April 28, 2002
Tornadoes in Maryland and southern Virginia

Photos of Dorchester County, Maryland damage

Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02
Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado damage 4/28/02 Up to 2 inch diameter hail fell in the storm 4/28/02 Dorchester County, Maryland tornado path 4/28/02


 
 


Above - A tornado that originated near LaPlata, Maryland, tracked through Charles and Calvert Counties, eventually crossing the Chesapeake Bay into Dorchester County.  Damage was rated from F1 to F3 across Dorchester County.  Large hail was also observed.  Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

Dover AFB, Delaware (KDOX) WSR-88D radar images

Radar reflectivity image from 4/28/02 over Dorchester County, Maryland Radar radial velocity image from 4/28/02 over Dorchester County, Maryland Radar storm-relative velocity image from 4/28/02 over Dorchester County, Maryland

Above - The left image is a doppler radar base reflectivity image of the tornadic supercell that crossed the Chesapeake Bay into Dorchester County, Maryland.  Note the hook echo.  The middle image is a base radial velocity image, showing the strong inbound (green and blue) and outbound motion (red), implying strong cyclonic rotation in the storm.  The right image is a storm-relative velocity image (radar evaluates circulations in the storm as if the storm isn't moving), showing very strong cyclonic rotation.

Photos of the Greensville County, Virginia damage

Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02
Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02
Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02 Greensville County Virginia Torndo Damage 4/28/02

Above - A tornado developed in Greensville County, tracking near Emporia.  Damage was rated at F1.  Click on thumbnails for larger images.

Wakefield, Virginia (KAKQ) WSR-88D radar images

Radar reflectivity image from 4/28/02 over Greensville County, Virginia Radar reflectivity image from 4/28/02 over Greensville County, Virginia Radar storm-relative velocity image from 4/28/02 over Greensville County, Virginia Radar storm-relative velocity image from 4/28/02 over Greensville County, Virginia

Above - The two left images are consecutive doppler base reflectivity images showing the development of a hook echo in Greensville County, Virginia, near Emporia.  The two right images show the convergent cyclonic rotation that developed in the storm, resulting in the tornado.

Click here for the Local Storm Report.