Strong Wind in Virginia, December 12, 2000

Name: Strong Wind in Virginia, December 12, 2000
Start: 2000-12-12T03:00
End: 2000-12-12T12:00
Location: Virginia

December 12, 2000 · NWS LWX · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

A vigorous cold front crossed the region between 4 AM and 8 AM on the 12th. As the front passed, northwest winds gusted up to 45 MPH and didn't begin to subside until midday.

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.

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Tropical storms and surge
Floods
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Heat and drought
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Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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.

A vigorous cold front crossed the region between 4 AM and 8 AM on the 12th. As the front passed, northwest winds gusted up to 45 MPH and didn't begin to subside until midday. In Loudoun County, gusty winds downed power lines north of Leesburg. A wind gust of 45 MPH was recorded at Dulles International Airport. In Prince William County, tree limbs were downed onto power lines and 3000 customers lost power. Winds also blew over a hot grill and started a deck fire in Lake Ridge. In Arlington, a wind gust of 45 MPH was reported at Washington Reagan National Airport. In Fairfax County, a wind gust of 46 MPH was recorded. In Frederick County, numerous power line failures were reported. Downed trees caused power outages in 10 different areas, including Winchester. A wind gust of 46 MPH was recorded at the Winchester Airport. In Warren County, 6 trees were blown down at Massanutten Mountain Drive and High Knob Road. One downed power line sparked a brush fire. In Greene County, three utility poles were downed along Route 33 in Ruckersville.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Prince William

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Prince William forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind, Fauquier

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Fauquier forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind, Stafford

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Stafford forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.421, -77.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, King George

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: King George forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.274, -77.156 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Spotsylvania

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Spotsylvania forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.244, -77.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Orange

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Orange forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.246, -78.013 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Culpeper

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Culpeper forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.486, -77.956 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Rappahannock

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Rappahannock forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.685, -78.159 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Warren

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.909, -78.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Shenandoah

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Shenandoah forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.858, -78.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Page

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Page forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.620, -78.484 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Madison

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.414, -78.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Greene

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.298, -78.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Rockingham

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Rockingham forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.481, -78.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Highland

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Highland forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind, Augusta

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Augusta forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.109, -78.974 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Albemarle

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Albemarle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.029, -78.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Nelson

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Nelson forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.787, -78.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Frederick

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Frederick forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.195, -78.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Clarke

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.112, -77.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Loudoun

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Loudoun forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind, Arlington

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Arlington forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.855, -77.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Fairfax

When: December 12, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Fairfax forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.841, -77.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, December 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: 5166434, 5166435, 5166436, 5166437, 5166438, 5166439, 5166440, 5166441, 5166442, 5166443, 5166444, 5166445, 5166446, 5166447, 5166448, 5166449, 5166450, 5166451, 5166978, 5166979, 5166980, 5166981, 5166982.