Isaias spawned at least 10 tornadoes in region, National Weather Service confirms
Tropical Storm Isaias brought at least 10 tornadoes to parts of eastern Virginia and northeast North Carolina, the National Weather Service in Wakefield reported Friday afternoon.
The weather service has been compiling damage reports and tornado surveys since the storm tore through the region Tuesday, leaving two dead and 14 injured in Bertie County, causing property damage throughout Hampton Roads and leaving tens of thousands without power in the region.
The tornado in Bertie County was the first EF-3 tornado in the forecast area since Feb. 24, 2016.
There are five EF ratings for a tornado — with higher numbers meaning a more powerful tornado.
“EF-3 tornadoes are quite rare in our forecast area and are even rarer when associated with tropical cyclones,” the weather service’s report said.
The tornado destroyed several mobile homes and stick-built houses primarily in the area of the Cedar Landing community — also known as “The Neck.” It flattened seven single-wide and doublewide mobile homes and left what the weather service called “unrecognizable bits of debris.”
The weather service also confirmed two tornadoes in Suffolk — one, which left damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado, reached peak wind speeds around 100 mph. The tornado traveled more than 26 miles and damaged at least eight buildings in downtown Suffolk.
Homeowners in the city told a Virginian-Pilot reporter that a freight train-like sound sent them scurrying for safety in bathtubs, closets or hallways.
A second tornado in Suffolk snapped and uprooted trees on a path that started just west of the Great Dismal Swamp and ended about 3.5 miles southeast of Windsor, according to the weather service. The damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado.
The weather service said a tornado with wind speeds from 85 to 95 mph snapped trees and blew shingles from roofs in James City County. A garage door caved in and a brick gable collapsed. The damage from the storm caused damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado.
Gloucester saw an EF-1 tornado. The weather service believes the twister developed as a waterspout over the York River before moving onshore at Middle Peninsula State Park. The tornado tore roof materials and siding from several homes.
An EF-1 tornado was confirmed in the Fleeton part of Northumberland County, and stronger EF-2 tornadoes were confirmed near Courtland and Kilmarnock. EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed in Como and Murfreesboro in North Carolina.
The National Weather Service issued more than 40 tornado warnings during the storm. It said the report may be subject to change.
“This is just the first storm in the hurricane season, a bit earlier than we would have hoped for, so I encourage all Virginians to make sure you are prepared — be ready for power outages or even evacuations as we move further into the season,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a Wednesday news conference.
The weather service reported the tropical storm also brought more than 6 inches of rain to parts of York and James City counties. Strong winds resulted in moderate and some locally major tidal flooding north of the Albemarle and Currituck sounds and Back Bay in Virginia Beach.
The total number of customers without power in Hampton Roads neared 300,000 at various parts of the day Tuesday. Dominion reported that after initial assessments, Tropical Storm Isaias ranked as the 10th largest and most damaging storm in Dominion Energy’s history.