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3 confirmed tornadoes added to Virginia tally 4 confirmed tornadoes added to Virginia tally
(about 3 hours later)
The number of confirmed tornadoes that struck Virginia this week was raised to six Friday after the National Weather Service added three more to its tally. The number of confirmed tornadoes that struck Virginia this week was raised to eight on Friday after the National Weather Service added four more to its tally.
Four people were killed in Wednesday’s storms, and many others were injured. A state of emergency was declared by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).Four people were killed in Wednesday’s storms, and many others were injured. A state of emergency was declared by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).
The strongest of the six confirmed twisters had a maximum intensity estimated at EF3, on a scale from EF0, the weakest, to EF5, the strongest. It reached its peak — with winds estimated at 140 mph — in the Tappahannock area of Essex County, about 80 miles southeast of Washington. It was confirmed Thursday. Eight tornadoes was an unusually large number for Virginia in February. Over a recent 20 year period, the state averaged about 18 tornadoes a year, and the average for February was none. The largest number was in September, with an average of four a year.
The three tornadoes confirmed Friday were reported in Fluvanna, Lancaster and Middlesex counties. The two strongest of Wednesday’s six confirmed twisters had a maximum intensity estimated at EF3, on a scale from EF0, the weakest, to EF5, the strongest. One reached its peak — with winds estimated at 140 mph — in the Tappahannock area of Essex County, about 80 miles southeast of Washington. It was confirmed Thursday.
"I thought the world was ending," one resident told a Richmond television station. .
Among those trapped in their homes, WWBT reported, was an elderly couple who had to be extricated from a closet. 
The other EF3 tornado was in Campbell and Appomatox Counties, according to the weather service. It had an estimated top wind speed of 140 to 145 mph, the service said. It was confirmed Friday. Appomatox County is about 140 miles southwest of the District.
The other three tornadoes confirmed Friday were reported in Fluvanna, Lancaster and Middlesex counties.
In southeastern Fluvanna County, a tornado of minimal strength, rated EF0, blazed a path of about 4.5 miles from 4:10 to 4:20 p.m. Wednesday. Its winds were estimated at 75 to 85 mph, the Weather Service said.In southeastern Fluvanna County, a tornado of minimal strength, rated EF0, blazed a path of about 4.5 miles from 4:10 to 4:20 p.m. Wednesday. Its winds were estimated at 75 to 85 mph, the Weather Service said.
The tornado in Lancaster County — rated at EF1 and with a maximum wind estimate of 97 mph — roared along a seven-mile track between 8:25 and 8:33 p.m., according to the Weather Service.The tornado in Lancaster County — rated at EF1 and with a maximum wind estimate of 97 mph — roared along a seven-mile track between 8:25 and 8:33 p.m., according to the Weather Service.
The Middlesex tornado — on the ground for about four miles between 8:35 and 8:41 p.m. — was rated at EF1 and had a peak wind estimate of 100 mph, the Weather Service said.The Middlesex tornado — on the ground for about four miles between 8:35 and 8:41 p.m. — was rated at EF1 and had a peak wind estimate of 100 mph, the Weather Service said.
The three tornadoes were added to the list of three confirmed earlier, which included the tornado that struck the Waverly area of Sussex County and that was reponsible for three of Wednesday’s storm-related fatalities. It was not clear whether the fourth death was linked to a tornado. The four tornadoes confirmed Friday were added to the list of four confirmed earlier, which included the tornado that struck the Waverly area of Sussex County and that was reponsible for three of Wednesday’s storm-related fatalities.
The fourth fatality was caused by the Appomatox County tornado, the weather service said. Seven injuries were blamed on the tornado there.
That twister damaged more than 100 homes and structures, according to the service.