Number 7 on our list is the strongest tornado to strike Virginia during 2018. This EF-3 tornado was originally rated EF-2 by the NWS in Blacksburg, but after consulting wind engineers the rating was upped to EF-3 with peak winds of 150 mph.
The tornado first touched down in Northwestern Campbell County where it produced EF-1 tree damage. It intensified to an EF-2 as it moved northeast along Timberlake Road, flipping cars as it moved into Lynchburg. It reached its peak width (600 yards) in Lynchburg, as it downed trees, damaged roofs on homes and businesses and it struck a trailer park.
The twister reached a peak intensity of EF-3 as it ripped into Elon. In Elon, dozens of homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and one large, but poorly built home was completely swept off its foundation. Many large pine trees were snapped off and de-barked/denuded in this area. The tornado went up over Shady Mountain downing hundreds of trees, and crossed the Lexington Turnpike and tracked through Thrashers Lake Park before it lifted.
In Campbell County, 28 buildings were damaged and 6 were destroyed. In Lynchburg, 322 buildings were damaged and 34 destroyed. In Amherst County, 166 homes were damaged, and 22 were destroyed, which would be all added 516 buildings damaged, and 62 destroyed. There was $20,000,000 in damage. This was the first tornado to cross through Lynchburg city limits since the official NWS records began in 1950. This was only the third EF-3 in the National Weather Service Blacksburg VA County Warning Area (CWA).
Sources:
NWS Blacksburg Summary, NCDC Entry 1, NCDC Entry 2
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