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Public Information Statement...Corrected for intensity rating 
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 
1138 PM EDT Wed Apr 18 2018

***UPDATED FOR EF-SCALE RATING CHANGE FROM EF-2 TO EF-3***

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY SUMMARY FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG AND INCLUDING
PARTS OF CAMPBELL AND AMHERST COUNTIES FOR A TORNADO EVENT 
ON SUNDAY APRIL 15 2018...

***Based on additional analysis of damage photos and discussions 
with experts on tornado damage we have increased the maximum winds 
in the Elon community in Amherst County from 130 mph to 150 mph, 
which is in the EF-3 category***

The NWS has completed a survey of damage that impacted northwest Campbell 
County, the City of Lynchburg, and southern Amherst Co, and confirmed a 
tornado with 20.4 mile long path length, with maximum winds speeds 
of 150 mph. This puts at the mid range of the EF3 scale.  Here are 
some specifics:

Start Location...Near Timberlake in Campbell County VA
End Location...5.5 miles west-northwest of Amherst in Amherst County VA
Date...April 15 2018
Estimated Time...700 to 725 PM EDT Sunday April 15 2018 
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF3 Estimated 
Maximum Wind Speed...150 mph 
Maximum Path Width...600 yards 
Path Length...20.4 miles 
Beginning Lat/Lon...37.3264 / -79.241 
Ending Lat/Lon...37.606, -79.163
* Fatalities...None
* Injuries...12 (estimated)

...Summary...

The tornado first touched down in northwest Campbell County, just south of
Waterlink Road and east of Timberlake Road (37.3264, -79.241), doing EF1
damage to trees as well as some roof damage, with an initial path width of 
about 100 yards. It then tracked NNW initially, then NNE and followed along 
the east side of Timberlake Road, damaging a number of businesses, flipping 
some cars and a truck trailer.  Here it reached low-end EF2 wind speeds
of 115 mph.  It then crossed Timberlake Road as it moved into the western
City limits of Lynchburg.

In Lynchburg, the tornado damaged a mobile home park, with minor damage to
roofs of homes and business and snapping dozens of trees as it crossed 
Boonesboro Road. Here it widened to about 600 yards wide doing EF1 damage.  
It then crossed the James River into Amherst County.

In Amherst County the tornado crossed Highway 130 in the Elon area and
strengthened to its maximum intensity with winds estimated at 150 mph. Here
dozens of homes were badly damaged, some nearly completely, and many large
pine trees were snapped off and left with no branches. A motor home was
carried about 30 feet and tipped over. The hardest hit areas were along
Nottaway Drive and Deerfield Drive. The damage path was about 400 yards wide
in this area, but the strong EF3 damage was about 100 yards wide.  The tornado
then continued moving NNE doing mainly damage to trees and some minor roof
damage to homes. Many hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted as it
tracked along parts of High Peak Road and appeared to be as wide as 400 yards
at times, doing EF1 damage, before it eventually crossed Wares Gap Road and
dissipated as it began to move up Shady Mountain Ridge (37.606, -79.163).

The National Weather Service would like to express sincere gratitude to the 
emergency officials from Campbell and Amherst Counties, as well as the City
of Lynchburg. 


EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$

Keighton