Herndon Tornado Plowed a 3-Mile Path Through Town: National Weather Service

HERNDON, VA — The National Weather Service has released the full details of the tornado that struck Herndon on April 6, revealing that it traveled more than three miles in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

In its preliminary damage survey results on the seven tornadoes that struck the region during the severe April 6 storms, the National Weather Service determined that the tornado formed at 1:34 p.m. just off the western end of the Herndon Parkway and traveled 3.3 miles northeast, ending at 1:39 p.m. just over the county line in Loundoun County north of Herndon.

The tornado was a weak one, reaching an EF-0 rating (EF-5 being the most powerful) with peak winds of 70 miles per hour. It had a max width of 25 yards and caused no injuries.

"A path of sporadic damage, mainly to trees, began just east of Rock Hill Road in between the Dulles Greene and Capstone apartment complexes in Herndon," the National Weather Service stated in the report. "About a half dozen trees here were either snapped or uprooted in a convergent pattern. One of the trees was thrown into the window of a nearby apartment building.

"The tornado continued north-northeast, where additional tree damage was noted near the intersections of Summerfield Drive and Autumn Breeze Court, and Sterling Road (VA-606) and Herndon Parkway. Several trees were downed from east to west, and fencing was blown down north to south."

The tornado may have lifted briefly before touching down again near the intersection of Crestview Drive and Builders Road, which caused a dozen trees to snap or uproot and fencing to be blown down.

"Additional minor and sporadic tree damage was noted in a north-northeastward path, with several trees snapped and uprooted and an instance of siding damage noted by a trained spotter just east of South Lincoln Avenue," the report states. "The tornado likely lifted for a final time just northeast of the intersection of East Frederick Drive and Sugarland Road in Sterling Park."

Image via National Weather Service