2011 Already 2nd Deadliest Year in Virginia for Tornadoes

Updated: Wed 11:49 AM, May 04, 2011

May 4, 2011

April's killer tornadoes have made 2011 the second deadliest year in Virginia since modern records began in 1950.

The National Weather Service has confirmed 15 tornadoes in an outbreak last week that killed five people. Another outbreak earlier in April killed two people.

Figures from the weather service and the University of Virginia show that it's the highest death toll since 1959, when 12 people were killed by a tornado on September 30.

Before April's outbreaks, there had been no tornado fatalities in Virginia since April 1, 1998, when two people were killed.

Weather service meteorologist Lyle Alexander tells The Richmond Times-Dispatch that it's "rather amazing" to go 13 years without a death, and then have two fatal outbreaks in one month.

Extended Rain Floods Rural Roads, Basements

The comments sections of Newsplex.com are designed for thoughtful, intelligent conversation and debate. We want to hear from our viewers, but we only ask that you use your best judgment. E-mail is required, but will not be displayed with comment.

Comments cannot be profane or vulgar. We will not post comments that use profanity or cross the lines of good taste.

We will not post comments that use hate speech. Slurs, stereotypes and violent talk aren’t welcome on our website.

Comments should not attack other readers or people featured in our stories personally. Any accusations should be backed up with facts.

Any comment we post will be posted in its entirety. We do not edit any comment that we post.

Comments should contribute to the discussion. We will not post comments that don't advance the discussion. Flaming and/or trolling will not be tolerated.

Comments should not attack other posters. Let's keep the focus on the content of the story.

As a host Newsplex.com welcomes a wide spectrum of opinions. However this is a site that we host. We have a responsibility to all our readers to try to keep our comment section fair and decent. For that reason The Newsplex reserves the right to not post or to remove any comment.

If you have any ideas to improve the conversation or this section let us know. Send an e-mail to webmaster@newsplex.com.