Power Outage in Mechanicsville, VA

Trees and power lines were downed and caused hundreds of power outages southeast of Beaverdam.

Around 5,000 power outages were reported due to thunderstorm winds between Mechanicsville and Studley.

Trees and power lines were downed on Coatesville Road.

Tree was downed resulting in power outages.

Tree and power line were downed along Atlee Station Road and Chamberlayne Road intersection.

Trees and power lines were downed near Coatesville.

Significant damage occurred in the Atlee Ridge area of Mechanicsville. Neighborhoods included Kings Charter and Patrick Henry Estates. Numerous trees and large limbs were downed, with some trees and limbs falling onto homes. Falling trees and limbs also downed power wires and blew transformers. Over 5,000 Dominion Power customers lost power.

Significant damage occurred in the Atlee Ridge area of Mechanicsville. Neighborhoods included Kings Charter and Patrick Henry Estates. Numerous trees and large limbs were downed, with some trees and limbs falling onto homes. Falling trees and limbs also downed power wires and blew transformers. Over 5,000 Dominion Power customers lost power.

Freezing rain produced between 0.10 inch and 0.20 inch of ice accumulation. This resulted in slick roadways and scattered power outages.

A strong thunderstorm downburst, with wind gusts estimated at 65 knots (75 miles per hour), produced widespread damage throughout the city of Mechanicsville. The most significant damage occurred in the vicinity of Pole Green and Meadowbridge Roads, where structural damage occurred to several homes from downed trees. Several additional trees were downed in the same area. Trees were also downed onto vehicles on Windsor Drive. A trained spotter reported that a 3000 pound truck was moved several feet. Additional power lines and trees were downed along Bells Creek Road.

A strong thunderstorm downburst, with wind gusts estimated at 65 knots (75 miles per hour), produced widespread damage throughout the city of Mechanicsville. The most significant damage occurred in the vicinity of Pole Green and Meadowbridge Roads, where structural damage occurred to several homes from downed trees. Several additional trees were downed in the same area. Trees were also downed onto vehicles on Windsor Drive. A trained spotter reported that a 3000 pound truck was moved several feet. Additional power lines and trees were downed along Bells Creek Road.

Estimated thunderstorms wind gusts up to 60 mph (52 knots) in Atlee Station downed a large tree into a house causing structural damage. The large tree also took down several power lines. Several additional trees were downed onto roadways across northern Mechanicsville.

Tropical storm force winds knocked down several trees and power lines, as well as caused some structural damage. In addition, heavy rains contributed to minor crop damage. Storm total rainfall generally ranged from three to seven inches.

Tornado downed trees and power lines, and produced some siding and roof damage to homes. Many structures sustained damage from the tornado, with the most significant damage occurring as a result of trees and/or large branches falling on homes. Several homes were declared uninhabitable as a result. Most of the damage was EF0 in intensity, with a few areas in the western half of the tornado path reaching low end EF1 intensity. Maximum wind speeds were estimated around 80 mph. The tornado moved into Hanover County from Henrico County.

Tornado downed trees and power lines, and produced some siding and roof damage to homes. Many structures sustained damage from the tornado, with the most significant damage occurring as a result of trees and/or large branches falling on homes. Several homes were declared uninhabitable as a result. Most of the damage was EF0 in intensity, with a few areas in the western half of the tornado path reaching low end EF1 intensity. Maximum wind speeds were estimated around 80 mph. The tornado moved into Hanover County from Henrico County.

Power lines down at intersection of Rockhill and Market Roads.

Large 80 foot oak tree down on power lines.

An ice storm affected a large portion of central and eastern Virginia with ice accumulations of up to one-half inch. Freezing rain mixed with sleet and snow spread over the area during the morning hours. Freezing rain then mixed with rain during the afternoon and evening along the eastern counties of Prince George, Charles City, New Kent, King William, King and Queen, Essex, Richmond, and Westmoreland. Farther west, freezing rain fell for most of the day with general accumulations from one-fourth to one-half inch. At one point, 300,000 people were without power in the Richmond vicinity due to the weight of ice downing trees and power lines. One Richmond TV station was knocked off the air for 45 minutes Two people were reported injured in Richmond; one while cutting downed trees with a chainsaw, another in a sledding accident.

A mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and a little snow produced 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch of ice, and one inch or less of snow across portions of central Virginia. The freezing rain on power lines caused power outages, and roadways were very slippery resulting in numerous accidents.

One to four inches of snow, and 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice due to freezing rain, occurred across portions of central Virginia. The freezing rain on power lines resulted in scattered power outages, and roadways were very slippery.

Tropical Storm Isabel produced tropical storm force sustained winds and wind gusts over the piedmont of central and south central Virginia, as it crossed the Wakefield WFO county warning area. Isabel made landfall near Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina, tracked northwest into central Virginia just west of Richmond, then continued northward into western Pennsylvania. The highest sustained wind speed recorded was 38 mph at Richmond International Airport. The highest gusts recorded were 73 mph at Richmond International Airport, 63 mph at WWBT-TV, and 53 mph at Chase City in Mecklenburg county. Approximately several thousand persons were evacuated and housed in numerous shelters across the piedmont of central and south central Virginia. The unusually large wind field uprooted many thousands of trees, downed many power lines, damaged hundreds of houses, and snapped thousands of telephone poles and cross arms. Hundreds of roads, including major highways, were blocked by fallen trees. Over 2 million customers of Dominion Virginia Power were without electricity. Local electrical cooperatives also reported thousands of customers were without power. The lowest sea level pressure recorded was 987 mb at Portsmouth Virginia. Isabel will be remembered for the greatest wind and storm surge in the region since Hazel in 1954, and the 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane. Also, Isabel will be remembered for the most extensive power outages ever in Virginia, and permanent change to the landscape from all the fallen trees and storm surge. Rainfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the piedmont of central and south central Virginia. Inland flooding due to heavy rainfall occurred over parts of the piedmont of central and south central Virginia. High water was reported around Swift Creek in Colonial Heights around Pinehurst Drive. Some areas in Chesterfield county, such as Beach road also had high water. Eight deaths can be directly attributed to Isabel in the Wakefield area of responsibility, with 7 in Virginia. There were more than 15 deaths indirectly attributed to the storm.

Freezing rain caused minor ice accumulations on trees, power lines, bridges and overpasses across portions of the central Virginia Piedmont. A few power outages and accidents were reported.