Tornado Watches Issued for North Carolina, Virginia Coasts

Posted on August 27, 2011

Tornado watches have been issued for the coast of North Carolina and Virginia. You can find details about the watches here on the SPC's website. Hurricanes can spawn tornadoes. If a hurricane does spawn tornadoes they usually form in the right front quadrant of the hurricane. Hurricane Irene, which is still several hours away from landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, has already spawned tornadoes and there have already been reports of damage:

1205 AM     TORNADO          COLUMBIA                35.92N  76.25W
08/27/2011                   TYRRELL            NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR 1400 BLOCK OF HIGHWAY 64.
            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS WITH INJURIES REPORTED.

1015 PM     TORNADO          BELHAVEN                35.54N  76.62W
08/26/2011                   BEAUFORT           NC   911 CALL CENTER

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE TRAILERS ALONG BAY STREET

1015 PM     TORNADO          BELHAVEN                35.54N  76.62W
08/26/2011                   BEAUFORT           NC   911 CALL CENTER

            ROOF BLOWN OFF EDGEWATER MOTORS DEALERSHIP

There have also been reports of lightning and heavy rain. Hurricane Irene appears to be a very wet system.

WEATHER
HURRICANE IRENE