Numerous thunderstorms with high winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours moved through the region between 2 and 8 PM EDT. In Nelson County, trees were downed in Arrington and Piedmont.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
Numerous thunderstorms with high winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours moved through the region between 2 and 8 PM EDT. In Nelson County, trees were downed in Arrington and Piedmont. Flood waters covered Route 56 in Shipman. In Augusta County, trees were downed in Mint Spring. Two campers were injured by lightning in Natural Chimneys Regional Park near Mt. Solon. They were holding onto an awning when lightning struck and they both sustained minor injuries. Lightning also downed trees onto two cars and a mobile home nearby. In Highland County, a few trees were downed in Mill Gap. In Rockingham County, the hardest hit community was Harrisonburg. Two buildings, in the heart of downtown on Main and North Liberty streets, lost their roofs to high winds. Roof debris crashed down onto nearby streets and utility lines. Numerous trees were downed and marble to dime sized hail fell. Two inches of rain fell in 30 minutes. In Bridgewater, heavy downpours caused a storm drain to be pushed out of the ground. Pea sized hail was also reported. In Shenandoah County, golfball sized hail fell in Mt. Jackson. Trees were downed in Fort Valley. In Warren County, 2.17 inches of rain was recorded at Manassas Gap. Minor flooding was reported in the northern and eastern portions of the county. Trees were downed in Edinburg. A home in the Point of Woods area was destroyed by a lightning fire. In Frederick County, dime sized hail was reported in Winchester. In Fauquier County, a tree was blown onto a truck in Midland. A man inside was trapped, but uninjured. In Culpeper County, trees were downed onto Edwards Shop Road and Kelly Ford Road in the southeastern portion of the county. In Orange County, trees were downed in Lake of the Woods. One tree fell onto a car and two trees fell onto homes. In Spotsylvania County, dime sized hail fell in Fredericksburg. Trees were downed 12 miles west of Fredericksburg. A home in Spotsylvania was damaged by lightning. In Stafford County, dime sized hail fell in Heflin. In Fairfax County, dime sized hail fell in Reston and Annandale. Quarter sized hail was reported in Centreville, Fairfax, and just south of Chantilly. In Greenbriar, a spotter reported 30 straight minutes of hail. During this time, large hail up to a quarter in size fell for 10 minutes and dented cars. In Fairfax, a spotter reported a wind gust in excess of 50 MPH. Several trees were downed in the Centreville where a spotter estimated a wind gust of 70 MPH and 2 inches of rain in less than 40 minutes. Lightning set a townhouse in Springfield and a home in Fairfax on fire. In Prince William County, nearly 2 million dollars in damage was reported in the Manassas area. A wind gust of 67 MPH was recorded at the Manassas Airport. An unofficial wind gust of 89.7 MPH was recorded atop the airport control tower as it was being evacuated. Several buildings on the airport grounds sustained damage, including a hangar which lost a quarter of its roof and a door. Two airplanes were destroyed and three were damaged. A commercial blimp was torn away from its mooring and blown one half mile away from the airport. A person who was trying to secure the blimp was carried along with it and sustained minor injuries when the craft landed. The high winds downed numerous trees in Manassas, Manassas Park, and Sudley. In addition, dime to quarter sized hail fell in Manassas and Manassas Park for over 20 minutes. Extensive roof, siding, and vehicle damage resulted. Very heavy downpours also caused minor flooding on streets. An observer in Manassas Park reported a total of 5.25 inches of rainfall in only 90 minutes.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 3, 1:30 PM EST, 0 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
230 PM EDT SAT AUG 3 2002
SHORT TERM...TNGT THRU SUN NIGHT...
SUBTROPICAL RIDGE DOMINATES MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND ERN U.S. WITH
WESTERLIES REMAINING WELL N OF THE AREA NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER.
500MB RIDGE ACTUALLY BUILDS EWD TONIGHT AND SUN. THIS WILL CAUSE THE
WEAK AND DIFFUSE FNT TO OUR N OVR PA TO WASH OUT OVRNGT AND SUN.
HIGH PRES OVR THE GTLKS WILL BRIDGE EWD WITH THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH
OFF THE E CST SUN AND SUN NGT. A WEAK VORT MAX COMING AROUND THE NRN
SIDE OF THE UPR LVL RIDGE WILL PASS THRU NEW ENG SUN NGT.
HOWEVER...THE ASSOCD BOUNDARY SHOULD REMAIN N OF THE AREA THRU 3RD
PD.
CAPES RUNNING 3000 J/KG OR HIGHER ACRS AREA THIS AFTRN WITH LIS AS
LOW AS -10C AND TTS IN THE 50S SO AIR MASS IS QUITE UNSTABLE.
A FEW WAYS TO GET SCT CONVECTION GOING THIS AFTRN INTO THIS EVE.
WEAKENING FRONT TO THE N OF THE AREA MAY ACT AS A FOCUS FOR SCT
CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON. SCT CONVECTION WOULD FORM OVR PA THEN
DROP SLOWLY SWD INTO THE AREA. ALSO....MODELS HINT AT VERY WEAK VORT
MAX DRIFTING SW ACRS THE AREA. THIS MAY ALSO HELP TO INITIATE
CONVECTION. IN ADDITION...THERE MAY BE MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES LAID OUT
OVR THE AREA DUE TO LAST NIGHTS CONVECTION. THESE BOUNDARIES COULD
INITIATE CONVECTION. LASTLY...OROGRAPHIC LIFT OVR THE MTNS MAY
INITIATE CONVECTION. WILL LEAVE 30 POPS IN PLACE INTO TNGT. ANY
CONVECTION SHOULD DIMINISH BY MDNGT AS THE ATMOSPHERE COOLS A
BIT/STABILIZES. AS FAR AS POTENTIAL FOR SVR...DYNAMICS ARE LACKING
AND WIND FIELDS ARE VERY WEAK. HOWEVER...INSTABILITY IS EXCELLENT
AND THERE IS DRY AIR IN THE MID LEVELS. THREAT WILL BE FOR ISOLD SVR
WITH DOWNBURSTS. IN ADDTN...HIGH PWATS AND WEAK STEERING FLOW COULD
RESULT IN VERY SLOW MOVING HEAVY RAINERS.
ON SUN...500MB TEMPS WARM AND FCST SOUNDINGS SHOWING A NICE CAP. IN
ADDITION...IT DOES NOT LOOK AS UNSTABLE AS TDA...500MB RIDGE WILL BE
BUILDING INTO THE AREA AND AIR MASS WILL BE SLIGHTLY DRIER. SHOULD
BE SOME PATCHY CI AND AFTERNOON CU BUILDUP BUT STILL A M/S FCST.
CANT RULE OUT AN ISOLD TSRA IF THERE ARE ANY MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES
AROUND BUT POPS LESS THAN 30 SO WILL NOT MENTION IN THE SUN FCST.
M/CLR SUN NGT WITH JUST SOME PATCHY CI AROUND.
MOS FCST MAX TEMPS HAVE BEEN TOO COOL LAST FEW DAYS. FULL SUN...S
FLOW AND 850MB TEMPS AROUND 20C AGAIN ON SUN SO THINK TEMPS WILL AT
REACH THE M/U 90S AGAIN...A FEW DEG ABOVE GUIDANCE. MOS MINS ARE
CLOSE NEXT TWO NIGHTS AND ACCEPTED WITH ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. MIN
HEAT INDEX WILL BE NEAR 80 AGAIN IN DC TNGT WITH POTENTIAL FOR HEAT
INDEX UP TO 105 AGAIN SUN AFTRN SO WILL KEEP THE WARNING UP FOR DC
AREA THRU SUN. USUALLY BALTIMORE CITY HAS SIMILAR CONDITIONS BUT
HEAT INDEX AT NIGHT HAS BEEN FALLING BELOW 80 SO THEY WILL BE
GROUPED WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE ADVISORY.
WALSTON
----------------------------------------------
LONG-TERM DISCUSSION
MONDAY
UPPER RIDGE STILL EXPECTED TO BE ON FIRM CONTROL OF THE REGION.
HAVE KEPT 30 POPS FOR MON AFTERNOON FOR SAKE OF CONTINUITY...BUT
CAREFUL EXAMINATIONS OF 12Z AVN FCST SOUNDINGS ACROSS THE REGION
INDICATE SUBSTANTIAL CINH TO BE OVERCOME AND WITH NO BDRIES TO FOCUS
CONVECTION DOUBT ANYTHING WILL FIRE. 12Z ETA IS A BIT MORE
OPTIMISTIC WITH NEGATIVE LIS AND HIGHER TT NUMBERS. HAVE RAISED
BOTH MAX AND MIN FOR MON AND MON NIGHT A COUPLE OF DEGREES SINCE MOS
NUMBERS HAVE BEEN TOO COOL THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
TUE-FRI
UPPER AIR PATTERN BECOMES MORE AMPLIFIED TUESDAY WITH A STRONG RIDGE
OVER THE CENTER OF THE NATION AND WEST COAST TROF. THIS RESULTS IN
DEEP TROUGH OVER ERN NOAM. ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA TUESDAY BRINGING AN END TO THE HOT WEATHER. 12Z AVN
INDICATES MOST OF THE ENERGY WITH THIS TROF WILL REMAIN WELL
NORTHEAST OF THE AREA. THINK 30 POPS LOOK REASONABLE. FRONT MOVES
SOUTH OF THE AREA TUE NIGHT WITH DRIER AND COOLER TEMPS BEHIND IT.
ROSA
.LWX...
DC...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONE DCZ001.
MD...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
MDZ002>007...MDZ009>011...MDZ013>014...MDZ016>018.
VA...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONE VAZ054.
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
VAZ025>031...VAZ036>042...VAZ050>053...VAZ055>057.
WV...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
WVZ048>053...WVZ055.DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042- 050>053-055>057-WVZ048>055-040000- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON 1152 AM EDT SAT AUG 3 2002 THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON OVER NORTHERN AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...MUCH OF MARYLAND...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT FORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. IN ADDITION...ANY STORMS THAT FORM WILL BE SLOW MOVING WHICH COULD RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...SEEK SHELTER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. WALSTON
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:45 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 11 hail, 5 lightning, 3 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A total of 5.25 inches of rain fell.
Dime sized hail was reported.
Marble to quarter sized hail fell from Centreville to Greenbriar.
Quarter sized hail damaged a car near the intersection of Route 28 and Westfield Road.
Over 20 trees were downed by winds estimated around 70 MPH.
A home on Forestdale Drive was damaged by a lightning fire.
Marble to quarter sized hail dented vehicles.
Marble to quarter sized hail fell.
Dime sized hail was reported.
Trees were snapped by high winds.
Power lines were downed in Sudley.
A wind gust of 67 MPH damaged planes and buildings at the airport.
Heavy rainfall caused a storm drain to push out of the ground.
Two roofs were blown off and numerous trees and utility lines were downed.
Dime sized hail fell.
Dime to golfball sized hail was reported.
Trees were downed 12 miles west of Fredericksburg.
A lightning fire damaged a home on Smith Station Road.
Two campers at Natural Chimneys Regional Park were struck by lightning. Lightning also downed trees onto two cars and a mobile home nearby.
A townhouse on Sumptner Lane was damaged by a lightning fire.
Dime sized hail fell in Heflin.
Trees were downed in Sudley.
Golfball sized hail fell.
A tree was downed onto a truck.
Trees were downed onto roads.
Trees were downed. The event time was estimated.
Trees were downed in Fort Valley.
A few trees were downed.
Trees were downed ont homes and a car.
A tree was downed.
Streets were covered by water in the northern and central portions of the county.
Dime sized hail fell.
Trees were downed in Piedmont.
Trees were downed.
Floodwaters covered Route 56.
A home burned to the ground in Point of Woods after being struck by lightning.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2002
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: 5313980, 5313981, 5313983, 5313982, 5313984, 5314064, 5314065, 5314066, 5314067, 5314068, 5314070, 5314069, 5314071, 5314072, 5314073, 5314074, 5314075, 5314076, 5314077, 5314078, 5314079, 5314080, 5314081, 5314082, 5314083, 5314167, 5314084, 5314085, 5314162, 5314163, 5314166, 5314164, 5314165, 5314168, 5314169, 5314170.