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Weather Service confirms tornado hit Petersburg

Posted at 1:29 PM, Jun 02, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-02 16:56:56-04

PETERSBURG, Va. (WTVR) - The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down on Friday, June 1.

The tornado contained winds of 80 to 85 mph, tracked about 3 miles and was between 150 and 200 yards wide.  It began on the western edge of Fort Hayes Common, damage to trees occurred.  The tornado continued to the northeast through parts of the Battlefield Park, Oakhurst and East Walnut Hill.  It then crossed Interstate 95, producing damage to windows and signs near the intersection of Route 460 and Hickory Hill Rd.

The most concentrated damage occurred on the north side of the Petersburg National Battlefield, with downed power lines and some trees falling on homes.  Damage was heaviest in the East Walnut Hill and northeast sections of the Oakhurst neighborhoods.

With winds of 80 to 85 mph, the tornado is classified as an EF-0.  The "enhanced Fujitia" scale rates tornado damage intensity on a six-level scale, from EF-0 to EF-5.

Tornado damage survey information courtesy of the National Weather Service in Wakefield, VA.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: June 1 storms down trees, knock out power across Commonwealth