Virginia, 1994

Tornado and Damaging Winds in Virginia, August 17, 1994

August 17, 1994 · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
10
Property damage
$50 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Henry

When
August 17, 1:42 AM EST
Where
Henry County, Martinsville
Rating
F2
Path length
4.25 mi
Path width
300 yd
Injuries
10 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$50 million
Coordinates
36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado touched down just north of Ridgeway and moved to one and a half miles south of Martinsville. The path length was 4.25 miles long and averaged about 200 yards wide. Ten people were injured, 100 homes and 30 businesses were damaged. Total damages came to $8.7 million. The thunderstorm that produced the tornado was part of the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll and Grayson

When
August 17, 3:30 AM EST
Where
Carroll and Grayson County
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
36.732, -80.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seven inches of rain fell from thunderstorms associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl. High winds from the storms toppled trees and brought down branches knocking out power to some areas. Roads were flooded and several low bridges from high water. In Cana area of Carroll County, six large trees fell knocking out power to 500 customers.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When
August 17, 4:15 PM EST
Where
Clarke County, Countywide
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
39.112, -77.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Loudoun

When
August 17, 5:45 PM EST to 6:05 PM EST
Where
Loudoun County, Countywide
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.091, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree which took out part of a bridge across the North Fork of Goose Creek. Heavy rains also caused flooding on portions of U.S. Route 15.

Thunderstorm Wind, Prince William

When
August 17, 6:10 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Prince William County, Countywide
Property damage
$50
Coordinates
38.702, -77.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the western part of the county. Heavy rains produced flooding in the Dumfries and Sudley areas.

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1994Every state in 1994This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 1994Warnings in Virginia, August 1994

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10356541, 10356806, 10356916, 10356590, 10356368.