Tornado and Flash Flood in Virginia, May 25, 1997

A small, brief tornado, packing winds up to 70 mph, knocked down between 75 and 100 trees and limbs, some of which fell onto residences, vehicles, and other property in South Arlington. Scattered structural damage included aluminum siding, gutters, shingles, and plastic facia.The tornado began near the fire house, where personnel reported a shed was moved and numerous plastic bags were sucked into the air. At least one large silver maple tree was damaged. More serious damage ensued about 1/4 mile east, where the tornado tracked down a hillside. A large oak split in two, with one of the limbs crashing onto a home on Kenmore St, causing substantial damage. One electrical wire was blown down. Much of the shingle, siding, and gutter damage occurred between Lowell St. and the intersection of Shirlington Blvd. and Glebe Road.Damage at the intersection included at least ten trees and large limbs that were snapped, with one shallow-rooted tree uprooted and leaning on a residence. That same home had two windows blown out. Two persons at this location witnessed the tornado; the funnel cloud was also seen by the National Airport (DCA) tower, just 3 miles to the east. The storm continued across Glebe Road, knocking down several large poplar tree limbs. At a residence on Fillmore St., a home sustained minor damage from a portion of a large pine tree which fell against its side wall and roof. Several nearby trees and large limbs were also felled.The twister continued into the Army/Navy Country Club golf course, where it knocked down or snapped an estimated 50 to 60 tree limbs, some up to 2 feet in diameter. Estimated damages at the course were around $50,000. The funnel lifted moments later.******************************************Tropical moisture feeding along south-moving cold front produced training thunderstorms over portions of the Washington Metropolitan region during the late evening of the 25th. In general, between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell throughout the event, with at least 2 inches falling just prior to the frontal passage around midnight. One spotter in Vienna reported a grand total of 4.65 inches of rain. The rapid accumulation of water swelled area creeks and streams, and closed several roads for a time. Numerous basements were flooded, a result of broken lines or clogged pipes that were not quite ready to handle the first heavy rainfall of the season.