SUFFOLK, Va. — The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Suffolk on Saturday night, Suffolk Department of Emergency Management said.
NWS completed a preliminary investigation of the tornado and determined it to be an EF1 tornado with winds 85-90 mph, and about 2 miles long by 200 yards wide, a Suffolk spokeswoman said.
Officials confirmed a preliminary assessment includes a total of six businesses and 14 residences reported damage from the storm.
Including:
- 100 block of River Point Drive trees and power pole down; chimney and roof damages
- 190 block of South Main Street trees and power lines down
- 1000 block of Nansemond Parkway tree on house
- Oak Street and Collie Avenue trees down
- Myrick Avenue and Ben Street trees down
Additional homes in the Hollywood neighborhood also sustained minor to moderate damage from downed trees, specifically on Florida Avenue, Georgia Avenue, Alabama Avenue and Hollywood Avenue
Suffolk Fire & Rescue crews worked a house fire in the 1800 block Nansemond Parkway. The call came in at 7:33 p.m.
Firefighters believe lightning struck the home. Crews closed the 1800 block of Nansemond Parkway to through traffic and put detours in place at Monticello View.
Storm Damage on River Point Drive
Suffolk Police and Fire & Rescue went to five other homes in the Eastover neighborhood where people said trees and downed power lines caused damage. The neighborhood is off Wilroy Road and MacArthur Drive.
There were reports of downed power lines in the 900 block of Portsmouth Boulevard. Fallen trees were a problem in the 1400 block of Planters Drive in Kilby Shores.
Beginning on Monday, Suffolk Public Works is loosening bulk trash pickup rules, so that big debris and storm material will not count toward residents' 12 annual bulk collections per-year.
The loosened restrictions will be in place for two weeks.