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Tornadic storms were possible across eastern Virginia and Maryland Sunday afternoon. There was a deep upper level low centered over eastern Kentucky, decent moisture and backed surface winds. There would be nice low level shear. I was concerned about low instability and extensive cloud. Because it was a marginal day, I held off chasing and relaxed. I was very tired after a three day meeting in Chicago. By late morning, there was a long north-south line of showers and thunderstorms near I-95 through Virginia and North Carolina. The best combination of ingredients for tornadic storms would be in east-central North Carolina. That was too far to drive, but I saw another area of interest in southeast Virginia. I was hoping for an isolated storm ahead of the line. The SPC had eastern Virginia under a slight risk with a 5% risk for tornadoes. I left Richmond at approximately 2:30 PM and drove south on I-95. The line of northward training storms had just shifted to the east of I-95. I planned on driving south on I-95, then turn east to get ahead of the storms. Then I could watch the line to see if any storms become separated or if any develop ahead of the line. I liked the backed winds and higher dewpoints in southeast Virginia. ( View of XM at 2:15 PM (1V); my position is circled) As I expected, there was an isolated storm just to the south and east of the line near Greenville, North Carolina. It was too far to reach, and it became tornado-warned. The severe thunderstorm watch was issued, and it extended to just north of the Virginia border. I turned east on 40 toward the town of Sussex. The line was less-defined but there were stronger cells to my south. (View of XM at 3:15PM (2V).) I passed large areas of flooding in nearby fields. Of course, the storm in North Carolina continued to be tornado-warned. After a few miles, I reached a dip in the road at 3:35PM. Floodwaters from a swollen creek covered the road while several drivers watched and waited. Finally, many of the drivers crossed the flooded road (pic#1 (3V)),(pic #2 (4V)) . This was way too dangerous. Most fatalities in floods are from people driving across flooded roads. I turned around. Route 40 was my best east option. I drove back to the interstate and waited. The line of storms was looking less impressive and there was no sign of storms ahead of the line. I gave up and drove north toward Richmond. The line remained just to my east with a few more storms to my west. These storms were mush and I was very frustrated. I meandered northward. As I reached Richmond, I noticed a developing storm that was ahead of the line near I-64. It wasn't impressive on radar but it had good inflow and potential to become severe if not tornadic. I could easily intercept it. I turned onto I-64 and blasted east. Suddenly, a tornado warning was issued for the storm. ( XM view at 5:45PM.(5V)) The day was not hopeless. Soon, I could see the storm crossing the road (6V) and shifting northward. Visibility was poor due to trees and lack of exits. I turned north at exit 211 and was immediately confronted with a couple of slow drivers and new construction of a couple of traffic circles. I was really annoyed as the storm was getting away. I finally passed the pokey drivers and continued on 609, then more northwest on Old Church Road. I briefly stopped at a clearing to observe the storm. I could see a nice lowering and wall cloud at 6:12PM (pic #1; 7V),(pic #2; 8V) . There was some rotation but I couldn't any debris or funnel to the ground due to trees. I was looking toward the area of rotation as indicated on radar and where a tornado was later reported. Although I was in New Kent County, the wall cloud and lowering was over in King William County. I continued on Old Church Road then back northeast on 360 following the storm. Looking back on this chase, I should have stayed longer to film the storm. At Central Garage, I drove briefly west on 30. I managed to get ahead of the storm but it was dying. After watching the remnants of the storm pass to my north, I headed home. This was a decent chase as I saw a rotating wall cloud on a tornado-warned storm and was able to test some new video equipment. Unfortunately, I watched several people drive across a flooded road. Very dangerous.
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(All images are video stills)
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