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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
657 PM EST Fri Feb 7 2020

...EF-0 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN LEESBURG VIRGINIA FRIDAY MORNING FEB 7 2020...

Location...Town of Leesburg in Loudoun County Virginia
Date...Fri Feb 7 2020
Estimated Time...7:20 AM EST to 7:23 AM EST
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph
Maximum Path Width...250 yards
Path Length...3.3 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...39.0946/-77.5874 
Ending Lat/Lon...39.1291/-77.5431
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
Staff from NOAA's National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Weather
Forecast Office located in Sterling, VA performed a survey of 
storm damage that occurred in the Town of Leesburg, VA on the 
morning of February 7, 2020. This survey, coupled with radar 
analysis from the KLWX WSR-88D and the FAA's TIAD Terminal Doppler
Weather Radar, concluded that a tornado rated EF0 on the Enhanced
Fujita Scale impacted the Town of Leesburg between 7:20 AM EST 
and 7:23 AM EST. The tornado had a path length of 3.3 miles 
producing intermittent damage, with a path width of up to 250 
yards. The tornado was moving northeast at approximately 60 mph.

The first damage was reported in the Greenway Farm and Linden Hill
subdivision in SW Leesburg. Here numerous large tree limbs were 
downed along with several trees completely uprooted. The damage 
was determined to be concentrated between Lawford Drive and 
Nickels Drive in a wooded area, and also along Governors Drive and
Country Club Drive. TIAD radar was showing a rotational signature
beginning at 7:20 AM in these locations. Wind gusts in this area 
were estimated to be 65 MPH from radar analysis and damage 
indicators.

The tornado then lifted over Route 7, with just some minor tree 
damage noted in the 800 block of Davis Court SE. The historic 
downtown portion of the Town of Leesburg, near King and Market 
Streets, was spared with just minimal damage. The only noteworthy
damage that was observed was tree damage along Monroe Street.

As the tornado moved into NE Leesburg, both the radar and the 
storm survey indicated that it became much stronger. Two areas of 
widespread, concentrated tree damage were found. The first one 
was in the vicinity of Lounsberry Road NE and the Exeter 
Subdivision; which are north of Edwards Ferry Road and south of 
Battlefield Parkway NE. A townhome on Ginger Square NE had its 
siding and underlayment completely peeled off, exposing it's roof
trusses. Many homes along Marshall Drive NE also had roofing 
damage, along with trees uprooted and large branches downed. One 
house had lawn furniture lifted and blown in the opposite 
direction of the way the trees were fallen and debris was 
plastered on cars and homes. Damage was noted spanning the 500 and
600 blocks of Marshall Drive NE, which supports the damage width 
estimate of 250 yards.
 
The other area of concentrated wind damage was north of 
Battlefield Parkway NE, in and around the Fieldstone Apartment 
complex. Here, fifteen to twenty 1.5-2.0 foot diameter pines were 
uprooted. Of special note was a line of 5 large pine trees in the
easternmost portion of the apartment complex which were uprooted 
and which fell onto two unoccupied vehicles. Several of these 
trees did fall in a convergent pattern. Additional large pine 
trees were uprooted along the US Route 15 Leesburg Bypass near its
intersection with Battlefield Parkway NE.

Analysis from TIAD radar showed velocity measurements up to 77 
knots at approximately 210 feet above ground level as the tornado 
was in the vicinity of the Fieldstone Apartments. Taking into 
account some decrease in the wind's magnitude as it got closer to 
ground level, along with the damage indicated in and around the 
Fieldstone Apartments, corroborates estimated wind gusts of up to 
85 mph.

The NWS Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office thanks the 
Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management with providing 
information supporting the storm survey.

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

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

$$

Lee