Rare Waterspout Forms Over James River, Dissipates Without Damage
• A waterspout formed over the lower James River near Newport News Marine Terminal at approximately 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28,
• The phenomenon lasted 5-10 minutes before dissipating eastward without making landfall or causing direct damage, according to meteorologist Mike Dutter of the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS issued a tornado warning at 9:02 p.m. in anticipation of a funnel cloud forming over land, but no tornado materialized. High winds from the storm caused minor damage, including downed trees in Willoughby Spit and James City County. The maximum wind gust recorded off the Norfolk coast was 48 mph at 9:00 p.m., though this was unrelated to the waterspout.
Impact & Risks
The waterspout posed minimal risk as it remained offshore and dissipated quickly. However, high winds associated with the storm caused minor damage, including downed trees in nearby areas. A tornado warning issued for a population of approximately 160,000 people heightened concerns, but no tornado formed. The storm weakened after moving over land in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, reducing its impact further.
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