Tornadoes · United States · Virginia · 2011

EF2 tornado, Ruark to Deltaville, Virginia, April 16, 2011

From Ruark to Deltaville, this EF2 tornado ran 2.8 miles across Middlesex County on April 16, 2011, touching down at 7:25 PM EDT and reaching 400 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $6.0 million of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mphthis tornado

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF2
Date
April 16, 2011
Touchdown
7:25 PM EDT (23:25 UTC)
Lifted
7:35 PM EDT (23:35 UTC)
On the ground
10 minutes
Path length
2.8 miles (4.5 km)
Path width
400 yards (366 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$6.0 million
County
Middlesex County
Touchdown point
37.533, -76.353
Lift-off point
37.569, -76.330
Record number
1104161725-01

What the Weather Service recorded

Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and numerous tornadoes across portions of central and eastern Virginia.

Tornado developed in southeast Middlesex county along the Plankatank River. It moved northeast through Deltaville then off the land and dissipated over the Rappahannock River. Thirty five homes in Deltaville sustained major damage or were destroyed by the tornado. An additional 25 homes sustained minor damage or were affected by the tornado or its associated debris. with many being severely damaged. Numerous trees were downed and many were sheared off.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
14:00 UTC10:01 UTCCoastal Flood AdvisoryAKQ
21:00 UTC19:01 UTCCoastal Flood WatchAKQ

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 20:03 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), 12:00Z

11.4 hours before the tornado, 93 km from the path. April 16, 2011.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -90201, lifted condensation level 676 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 286 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 60 knots.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90201 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
676 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
286 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
351 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
3.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), 00:00Z

0.6 hours after it, 93 km from the path. April 17, 2011.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 56 joules per kilogram, CIN -92, lifted condensation level 542 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 537 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 46 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
56 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-92 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
542 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
537 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
663 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.5
0-3 km lapse rate
4.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:23 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
22:30 UTCTORNADO4 E Church ViewMiddlesex, VANWS STORM SURVEY DETERMINED THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF1 TORNADO. THE TORNADO TRACKED FROM LAGRANGE CREEK ACROSS CORBIN HALL FARM TO FAMILY LANE. THE PATH WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS AROUND A QUARTER MILE.
22:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Sse Queens LakeJames City, VATREES DOWN ON POCAHONTAS TRAIL
23:00 UTCTSTM WND DMGWicomico ChurchNorthumberland, VALARGE TREES BLOCKING ROAD
23:05 UTCTORNADO 23 E Gloucester CourthouGloucester, VANWS STORM SURVEY DETERMINED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. THE TORNADO DAMAGE WAS ALONG A NEARLY CONTINUOUS DAMAGE PATH FROM NEAR COKE TO WARE NECK IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY. A MORE DETAILED PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT...
23:05 UTCTORNADO1 N White MarshGloucester, VAEXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO PAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
23:05 UTCTORNADO1 Sw ClamGloucester, VA3 HOUSES DAMAGED ON HUMMINGBIRD LN. UNCONFIRMED FATALITIES. STORM SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED SUNDAY MORNING.
23:05 UTCTORNADO1 Sw CloptonGloucester, VA3 HOUSES DAMAGED ON HUMMINGBIRD LN. POSSIBLE FATALIES.
23:10 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Sse AvalonNorthumberland, VALARGE TREE AND POWERLINES BLOCKING ROAD
23:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Ne EdwardsvilleNorthumberland, VALARGE TREES AND POWERLINES KNOCKED DOWN ON HULL ROAD.
23:25 UTCTORNADODeltavilleMiddlesex, VANWS STORM SURVEY DETERMINED THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. THE TORNADO DEVELOPED IN SOUTHEASTERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY ALONG THE PLANKATANK RIVER MOVING NORTHEAST THROUGH DELTAVILLE THEN OFF THE LAND AND DISS
00:40 UTCTSTM WND DMGBirdsnestNorthampton, VANUMEROUS TREES REPORTED KNOCKED DOWN
00:40 UTCTSTM WND DMGEastvilleNorthampton, VANUMEROUS TREES REPORTED KNOCKED DOWN
00:46 UTCTSTM WND DMGExmoreNorthampton, VANUMEROUS TREES REPORTED KNOCKED DOWN
00:46 UTCTSTM WND DMGPainterAccomack, VANUMEROUS TREES REPORTED KNOCKED DOWN

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2011 tornado in VirginiaEvery tornado in Virginia since 1950Warnings in force in Virginia nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 16, 2011

56 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 164:50 AM EDTEF1Chattahoochee, GA0.350$250,000
April 166:02 AM EDTEF1Bibb, GA3.5500$2.0 million
April 1612:41 PM EDTEF1Rowan, NC4.0100
April 1612:59 PM EDTEF0Union, NC3.050
April 162:03 PM EDTEF0Rockbridge, VA1.3100$6,000
April 162:06 PM EDTEF1Alamance, NC10.7300$980,000
April 162:20 PM EDTEF0Augusta, VA3.8200$2.2 million
April 161:40 PM CDTEF2Person, NC to VA26.23006$1.1 million
April 162:53 PM EDTEF3Moore, NC65.25006103$172 million
April 163:25 PM EDTEF1Dillon, SC1.54403$180,000
April 163:27 PM EDTEF0Clarendon, SC9.640$12,000
April 163:30 PM EDTEF1Lunenburg, VA16.9300$100,000
April 163:33 PM EDTEF1Robeson, NC0.750$1.5 million
April 163:33 PM EDTEF3Hoke, NC52.98002176$141 million
April 163:47 PM EDTEF1Robeson, NC1.5352$3.0 million
April 164:13 PM EDTEF1Clarendon, SC8.950$14,000
April 164:25 PM EDTEF2Bladen, NC29.9800313$11 million
April 164:37 PM EDTEF1Dinwiddie, VA7.04005$1.5 million
April 164:50 PM EDTEF1Johnston, NC8.6100
April 164:58 PM EDTEF2Bladen, NC13.14401$3.1 million
April 165:03 PM EDTEF1Berkeley, SC7.9120
April 165:12 PM EDTEF0Duplin, NC0.230
April 165:12 PM EDTEF2Wilson, NC9.020010$3.0 million
April 165:20 PM EDTEF2Halifax, NC8.2300$1.2 million
April 165:32 PM EDTEF3Wayne, NC20.440030$30 million
April 165:33 PM EDTEF0Columbus, NC0.225
April 165:41 PM EDTEF0Georgetown, SC0.230$28,000
April 165:45 PM EDTEF0Georgetown, SC0.630$40,000
April 165:50 PM EDTEF1Southampton, VA1.9300$30,000
April 165:53 PM EDTEF1Georgetown, SC0.560$100,000
April 165:59 PM EDTEF1Georgetown, SC0.560$60,000
April 165:59 PM EDTEF1Pitt, NC3.3755$1.0 million
April 166:05 PM EDTEF1Columbus, NC1.150$35,000
April 166:20 PM EDTEF0Southampton, VA1.850$2,000
April 166:30 PM EDTEF1Middlesex, VA1.1400$100,000
April 166:35 PM EDTEF0Duplin, NC0.6150
April 166:45 PM EDTEF3Surry, VA26.5800224$8.0 million
April 166:55 PM EDTEF3Bertie, NC17.91,3001258$3.3 million
April 167:05 PM EDTEF2Bertie, NC17.55008$1.1 million
April 167:07 PM EDTEF2Jones, NC2.4200$100,000
April 167:09 PM EDTEF0Martin, NC0.175$10,000
April 167:10 PM EDTEF2Isle of Wight, VA22.6400$300,000
April 167:12 PM EDTEF0Loudoun, VA4.150$4,000
April 167:37 PM EDTEF1Frederick, MD1.250$50,000
April 167:38 PM EDTEF1Frederick, MD4.450$50,000
April 167:40 PM EDTEF0Craven, NC0.130
April 167:47 PM EDTEF1Carroll, MD3.550$30,000
April 167:51 PM EDTEF0Carroll, MD1.975$20,000
April 168:08 PM EDTEF0Beaufort, NC0.630$4,000
April 168:11 PM EDTEF3Onslow, NC3.845030$9.4 million
April 168:20 PM EDTEF0York, PA0.52002$20,000
April 168:43 PM EDTEF2Craven, NC4.12007$4.0 million
April 168:52 PM EDTEF0Pamlico, NC0.130
April 169:01 PM EDTEF1Tyrrell, NC7.4550$400,000
April 169:30 PM EDTEF1Currituck, NC2.0200$40,000
April 169:35 PM EDTEF1Dare, NC0.7250$767,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.