore, also at 1:08 p.m. Wind speeds were 85 mph, and cut a 75-yard path over one mile. It, too, was rated an E-0 twister.
“The tornado caused a continuous path of extensive tree damage, along with some minor structural damage. The first instances of uprooted and snapped trees occurred just northwest of the intersection of Lee Highway and Electric Avenue,” the weather service said.
The tornado continued north-northeast, generally along Beverlys Mill Road, causing additional damage to just north of Fairview Lane.
Trees were uprooted along the twister’s path, with many falling on cars.
Wooden fences were blown down in several and a barn roof partially blown off. Metal roofs from smaller outbuildings were blown off in the winds and several sheds were damaged or destroyed, the weather service said.
“Two residents in the area witnessed the tornado with debris being lofted,” the report read.
Other tornadoes during the April 6 storms occurred in Unionville in Orange County, Herndon, Arlington and Washington, D.C. Damage in southern Fauquier, particularly in the Remington area, is believed to be the result of straight line winds.
by Fauquier Times
Apr 19, 2017
