Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 31, 1999

Name: Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 31, 1999
Start: 1999-07-31T16:15
End: 1999-07-31T19:50
Location: Virginia

July 31, 1999 · NWS RNK · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Thunderstorm winds in the City of Martinsville blew over numerous large trees, blocking many roads and downing powerlines. Felled trees caused damage to many residences and other structures.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 RNK wrote it up.

Thunderstorms during the late afternoon of the 31st produced damaging winds.Thunderstorm winds in the City of Martinsville blew over numerous large trees, blocking many roads and downing powerlines. Felled trees caused damage to many residences and other structures. A woman suffered non-life threatening injuries when a tree was blown down onto her house. Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Boonesboro, Appomattox, Madison Heights, 1 foot diameter trees in the City of Lynchburg, 1 to 11/2 foot diameter trees in Elon, large trees in Bassett, and large trees 5 miles southeast of Martinsville.

The radar

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

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Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: July 31, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Elon
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.520, -79.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Bedford

When: July 31, 4:25 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, Boonsboro
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 37.450, -79.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Amherst

When: July 31, 4:26 PM EST
Where: Amherst County, Madison Hgts
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 37.420, -79.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Lynchburg (C)

When: July 31, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Lynchburg (C) County, Lynchburg
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.420, -79.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 31, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Bassett
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.770, -79.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Martinsville (C)

When: July 31, 5:35 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
Where: Martinsville (C) County, Martinsville
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.680, -79.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 31, 5:50 PM EST
Where: Henry County, 5 mi SE of Martinsville City
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.630, -79.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Appomattox

When: July 31, 7:50 PM EST
Where: Appomattox County, Appomattox
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.350, -78.830

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, July 1999

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: 5711814, 5711811, 5711815, 5711816, 5711812, 5711810, 5711817, 5711813.