Storm damages marina, apartment building in Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS

Winds lifted a roof off a pier today at the Deep Creek Landing Marina in Newport News and sent two trees into an apartment building, officials said.

The roof fell on boats docked and appeared to have damaged the pier it sheltered, said Battalion Chief William Shelton of the Newport News Fire Department.

“There were fortunately no injuries,” he said.

Two trees crashed into two apartment units at the Windsor Crossing Apartments on Cedarwood Way, Shelton said. Both occupants were at work; the apartments were condemned, he said.

Residents reported seeing a funnel cloud near the marina, said Jack Williamson, the city’s emergency management coordinator. But the National Weather Service said no tornadoes appeared in the area.

Near Williamsburg, the storm caused some minor damage to the Le Scoot flume ride at Busch Gardens Europe theme park, the Associated Press reported. Park spokesman Kevin Crossett said a small to medium-size tree did very minor damage to the ride's fiberglass trough.

Rainstorms whipped through Hampton Roads on Wednesday morning. Trees were down in several areas of Newport News, Williamson said.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina through 11:15 a.m.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m., the weather service radar indicated a narrow line of severe thunderstorms stretching from downtown Suffolk to Gatesville, N.C., that were capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.

Heavy rainfall is possible ahead of a strong cold front, the Weather Service said and strung and gusty winds are possible near the Chesapeake Bay and coastal regions.

Today’s high is expected to be in the mid-60s with a low tonight of about 43, according to the forecast.

Thursday should be breezy with west winds at 17 to 21 mph, the weather service says. Thursday night’s low will be about 30.

Virginian-Pilot writer Cindy Clayton contributed to this story.