Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, July 24, 1999

Warm and humid air ahead of a cold front combined to produce scattered thunderstorms across the northern half of Virginia from midday through sunset. The first batch of thunderstorms developed over Rockingham County around 12:30 PM EDT and moved eastward to the Potomac River by 3:00 PM EDT. These storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, frequent lightning, and a tornado that crossed parts of Orange, Spotsylvania, and Stafford County. As the storms passed through Harrisonburg, a tree was toppled onto a car on Route 11 and marble sized hail was reported. When the storms crossed Page County, trees were downed in Shenandoah, Stanley, and Luray. Madison County reported fallen trees on Route 634, 4 trees downed across Route 600, and 6 other fallen trees in yards across the county. Another tree that fell across Route 231 caused a vehicle accident. The storms downed several trees in Culpeper County. A car in the city of Culpeper was flattened by an uprooted tree, and severe winds also blew over a shed. THe storms crossed Southern Fauquier County and blew a roof off of a 60x100 foot barn and tossed the debris 100 feet near the intersection of Route 28 and 29. The storms were also responsible for extensive damage in the Lake of the Woods area of Northern Orange County. Numerous trees were knocked down, scattering debris on a golf course. Fallen trees also damaged several houses, closed several roads, and knocked out power in the community. A tornado developed near Lake of the Woods in Orange County. It stayed on the ground for 20 miles and moved across northern Spotsylvania County, the city of Fredericksburg, and the northwest portion of Stafford County. The tornado was of F1 strength for most of its path, occasionally weakening to F0 strength in some locations. The tornado entered Spotsylvania County near Wilderness Corner, downing trees near the intersection of Route 3 and 613 and taking shingles off homes. The tornado continued to topple soft and hardwood trees as it moved east to Chancellorville, and damaged the roof of a barn on Route 612 and Johnsons Corner. Siding and shingles were stripped from homes in Stonewall Estates. The tornado remained on the ground moving east just south of Route 3. It damaged trailer classrooms at Salem Elementary School near the intersection of Route 3 and 639. Next, the storm passed directly over the southern half of the city of Fredericksburg, downing several more trees and power lines, blocking roads and knocking power out for 12,000 customers. Nine buildings in the city were significantly damaged. The tornado finally dissipated as it reached Falmouth. Winds gusted over 55 MPH in northern Spotsylvania County just south of the tornado's path, causing more damage. In the city of Spotsylvania trees were downed by the sudden downburst of wind. Near Four Mile Fork, wind gusts blew part of the roof off the Fredericksburg Academy and rainwater falling through the open roof damaged the gym floor. Across all of Spotsylvania County, 45,000 customers lost power as a direct result of the storm. The storm still packed a punch when it moved across Stafford, King George, and Prince William Counties. Severe winds downed trees and power lines on Glenkirk Road and Linton Hall Road in Western Prince William County, leaving 1,000 residents without power. One 80 foot tall tree was uprooted and fell across Route 29 near the intersection of Interstate 66. Parts of Southern Stafford County lost power after downed trees fell onto power lines. Most of the downed trees were in the Falmouth area. Only a few trees were knocked down in King George County, causing minimal damage. A few additional thunderstorms developed between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM EDT just east of the Appalachian Mountains. One isolated storm moved across Loudoun County and produced winds in excess of 55 MPH. Trees and power lines were downed between Aldie and Middleburg on Route 50, and on Route 7 between Bluemont and Round Hill. Lightning from a storm over Rockingham County caught a 100 year old house valued at $68,000 on fire and burned the structure to the ground.