Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 18, 1995

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 18, 1995
Start: 1995-05-18T10:00
End: 1995-05-18T20:45
Location: Virginia

May 18, 1995 · 51 events in 25 counties and zones

31 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $164,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Events: 51

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Buchanan

When: May 18, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Buchanan County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 37.267, -82.036 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Along Rocklick Creek a tree fell through the middle of a mobile home. Trees were blown around Harman and Patterson.

Thunderstorm Wind, Highland

When: May 18, 10:45 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where: Highland County, Sounding Knob
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 38.362, -79.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds damaged a paging tower in Sounding Knob. A few trees and power lines were also knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Giles

When: May 18, 10:50 AM EST
Where: Giles County, Pearisburg
Coordinates: 37.314, -80.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Giles

When: May 18, 10:55 AM EST to 11:10 AM EST
Where: Giles County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.314, -80.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Craig

When: May 18, 11:28 AM EST
Where: Craig County, New Castle
Coordinates: 37.481, -80.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Craig

When: May 18, 11:35 AM EST
Where: Craig County, New Castle
Coordinates: 37.481, -80.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Roanoke

When: May 18, 11:38 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, Roanoke Airport
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph)
Property damage: $100
Coordinates: 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Botetourt

When: May 18, 11:40 AM EST
Where: Botetourt County, Fincastle
Property damage: $50
Coordinates: 37.557, -79.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Roanoke

When: May 18, 11:42 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, Ne Roanoke City
Property damage: $20
Coordinates: 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Botetourt

When: May 18, 11:55 AM EST
Where: Botetourt County, Buchanan
Property damage: $200
Coordinates: 37.557, -79.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Botetourt

When: May 18, 11:56 AM EST
Where: Botetourt County, S Buchanan
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 37.557, -79.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockbridge

When: May 18, 12:05 PM EST
Where: Rockbridge County, Glasgow
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates: 37.815, -79.448 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Bedford

When: May 18, 12:07 PM EST to 12:18 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, Nrn Ptn
Coordinates: 37.315, -79.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Bedford

When: May 18, 12:10 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, Big Island
Coordinates: 37.315, -79.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:12 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Nr Pedlar Mills
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:20 PM EST to 12:35 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:22 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Madison Heights
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:22 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Nw Amherst
Property damage: $20
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:25 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Amherst
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: May 18, 12:27 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Se Amherst
Property damage: $120
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms developed in the mountains of southwest Virginia during the late morning hours, raced eastward and produced damaging winds which injured one person. Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines in Pearisburg, Big Island, Madison Heights and on Potts Mountain eight miles west-northwest of New Castle, flipped a small plane over at Roanoke Airport and knocked a tree onto a car in northeast Roanoke City. And just northwest of Amherst, thunderstorm winds downed power lines and 12 to 20 inch diameter trees in New Castle, downed numerous trees across all of Giles and Amherst counties and the northern portion of Bedford County, ripped the roofs off two buildings, downed numerous trees, blew out windows and downed power lines in Buchanan and damaged roofs and downed trees, power lines and power poles in Amherst. Thunderstorm winds estimated at 65 mph blew the screen out of a screen door and downed power lines in Glasgow. Near Pedlar Mills, strong thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down across a road which caused a tractor-semitrailer to jackknife. Thunderstorm winds knocked a large tree onto a house just southeast of Amherst. As a result, several windows were knocked out, a wall was severely damaged and the roof was damaged. Thunderstorm winds destroyed a shed and downed trees in Fincastle. Trees landed on a house and on a shed, damaging the house and destroying the shed. Just south of Buchanan, a man was injured while on his riding lawn mower when strong thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down on top of him. A lightning strike knocked out a residential transformer near Lexington.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fauquier

When: May 18, 12:30 PM EST
Where: Fauquier County
Property damage: $20
Coordinates: 38.739, -77.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfax

When: May 18, 1:00 PM EST to 1:25 PM EST
Where: Fairfax County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 38.835, -77.276 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

18,1310EST,,,0,0,0,0,Hail (0.75) 18,1315EST,,,0,0,20K,0,Lightning A line of severe thunderstorms swept through the county, causing widespread power outages and several separate areas of felled trees and power lines. Several large trees fell in an Annandale neighborhood, producing structural damage at three homes. Trees fell on power lines in the Clifton area and in Centreville; a dozen trees were knocked down at a golf course in Reston. Dime-size hail was reported in McLean. Virginia Power reported 6,000 customers without power at the height of the storm in the county; a total of 18,000 were without power in Virginia Power's northern Virginia district. In Alexandria, the roof was torn off a house under construction, and there were 30 reports of downed trees and power lines. Lightning struck a residence in McLean, starting a small fire which was quickly extinguished.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fluvanna

When: May 18, 1:10 PM EST
Where: Fluvanna County, Fork Union
Coordinates: 37.842, -78.277 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tress down across road in Fork Union area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Goochland

When: May 18, 1:20 PM EST
Where: Goochland County, Hadensville
Coordinates: 37.722, -77.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large tree limbs down near Royal Virginia Golf Course.

Thunderstorm Wind, Arlington

When: May 18, 1:25 PM EST
Where: Arlington County
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 38.879, -77.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees were knocked down, and traffic signals were knocked out.

Thunderstorm Wind, Prince William

When: May 18, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Prince William County, Woodbridge
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 38.702, -77.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Substantial thunderstorm wind damage was sustained at Prince William Stadium near Woodbridge. Billboards were blown into right field, a tent which protects a picnic area partially collapsed, and a tarp covering the field was bunched up along the right field foul line.

Thunderstorm Wind, Louisa

When: May 18, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Louisa County, Near Locust Creek
Coordinates: 37.978, -77.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees down west of Montpelier near Louisa/Hanover County line.

Hail, Henry

When: May 18, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Henry County, E Martinsville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Patrick

When: May 18, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, Stuart
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Henry

When: May 18, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Axton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Henry

When: May 18, 4:20 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Fieldale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50
Coordinates: 36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Henry

When: May 18, 4:25 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Martinsville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: May 18, 4:29 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Martinsville
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Property damage: $30
Coordinates: 36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Pittsylvania

When: May 18, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, Chatham
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 36.821, -79.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsylvania

When: May 18, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, Danville
Coordinates: 36.821, -79.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dickenson

When: May 18, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Dickenson County, Clintwood
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.126, -82.350 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Floyd

When: May 18, 6:40 PM EST
Where: Floyd County, Bent Mountain
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 36.932, -80.362 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 18, 6:47 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, W Pilot
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Roanoke

When: May 18, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Roanoke County, Vinton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Floyd

When: May 18, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Floyd County, Ne Copper Hill
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 36.932, -80.362 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Franklin

When: May 18, 7:20 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Burnt Chimney
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Franklin

When: May 18, 7:35 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Burnt Chimney
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Bedford

When: May 18, 7:40 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, Huddleston
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $400
Coordinates: 37.315, -79.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Franklin

When: May 18, 7:42 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Burnt Chimney
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Campbell

When: May 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Campbell County, Altavista
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: May 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Campbell County, Nr Altavista
Property damage: $120
Coordinates: 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Pittsylvania

When: May 18, 8:12 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, Hurt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.821, -79.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Campbell

When: May 18, 8:22 PM EST
Where: Campbell County, Naruna
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $350
Coordinates: 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: May 18, 8:22 PM EST
Where: Campbell County, Naruna
Coordinates: 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Campbell

When: May 18, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Campbell County, Naruna
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms in southwest Virginia during the afternoon and evening hours on the 18th produced hail up to baseball-size, damaging winds and lightning which injured one person. Baseball-size hail broke out windows and skylights, damaged sidings and roofs, smashed vehicle windshields and damaged vehicles roofs 10 miles southwest of Huddleston. The hail accumulated to a depth of several inches. Some of the hail was still visible the next morning. Dime-size hail covered the ground just east of Martinsville and in Axton. Hail up to golf ball-size covered the ground in Naruna. The hail severely damaged the William Campbell high school green house and damaged several vehicles and the roofs of homes in Naruna. Golf ball-size hail damaged vehicles including a police car in Fieldale. Quarter-size hail damaged crops one mile south of Chatham. Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and broke off tree limbs in Naruna and Martinsville. In Martinsville, a mobile home was damaged when strong thunderstorm winds knocked a tree on top of it. Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines two and one-half miles west of Danville. Near Altavista, a car, a house and a carport were damaged when strong thunderstorm winds knocked trees on them. Lightning struck a house in Chatham which injured a man. Lightning started a fire which destroyed a barn five miles south of Chatham.

Hail, Prince Edward

When: May 18, 8:45 PM EST
Where: Prince Edward County, Near Darlington to Heigts
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.224, -78.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dime-size hail reported by resident

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1995 Every state in 1995 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, May 1995

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10357021, 10356554, 10357039, 10357040, 10356924, 10356972, 10356416, 10356960, 10356417, 10356961, 10356962, 10356437, 10356908, 10356909, 10356765, 10356766, 10356767, 10356768, 10356769, 10356770, 10356847, 10356809, 10356904, 10356478, 10356796, 10356370, 10356654, 10356543, 10356688, 10356544, 10356545, 10356546, 10356547, 10356698, 10356711, 10357031, 10356894, 10356671, 10356418, 10356895, and more.