Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, July 9, 2003

Thunderstorms with high winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes moved through Northern and Central Virginia during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 9th. In Nelson County, a few trees were downed in the northern end of the county near Wintergreen. In Albemarle County, a tree was downed near Afton. In Augusta County, numerous trees were downed including some which fell in Stuarts Draft. In Rockingham County, trees were downed in Broadway. A tree was also downed onto Springs Road. In Shenandoah County, trees and power lines were downed in Edinburg. A few trees were also downed in the Seven Bends area just east of Woodstock. In Frederick County, trees and power lines were downed two miles north of Winchester. Trees were also downed onto Route 568 (Cedar Grove Road) and Warm Springs Road near Cedar Grove. In Clarke County, trees were downed onto Route 606 and Route 340 three miles east of Berryville. In Loudoun County, two tornadoes touched down from the same thunderstorm. The first tornado was the strongest and longest lasting. It was ranked as an F1 and was on the ground for 10 miles. It first touched down near Round Hill and lifted just before reaching Highway 15 about 3 miles south of Leesburg. The tornado was up to 100 yards wide and was estimated to have produced winds up to 90 MPH. On Main Street in Round Hill a tree was downed onto a house. A home under construction was also damaged. Several other trees were downed onto roads on the south side of town, including at the intersection of Airmont Road (Route 719) and Yatton Road, North Bridge Street, and the intersection of East Loudoun Street and New Cut Road. Widespread tree damage was also reported near the water treatment plant southeast of town. The next area of tree damage was reported near the intersection of Lincoln Road and Hughesville Road just south of Lincoln. One tree was downed onto a van. The last area where tree damage was observed was just west of Route 15 about 3 miles south of Leesburg. The first tornado lifted there and a few minutes later the same storm dropped a second tornado near Ashburn. The F0 tornado touched down briefly near Ashburn Farms with winds estimated around 70 MPH. It was on the ground for one half mile and the light tree damage path from the twister was about 75 yards wide. A few trees were uprooted or snapped along the path and one of the trees fell onto a home. In Purcellville, the storm that produced the tornado in Round Hill dropped quarter sized hail. The storm also produced high winds south of the tornado track. Snickerville Turnpike was closed by downed trees. A wind gust of 46 MPH was recorded at Dulles Airport where a funnel cloud was also spotted. In Fauquier County, a tree was downed onto a road near Delaplane. In Prince William County, trees and wires were downed near Haymarket. Trees were also downed at the intersection of Lucasville Road and Hastings Drive in Manassas. In Fairfax County, the storm that dropped a tornado near Ashburn produced high winds as it moved through the Chantilly area. Three miles north of Chantilly, a few trees were downed in the Franklin Farms area, including one which fell onto a home. Wind gusts in the vicinity included 46 MPH in Reston and 43 MPH in Chantilly. Another thunderstorm also downed trees across the central and eastern portion of the county. A tree was downed near Lake Barcroft. Trees were also downed at the intersection of Braddock and Rolling roads a mile west of Burke. In Fairfax, trees were downed onto Prince William Road. In Falls Church, trees were downed. In Arlington County, many trees were downed. In Alexandria, a wind gust of 63 MPH was recorded at the campus of Northern Virginia Community College.