Strong storms hit Hampton Roads, N.C.; some schools closed

Residents of North Carolina and Virginia are cleaning up today after storms hit the region, toppling trees and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for most of the Hampton Roads and parts of northeastern North Carolina from 3 p.m. today until 4 a.m. Tuesday, as well as a coastal flood warning for Norfolk and Portsmouth from midnight tonight until 6 a.m. Tuesday.  

In Norfolk last night, strong winds blew trees onto cars, scattered limbs across yards and roads and knocked off the top of a church on Goff Street. In Bertie County, N.C., two people were taken to a hospital, houses were damaged and trees were blown onto highways, a dispatcher there reported. 

A tornado ripped through northwest Bertie County at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday for about 25 miles. Two people in a mobile home on Connaritsa Road were injured, and one remains hospitalized today, said Bertie County manager Zee Lamb. Up to 60 structures including a church were damaged. Schools were closed today.

 Also on Connaritsa Road, three other structures were blown down, at least two other buildings were destroyed, three others received major damage and eight more had minor damages, Lamb said.

On Piney Woods Road, seven buildings were destroyed, 11 more received major damages and 11 others received minor damages, he said.

In all, about 1,200 were without power for about 12 hours, Lamb said. Almost all service had been restored by noon today, he said. 

Dare County Schools dismissed students today at noon because of flooding in Manteo and on Colington Island, according to Dare County Emergency Management. Northwest winds with gusts up to 50 mph are expected to continue through tonight on the Outer Banks. Additional soundside flooding can be expected.

Two tornados touched down in Currituck County just before 8 p.m. Sunday knocking down trees and blocking U.S. 158 for about two hours.

No serious damage or injuries were reported, said Randall Edwards, spokesman for Currituck County.

A tornado is reported to have passed before 8 p.m. Sunday through a wooded area between Maple Road and Indiantown Road along U.S. 158. The highway, known as Short Cut Road, is the main route between Elizabeth City and Barco. The road was opened again about 10:30 p.m., Edwards said.

Another tornado struck in Jarvisburg around 8 p.m. near the Grave Digger monster truck property and caused minor damage, Edwards said.

In Hampton Roads, several areas saw downed trees and other damage.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue responded to four downed trees, including one on a house, and a few downed power lines between 7:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

“We made out pretty good on this one,” Judkins said.

Isle of Wight County saw minor flash flooding, downed trees and  power outages, said county spokesman Don Robertson.

“Unfortunately a couple of the trees did do some minor damage to some homes,” Robertson said. 

Dominion Virginia Power said 15,742 customers were without power in southeast Virginia as of 10 p.m. on Sunday. Shortly after 11 a.m. today, fewer than 400 customers in southeast Virginia were without electricity and fewer than 100 of the company's North Carolina customers were waiting for service to be restored.

The chance of showers continues today and into tonight with a high of about 60. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory this morning for Hampton Roads, areas of northeast North Carolina and the Eastern Shore that will be in effect until from 5 p.m. today until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

A low pressure system is expected to move off the Delmarva Coast this afternoon, then strengthen as it shifts northeast bringing sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph and gusts from 46 to 57 mph, the weather service statement says.

The weather service was warning drivers that conditions could be difficult this afternoon and minor property damage also is possible.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel officials are restricting vehicles from crossing the span because of winds gusting up to 47 mph, according to a recorded message. Motorcycles, large pickup campers, camper and house trailers are not being allowed to cross, according to the statement. Vehicles with exterior cargo, empty tractor-trailers and anything being towed also are being restricted. Small trucks with six wheels such as moving vans are being restricted along with rental trucks and school buses. Tractors without trailers and empty tanker trucks are being allowed to cross the span. 

Staff writer Dave Forster contributed to this report.