Strong Wind in Virginia, October 15, 2003

Name: Strong Wind in Virginia, October 15, 2003
Start: 2003-10-15T05:00
End: 2003-10-15T16:00
Location: Virginia

October 15, 2003 · NWS LWX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

On Oct 14th a cold front moved through the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall overnight.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $44,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

On Oct 14th a cold front moved through the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall overnight. Some amounts were in excess of 1 inch. Gusty winds developed behind the front on Oct 15th. These winds coupled with the saturated soils caused widespread power outages due to downed trees and power lines. In Fairfax county a tree fell on three vehicles on George Washington Memorial Parkway during the morning rush hour. In Frederick County a tree fell on a mobile home. Trees and power lines were also downed across Clarke, Loudoun and Arlington Counties.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Frederick / Winchester

When: October 15, 5:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Frederick / Winchester forecast zone
Measured: 46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.195, -78.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Clarke

When: October 15, 5:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.112, -77.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Loudoun

When: October 15, 5:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Loudoun forecast zone
Measured: 49 kt (56 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Strong Wind, Fairfax

When: October 15, 5:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Fairfax forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.841, -77.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Arlington / Alexandria / Falls Church

When: October 15, 5:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Arlington / Alexandria / Falls Church forecast zone
Measured: 38 kt (44 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.855, -77.106 (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 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, October 2003

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5335544, 5335545, 5335546, 5335547, 5335548.