Low pressure strenghtening across the Tennessee Valley during the afternoon of December 25th resulted in strong southeast winds in the high country of Tazewell county.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 RNK wrote it up.
Low pressure strenghtening across the Tennessee Valley during the afternoon of December 25th resulted in strong southeast winds in the high country of Tazewell county.
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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 25, 11:16 AM EST, 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1116 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 .UPDATE... ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR WATAUGA AND ASHE COUNTY NC BASED ON WIND DAMAGE REPORTS FURTHER SOUTHWEST IN THE SMOKYS. && .SHORT TERM /REST OF TODAY/... STRONGER 8H WINDS ARRIVE THS AFTERNOON AND WITH A SATURATED GROUND...THE HIGHER TERRAIN ALONG THE TN BORDER COULD EXPERIENCE DOWNED TREES. THE CORE OF THE STRONG WINDS SHOULD LIFT NORTHEAST BY LATE AFTERNOON...SO HAVE THE ADVISORY TIL 6 PM. NO OTHER CHANGES TO GRIDS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 925 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006/ PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 630 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006/ AVIATION /11Z-06Z/... RAIN NOW MOVING ACROSS A VAST PART OF THE REGION WITH CEILINGS QUICKLY TRENDING TO MVFR LEVELS OR LOWER WITHIN 2 TO 3 HOURS AFTER THE ONSET OF THE RAIN. EASTERLY WINDS ARE PICKING UP AS WELL WITH 1O TO 15 KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 20 COMMON IN THE MOUNTAINS CURRENTLY. THROUGH AT LEAST THE EARLY AFTERNOON LOW CEILINGS WITH STEADY LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WILL BE RULE IN MOST LOCATIONS. A DRY SLOT WILL TRY TO MAKE IT INTO THE SOUTHWEST PART REGION HELPING TO REMOVE ALL BUT THE LOWEST LEVELS OF THE MOISTURE...SO A SWITCH DRIZZLE AND A SLIGHTLY HIGHER CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED. TONIGHT EASTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. IT WILL BE AT THIS TIME WHERE WE COULD SEE A 3 TO 5 HOUR WINDOW WITH DENSE FOG AND DRIZZLE WITH LIFR CEILINGS JUST IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT. EXPECTING A WIND SHIFT AROUND OR SLIGHTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE WEST WITH CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES INCREASING RAPIDLY WITH AN INCREASE IN RAIN SHOWER COVERAGE. IMPROVEMENT WILL COME IN THE EAST BUT WILL BE A LITTLE LATER. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 456 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... EXPANSIVE PRECIPITATION FIELD HEADING NORTHEAST INTO THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO. MODEL ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT OF TRACKING THIS ALONG ALONG THE WESTERN FLANKS OF THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS THROUGH TONIGHT BEFORE THEN TRACKING INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA BY MID-DAY TUESDAY. FOR TODAY A GOOD SWATH OF RAIN SHOULD IMPACT THE AREA FOR A WET CHRISTMAS. PREFERRING THE WARMER GFS SOLUTION OVER THE NAM REGARDING THE LOW LEVEL T/TD PROFILE IN THE BUFKIT SOUNDINGS. THESE SUGGEST A POSSIBLE VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING AS THE FALLING RAIN BEGINS TO SATURATE THE COLUMN TOWARDS THE WET BULB TEMPERATURES. AREAS FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA INTO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY OF VIRGINIA AND THEN INTO THE GREENBRIER VALLEY OF WEST VIRGINIA MIGHT SEE A HOUR OR TWO AT BEST OF PATCHY SLEET MIXED WITH THE RAIN. GIVEN ALL SURFACE CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE FREEZING...NOT EXPECTING ANY ACCUMULATION OF WHAT SLEET THERE MIGHT BE. ANTICIPATE ALL RAIN EVERYWHERE BY 1000 AM. BEST RAINFALL TODAY LOOKS TO BE OVER SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES OF NORTH CAROLINA WEST TO NEAR THE CREST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. IN THIS REGION AN AVERAGE OF 0.75 TO 1.25 INCHES OF RAIN LOOK PROMISING...WITH 0.50 TO 0.75 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE DRY SLOT OF THE SYSTEM LOOKS TO PROGRESS INTO WESTERN PARTS OF THE AREA BY THE AFTERNOON...SO EXPECTING PRECIPITATION TO TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST HEADING INTO THE EVENING WITH LINGERING DRIZZLE. AS WE GET INTO LATER TONIGHT AND THE SYSTEM LIFTS NORTH OF THE REGION COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL START TO KICK IN AS NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASE IN SPEED. THIS WILL BE ENHANCED DURING THE DAY TUESDAY AS 850 MB WINDS INCREASE TO AROUND 40 - 45 MPH. RESIDUAL LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL TRANSITION FROM RAIN SHOWERS TO SNOW SHOWERS IN THE SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. THIS REGION MAY SEE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW ON AVERAGE WITH 3 TO 5 INCHES IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF WESTERN GREENBRIER COUNTY. LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... NO CHANGES AT THIS TIME. AVIATION /09Z-06Z/... GULF SYSTEM TO BRING WIDE SPREAD RAIN INTO THE REGION STARTING VERY EARLY MONDAY MORNING IN NW NC THEN SPREAD TO THE NE THROUGH THE AREA BY MID MORNING. COULD SEE ONSET OF MIX PRECIPITATION IN MOUNTAIN VALLEYS BUT FOR THE MOST PART...THIS SHOULD BE A LIQUID RAIN EVENT. VFR CONDITIONS MAY MAINTAIN THROUGH SUNRISE THE QUICKLY DETERIORATE THROUGH THE DAY. STRONG JET DYNAMICS WILL BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN TO THE AREA FROM MID MORNING TO MID AFTERNOON. THE PIEDMONT SECTIONS OF NC/VA LOOKS TO BEAR THE HEAVIER RAIN A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE MOUNTAINS. EITHER WAY...VISIBILITIES COULD BE IFR DURING THIS TIME. RAIN PULLS OUT OF THE AREA BY MONDAY EVENING. WITH THE COLD FRONT STILL WEST OF THE AREA...IFR/LIFR VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE DURING THE EVENING...ESPECIALLY IF WINDS DECOUPLE EARLY. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NCZ001-018. WV...NONE. && UPDATE... SHORT TERM...WP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 WVZ045-261615- GREENBRIER- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES ACROSS EASTERN GREENBRIER COUNTY WITH 3 TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE WESTERN HIGHER TERRAIN. WINDS FROM THE NORTHWEST GUSTING TO AROUND 30 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT SNOW AMOUNTS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. VAZ007-WVZ042-043-261615- TAZEWELL-MERCER-SUMMERS- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 2 TO 3 INCHES. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 30 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT SNOW AMOUNTS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. VAZ010-011-019-020-WVZ044-261615- BLAND-GILES-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MONROE- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 35 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT SNOW AMOUNTS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. NCZ001-018-261615- ASHE-WATAUGA- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON. SOUTHEAST WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 50 MPH WILL OCCUR MAINLY ON THE RIDGES...AND ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE TENNESSEE BORDER. WITH A SATURATED GROUND...THESE WIND SPEEDS COULD DOWN SMALL OR DEAD TREES...WHICH MAY CAUSE POWER OUTAGES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES. WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT ANY WIND GUSTS OR DAMAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND FOR SNOW AMOUNTS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. NCZ002-VAZ012>014-016>018-261615- ALLEGHANY NC-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 35 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-261615- SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT- ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA- CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA... SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT RAINFALL TODAY ACROSS THE REGION WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN 0.75 AND 1.50 INCHES. GIVEN RECENT SOAKING RAINS...THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN MAY HELP BRING SOME SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS TO NEAR BANKFULL LEVELS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXECUTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. VAZ009-015-261615- SMYTH-GRAYSON- 1113 AM EST MON DEC 25 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES. WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TO REPORT SNOW AMOUNTS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees downed by strong winds.
Tazewell Middle School reported a 60 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, December 2006
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: 7447, 7446.