Thunderstorm Wind, Page
- When
- May 25, 5:05 PM EST
- Where
- Page County, Luray
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 38.667, -78.467
Trees down at several locations.
Tornado and Hail in Virginia, May 25, 2004
Strong thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage across Northern Virginia on May 25th. One thunderstorm spawned a tornado in Northern Loudoun County, near Lovettsville.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $134,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
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.
What happened
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
Strong thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage across Northern Virginia on May 25th. One thunderstorm spawned a tornado in Northern Loudoun County, near Lovettsville. The weak tornado topped trees, shredded leaves and spread debris along a two mile track. Straight-line winds downed trees and power lines area wide. At the height of the storms thousands were without power. Some areas were pelted with nickel to half dollar size hail, which dented cars and damaged gardens. Several minor automobile accidents were reported to the 911 Center.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 2:30 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 25, 2:30 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 330 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 .SHORT TERM... WEAK FRONT ACROSS THE NORTHERN CWA IS SLOWLY PUSHING BACK NORTH INTO PA. ALSO WEAK MID LEVEL BOUNDARY FROM OLD MCS IS ALSO MOVING ACROSS FROM WEST TO EAST. ATTM WE ARE STILL CAPPED....BUT ITS THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN WESTERN WVA THAT WILL BE BRINGING MOST OF THE CONVECTION TO OUR CWA OVERNIGHT. THEN THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FA ON WEDNESDAY WITH A CHC OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING. HIGH TEMPS SIMILAR TO TODAY (IN THE MID 80S). ND .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... MODELS ARE CONSISTENT IN SHOWING THE WEAK COLD FRONT STALLING ACROSS CNTRL/SRN VA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. A WEAK SHORTWAVE EMBEDDED IN THE ZONAL FLOW SHOULD BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION. MODELS DIFFER ON THE EXACT TIMING OF THE WAVE...BUT WENT CLOSER TO THE ETA MODEL ON TIMING AND INTRODUCED CHANCE POPS FOR THURSDAY. BY FRIDAY MORNING THE BUILDING RIDGE OVER THE NRN PLAINS WILL HELP AMPLIFY THE TROUGH OVER THE EAST. THIS COMBINED WITH LINGERING INSTABLILITY SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO WARRENT CHANCE POPS FOR FRIDAY. OVER THE WEEKEND...EXPECT A DRY AND STABLE AIR MASS TO MOVE INTO THE REGION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ON SATURDAY. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN DIGGING A DEEP TROUGH IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS BY SUNDAY. THE BUILDING DOWNSTREAM RIDGE OVER THE EAST SHOULD ASSIST IN PUSHING THE FRONT NWD AS A WARM FRONT...BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH A SLIGHT WARMING TREND THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY. TEW && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...NONE. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 25, 9:15 AM EST, 7 hours 50 minutes before
DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>057-WVZ048>055-261000- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1015 AM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>057-WVZ048>055-261000- ALBEMARLE VA-ALLEGANY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV- CALVERT MD-CARROLL MD-CHARLES MD-CLARKE VA-CULPEPER VA- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-FREDERICK VA- FREDERICK MD-GRANT WV-GREENE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HARFORD MD- HIGHLAND VA-HOWARD MD-JEFFERSON WV-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA- MADISON VA-MINERAL WV-MONTGOMERY MD-MORGAN WV-NELSON VA- NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV- PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA- RAPPAHANNOCK VA-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD- SPOTSYLVANIA VA-ST. MARYS MD-STAFFORD VA-WARREN VA-WASHINGTON MD- 1015 AM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND EAST OF GARRETT COUNTY...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON DC. .DAY ONE... THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL... AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY... FRIDAY NIGHT... AND SUNDAY AND MONDAY. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY. ND
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 25, 11:16 AM EST, 5 hours 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1216 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>057-WVZ048>055-260000- ALBEMARLE VA-ALLEGANY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV- CALVERT MD-CARROLL MD-CHARLES MD-CLARKE VA-CULPEPER VA- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-FREDERICK VA- FREDERICK MD-GRANT WV-GREENE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HARFORD MD- HIGHLAND VA-HOWARD MD-JEFFERSON WV-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA- MADISON VA-MINERAL WV-MONTGOMERY MD-MORGAN WV-NELSON VA- NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV- PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA- RAPPAHANNOCK VA-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD- SPOTSYLVANIA VA-ST. MARYS MD-STAFFORD VA-WARREN VA-WASHINGTON MD- 1216 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... AS A WARM FRONT PUSHES TO THE NORTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON...A MIDLEVEL DISTURBANCE APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL TRIGGER SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...WITH GUSTY TO DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED AS THE MAIN THREATS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. ROGOWSKI
Special weather statement, May 25, 2:10 PM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 310 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 MDZ001>003-VAZ021-025>031-WVZ048>055-252130- ALLEGANY MD-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV-CLARKE VA-FREDERICK VA-GARRETT MD- GRANT WV-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HIGHLAND VA-JEFFERSON WV-MINERAL WV- MORGAN WV-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-WARREN VA- WASHINGTON MD- 310 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 ...BROKEN LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HEADING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST... AT 3:10 PM...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A BROKEN LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL NEAR THE ALLEGHENY FRONT AND HIGHLANDS BETWEEN 4:00 PM AND 4:30 PM...SPREADING EAST ACROSS THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY TO THE BLUE RIDGE BY 6:00 PM. THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE WARNINGS. ROGOWSKI
Special weather statement, May 25, 3:09 PM EST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 409 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>057-WVZ048>055-260204- ALBEMARLE VA-ALLEGANY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV- CALVERT MD-CARROLL MD-CHARLES MD-CLARKE VA-CULPEPER VA- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-FREDERICK VA- FREDERICK MD-GRANT WV-GREENE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HARFORD MD- HIGHLAND VA-HOWARD MD-JEFFERSON WV-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA- MADISON VA-MINERAL WV-MONTGOMERY MD-MORGAN WV-NELSON VA- NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV- PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA- RAPPAHANNOCK VA-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD- SPOTSYLVANIA VA-ST. MARYS MD-STAFFORD VA-WARREN VA-WASHINGTON MD- 409 PM EDT TUE MAY 25 2004 ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND A NORTHWARD MOVING WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING WIND GUSTS 60 TO 70 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:07 UTC.
Event by event
4 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Page
- When
- May 25, 5:10 PM EST
- Where
- Page County, Luray
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 38.667, -78.467
Quarter size hail was reported in Luray. The hail dented cars and damaged gardens.
Tornado, Loudoun
- When
- May 25, 5:49 PM EST to 5:52 PM EST
- Where
- Loudoun County, 1 mi NW of Lovettsville
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.5 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- NWS STORM SURVEY
- Coordinates
- 39.283, -77.650
A very weak tornado damaged a few trees near Lovettsville. Eye witnesses reported golf ball size hail covering the ground as this storm moved across the area. Overall damage from the tornado was minimal.
Thunderstorm Wind, Loudoun
- When
- May 25, 5:57 PM EST
- Where
- Loudoun County, Purcellville
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 39.150, -77.717
Multiple trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Culpeper
- When
- May 25, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Culpeper County, Boston
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 38.533, -78.133
Trees down on houses and an apartment complex. Several utility poles were snapped, and many trees down in a 100 yard wide area.
Thunderstorm Wind, Culpeper
- When
- May 25, 6:14 PM EST
- Where
- Culpeper County, Culpeper
- Measured
- 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 38.483, -78.000
Trees down across Route 22.
Hail, Falls Church (C)
- When
- May 25, 7:00 PM EST to 7:20 PM EST
- Where
- Falls Church (C) County, Falls Church
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 38.883, -77.183
Nickel size hail fell in Falls Church for about 20 minutes.
Hail, Fairfax (C)
- When
- May 25, 7:03 PM EST
- Where
- Fairfax (C) County, Fairfax
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 38.850, -77.300
Quarter size hail reported at Route 50 and Prosperity.
Hail, Alexandria (C)
- When
- May 25, 7:20 PM EST
- Where
- Alexandria (C) County, Theological Seminary
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 38.817, -77.083
Hail the size of a half dollar was reported.
What these are
- 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.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado in Pennsylvania, May 25, 2004
- Damaging Wind in West Virginia, May 25, 2004
- Tornadoes and Hail in Maryland, May 25, 2004
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, May 25, 2004
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Indiana, May 25 to 26, 2004
- Flash Flood in Virginia, May 25, 2004
- Flood in Wisconsin, May 25 to 31, 2004
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, May 25, 2004
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, May 25, 2004
- Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 25, 2004
- Hail in Missouri, May 25, 2004
- Hail in Pennsylvania, May 25, 2004
More
Every storm in Virginia in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2004Warnings in Virginia, May 2004
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: 5396438, 5396439, 5396441, 5396440, 5396442, 5396443, 5396446, 5396444, 5396445.