Thunderstorm Wind, Fluvanna
- When
- May 2, 1:15 PM EST
- Where
- Fluvanna County, 5 mi W of Palmyra
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.867, -78.383
Trees down.
Tornadoes and Hail in Virginia, May 2, 2002
32 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 2 tornado, 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $124,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 40
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 2, 9:10 AM EST, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 2, 9:10 AM EST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD, VA 1010 AM EDT THU MAY 2 2002 THS AFTN...ALRDY PS IN MANY AREAS...AND STGR WNDS BEGINNING TO MIX DOWN. SVR STORMS ALRDY IN KY RACING E...ALG WTH TOR WATCH INTO EXTREME WRN VA. EXITING CNVCTN ARND SBY...WL LINGER TO ABOUT NOON...THEN THEY WL BECOME PS. SFC DEW PTS WELL INTO 60S EVERYWHERE. SUPER DRY AT H7 FROM JAN TO ATL AND CHS...ALG WTH STRENGTHENING 850 MB WSW JET. GUD MIDLVL DRYING/CCOLING ALSO IN OH VALLEY AND GREAT LAKES BHND THE LLVL BNDRY. 12Z SNDGS ACROSS THE REGION VRY UNSTBL. CURRENT WND PROFILES FROM THE PROFILERS AT RIC AND RDU SHOW VRY LTL DIRECTIONAL SHEAR...AS SW WNDS TURN TO W AT 1 TO 2 KM...BUT THE SPEED SHEAR IS IMPRESSIVE...AS 10-20KT SFC WNDS INCRS TO @50 KT AT 1 TO 2 KM. WL MIDLVL DRYING FROM NRN GULF AREA TRACK FAR ENUF N? GDNC SUGG NO...BUT CLOUD STREETS SEEN IN SAT PIX OVR NRN GULF AREA TO TN SUGG RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING H8 JET...AND WL SEE IF SFC BNDRY INTERACTION WTH HORIZONTAL ROLLS OCCURS THIS AFTN...AND SOME PTNL STREAMWISE VORTICITY TO WORK WTH. NEARLY 40KT INFLO FROM E FOR ANY RGT MOVING TSTMS ACCORDING TO OLD 00Z MDLS. PUTTING CHC SVR TSTMS IN ZNS AND SPS WL BE UPDATED. REST OF FCST JUST CLEANED UP SOME WORDING...OTRW WL KP EYE ON INCOMING DATA AND GDNC FOR NXT TM. CSTL WTRS...SEAS BUILDING...AS ARE WNDS...SO SCA EVERYWHERE XCPT CURRITUCK SOUND. .AKQ... MD...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY FENWICK ISLAND TO CHINCOTEAGUE. NC...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY VA/NC BRDR TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT. VA...SMALL CRAFT ADVSY CHINCOTEAGUE TO VA/NC BRDR. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO CAPE HENRY. NS
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 2, 10:26 AM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes before
MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-022130- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 1126 AM EDT THU MAY 2 2002 ...SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE 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 COLD FRONT IN THE OHIO VALLEY WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE UPPER 80S ACROSS THE REGION...CREATING VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...THAT WILL SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE. A BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS ALREADY FORMED IN WEST VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY...MOVING RAPIDLY EAST AT AROUND 50 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS IN KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED SEVERE WEATHER THIS MORNING. ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL LIKELY FORM THIS AFTERNOON INTO VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA. AREAS FROM FARMVILLE TO SOUTH HILL AND LOUISA WILL SEE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS BY 3 PM. THE STORMS WILL REACH COASTAL AREAS DURING THE EVENING. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. SPOTTER ACTIVATION...SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SEVERE WEATHER THREAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING... DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH... LARGE HAIL ONE INCH OR GREATER IN DIAMETER... ISOLATED TORNADOES... 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. NS
Special weather statement, May 2, 12:38 PM EST, 37 minutes before
MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-022130- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 138 PM EDT THU MAY 2 2002 ...SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... ...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS MAY CAUSE STANDING WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS... THREAT AREA...CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. TIME OF SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN THREAT...BETWEEN 3 PM AND MIDNIGHT. SYNOPSIS...A COLD FRONT IN THE OHIO VALLEY WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE UPPER 80S ACROSS THE REGION...CREATING VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...THAT WILL SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS ALREADY FORMED FROM THE VIRGINIA...WEST VIRGINIA BORDER...THROUGH KENTUCKY...MOVING RAPIDLY EAST AT AROUND 50 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS IN KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED SEVERE WEATHER AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL LIKELY FORM THIS AFTERNOON INTO VIRGINIA...MARYLAND AND NORTH CAROLINA. AREAS FROM FARMVILLE TO SOUTH HILL AND LOUISA WILL SEE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS BY 3 PM. THE STORMS WILL REACH COASTAL AREAS DURING THE EVENING. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND STANDING WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS. SPOTTER ACTIVATION...SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SEVERE WEATHER THREAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING... DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH... LARGE HAIL ONE INCH OR GREATER IN DIAMETER... ISOLATED TORNADOES... 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. NS
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:15 UTC.
Event by event
32 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Prince Edward
- When
- May 2, 2:40 PM EST
- Where
- Prince Edward County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.217, -78.283
Tree on house. Numerous trees down on power lines.
Tornado, Nottoway
- When
- May 2, 2:50 PM EST
- Where
- Nottoway County, 7 mi NNW of Burkeville
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 2 mi
- Path width
- 100 yd
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- NWS STORM SURVEY
- Coordinates
- 37.283, -78.250
Mobile home severely damaged. Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Nottoway
- When
- May 2, 2:55 PM EST
- Where
- Nottoway County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.150, -78.083
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Cumberland
- When
- May 2, 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Cumberland County, Cartersville
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.667, -78.100
Numerous trees down between Cartersville and Cumberland.
Thunderstorm Wind, Amelia
- When
- May 2, 3:05 PM EST
- Where
- Amelia County, Earls
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.233, -77.900
Trees down. Minor roof damage.
Hail, Mecklenburg
- When
- May 2, 3:11 PM EST
- Where
- Mecklenburg County, Boydton
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.667, -78.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Dinwiddie
- When
- May 2, 3:15 PM EST
- Where
- Dinwiddie County, Church Rd
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.183, -77.633
Trees down on two houses on Oakley Drive.
Thunderstorm Wind, Colonial Heights (C)
- When
- May 2, 3:20 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
- Where
- Colonial Heights (C) County, Colonial Hgts
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.250, -77.417
Approximately 20 homes received minor to moderate damage. One apartment complex with about 10 units sustained moderate damage. One business received major damage, while another business sustained minor damage. Numerous trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Petersburg (C)
- When
- May 2, 3:20 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
- Where
- Petersburg (C) County, Petersburg
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.217, -77.417
Several trees down. Some trees on power lines.
Thunderstorm Wind, Prince George
- When
- May 2, 3:30 PM EST
- Where
- Prince George County, 5 mi W of Disputanta to 5 mi NE of Prince George
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 37.130, -77.317
Several large trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Sussex
- When
- May 2, 3:40 PM EST
- Where
- Sussex County, Waverly
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.033, -77.083
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Chesterfield
- When
- May 2, 3:40 PM EST
- Where
- Chesterfield County, Matoaca
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
- Coordinates
- 37.233, -77.483
Numerous large trees down.
Tornado, Prince George
- When
- May 2, 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Prince George County, 1 mi W of Burrowsville
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 1 mi
- Path width
- 100 yd
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 37.217, -77.100
Numerous trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Charles City (C)
- When
- May 2, 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Charles City (C) County, Ruthville
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- POST OFFICE
- Coordinates
- 37.367, -77.050
Trees down.
Hail, Charles City (C)
- When
- May 2, 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Charles City (C) County, Ruthville
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- POST OFFICE
- Coordinates
- 37.367, -77.050
Thunderstorm Wind, Emporia
- When
- May 2, 3:50 PM EST
- Where
- Emporia County, Emporia
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.683, -77.533
Large trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Surry
- When
- May 2, 3:50 PM EST
- Where
- Surry County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.067, -76.900
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Gloucester
- When
- May 2, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Gloucester County, 3 mi SW of White Marsh
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.317, -76.567
Top of large tree blown off.
Thunderstorm Wind, Williamsburg (C)
- When
- May 2, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Williamsburg (C) County, Williamsburg
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 37.267, -76.717
Trees down. Tops of trees snapped off near College of William and Mary.
Thunderstorm Wind, James City
- When
- May 2, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- James City County, 2 mi E of Centerville
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.320, -76.767
Large tree down on house.
Thunderstorm Wind, York
- When
- May 2, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- York County, Yorktown
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 37.233, -76.517
Several trees and power lines down. Structural damage to several homes and trailers. A portion of Route 64 closed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Southampton
- When
- May 2, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Southampton County, Boykins
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.583, -77.200
Trees down. Shed blown across field.
Thunderstorm Wind, York
- When
- May 2, 4:05 PM EST
- Where
- York County, Tabb
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 37.133, -76.433
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Newport News (C)
- When
- May 2, 4:10 PM EST
- Where
- Newport News (C) County, (Phf)newport News
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 36.983, -76.417
Wind gust of 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hampton (C)
- When
- May 2, 4:25 PM EST
- Where
- Hampton (C) County, Hampton
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph)
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.017, -76.350
Wind gust of 64 mph. Tree limbs down in Willow Oaks area.
Thunderstorm Wind, Northampton
- When
- May 2, 4:30 PM EST
- Where
- Northampton County, Exmore
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.533, -75.833
Trees down.
Hail, Mecklenburg
- When
- May 2, 4:55 PM EST
- Where
- Mecklenburg County, Clarksville
- Measured
- 3 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.617, -78.617
Thunderstorm Wind, Chesapeake (C)
- When
- May 2, 4:55 PM EST
- Where
- Chesapeake (C) County, Chesapeake
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.817, -76.267
Trees down.
Hail, Brunswick
- When
- May 2, 5:30 PM EST
- Where
- Brunswick County, Gasburg
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 36.567, -77.883
Hail, Mecklenburg
- When
- May 2, 5:30 PM EST
- Where
- Mecklenburg County, Clarksville
- Measured
- 2.5 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.617, -78.617
Thunderstorm Wind, Brunswick
- When
- May 2, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Brunswick County, Brunswick
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.650, -77.867
Thunderstorm Wind, Greensville
- When
- May 2, 6:00 PM EST
- Where
- Greensville County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
- Coordinates
- 36.717, -77.550
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Southampton
- When
- May 2, 6:30 PM EST
- Where
- Southampton County, Boykins
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.583, -77.200
Trees down.
Hail, Brunswick
- When
- May 2, 6:50 PM EST
- Where
- Brunswick County, Gasburg
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.567, -77.883
Thunderstorm Wind, Emporia
- When
- May 2, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Emporia County, Emporia
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.683, -77.533
Large trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Southampton
- When
- May 2, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- Southampton County, Boykins
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 36.583, -77.200
Trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin (C)
- When
- May 2, 7:20 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin (C) County, Franklin
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.667, -76.917
One foot diameter trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk (C)
- When
- May 2, 7:30 PM EST
- Where
- Suffolk (C) County, Suffolk
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.733, -76.583
One foot diameter trees down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Chesapeake (C)
- When
- May 2, 8:15 PM EST
- Where
- Chesapeake (C) County, Chesapeake
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.817, -76.267
Trees down on Route 17.
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.
- 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.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flood in West Virginia, May 2 to 4, 2002
- Flash Flood and Hail in Virginia, May 2 to 3, 2002
- Rip Currents in Florida, May 2 to 3, 2002
- Flooding in Kentucky, May 2 to 4, 2002
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Virginia, May 2, 2002
- Tornado in Maryland, May 2, 2002
- Flood in Pennsylvania, May 2, 2002
- Hail in Illinois, May 2, 2002
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, May 2, 2002
- Flooding and Hail in Georgia, May 2 to 3, 2002
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 2, 2002
- Hail in Kentucky, May 2, 2002
More
Every storm in Virginia in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2002Warnings 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: 5297145, 5297146, 5297217, 5297216, 5297215, 5297219, 5297218, 5297220, 5297221, 5297222, 5297223, 5297225, 5297226, 5297224, 5297227, 5297228, 5297229, 5297230, 5297231, 5297232, 5297233, 5297234, 5297236, 5297235, 5297305, 5297304, 5297306, 5297307, 5297308, 5297309, 5297310, 5297311, 5297312, 5297313, 5297314, 5297315, 5297317, 5297316, 5297318, 5297319.