Tornadoes · United States · Virginia · 2011
EF1 tornado, Green Cove, Virginia, April 27, 2011
This EF1 tornado ran 0.5 miles across Washington County on April 27, 2011, touching down at 12:05 AM EDT and reaching 200 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $50,000 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.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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
- EF1
- Date
- April 27, 2011
- Touchdown
- 12:05 AM EDT (04:05 UTC)
- Lifted
- 12:06 AM EDT (04:06 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.5 miles (0.8 km)
- Path width
- 200 yards (183 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $50,000
- County
- Washington County
- Touchdown point
- 36.615, -81.664
- Lift-off point
- 36.622, -81.639
- Record number
- 1104272205-01
What the Weather Service recorded
Favorable atmospheric conditions resulted in a deadly tornado outbreak across southwest Virginia on the 27th. The tornadoes produced from light to heavy damage to many homes and businesses across southeast Virginia. The thunderstorms produced 4 tornadoes across the area along with 4 deaths and 50 injured.
Green Cove Tornado. A NWS Storm Survey reported an EF1 tornado touched down near Green Cove on the Virginia Creeper Trail. It had a path width of 200 yards and a path length of 0.5 miles. The max wind of 90 mph downed numerous trees.
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. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 21:46 UTC and running to 04:51 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 UTC | 19:07 UTC | Wind Advisory | MRX |
| 19:07 UTC | 06:00 UTC | High Wind Warning | MRX |
| 21:46 UTC | 04:51 UTC | Tornado Watch | MRX |
| 22:40 UTC | 23:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX |
| 00:54 UTC | 02:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX |
| 01:18 UTC | 02:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | MRX |
| 01:50 UTC | 02:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | MRX |
| 02:41 UTC | 03:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | MRX |
| 03:57 UTC | 04:13 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX |
| 04:19 UTC | 05:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX |
| 04:51 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | MRX |
| 04:51 UTC | 06:49 UTC | Tornado Watch | MRX |
| 05:29 UTC | 08:30 UTC | Flood Advisory | MRX |
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 Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:50 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.
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), 00:00Z
4.1 hours before the tornado, 168 km from the path. April 28, 2011.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2272 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1674 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 766 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 233 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 271 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.5
- Supercell composite
- 14.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.2 K/km
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), 12:00Z
7.9 hours after it, 168 km from the path. April 28, 2011.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 320 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -95 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 305 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 940 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 55 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 327 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 371 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 1.8
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.8 K/km
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 131 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:03 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) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:45 UTC | HAIL 2 | 7 W Bristol Va | Washington, VA | |
| 01:55 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 7 Nne Bristol Tn | Washington, VA | REEDY CREEK ROAD AND BUFFALO POND ROAD |
| 01:55 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 7 Nne Bristol Tn | Washington, VA | |
| 02:00 UTC | HAIL 1 | Marion | Smyth, VA | FELL ALONG SHOP STREET IN MARION. |
| 02:15 UTC | TORNADO | 1 S Abingdon | Washington, VA | EF0. JUST SOUTH OF ABINGDON. PATH LENGTH OF 2 MILES. WIDTH WAS VERY NARROW. MAX WINDS OF 75 MPH. DAMAGE WAS MAINLY LIMITED TO DOWNED TREES. |
| 02:19 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | 10 N Bristol Tn | Washington, VA | |
| 02:23 UTC | HAIL 1 | Richlands | Tazewell, VA | |
| 02:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Abingdon | Washington, VA | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. |
| 02:30 UTC | HAIL 1 | Richlands | Tazewell, VA | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON LAKE PARK ROAD. |
| 02:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Saltville | Smyth, VA | REPORTS OF NUMEROUS TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES DOWN IN AND AROUND TOWN |
| 02:32 UTC | HAIL 4.5 | Saltville | Smyth, VA | REPORTS OF NUMEROUS TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES DOWN IN AND AROUND TOWN |
| 02:44 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ssw Tazewell | Tazewell, VA | TREE DOWN IN THOMPSON VALLEY |
| 02:46 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Tazewell | Tazewell, VA | TREE DOWN ON CENTRAL AVENUE |
| 02:55 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | Richlands | Tazewell, VA | HOUSE FLOODED ON LAKE PARK ROAD. |
| 03:17 UTC | HAIL 1 | Chilhowie | Smyth, VA | |
| 03:17 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 1 Sse Chilhowie | Smyth, VA | |
| 03:52 UTC | FLOOD | Tazewell | Tazewell, VA | MINOR FLOODING DUE TO WATER FLOWING OVER ROADS AND BRIDGES AROUND THE TOWN |
| 04:25 UTC | HAIL 1 | Marion | Smyth, VA | ON SHOP STREET IN MARION. |
| 04:25 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | Marion | Smyth, VA | |
| 04:30 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Sugar Grove | Smyth, VA | |
| 05:15 UTC | TORNADO | Glade Spring | Washington, VA | *** 3 FATAL, 50 INJ *** EF3. MAX WIND 130 MPH. SMALL CHURCH DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO RESIDENTIAL AREA AND TO BUSINESSES. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. |
| 05:15 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nw Chilhowie | Smyth, VA | *** 1 INJ *** A NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM CONCLUDED THAT A TORNADO ENTERED SMYTH COUNTY FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY AT 115 AM EDT AND LIFTED ALONG CARLOCK CREEK ROAD NEAR BRUSHY MOUNTAIN AT 120 AM EDT. THE TORNADO CAUSED EF2 DAMA |
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 27, 2011
209 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27 | 1:12 AM CDT | EF1 | Yazoo, MS | 9.7 | 250 | $70,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:15 AM CDT | EF1 | Leflore, MS | 27.7 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:24 AM CDT | EF1 | Leflore, MS | 3.2 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:36 AM CDT | EF0 | LaSalle Parish, LA | 8.0 | 100 | $40,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:40 AM CDT | EF2 | Holmes, MS | 12.3 | 1,760 | $100,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:40 AM CDT | EF3 | Holmes, MS | 23.0 | 1,760 | $700,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:51 AM CDT | EF2 | Attala, MS | 23.0 | 860 | $553,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:51 AM CDT | EF0 | Holmes, MS | 1.7 | 50 | $25,000 | ||
| April 27 | 1:59 AM CDT | EF2 | Holmes, MS | 8.8 | 880 | $10,000 | ||
| April 27 | 2:06 AM CDT | EF1 | Grenada, MS | 1.9 | 150 | $60,000 | ||
| April 27 | 2:17 AM CDT | EF2 | Montgomery, MS | 11.7 | 1,760 | $425,000 | ||
| April 27 | 2:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Attala, MS | 0.5 | 50 | $25,000 | ||
| April 27 | 2:25 AM CDT | EF2 | Choctaw, MS | 6.8 | 1,750 | 2 | $350,000 | |
| April 27 | 2:29 AM CDT | EF1 | Winston, MS | 4.2 | 150 | $85,000 | ||
| April 27 | 2:29 AM CDT | EF3 | Choctaw, MS | 58.7 | 1,800 | 25 | $5.4 million | |
| April 27 | 2:37 AM CDT | EF2 | Webster, MS | 13.3 | 1,320 | 1 | 5 | $605,000 |
| April 27 | 2:47 AM CDT | EF1 | Winston, MS | 7.3 | 200 | $60,000 | ||
| April 27 | 3:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Noxubee, MS | 6.2 | 150 | $300,000 | ||
| April 27 | 3:43 AM CDT | EF2 | Tishomingo, MS | 9.3 | 150 | 1 | $500,000 | |
| April 27 | 4:01 AM CDT | EF1 | Lauderdale, AL to TN | 9.2 | 200 | $1,000 | ||
| April 27 | 4:03 AM CDT | EF2 | Kemper, MS to AL | 35.2 | 1,410 | $3.2 million | ||
| April 27 | 4:19 AM CDT | EF1 | Lauderdale, AL | 1.8 | 100 | 1 | ||
| April 27 | 4:27 AM CDT | EF2 | Pickens, AL | 14.4 | 1,232 | $1.8 million | ||
| April 27 | 4:41 AM CDT | EF3 | Pickens, AL | 22.5 | 704 | $741,000 | ||
| April 27 | 5:03 AM CDT | EF1 | Fayette, AL | 7.3 | 176 | 4 | $1.4 million | |
| April 27 | 5:17 AM CDT | EF3 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 20.3 | 200 | $9.3 million | ||
| April 27 | 5:18 AM CDT | EF3 | Walker, AL | 18.9 | 375 | 20 | $13 million | |
| April 27 | 5:38 AM CDT | EF2 | Lincoln, TN | 25.9 | 400 | |||
| April 27 | 5:40 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, TN | 2.9 | 100 | $75,000 | ||
| April 27 | 5:47 AM CDT | EF0 | Rutherford, TN | 2.1 | 50 | $8,000 | ||
| April 27 | 5:48 AM CDT | EF2 | Cullman, AL | 30.3 | 880 | 1 | ||
| April 27 | 5:50 AM CDT | EF1 | Shelby, AL | 3.4 | 100 | $3.7 million | ||
| April 27 | 5:50 AM CDT | EF1 | Lawrence, TN | 2.7 | 150 | 1 | $11,000 | |
| April 27 | 5:52 AM CDT | EF0 | Rutherford, TN | 1.6 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| April 27 | 5:53 AM CDT | EF2 | Blount, AL | 3.2 | 200 | 3 | $9.3 million | |
| April 27 | 5:54 AM CDT | EF2 | Jefferson, AL | 7.8 | 200 | 20 | $18 million | |
| April 27 | 6:12 AM CDT | EF1 | Blount, AL | 14.8 | 200 | $42,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:13 AM CDT | EF2 | Moore, TN | 2.0 | 75 | $25,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:16 AM CDT | EF2 | St. Clair, AL | 3.8 | 200 | 5 | $865,000 | |
| April 27 | 6:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 11.0 | 75 | |||
| April 27 | 6:24 AM CDT | EF0 | Smith, TN | 3.4 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:24 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 6.4 | 100 | |||
| April 27 | 6:30 AM CDT | EF2 | Marshall, AL | 20.0 | 880 | |||
| April 27 | 6:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 4.6 | 50 | |||
| April 27 | 6:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 3.4 | 100 | |||
| April 27 | 6:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 5.7 | 50 | |||
| April 27 | 6:32 AM CDT | EF1 | Green, KY | 3.1 | 150 | |||
| April 27 | 6:35 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 4.9 | 100 | |||
| April 27 | 6:35 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 0.3 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:43 AM CDT | EF0 | Marshall, AL | 2.8 | 75 | |||
| April 27 | 6:45 AM CDT | EF0 | Coffee, TN | 1.7 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:45 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 4.8 | 200 | |||
| April 27 | 6:45 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 6.9 | 300 | |||
| April 27 | 6:47 AM CDT | EF1 | Jackson, TN | 3.3 | 100 | $10,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:49 AM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, TN | 2.0 | 50 | $20,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:49 AM CDT | EF1 | Marshall, AL | 1.6 | 100 | |||
| April 27 | 6:50 AM CDT | EF1 | Warren, TN | 13.2 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| April 27 | 6:58 AM CDT | EF1 | DeKalb, AL | 27.9 | 300 | 1 | ||
| April 27 | 7:02 AM CDT | EF1 | Monroe, KY | 5.9 | 550 | |||
| April 27 | 7:10 AM CDT | EF2 | DeKalb, AL | 5.8 | 200 | $30,000 |
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.