Storm causes some damage
Published 12:06 pm Thursday, January 31, 2013
Dozens of power customers in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County were without power Wednesday night and part of Thursday after gusty winds and rain came through the city.
More than 100 people in Suffolk were out of power at one point, with 40 in Isle of Wight County in the same situation. The numbers later dropped but then went back up, with about 66 in Suffolk still in the dark at 6 p.m.
The city was under a tornado watch early Thursday, but it expired at 5 a.m.
Trees were down throughout the city as a result of the storm. Public Works crews and the Fire Department responded to about 15 incidents, mostly trees lying across the road. In one location, a transformer near the intersection of Nansemond Parkway and Cherry Blossom Drive was on fire.
A wind gust of 48 miles per hour was recorded at the Suffolk Municipal Airport at about 2:55 a.m. Thursday. Most winds throughout the last 24 hours have been in the 20s and 30s, and similar wind speeds were expected throughout Thursday.
Damage also included a damaged awning at C3 Vino, a wine shop in downtown Suffolk.