Hail, Wythe
- When
- April 17, 11:27 AM EST
- Where
- Wythe County, 3 mi S of Wytheville
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -81.083
Tornado and Flash Flooding in Virginia, April 17, 2000
A tornado briefly touched down in a field in Gladys. Hail drifts were up to 12 inches deep on the north side of Christiansburg in Montgomery County Lightning struck a house 2 miles north of Altavista, starting a fire that burned to house to the ground.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 19 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $154,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 42
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 morning through evening of the 17th generated a tornado, and produced hail up to one and three quarter inches in diameter, damaging winds, flash flooding, and lightning damage.A tornado briefly touched down in a field in Gladys. No damage was reported.Hail drifts were up to 12 inches deep on the north side of Christiansburg in Montgomery County Lightning struck a house 2 miles north of Altavista, starting a fire that burned to house to the ground. A second house in Brookneal was struck by lightning starting a fire that caused minor damage.Heavy thunderstorm rains caused Little Ivy Creek to flood from 1/2 mile east of Vesta to 5 miles east of Vesta, and caused Poplar Road and Alleghany Springs Road to flood 2 miles west of Shawsville. Heavy rain flooded and closed the following; numerous streets in the City of Roanoke, School Board Road in Rocky Mount, Snake Creek Bridge on Route 58 five miles southeast of Hillsville, and McCoy Road in Christiansburg. Heavy rain flooded Spoon Creek onto Route 58, closing it, 2 miles east of Stuart, caused a mudslide closing Route 759 four miles southwest of Sydnorsville, flooded small streams in Rocky Mt, and flooded and closed roads in southeastern Rockbridge County, and across Charlotte County.Heavy rain caused minor small stream flooding of Broad Run onto Route 618 in several places from 4 miles east of New Castle to 4 miles south of New Castle, and Sinking Creek onto Route 608 in Maybrook.After flooding earlier in the afternoon in Roanoke County and the City of Roanoke, additional heavy rain flooded roads in Vinton and in the City of Roanoke, closing some. Carvins and Masons Creeks flooded in northern Roanoke County, and Tinker Creek and Glade Creek also flooded in Roanoke County and in the City of RoanokeThunderstorm winds on the afternoon of the 17th blew out windows in a house in Penhook and downed trees and power lines in central Wythe County.Thunderstorm winds also damaged houses, cars, mobile homes, barns, and downed trees and power lines in southern Franklin County.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
19 hail, 15 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood, 2 lightning, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Flood, Craig
- When
- April 17, 11:45 AM EST to 12:30 PM EST
- Where
- Craig County, 4 mi S of New Castle
- Reported by
- UNKNOWN
- Coordinates
- 37.481, -80.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Giles
- When
- April 17, 11:45 AM EST to 12:30 PM EST
- Where
- Giles County, Maybrook
- Reported by
- UNKNOWN
- Coordinates
- 37.314, -80.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 12:13 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Callaway
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.017, -80.050
Hail, Patrick
- When
- April 17, 12:19 PM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, Meadows of Dan
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.733, -80.417
Hail, Montgomery
- When
- April 17, 12:25 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery County, Christiansburg
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
- Coordinates
- 37.133, -80.417
Hail, Montgomery
- When
- April 17, 12:35 PM EST to 12:40 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery County, Christiansburg
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
- Coordinates
- 37.133, -80.417
Flash Flood, Patrick
- When
- April 17, 1:00 PM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, 1 mi E of Vesta
- Reported by
- UNKNOWN
- Coordinates
- 36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 1:05 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Penhook
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- UNKNOWN
- Coordinates
- 36.983, -79.633
Hail, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 1:10 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Henry
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.833, -79.983
Hail, Montgomery
- When
- April 17, 1:14 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery County, Shawsville
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.167, -80.267
Flash Flood, Montgomery
- When
- April 17, 1:15 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery County, 2 mi W of Shawsville
- Reported by
- DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
- Coordinates
- 37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 1:30 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Redwood
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.017, -79.833
Hail, Charlotte
- When
- April 17, 1:41 PM EST
- Where
- Charlotte County, Charlotte Court Hous
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.050, -78.633
Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 1:45 PM EST to 2:05 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, South Portion
- Property damage
- $75,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.883, -79.900
Hail, Pittsylvania
- When
- April 17, 2:00 PM EST
- Where
- Pittsylvania County, 3 mi E of Sandy Level
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.950, -79.483
Lightning, Campbell
- When
- April 17, 2:00 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, 2 mi N of Altavista
- Property damage
- $75,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Charlotte
- When
- April 17, 2:02 PM EST
- Where
- Charlotte County, Charlotte Court Hous
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.050, -78.633
Lightning, Campbell
- When
- April 17, 2:15 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, Brookneal
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.206, -79.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Campbell
- When
- April 17, 2:21 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, Naruna
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.117, -79.000
Tornado, Campbell
- When
- April 17, 2:52 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, Gladys
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 40 yd
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.167, -79.083
Hail, Pittsylvania
- When
- April 17, 2:55 PM EST
- Where
- Pittsylvania County, Hurt
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.083, -79.283
Hail, Campbell
- When
- April 17, 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, Altavista
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.117, -79.300
Hail, Pittsylvania
- When
- April 17, 3:12 PM EST
- Where
- Pittsylvania County, Hurt
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- POST OFFICE
- Coordinates
- 37.083, -79.283
Hail, Wythe
- When
- April 17, 4:25 PM EST
- Where
- Wythe County, Wytheville
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.950, -81.083
Thunderstorm Wind, Wythe
- When
- April 17, 4:30 PM EST to 4:35 PM EST
- Where
- Wythe County, Central Portion
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 36.950, -81.100
Flash Flood, Roanoke (C)
- When
- April 17, 5:06 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Roanoke (C) County, Roanoke
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.271, -79.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Carroll
- When
- April 17, 5:13 PM EST
- Where
- Carroll County, Fancy Gap
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.667, -80.700
Hail, Carroll
- When
- April 17, 5:40 PM EST
- Where
- Carroll County, Hillsville
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.767, -80.733
Hail, Patrick
- When
- April 17, 6:05 PM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, 5 mi S of Woolwine
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.717, -80.283
Flash Flood, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 7:00 PM EST to 7:45 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Rocky Mt
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Carroll
- When
- April 17, 7:30 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
- Where
- Carroll County, 5 mi SE of Hillsville
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.732, -80.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Patrick
- When
- April 17, 7:45 PM EST to 8:45 PM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, 2 mi E of Stuart
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Montgomery
- When
- April 17, 7:50 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
- Where
- Montgomery County, Christiansburg
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Roanoke
- When
- April 17, 8:10 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
- Where
- Roanoke County, Vinton
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Roanoke (C)
- When
- April 17, 8:10 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
- Where
- Roanoke (C) County, Roanoke
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.271, -79.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 8:35 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, 4 mi SW of Sydnorsville
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Rockbridge
- When
- April 17, 9:10 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
- Where
- Rockbridge County, Southeast Portion
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.815, -79.448 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Franklin
- When
- April 17, 10:00 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Rocky Mt
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Roanoke
- When
- April 17, 10:00 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
- Where
- Roanoke County, North Portion
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Roanoke (C)
- When
- April 17, 10:00 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
- Where
- Roanoke (C) County, Roanoke
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.271, -79.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood, Charlotte
- When
- April 17, 10:00 PM EST
- Where
- Charlotte County, Countywide
- Reported by
- DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
- Coordinates
- 37.012, -78.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
- 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.
- Tornado
- A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Rip Current in California, April 17, 2000
- Lightning Strike in South Carolina, April 17, 2000
- Winter Storm and Flood in California, April 17 to 18, 2000
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, April 17, 2000
- Tornado in Virginia, April 17, 2000
- Hail and Lightning Strike in California, April 17, 2000
- Flash Flooding in Ohio, April 17, 2000
- Hail in North Carolina, April 17, 2000
- Flash Flood in Virginia, April 17, 2000
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, April 17, 2000
- Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 17, 2000
- Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 17, 2000
More
Every storm in Virginia in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2000Warnings in Virginia, April 2000
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: 5141601, 5142048, 5142049, 5142043, 5141602, 5141603, 5142040, 5141604, 5141605, 5141606, 5141941, 5141942, 5141943, 5141944, 5142041, 5142044, 5142052, 5141945, 5142053, 5141946, 5141947, 5142039, 5141948, 5141949, 5141950, 5142050, 5141951, 5142045, 5142046, 5142047, 5141952, 5141953, 5141955, 5141954, 5141956, 5142034, 5142035, 5142042, 5142036, 5142037, and more.