Tornado reported in Virginia as severe storms ripped across mid-Atlantic
Damaging wind and hail were reported with many storms Friday. There was also been at least one report of a tornado in Virginia.
Severe storms tear across mid-Atlantic
Powerful storms have brought damaging winds, hail and at least one reported tornado to the mid-Atlantic on Friday.
NORFOLK, Va. – The rain and storms aren't just happening across the South this week, as severe weather capped off the workweek in mid-Atlantic.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center forecast a Level 2 of 5 risk for severe weather Friday as a band of thunderstorms moves east through the region, bringing rain, hail and the potential for strong winds.
Storms started firing early Friday in Pennsylvania, with the National Weather Service issuing multiple Tornado Warnings near Philadelphia. There were some reports of broken tree limbs around the area, but no major damage was reported.
Earlier on Friday, reports of dime-sized hail started coming into the FOX Forecast Center from College Town, Pennsylvania.
Lightning could be seen from cameras over Philadelphia International Airport late Friday morning.
A funnel cloud was reported in Pemberton, New Jersey, about 1 p.m. EDT, but no major damage was reported. For current weather, see our U.S. Thunderstorm Maps
Thunderstorms blow into Elmer, New Jersey
Video from Elmer, New Jersey shows wind-driven rain and thunderstorms rolling in amid the threat of severe weather on Friday. (video credit: @KnaptonOliver/Twitter)
At least one tornado has been reported Friday in the mid-Atlantic. According to the National Weather Service, a rain-wrapped tornado was reported near Carrollton, Virginia, just before 5 p.m. EDT. Damage was reported in nearby Smithfield, where an image shared with FOX Weather showed a large tree limb which had taken down power lines as it fell.
A large tree limb took down power lines as it fell onto a street in Smithfield, Virginia, during a storm on June 16, 2023.
(Vaughn Briggs/Twitter / FOX Weather)
There were also dozens of reports of hail across the region. Most of them ranged between quarter-sized and ping-pong-ball-sized. However, there was at least one report of hail the size of eggs.
A person holds a quarter-sized hailstone that fell in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 16, 2023.
(Hoytcast Weather/Twitter / FOX Weather)
Needed rain
The severe weather threat ended Friday night, but rain will continue into the weekend for much of the Northeast and New England, with up to 2 inches in the forecast for New York and Philadelphia.
The forecast rain will be beneficial for the Northeast where parts of New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are under facing moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
(FOX Weather)