Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Virginia, July 21, 1997

Name: Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Virginia, July 21, 1997
Start: 1997-07-21T16:10
End: 1997-07-21T17:45
Location: Virginia

July 21, 1997 · NWS LWX · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Isolated severe thunderstorms struck a portion of the Shenandoah Valley during the late afternoon. In Charlottesville, the bell tower of Buck Mountain Church was destroyed, and a nearby fallen tree broke a window and caused minor roof damage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

Isolated severe thunderstorms struck a portion of the Shenandoah Valley during the late afternoon. Effects were felt most in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and Earlysville, where several large limbs, trees, and wires fell.In Charlottesville, the bell tower of Buck Mountain Church was destroyed, and a nearby fallen tree broke a window and caused minor roof damage. Farther north, in and near Earlysville, several trees and large limbs fell, most onto power lines and some blocking local routes 743 and 660. At nearby Charlottesville/Albemarle Co Airport, winds were measured at 58 mph.In Harrisonburg (Rockingham Co), several trees were snapped and a few uprooted, including an 80 foot tall walnut tree. An outbuilding's roof was tossed into a moving vehicle, causing minor damage to the car but no injury to the driver. Hail driven by the winds shattered a window at a downtown accounting firm. Lightning struck the roof of a county public library, rupturing it slightly. Water leakage caused minor damage to books inside. Hundreds of residents were without power during the storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When: July 21, 4:10 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where: Rockingham County, South Portion
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.350, -78.900

Lightning, Rockingham

When: July 21, 4:10 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where: Rockingham County, South Portion
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 38.512, -78.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Albemarle

When: July 21, 5:30 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where: Albemarle County, (Cho)charlottesville
Property damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 38.150, -78.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Albemarle

When: July 21, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Albemarle County, Charlottesville Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.150, -78.450

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, July 1997

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: 5611088, 5611089, 5611090, 5611091.