Only a few days after Northern Virginia received rains from the remnants of Hurricane Dennis, an area of thunderstorms moved through the area producing damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and very heavy downpours. The storms affected the region between 5:30 PM EDT and midnight.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
Only a few days after Northern Virginia received rains from the remnants of Hurricane Dennis, an area of thunderstorms moved through the area producing damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and very heavy downpours. The storms affected the region between 5:30 PM EDT and midnight. Frederick and Clarke Counties received the heaviest rainfall, and suffered from Significant flash flooding. An observer in Clearbrook reported a rain gauges that held 5 inches overflowed during the storm. Another observer in the eastern half of Frederick County received a total of 5.3 inches, with 3.5 inches of the total recorded in 1 hour. One location in Clarke County reported 3.8 inches of rain in 1 hour. A portion of Highway 7 was closed by high water near Berryville. Both Boyce and Berryville reported street flooding. The communities of Greenwood and Stephens City reported several flooded roads and basements. Severe flooding and mudslides blocked roads between Highway 7 and Route 50, and another mudslide affected Route 50. In addition, Route 635, 657, 255, 621, 620, 651, and 761 were all closed for a short period of time due to high water in Clarke County. Shenandoah County also received heavy rain and reported minor flooding. Just south of Strasburg, 1.5 inches fell. County officials reported a low lying bridge on Highway 744 was covered with water in the Deer Rapids area near Massanutten Mountain. A low water bridge at Black Bear Crossing east of Maurertown and at Chapman's Landing south of Woodstock were also flooded and impassable. Several basements and roads were flooded in Strasburg. IN addition, winds in excess of 55 MPH downed trees and power lines in several locations. Several trees were downed in the eastern part of Frederick County. Power lines were downed and lightning started several tree fires in the Greenwood area. Trees were downed across Clarke County with a concentration in the Berryville area. Utility crews had to clear downed trees in Waterford and Leesburg in Loudoun County. In Orange County, several trees were downed by high wind in Gordonsville. Dime sized hail fell in Stephens City, and pea sized hail fell in Leesburg. Winds estimated between 70 and 80 MPH pummelled Front Royal around 11:00 PM EDT. The area of town east of Route 350, south of Main Street, west of Route 522, and north of Route 55 was hardest hit. Part of a roof was torn off a home and a few chimneys were blown down. Other homes had roof , siding, and trim damage. At least a dozen trees were uprooted and many more were snapped. Numerous trees lost large limbs. Two houses had large trees fall on them and one car was crushed by a tree. Two sheds were damaged. Two stores in a shopping center south of Route 522 and south of Route 55 had trim damage. Another portion of town north of Route 55 and east of Route 522 around Jamestown and Marshall Streets also had several large hardwood trees that were snapped by winds in excess of 55 MPH. One home in the Lake Front Royal subdivision was hit by lightning. Many residents in the southern part of the city lost power after trees fell onto power lines.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Quickly rising water closed several roads and caused mudslides
Quickly rising water flooded roads in Berryville and Boyce
Several trees downed
Roads closed by high water in Strasburg, flooding in north portion of county
Dime sized hail
Trees downed across roads countywide
Winds estimated between 70 and 80 MPH downed trees and damaged structures
House struck by lightning
Trees downed across roads countywide
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, September 1999
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: 5717944, 5717945, 5717946, 5717947, 5717948, 5717949, 5717950, 5717951, 5717952.