May 15th 2019 Mid Atlantic Outbreak

Meteorological synopsis:
A huge storm complex that was moving across the US accompanied by a huge amount of low level shear, high cape, and huge amounts of heating at low ground level. This became apparent by 11AM when sigtor values shot up. This caused the SPC to update their convective outlook to Moderate and added a 15% sig tor risk in place from northern North Carolina to southern Pennsylvania. Tornado watch #52 was issued and most schools were let out. Note that the days before were busts except of a tornado family near Loveland OK, all of which were rated EF0-EF2.

The Greensboro-Lexington EF5
This catastrophic tornado came from a supercell that started having broad rotation when coming up from south NC ahead of the QLCS event. After the sigtor values shot it, a tornado touched down in North Greensboro immediately causing LE EF2 damage. The tornado became rather strong after entering VA causing HE EF2 damage to trees, the tornado was only about 200 yards wide at this point. It approached Martinsville VA head on causing HE EF3 damage- LE EF4 damage. 3 houses which were well structured were leveled. The most notable of this scene was a house being thrown through the air and imploding on itself. 3 people were killed in Martinsville, 12 injured. The NWS of Blacksburg released a PDS tor for this tornado. It would continue snapping powerlines and stripping trees. A well structured house was completely swept away. Eventually it reached Roanoke, a TORE was immediately issued. The tornado at this point was a large stove pipe at about 400-500 yards wide. While most of Roanoke suffered EF2-EF3 damage, there was a swath that had HE EF4 - EF5 damage about 100 yards wide. 113 people were killed in Roanoke, 236 were injured. As the tornado tracked along, it began weakening to causing EF2- EF3 damage. It took a left turn for Lexington and hit it at EF2 strength causing structural damage and utility line damage. One person was killed in a vehicle, impaled in the head by shrapnel trying to outrun the tornado. 3 people were injured in a trailer home which was imploded. The tornado would began to rope out and cause minor damage to barns before dying. 116 people were killed, 248 injured and would have a track of about 160 miles long.

The Sperryville VA - Germantown MD EF4

The same supercell would reproduce again in Sperryville VA. Although unlike the last, this tornado wedged out to about half of a mile, and became a multivortex. It would immediately cause HE EF2-LE EF3 damage to houses and barns, in which most had exterior wall failure. As it Approached Flint Hill VA it caused HE EF3-LE EF4 damage, Barns being leveled, houses having exterior wall failure or flattened. Some people who lived here were affected by the F4 back in 2001. As it approached Hume VA it wedged out to about 3/4s of a mile wide and caused LE EF4-HE EF4 to houses. A person was killed in their vehicle while attempting to storm chase. A few houses were swiped away from their foundations. Most sustained exterior wall failure and some interior wall failure. The most notable is the houses on Fox Run LN which were completely swept away, some having anchor bolts. Which is why people argue that this tornado was an EF5. As the tornado passed by Hume VA another person was killed in their basement. While their trailer home was completely swept away. The tornado was on tracked to hit Marshall VA, hitting it at HE EF4 again. Mainstreet was completely leveled/swept away. Most notable was the fire department, which was completely swept away and utility vehicles were mangled. 3 people were injured during this whole ordeal, none were killed. The tornado continued at EF4 strength. Passing over Middleburg which was completely leveled. The tornado started to go back into a Stovepipe structure but it still maintained its strength. It would flatten about 12 more homes. The tornado started losing its strength started doing EF2-EF3 damage. A TorE was issued for Sterling, Ashburn, and Leesburg. Multiple houses had external wall failure in Leesburg. One person was killed when their vehicle was picked up and thrown over the Leesburg hospital. It began its rope out stage near the Potomac river producing only producing light roof damage and snapping trees, it died right outside of Germantown MD. 2 Killed 3 injured and would have a track of 73.9 miles long.

New Salem Borough PA - Emigsville PA EF4
This short lived EF4 was the first major tornado of the QLCS supercells. It only reached a width of about 150 yards wide. As it touched down it immediately started causing LE EF3- HE EF3 damage. In New Salem Borough a couple of houses were flattened, and 7 experienced external wall failure. As it a traveled northeast at about 45-50 MPH a PDS Tor was issued. The tornado hit the town in a matter of 2 minutes, rapidly flattening houses, causing utility lines to snap, trees to snap or get stripped and exterior wall failure to houses that weren't flattened. It soon hit the commercial part of york, flattening two well structured restaurants. It hit north york at an incredible strength. flattening multiple houses. A person who was completely unaware of the rain wrapped tornado, went outside to the local Dunkin Donuts and was killed while outside, impaled by a sign pole. People say that the first minute this tornado was there, the next minute it was gone with a wake of destruction. about 53 buildings were completely flattened, 47 experienced exterior wall failure, and 64 vehicles were damaged in York. The tornado continued up to Emigsville, significantly weakening. Causing weak roof damage, snapping trees, and downing utility poles. Its width at this point is at about 25 yards. It lifted about 200 yards outside of Emigsville, causing weak shingle damage. Its ground scoring was about 13 inches into the ground. 1 person killed, 7 injured, tracked for about 7 miles.

Brogden NC - Stoney Creek NC EF4
This highend EF4 was the last EF4 in the series. It was about 700 yards wide and is popular for destroying the Trailer Park of Goldsboro. It touched down in Brogden NC and started with light roof damage to roofs. It stayed relatively weak till it wedged out, right outside of Goldsboro NC and strengthened significantly to EF4 strength. Flattening multiple structures and causing exterior wall damage to homes. It affected mainstreet with some exterior wall failures to commercial buildings. The tornado wedged out even more where the trailerpark was affected. 32 trailers were completely destroyed. 6 people died and 21 people were injured. The tornado continued to rope out and loose strength when it hit Stoney Creek NC. It caused roof damage to multiple homes, one having some of its exterior walls removed. Then the tornado lifted right after. Overall 6 people died, 21 were injured, it flattened/destroyed 62 buildings, significantly damage 120 others, damaged multiple vehicles, and tracked for about 13.6 miles.