At least two tornadoes were reported in Virginia on Sunday as a powerful storm system moved along the Interstate 95 corridor, affecting millions across the East Coast.
The National Weather Service confirmed that an eyewitness spotted a tornado briefly touching down in a field near Montross, Virginia. Another possible tornado downed a powerline in James City County near Five Forks. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported so far.
In addition to the tornado activity, severe thunderstorms knocked down trees across a wide swath from Virginia to South Carolina, causing localized damage and power outages.
The severe weather came after NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 2 risk — on a scale of 1 to 5 — for a vast portion of the eastern U.S., including cities like Savannah, GA; Columbia, SC; Wilmington and Raleigh, NC; Richmond and Virginia Beach, VA; and Washington, D.C.
A Tornado Watch was in effect for more than 10 million people in the mid-Atlantic, including Fredericksburg and Richmond in Virginia, though it expired late Sunday evening without further tornado confirmations.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center also issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flooding risk for portions of seven states and the D.C. area, as heavy rain accompanied the storms.
Authorities are urging residents to remain alert for updates and to report any additional storm-related damage to local officials.
