Updated 2:28 p.m.
The National Weather Service confirms the storm damage caused in Virgilina in Halifax County Monday afternoon was from a tornado.
The NWS says the tornado was an EF-1, with winds that reached speeds of up to 109 MPH.
It was on the ground from 1:10-1:15 p.m. The tornado left a path of damage 240 yards wide.
The tornado damaged six homes, and blew down a number of trees.
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Updated 9:06 p.m.
While most of the Dan River Region was hit with steady rainfall, there were reports of strong winds and a possible tornado in Halifax County.
Dennis Sleighter, a spokesman for the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, said staff members will be going to Halifax today to assess whether a tornado touched down in the area.
Halifax County Supervisor Lottie Nunn said there was significant storm damage in Virgilina.
“There were trees on some houses. Porches were blown off,” Nunn said. “I saw some roofs blown off houses.”
She said she heard a roaring noise near her home, but she didn’t see a funnel cloud. Nunn said she was thankful no one was reported injured, and said the community can rebuild from the damage suffered.
Sleighter said rainfall amounts from Monday’s storm were higher at the eastern end of Southside.
He said Martinsville had received about a quarter-inch of rain by 6:30 p.m., while Danville received about a half-inch and Halifax received an inch of rain, with some areas getting as much as 1.5 inches.
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Halifax County Supervisor Lottie Nunn was sitting in her home near Virgilina watching TV Monday when she was startled by a sudden thunderstorm.
Nunn said she was watching the news and had the police scanner was going when the storm hit at about 2 p.m., but she wasn’t alerted to the storm.
“I didn’t see a thing in the world about it,” said Nunn, who represents District 7.
Nunn said there was heavy wind and rain, but there didn’t appear to be any problems near her family’s home.
She said her son came home with a friend who told her there was damage in Virgilina.
This was the first time Nunn, who is recuperating from surgery, went driving after her operation a few days ago. She said curiosity got the better of her.
Nunn said she couldn’t believe what she saw when she got there.
“There were trees on some houses. Porches were blown off,” Nunn said. “I saw some roofs blown off houses.”
She reported hearing a roaring noise near her home, but she didn’t see a funnel cloud. Nunn was thankful no one was reported injured, and said the community can rebuild from the damage suffered.
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