Tornado Throws Shipping Container 100 Yards In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- The National Weather Service has confirmed reports that a tornado touched down in Fairfax County early Tuesday morning, and they say it threw a shipping container 100 yards near a school.

NWS says that a weak tornado rated EF-0 with estimated maximum wind speeds of 70 miles per hour touched down at 5:54 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School in Lincolnia.

The tornado only lasted for a minute and probably only traveled a quarter mile, but it was enough to cause damage to fences, two sheds, light poles, and several trees in the area just south of the softball field.

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"A shipping container was lofted over 100 yards as the tornado crossed the softball field moving northeast over an adjacent athletic field," the report states. "The tornado then lifted over the northeastern part of the school property."

Because it happened early in the morning during summer break, no one was at the school when the tornado struck. Therefore, there were no injuries.

Editor's note: The picture above depicts a different tornado.

(Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)