Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 13, 2002

Name: Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 13, 2002
Start: 2002-05-13T13:10
End: 2002-05-13T21:10
Location: Virginia

May 13, 2002 · NWS AKQ · 47 events in 38 counties and zones

47 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $83,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 47

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 forecasters said that day

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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 13, 12:30 PM EST, 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 12:30 PM EST, 40 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD, VA
130 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

PRELIM AFD BELOW. ANTHR UPDATE FOR TORNADO WATCH TO FOLLOW.

GETTING BUSY...SO WILL BE BRIEF. TRIPLE PT LOW & ASSCTD STRNG CDFRNT
TO MOVE OFFSHORE AFTR MIDNIGHT...TAKING ALL WX WITH IT. WILL CARRY
CHC POPS THRU ERLY MORN E SCTNS...MIDNITE W. COOLER/DRYER CNDTNS
FOLLOWS THRU LATE WEEK AS H5 RIDGE SLIDES E UNDER ERN TROF. SHUD SEE
SCT-BKN CLDS TUE (SPCLLY NE SCTNS) AS WK TROF/COOL POOL ALFT
INTERACTS WITH STRNG MAY SUN. GSTY W-NW WNDS ALONG WITH LWR DP TMPS
MAY PRODUCE SOME FIRE WX CONCERNS TUE.

ERN TROF LIFTS NE LATER THIS WEEK...ALLOWING RETURN SW FLOW TO SET
UP. XPCT ANTHR WRMG TREND STARTING THU AS SFC HIGH MOVES OFFSHORE.
AVN DROPS ANTHR CDFRNT S ACROSS NEW ENGLAND STATES ON FRI...NOT
GETTING INTO FA UNTIL ERLY SAT. WILL CONT CRNT FCST & KEEP FRI DRY.
CHC POPS SAT INTO SUN WITH SAID FROPA.

CWF...SCA FLAGS CONT THRU TUE FOR CHES BAY / CSTL WTRS AS GSTY SW
WNDS SHFT INTO NW BEHIND FROPA TONITE.

FCSTID = 44

.AKQ...
MD...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY FENWICK ISLAND TO CHINCOTEAGUE.
     TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 PM FOR MDZ021>025
NC...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY VA/NC BRDR TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT.
VA...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY CHINCOTEAGUE TO VA/NC BRDR AND CHES BAY
     SMITH PT TO CAPE HENRY.
     SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 300 PM EDT MONDAY FOR ZONES
     VAZ048>049...VAZ060>064...VAZ068>069.
     TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 PM FOR VAZ075

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 13, 9:24 AM EST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

VAZ048-049-060>064-068-069-131900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1024AM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 3 PM EDT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH.

IN VIRGINIA...THE COUNTIES OF

AMELIA...           CAROLINE...         CUMBERLAND...
FLUVANNA...         GOOCHLAND...        HANOVER...
LOUISA...           POWHATAN...         PRINCE EDWARD.

SKYWARN SPOTTER GROUPS IN THESE COUNTIES ARE ACTIVATED AT THIS TIME.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CONTAIN DAMAGING WIND IN
EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND HAIL 3/4 INCH OR GREATER IN DIAMETER IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN MAY
ALSO ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORMS. BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER
AS THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL
MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. REPORT SEVERE
WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO RELAY
YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ

Special weather statement, May 13, 9:43 AM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes before

MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ065>067-070>093-096>100-132000-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1043 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

...SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

THREAT AREA...CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE.

TIME OF SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...BETWEEN 3 PM AND MIDNIGHT.

SYNOPSIS...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST THIS
AFTERNOON...THEN MOVE OFFSHORE THIS EVENING. TEMPERATURES IN THE
MID TO UPPER 80S OVER MOST LOCATIONS THIS AFTERNOON...WILL CREATE
VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS. THIS WILL SUPPORT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF EMBEDDED SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION...SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING...

  DAMAGING WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 60 MPH...
  HAIL THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER OR GREATER...
  ISOLATED TORNADOES...

ALL THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...PONDING OF WATER ON
ROADWAYS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.  IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND CAN HEAR
THUNDER...YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.  SEEK SAFE
SHELTER UNTIL THE STORMS PASS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

44

Special weather statement, May 13, 1:00 PM EST, 10 minutes before

MDZ021>025-VAZ075-132300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
200 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO
WATCH...EFFECTIVE UNTIL UNTIL 700 PM EDT...FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA...AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH.

IN VIRGINIA...WESTMORELAND COUNTY.

IN MARYLAND...

DORCHESTER...           SOMERSET...         WICOMICO...
WORCESTER...INCLUDING THE MARYLAND BEACHES.

SKYWARN SPOTTER GROUPS IN THESE COUNTIES ARE ACTIVATED AT THIS TIME.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY ANY
THUNDERSTORMS. BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER AS THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACH. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR INFORMATION TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ALS

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

47 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cumberland

When: May 13, 1:10 PM EST
Where: Cumberland County, 3 mi W of Cartersville
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.667, -78.150

Tree down on Route 605, damaged bridge.

Thunderstorm Wind, Prince Edward

When: May 13, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Prince Edward County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.217, -78.283

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Louisa

When: May 13, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Louisa County, Louisa
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.017, -78.000

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fluvanna

When: May 13, 1:40 PM EST
Where: Fluvanna County, 4 mi SW of Antioch
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.780, -78.483

Large tree down on power line.

Thunderstorm Wind, Goochland

When: May 13, 1:41 PM EST
Where: Goochland County, Oilville
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.700, -77.783

Tree down blocking road on Route 250.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cumberland

When: May 13, 1:45 PM EST
Where: Cumberland County, 1 mi S of Cartersville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.650, -78.100

Trees down along Route 616.

Thunderstorm Wind, King William

When: May 13, 2:45 PM EST
Where: King William County, Aylett
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.783, -77.100

Numerous trees down, mainly in northern part of county.

Thunderstorm Wind, King and Queen

When: May 13, 2:50 PM EST
Where: King and Queen County, Cauthronville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.883, -77.050

Numerous trees down along Route 619.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caroline

When: May 13, 2:55 PM EST
Where: Caroline County, Kidds Fork
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.933, -77.300

Trees down. Route 627 blocked by downed trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richmond

When: May 13, 2:59 PM EST
Where: Richmond County, Newland
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.050, -76.867

Large tree down on County Bridge Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Essex

When: May 13, 3:05 PM EST
Where: Essex County, 3 mi E of Dunnsville
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.850, -76.783

Large tree down near Route 606.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westmoreland

When: May 13, 3:10 PM EST
Where: Westmoreland County, Potomac Mills
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.167, -76.933

Numerous trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: May 13, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, Chase City
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.800, -78.450

Numerous trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lunenburg

When: May 13, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Lunenburg County, 2 mi N of Lunenburg
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.983, -78.267

Large tree down on Route 49.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: May 13, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, South Hill
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.733, -78.133

Spotter reported 2 trees down in his neighbor's yard.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lunenburg

When: May 13, 6:01 PM EST
Where: Lunenburg County, 5 mi N of Victoria
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.050, -78.233

Wind gust of 58 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brunswick

When: May 13, 6:20 PM EST
Where: Brunswick County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.750, -77.833

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lunenburg

When: May 13, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Lunenburg County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.967, -78.283

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dinwiddie

When: May 13, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Dinwiddie County, Mc Kenney
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.983, -77.733

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Petersburg (C)

When: May 13, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Petersburg (C) County, Petersburg
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.217, -77.417

Trees down and minor damage at a gas station.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richmond

When: May 13, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Richmond County, Haynesville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.950, -76.667

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Prince George

When: May 13, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Prince George County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.183, -77.217

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Emporia

When: May 13, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Emporia County, Emporia
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.683, -77.533

Trees down near Interstate 95. Tractor trailer overturned.

Thunderstorm Wind, Northumberland

When: May 13, 7:10 PM EST
Where: Northumberland County, Burgess Store
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.883, -76.350

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Southampton

When: May 13, 7:11 PM EST
Where: Southampton County, Capron
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.700, -77.200

Trees and power lines down on Rivers Mill Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westmoreland

When: May 13, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Westmoreland County, Strafford Hall
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.150, -76.833

Numerous trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sussex

When: May 13, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Sussex County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.883, -77.333

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greensville

When: May 13, 7:20 PM EST
Where: Greensville County, Skippers
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.617, -77.550

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Surry

When: May 13, 7:25 PM EST
Where: Surry County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.067, -76.900

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, James City

When: May 13, 7:25 PM EST
Where: James City County, 2 mi NW of Toano
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.400, -76.850

Large branches and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Southampton

When: May 13, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Southampton County, Courtland
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.717, -77.067

Spotter reported 50-60 mph wind gust and power outages.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gloucester

When: May 13, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Gloucester County, Countywide
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.417, -76.567

Trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newport News (C)

When: May 13, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Newport News (C) County, Newport News
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.983, -76.417

Trees and power lines down. Part of roof torn off school.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mathews

When: May 13, 7:35 PM EST
Where: Mathews County, Foster
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.450, -76.367

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, York

When: May 13, 7:35 PM EST
Where: York County, Seaford
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.200, -76.433

Trees down on power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Isle of Wight

When: May 13, 7:35 PM EST
Where: Isle of Wight County, Isle of Wight
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.900, -76.700

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hampton (C)

When: May 13, 7:40 PM EST
Where: Hampton (C) County, Hampton
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.017, -76.350

Trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Poquoson

When: May 13, 7:40 PM EST
Where: Poquoson County, Central Portion
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.133, -76.400

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk (C)

When: May 13, 7:40 PM EST
Where: Suffolk (C) County, Suffolk
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.733, -76.583

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hampton (C)

When: May 13, 7:53 PM EST
Where: Hampton (C) County, Hampton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.017, -76.350

Spotter reported 58 mph wind gust and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Accomack

When: May 13, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Accomack County, Parksley
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.783, -75.667

Trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Norfolk (C)

When: May 13, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Norfolk (C) County, Norfolk
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.867, -76.267

Trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Portsmouth (C)

When: May 13, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Portsmouth (C) County, Portsmouth
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.817, -76.333

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chesapeake (C)

When: May 13, 8:12 PM EST
Where: Chesapeake (C) County, Chesapeake
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.817, -76.267

Wind gust of 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Virginia Beach (C)

When: May 13, 8:20 PM EST
Where: Virginia Beach (C) County, Virginia Beach
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.850, -75.983

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Northampton

When: May 13, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Northampton County, 1 mi S of Eastville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.333, -75.967

Large trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Virginia Beach (C)

When: May 13, 9:10 PM EST
Where: Virginia Beach (C) County, Virginia Beach
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.850, -75.983

Trees down.

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 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, May 2002

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: 5298190, 5298191, 5298193, 5298192, 5298195, 5298194, 5297506, 5297505, 5297504, 5297502, 5298196, 5297503, 5297509, 5297508, 5297510, 5297507, 5297511, 5297512, 5297513, 5297519, 5297514, 5297520, 5297521, 5297516, 5297522, 5297515, 5297517, 5297518, 5297524, 5297620, 5297523, 5297525, 5297624, 5297621, 5297626, 5297627, 5297622, 5297625, 5297628, 5297623, and more.