VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — A Level 1 tornado risk has been outlined for parts of Virginia and North Carolina on Wednesday, July 22, according to the Day 2 SPC outlook updated early Tuesday. The highest tornado likelihood on the map was centered around Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond, Virginia, placing the region at the top of the threat area for the day.
Level 1 Risk Zone Stretches Across Two States
The Level 1, or “possible,” tornado risk area extended in a band from southeastern Virginia down through northeastern North Carolina, covering cities including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke Rapids, and Raleigh. The outlook, valid for Wednesday, placed this corridor as the most likely location in the country to see tornado activity that day.
While rated on the lower end of the tornado likelihood scale, which ranges from Level 1 through Level 5, the zone stretching from the Hampton Roads area through central North Carolina stood out as the top-ranked area on the Day 2 outlook map. No higher-level risk categories were designated anywhere else on the map for Wednesday.
Surrounding Region Outside The Risk Area
Cities well outside the outlined risk zone included Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cincinnati, Charlotte, and Nashville, none of which fell within the Level 1 shaded region on the outlook map. The risk area remained concentrated specifically across southeastern Virginia and north-central North Carolina.
Charleston, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, were also shown outside the designated tornado likelihood zone, with the shaded risk area not extending into those regions for Wednesday’s outlook.
Outlook Subject To Updates
The Day 2 SPC outlook was last updated at 3:41 a.m. ET Tuesday and remains subject to change as Wednesday approaches. Residents across the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond areas were encouraged to monitor updated outlooks as the Level 1 tornado risk period draws closer…