Michelle Murillo and Lacey Mason, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — It’s called a mesovortex — a weather phenomenon with a circular pattern that packs a punch but isn’t quite as strong as a tornado. And on Friday morning, it may have hit the region.

Lorie Kappler woke up to the sound of the intense storm in Lorton, Virginia.

“The rain and wind became incredible. All of the sudden the house started shaking. My daughter came in screaming,