VB EF-3 tornado spans over 4.5 miles in 5 minutes, damaging about 115 homes
Sunday night, an EF-3 tornado hit the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach, prompting the city to declare a local state of emergency.
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About 115 homes were damaged according to the city of Virginia Beach.
Vehicles were overturned and boats were sunk and moved. There were no deaths and no injuries.
The city estimates more than $15 million in residential damage, with nine homes destroyed, 36 homes with major damage making them inhabitable and many more with "significant damage."
The public damage assessment estimate reaches $731,000 so far, according to the city, and does not include the damage at JEB Little Creek-Fort Story.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has surveyed the area, and says the worst of it at Haversham Close saw 145 mile per hour winds, making it an EF-3 tornado.
The NWS said houses shifted off of their foundations and upper floors were completely removed from houses.
Tornado's path, other details from National Weather Service
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado had a span of 4.5 miles with a wind peak of 145 mph. The width of the tornado stood at 350 yards.
The tornado's path started in the Eastern Branch of Lynnhaven River at 5:48 p.m. and ended in Fort Story at 5:53 p.m.
The tornado progressed up River Road as an EF-1, passing by the Great Neck Recreation Center.
It increased to an EF-2 intensity, as it moved into the Chelsea neighborhood.
The tornado continued onto Haversham Close with EF-3 intensity.
In this area, several homes were shifted off their foundations and roofs and upper walls were completely removed.
The tornado then crossed Broad Bay and the eastern portion of Bay Island, clipping windward shore drive as an EF-1.
It then moved over First Landing State Park and into Fort Story as an EF-1, snapping trees, damaging barracks, and damaging several other builds before moving offshore.
Here’s more on what you need to know following:
The following schools in Virginia Beach are closed: Cox High School, Great Neck Middle School and John Dey Elementary School. Students zoned for the three schools who attend academies or special programs at other schools are also excused.
There is a temporary shelter open at the Great Neck Recreation Center for residents who were impacted by the storm, according to city personnel. Residents are allowed to bring their pets. The center’s address is 2521 Shorehaven Drive, and it’s only open to those impacted by the tornado.
Fort Story has been impacted, and only essential personnel should report today as crews continue to assess the damage. Little Creek is open as normal.
Great Neck Road is closed between Cox High School and the bridge at Adam Keeling Road until further notice.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
We have crews on the scene reporting on the damage and providing live updates. We will also be updating this article throughout the day as new information comes in.
For more information from the City of Virginia Beach, click here.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
Source: News 3 WTKR Norfolk
