Tornado and Hail in Virginia, June 6, 2002

Scattered thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts moved through the North Piedmont, the central foothills, and Northern Virginia during the afternoon and evening hours on the 6th. In Orange County, a weak F1 tornado touched down one mile northeast of the town of Orange. It uprooted trees and damaged a garage along its rural path. The tornado traveled approximately one mile to the east-southeast before lifting near Route 20 east of Orange. The tornado was 100 yards wide and was on the ground for one mile. Additional wind damage in and around the town of Orange including downed trees and power lines was caused by straight line winds. In Locust Grove, a convenience store lost its tin roof after high winds blew through. In the Lake of the Woods community, a downburst of winds estimated at 70 MPH caused at least one hundred trees and some power lines to be blown over. One man was injured when the roof of his house on Monticello Circle collapsed when a tree fell onto it. A total of 6 homes and a handful of cars in the community were damaged by fallen trees. Trees were also downed onto Route 20. In Barboursville, a chimney was blown over by high winds. In Spotsylvania County, a man was injured when high winds pushed three trees onto his car on Hill-Ewell Drive about 2 miles south of Wilderness. He survived by ducking under the dashboard before the trees hit the pickup. Hill-Ewell Drive remained closed for several days due to nearly 100 downed trees. Numerous trees were also downed in the Lake Wilderness community. Twelve homes in the community were damaged by felled trees, including one which sustained $40,000 damage. Portions of the nearby Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park were closed for two weeks due to the amount of felled trees. Removal of debris was estimated to cost $60,000. In Culpeper County, quarter sized hail fell in Richardsville and dime sized hail was reported in Culpeper. Funnel clouds were also reported near Eggbornsville, Cherry Hill, and Elkwood. In Fairfax County, quarter sized hail fell in Pohick Bay. In Chantilly power lines were downed. In Stafford County, golf ball sized hail was reported near the Prince William County line. In Prince William County, a wind gust of 54 MPH was recorded at the Manassas Airport. The southern portion of the county received pea to golf ball sized hail. In Fauquier County, trees were downed. In Augusta County, trees were downed in Fishersville, Crimora, and at the intersection of Route 250 and Interstate 81. A twin silo was blown over near Fishersville. In Hermitage, part of a barn roof was removed on Hildebrand Church Road. Trees were uprooted onto a garage and car near Route 254. In Waynesboro, 7 trees were downed onto property along Cattle Scales Road. In Madison County, trees downed countywide. In Albemarle County, trees were downed on the western portion of Charlottesville. One person was injured when a tree fell on a car on Old Ivy Road. Another tree fell onto a car on Sherwood Road, seriously injuring two people. Park Street was blocked by downed trees and power lines. In Greene County, trees and power lines were downed. In Frederick County, a tree was downed onto a home in Winchester. In Loudoun County, trees and power lines were downed on the west side of Leesburg. A wind gust of 54 MPH was recorded at the Leesburg Airport. In Clarke County, there was scattered damage from fallen trees. Near Berryville on Bishop Meade Road, a large tree fell onto a van. On Senseny Road, a tree limb fell onto power lines.