NWS: Tornado was EF1 with 98 mph winds

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - The National Weather Service has released more information on the tornado that moved through parts of Hampton Friday night, leaving damage in its wake.

According to the NWS, the tornado began as a waterspout touchdown with power flashes on the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge around 8:13 p.m. It then went over Chesapeake Avenue before moving through downtown Hampton and the Hampton Yacht Club.

There, it went into the Chesapeake Bay.

Robin McCormick, Hampton Communications Director, said the hardest hit neighborhoods include Merrimac Shores and Park Place. The downtown area of Hampton is also said to have extensive damage.

WAVY News’ Art Kohn was in Hampton early Saturday morning and found large trees and power lines down in neighborhoods. At the Hampton Yacht Club, several boats were blown about.

Photos: Aftermath of June 1 storms

McCormick said the strong winds also blew out windows in the City. The NWS added windows were blown out and the roof was partially damaged at the yacht club, while Amory Seafood Building on Sunset Road experienced roof damage.

“Police are urging people to stay away from those areas unless they live there,” McCormick said.

According to McCormick, the National Weather Service said the tornado was first spotted in Portsmouth and traveled across the water to Hampton between Wythe and downtown. The tornado was then said to have skipped over Mercury Boulevard and moved toward Boxwood Street in the East Hampton area.

Winds were around 85mph, McCormick added.

The  tornado was said to have been 0.3 miles in width and it's path covered about 3.5 miles. The NWS said it reached wind speeds of about 98 mph, classifying it as an EF1 on the Fujita scale.

Map: Tornado's path through Hampton

Many viewers have been asking about the Blackbeard festival. According to McCormick, organizers are cleaning up and it looks as though a canopy over the stage at Mill Point Park was blown off, but the stage itself was not damaged.

"The Blackbeard festival will open at 2 p.m. with a full schedule, including fireworks," McCormick said. She added an old sewing machine was hooked up to a generator so tents could be repaired. Dolphin laundromat donated laundry service, plywood and sand to help get the festival ready.

No one was seriously injured and only minor injuries were reported.

Stay with WAVY.com for the latest on the aftermath of Friday night’s storms.