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Mecklenburg County storm survey concludes damage caused by straight-line winds

Posted at 6:19 AM, Apr 23, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-23 06:19:36-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The National Weather Service in Wakefield concluded their storm damage survey Monday in Mecklenburg County. Even though this damage was caused by a severe thunderstorm that had a tornado warning on it, and exhibited some characteristics of a storm capable of producing a tornado, the conclusion is that straight-line winds were responsible, not a tornado. Here is the report:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
325 PM EDT MON APR 22 2013

...DOWNBURST/STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE CONFIRMED IN SOUTHWEST 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY...

LOCATION...MERRIFIELD ACRES...3 MILES SE OF CLARKSVILLE VA
DATE...04/19/2013
ESTIMATED TIME...452 PM
ESTIMATED WIND SPEED...60 TO 70 MPH
INJURIES...NONE
DEATHS...NONE

...SUMMARY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD CONDUCTED A STORM SURVEY 
OF THE DAMAGE IN SOUTHWEST MECKLENBURG COUNTY SOUTHEAST OF THE TOWN 
OF CLARKSVILLE. INITIAL DAMAGE REPORTS AND RADAR SIGNATURES 
SUGGESTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO. HOWEVER...THE SURVEY REVEALED ALL THE 
DAMAGE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH STRAIGHT LINES WINDS/DOWNBURST. NUMEROUS 
TREES WERE DOWNED...A FEW OF THE TREES FALLING ON HOMES. TREES FELL 
IN A GENERAL WEST TO EAST DIRECTION...INDICATING THE WINDS WERE PART 
OF THE DOWNDRAFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.

IN ADDITION TO THE WIND DAMAGE...A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF HAIL UP TO 
PING PONG BALL SIZE OCCURRED. THE LARGE AMOUNT OF HAIL CAUSED 
CONSIDERABLE FOLIAGE DAMAGE TO TREES...AS WELL AS TO THE SIDES AND 
ROOFS OF SOME HOMES.

You can also read this report HERE.

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