The strong storms that rolled through the area overnight sent trees tumbling in a few cities and blew power lines down in others, dispatchers reported this morning.
There were no reports of any injuries, dispatchers said.
In Suffolk and Camden County, N.C., limbs were snapped off trees and some smaller trees blew onto roads, dispatchers said.
The canopy over the gas pumps at the BP at Granby Street and Princess Anne Road in Norfolk was pushed down in the middle by high winds, but still was standing this morning. Wires were reported down in the Churchland area of Portsmouth and the Carolina Road and Godwin Boulevard areas of Suffolk.
Streets were flooded, but water was draining away before 5 a.m., dispatchers said.
The Dominion Virginia Power Web site was reporting that more than 5,000 customers were without power shortly about 5:25 a.m. The outages were scattered across the region. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., a little more than 700 customers were without electricity.
The National Weather Service was reporting more than one inch of rain at the airport in Norfolk. Rainfall amounts for the region won’t be official until later today.
Tornado warnings had been issued for Hampton Roads and North Carolina and were in effect until 3 a.m., but there were no reports of any sightings as of 5:20 a.m. today.
This morning, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency after damage reports showed widespread damage in the Essex, Louisa and Wise county areas, according to a news release. About 10,000 people were without power in those areas. Nine buildings were destoryed and about 50 were damaged.
Large amounts of debris also were reported, the release says.
Sunny skies are expected today in Hampton Roads with a high near 67, according to the weather service. Tonight’s low should be near 40.
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I applaud WTKR channel 3 for
I applaud WTKR channel 3 for tracking the storm. I watched them from 11 - 1130, then again at 130am when the storm woke me up. Tornadoes can form very quickly and I felt it was a great service to WTKR to stick to the weather and keep their viewers informed. And Mark, who really cares about Jerico, I have never even heard of that show.
Oh, and "not one tornado was spotted" by Mark...
It was really dark, and rainy. It was impossible to see. So, good luck if that is your only source of truth. If you have to see one to feel threatened, it would be too dark to see one until it was on top of you. Good luck with that idea.
Um, Mark...
So there were no tornados. Ok, great.
What if there was a tornado? Would that make you feel better about missing ten minutes of Jericho?
I have had my house destroyed completely by a tornado, with no warning. I for one, do not take the threat of a tornado lightly.
You would be wise to realize the devastating capacity that a tornado holds. It could kill you.
I can read. Many can't due to age, or blindness. Also, lightning strikes 20 miles away are NOT that far and could still be deadly or cause a fire.
Next time maybe you should have a tornado party, Tivo or DVR your show and don't worry about the threats looming overhead. At least that way you don't miss your show, and you can have a good time not worrying about the weather. Seriously, what are the odds anyway right?
Weather watchings and warnings
After living in the midwest for 30+ years, I know all about watches and warnings. For Tornado Warnings a TVS or Tornado Vortex Signature (what you see as a hook echo on radar) can be a very good signature of a potential tornado.
The warning system we have is good, but it can be improved. Getting the information into the public is of primary concern to protect lives and property.
WTKR was doing their job as weather forcasters and informing the public of potential impacting storms. Don't knock them for doing their jobs. Would you rather be underneath your house as it is nothing but toothpicks because you were warned of something that was coming or would you rather be found in your living room sitting in your easy chair watching Jerico? The decision ultimately rests in your hands.
Jericho
I thought I'd share this so our crybaby friend and any of his sympathizers could get help with their issue. On the WTKR website, the posted a link to see the rest of the show if you missed it due to the weather warning. I don't know if the pilot will allow the link, so I won't post it here. Go to WTKR and you'll see it.
marks57720
It's a shame Mark you don't value life over sub-par televised fiction. If they had used a crawl for information of a potential tornado or other wind related phenomenon it could have been on top of you by the time you got the information. Breaking in on your program gave you instant information to the street level to get to a safe spot.
The again, you are probably one of those government educated "it can't happen to me" types and would continue to watch your program anyway. Then again, anything they may have done would've elicited a rant from you.
Oh well, the forecast for tonight is beautiful so you won't miss American Idol.
By the way, Mark, ever hear of reruns?
Cam anyone read?
If anyone read my comment thoroughly I had said that WTKR should have posted the information at the bottom of the screen and leave it at that. Those WHO CAN READ would be able to find out the information. What really got me was that some weatherguesser out in Franklin stood there for over 15 minutes reporting that there was no rain or lightning in the area but that some some box she was holding said there was lighting 20 miles away...big deal!! I guess some people love listening to these weatherguessers ad naseum...
Points to consider
The author of the article needs to get her facts straight regarding a tornado watch and warning. I know of no tornado warnings that lasted until 3:00 am, only watches. If we had warnings lasting that long we would have all been in for one hell of night and chances are we would have very likely experienced a tornado or two.
As for Jericho or any other TV program, you'd have a lot more to worry about than your TV show - like damage to your own property for example. I suppose if the roof was blown off your house, this first thing you'd be concerned about replacing would be your damaged TV set.
Lastly, check the FCC rules for radio and television stations. They are required by law to keep the public informed. I believe it is also a condition of their having a license to operate, which, if I'm not mistaken, is for the benefit of the public as a whole, not just Jericho viewers.
Sorry Mark ... you're out of line!
Perhaps you didn't feel the effects of this storm, but I've been without power since 1:30AM due to downed power lines. I didn't have the option to check for updates due to lack of internet or television.
Get some perspective ... there are 600,000 other households in Hampton Roads that could have been effected by this storm, and consequently a portion were. Advance warning of any kind, regardless of the show on television was necessary.
Tornado Happy? More like clueless
Based on his posting history... a new "Life" is in order. Jericho? Come on!
I commend the station for the complete and accurate coverage provided.
The NWS will issue a Tornado Warning when doppler radar indicates rotation within a cell, regardless of whether it ever reaches the ground... this early indicator and subsequent warning is how lives are saved. Damage is not only sustained by tornadoes... straight line winds and micro bursts that are often associated with these cells are also dangerous. One look around this morning at 5am while driving to work (not laying on a couch all day/night) confirmed the warnings were valid. Good job to the Weather team!
I'd rather....
them make a big thing over something that turned into nothing than not tell us anything at all about impending weather 'possibilities'. I definitely appreciate the weather guys on the local stations staying at the helm all night keeping us informed......for those of us who are awake!
Actually, there were quite a lot of people awake during this storm because they were calling and e-mailing with reports where they live.
Tornado Happy...couch potato!!!!
I guess this guy would be more happy if people were killed and homes destroyed by a tornado as long as he get's to watch his show. Everyone knows weather is never 100% but it's the best we have.
What a washout!
WTKR made a big thing about this storm...they even interupted the final 10 minutes of Jericho in order to warn everyone about possible tornados which didn't occur! Next time these weatherguessers can simply put their warning at the bottom and leave it at that. The WTKR weather team are just a bunch of "we want to be seen on TV mongers." Stop ruining our programming with inaccurate reporting...NOT ONE TORNADO WAS SPOTTED, stop trusting that stupid VIPER system.