Severe Weather Events in the DMV: A Look at Recent Tornado Outbreaks

The DMV area experienced a significant severe weather event on June 5, with a total of 13 tornadoes touching down. This outbreak ranks among the largest in recent memory for the region, although it was overshadowed by the rare derecho event on June 29, 2012. The June 5 tornadoes, similar to those in 2012, were relatively weak (EF-0’s and EF-1’s) and caused minor damage.

In comparison, the severe weather outbreak on June 1, 2012, saw a total of 28 tornadoes reported in the DMV, with 12 confirmed by NOAA. The region also experienced a severe weather event in April 2011, with 19 confirmed tornadoes, including an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 130 mph in Virginia.

Tropical systems like Hurricane Ivan in 2004 are known for spawning tornadoes, with Ivan causing a tornado outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic Region with a total of 127 tornadoes. More recently, Hurricane Isaias in 2020 caused a smaller tornado outbreak in the DMV area.

Overall, the June 5 tornado outbreak adds to the history of severe weather events in the DMV area, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to such natural disasters.