Tornadoes · United States · Virginia · 2022
EF0 tornado, Fairfield, Virginia, May 6, 2022
This EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Rockbridge County on May 6, 2022, touching down at 8:40 PM EDT and reaching 60 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $8,000 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 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
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
- EF0
- Date
- May 6, 2022
- Touchdown
- 8:40 PM EDT (00:40 UTC)
- Path length
- 0.1 miles (0.2 km)
- Path width
- 60 yards (55 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $8,000
- County
- Rockbridge County
- Touchdown point
- 37.880, -79.290
- Lift-off point
- 37.880, -79.290
- Record number
- 2205061840-01
The damage survey
8 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS RNK, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 85 mph.
- Divergent pattern of debris.
- Left edge of damage pointing north.
- Opposite side of building. Convergent pattern.
- Brief tornado touchdown and lifted before this point.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
Several rounds of severe thunderstorms developed along and in advance of a cold front. Multicellular clusters and supercells were the primary storm modes during this event which produced damaging winds, large hail and a brief EF-0 tornado. CAPE values of 1,000 to 2,500 j/kg and helicity values near 300 m2/s2 contributed to the widespread and organized nature of the storms.
An EF-0 tornado briefly touched town a tenth of a mile northeast of the town of Fairfield. The tornado damaged three sides of a church on Main Street along with some farm outbuildings near the end of the path. A few trees were also downed as a result of the event. No injuries were reported.
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.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 18:34 UTC and running to 01:52 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:34 UTC | 01:52 UTC | Tornado Watch | RNK |
| 00:20 UTC | 01:01 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK |
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 19:54 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.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at May 6, 2:39 PM EDT, 6 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 6, 2:39 PM EDT, 6 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 239 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure was over the Mid Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys this afternoon with a front extending from the low into the Carolinas. This low will track slowly east tonight and Saturday bringing several periods of showers and thunderstorms through Sunday. As the low moves offshore, high pressure builds in with drier and warmer weather for Monday and Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday... Severe thunderstorms remain a threat this afternoon into tonight. Tornado Watch 186 in effect until 8 pm. Tornado Watch 187 in effect until 10 pm. Several rounds of convection expected this afternoon into tonight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of the cold front as it moves east tonight into Saturday. Strong to severe are possible this afternoon into tonight. Locally enhanced low level shear along the warm front will elevate the threat of a tornado this afternoon. Overall helicity of 200/300 m2/s2 and Convective Available Potential Energy in the 1000-2000 J/Kg range support the severe threat. Pockets of low clouds and fog will develop overnight especially where it rains. Low temperatures will be in the upper 40s in the mountains to the mid 50s in the piedmont. A closed upper level low will slowly directly overhead Saturday. This low should steepen the lapse rates aloft and continue to bring showers through Saturday with maybe a few thunderstorms in the afternoon. High temperatures Saturday will climb into the lower 50s in the mountains to the lower 70s in the piedmont. Moderate confidence in the Near Term Forecast. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday... Dry conditions return for the start of the week... A closed upper level low will be just north of the area and then track eastward, heading off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula by Sunday morning. Upper level ridging starts building into the area, extending from the Gulf of Mexico up near the Great Lakes. These two features establish decent north/northeasterly flow at 500mb. At the surface, the low pressure center slowly moves off to the North Carolina coast by Saturday night, and with it, decreasing our chances of showers and storms by the nighttime hours. Surface high pressure will sit to the north of the surface low in Eastern Canada, setting up a blocking pattern for the beginning of the week. Winds on the order of 10 to 20 mph from the north/northeast will dominate Sunday into Monday as we sit between these two features. Temperatures are a bit cooler for this period, thanks to the northerly flow, but we do stay dry through this period once the low pressure system moves offshore by Saturday evening. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday... Another round of shower and storm chances later in the week... The influence of the surface high pressure sitting to our north will keep us dry for the middle of the week. However, the surface low pressure that will have crossed the area on Saturday will continue to spin off the coast of the Southeastern US. By the end of the week, this will drift back westward, getting closer to the coast. As it approaches for the second half to end of the week, it will increase the possibility of another round of associated showers and storms. However, models differ in when the low will get close enough to the coast to bring the precipitation chances. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 140 PM EDT Friday... Low pressure was over the Mid Mississippi Valley with a front extending from the low into the Carolinas will track east this afternoon into Saturday. Winds will be out of the east to southeast on the north side of this boundary. As the front lifts north through the region the wind will turn to the southwest. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop ahead of the front. The most likely of timing of thunderstorms based on many Hi- Res convective allowing models is from 19Z/3PM through 03Z/11PM. Strong gusty wind and large hail are possible this afternoon and evening, especially in central and eastern Virginia and North Carolina. Average confidence on ceiling, visibility and wind. Below average confidence on timing of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening at any specific airport. Extended Aviation Discussion... A deep upper low will bring several rounds of showers with associated MVFR conditions for the Saturday and Sunday.Late night and early morning IFR/LIFR fog will be possible, especially where it rains. Clouds will remain Monday and Tuesday with sub-VFR ceilings still likely but dry weather is expected. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS/KK NEAR TERM...KK SHORT TERM...AS LONG TERM...AS AVIATION...AMS/KK
Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 2:48 PM EDT, 5 hours 52 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 248 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 VAZ020-WVZ507-508-071900- Bath-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 248 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a slight risk for strong to severe storms through this evening with wind and hail as the primary threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Reports should be submitted by phone by calling 1-866-215-4324, social media, by email at rnk.skywarn@noaa.gov or online at www.weather.gov/rnk. NCZ001>003-018>020-VAZ007-009-010-012-015-016-071900- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland- Wythe-Grayson-Carroll- 248 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 ...TORNADO WATCH 186 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Reports should be submitted by calling 1-866-215-4324, social media, email at rnk.skywarn@noaa.gov or online at www.weather.gov/rnk. NCZ004>006-VAZ011-013-014-017>019-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-071900- Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Giles-Pulaski-Montgomery-Floyd-Craig- Alleghany VA-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford- Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax- Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- 248 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 ...TORNADO WATCH 187 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Reports should be submitted by calling 1-866-215-4324, social media, email at rnk.skywarn@noaa.gov or online at www.weather.gov/rnk.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 6, 8:05 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
805 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
VAZ020-024-070045-
Bath VA-Rockbridge VA-
805 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of
northern Rockbridge and Bath Counties through 845 PM EDT...
At 805 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles west of Burnsville to near Nimrod Hall.
Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Goshen...
Millboro...
Warm Springs...
Rockbridge Baths...
Nimrod Hall...
Bells Valley...
and Burnsville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for central,
south central, southwestern and west central Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3822 7971 3820 7956 3818 7951 3815 7953
3817 7949 3817 7944 3815 7944 3809 7949
3797 7928 3792 7926 3786 7972 3789 7976
3821 7988 3825 7983 3826 7979
TIME...MOT...LOC 0005Z 246DEG 32KT 3822 7977 3790 7968
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
RABLocal storm report, May 6, 8:11 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
811 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM HAIL 1 N POAGES MILL 37.21N 80.05W
05/06/2022 E0.25 INCH ROANOKE VA PUBLIC
&&Local storm report, May 6, 8:12 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
812 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 PM HAIL 3 ENE FINCASTLE 37.51N 79.82W
05/06/2022 E0.25 INCH BOTETOURT VA PUBLIC
&&Local storm report, May 6, 8:22 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
822 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM HAIL ELLISTON 37.22N 80.23W
05/06/2022 M0.25 INCH MONTGOMERY VA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL AT LOCATION LASTED 1 TO 2 MINUTES.
&&
ASLocal storm report, May 6, 8:25 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
825 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0539 PM TSTM WND DMG CHILHOWIE 36.80N 81.68W
05/06/2022 SMYTH VA EMERGENCY MNGR
MULTIPLE STRUTURES WITH DAMAGE DUE TO
THUNDERSTORMS WINDS ALONG 35 EAST MAIN
STREET IN CHILHOWIE.
&&
ESTLocal storm report, May 6, 8:27 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
827 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0801 PM HAIL 2 ESE HOLLINS 37.33N 79.92W
05/06/2022 E0.25 INCH ROANOKE VA PUBLIC
&&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.
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), 00:00Z
0.7 hours before the tornado, 78 km from the path. May 7, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 509 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1582 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 961 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 55 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 14 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 70 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 140 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 4.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.5 K/km
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), 12:00Z
11.3 hours after it, 78 km from the path. May 7, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -92555 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 25 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 611 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 56 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 59 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.4 K/km
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 00:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23:35 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | 2 Ssw Hollins | Alleghany, VA | |
| 00:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 E Arcadia | Botetourt, VA | TREE DOWN. |
| 00:31 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Fairfield | Rockbridge, VA | STRAIGHT-LINE WIND DAMAGE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILES SOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY OF FAIRFIELD ALONG BORDEN GRANT TRAIL THEN CONTINUED ALONG A GENERALLY NORTHWARD PATH TO APPROXIMATELY 0.33 MILE EAST OF FAIRFIELD AND THEN |
| 00:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Fairfield | Rockbridge, VA | CAP BLOWN OFF A CHIMNEY AND A WHITE PINE TREE DOWN. A 30 POUND LADDER BLEW ACROSS OUR YARD. |
| 00:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Fairfield | Rockbridge, VA | A NUMBER OF LARGE MATURE TREES BLOWN DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF A HOUSE. |
| 00:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Rockbridge Baths | Rockbridge, VA | ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS THAT NUMEROUS TREES WERE DOWN (WELL OVER A DOZEN) IN BOTH ROCKBRIDGE BATHS AND FAIRFIELD. TREES WERE DOWN ALL ALONG MAURY RIVER ROAD. A WINDOW WAS BLOWN OUT AT A STORE IN FAIRF |
| 00:40 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ese Fairfield | Rockbridge, VA | AN EF-0 TORNADO OCCURRED 0.10 MILE NORTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF FAIRFIELD (37.88N, 79.29W). DAMAGE ALONG THE TORNADO PATH CONSISTED OF DAMAGE TO THREE SIDES OF A CHURCH, SEVERAL LARGE DOWNED TREES, AND DAMAGE TO THE SIDING O |
| 01:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ese Greenville | Augusta, VA | MULTIPLE LARGE TREES DOWN (UP TO 70 FEET TALL) AT STONEY CREEK RESORT AND CAMPGROUND. |
| 01:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ese Greenville | Augusta, VA | TREE AND BRANCHES DOWN ON LAKE DRIVE NEAR DEER TRAIL. |
| 01:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Stuarts Draft | Augusta, VA | TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN THE 2300 BLOCK OF INDIAN RIDGE ROAD. |
| 01:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Sherando | Augusta, VA | MULTIPLE TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN NEAR HOWARDSVILLE TURNPIKE AND CHINA CLAY ROAD. |
| 01:14 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 N Sherando | Augusta, VA | REPORT OF A LARGE UPROOTED TREE, A SNAPPED TREE, AND GENERALLY SPORADIC WIND DAMAGE. |
| 01:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Waynesboro | Augusta, VA | TREES DOWN ON GRANDVIEW DRIVE. |
| 01:26 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Waynesboro | Augusta, VA | TREE DOWN ON 5TH STREET NEAR N DELPHINE AVE. |
| 01:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Sse Greenwood | Albemarle, VA | A TREE BLEW DOWN IN THE 6900 BLOCK OF VA-636 BATESVILLE ROAD. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2022 tornado in VirginiaEvery tornado in Virginia since 1950Warnings in force in Virginia nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 6, 2022
13 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | 2:56 AM CDT | EF1 | Mobile, AL | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| May 6 | 3:47 AM CDT | EF1 | Baldwin, AL | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| May 6 | 1:49 PM EDT | EF1 | Pulaski, KY | 3.2 | 100 | 2 | ||
| May 6 | 4:14 PM EDT | EF1 | Pickens, SC | 0.5 | 150 | $10,000 | ||
| May 6 | 1:44 PM PDT | EF1 | Umatilla, OR | 2.9 | 175 | |||
| May 6 | 5:00 PM EDT | EF1 | Swain, NC | 0.5 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| May 6 | 5:08 PM EDT | EF1 | Orange, NC | 3.5 | 400 | $250,000 | ||
| May 6 | 5:44 PM EDT | EF0 | Jackson, IN | 0.1 | 20 | $10,000 | ||
| May 6 | 5:49 PM EDT | EF0 | Wakulla, FL | 2.5 | 25 | |||
| May 6 | 7:06 PM EDT | EF0 | Taylor, FL | 0.3 | 50 | $75,000 | ||
| May 6 | 7:41 PM EDT | EF1 | Rockingham, NC | 7.9 | 300 | $700,000 | ||
| May 6 | 8:03 PM PDT | EF0 | Spokane, WA | 0.6 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| May 6 | 8:17 PM PDT | EF0 | Spokane, WA | 2.1 | 250 | $40,000 |
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.