Flash Flood and Hail in Virginia, July 4 to 5, 2006

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Virginia, July 4 to 5, 2006
Start: 2006-07-04T14:10
End: 2006-07-05T00:51
Location: Virginia

July 4 to 5, 2006 · NWS RNK · 26 events in 12 counties and zones

Thunderstorms fired in advance of an approaching cold front. Some of these reached severe criteria and produced damaging wind gusts between roughly 60 and 80 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: $242,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 26

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 RNK wrote it up.

Thunderstorms fired in advance of an approaching cold front. Some of these reached severe criteria and produced damaging wind gusts between roughly 60 and 80 mph. The most common form of damage was downed trees and powerlines. There was one area that reported structural damage. Near Smith Mountain Lake northeast of Burnt Chimney there was structural damage to decks, roofs, a chimney and two cars. There was also a couple of reports of hail the size of pennies to nickels with the thunderstorms. One storm also helped to produce flash flooding in the town of Cana in Carroll County when high rushing waters blocked the portion of Airport Church Road at U.S. 52 and Wards Gap.

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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 4, 1:40 PM EST, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 1:40 PM EST, 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
240 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...

NICE THETA-E/INSTABILITY BOUNDARY LINED UP FROM KY THROUGH SRN VA
ATTM...WITH TSRA FIRING ALONG IT. MORE CONVECTION ALONG THE FRONT
ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY. WILL BE FOLLOWING CLOSE TO THE NAM
SOLUTION...EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 3-6 HOURS SLOWER THAN NAM IN CLEARING
THINGS OUT THURSDAY.

WITH THAT IN MIND...BEST LIFT WILL BE ACROSS THE WEST
TONIGHT...SPREADING NORTHEAST INTO THE SHD VLY OVERNIGHT. HAVE
RAISED POPS TO CAT IN THE FAR WEST...TO LIKELYS AGAINS THAT.
CONVECTION ONGOING ALONG THETA-E SFC BOUNDARY SHOULD WEAKEN ONCE
THE SUN GOES DOWN...SO THERE COULD BE A LULL IN ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT
BEFORE FRONTAL DYNAMICS COME INTO PLAY.

WED-THU MORNING WILL BE STORMY WITH HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED. WILL BE
ISSUING A FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK BASED ON THIS.

LOOKS LIKE THINGS SHOULD START CLEARING FROM NW TO SE BY THU AFTN-
THU EVENING...WITH COOLER/DRIER HIGH PRESSURE ARRIVING FRIDAY.

WENT AT OR BELOW MAV MOS ON TEMPS BASED ON MORE CLDS/PRECIP.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...

SFC HIGH WILL KEEP THE AREA DRY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND AT OR BELOW
NORM ON TEMPS...AAS 5H TROUGH REMAINS OVERHEAD. HEIGHTS BEGIN TO
RISE AGAIN EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH A WEAK FRONT HEADING TOWARD THE
FORECAST AREA IN THE MON NIGHT-TUE TIME FRAME. FOR NOW JUST HAVE LOW
CHANCE/SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIP MON NIGHT-TUESDAY...WITH TEMPS
HEATING BACK UP TOWARD JULY NORMS.
&&

.AVIATION...

SURFACE DEW POINTS REMAIN WELL INTO THE 60S. SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...RESULTING IN MVFR TO
IFR VISIBILITIES. ONCE THE STORMS DIMINISH AFTER 03Z TONIGHT EXPECT
MVFR FOG AND HAZE. AS THE SLOW MOVING FRONT APPROACHES THE
AREA...WIDEPSREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL COVER MUCH OF THE
MOUNTAINS WEDNESDAY MORNING. CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL BE MVFR
TO IFR WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE 12-18Z WEDNESDAY.
&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
WV...NONE.
&&

WHP/AMS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 2:44 AM EST, 11 hours 26 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
344 AM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>045-051000-
ASHE-ALLEGHANY-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES-
YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-
GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-
PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-
APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-
GREENBRIER-
344 AM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION BY WEDNESDAY AND
PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS COULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT
RAINFALL OVER PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA...ESPECIALLY OVER THE
EAST ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. FLOODING MAY AGAIN BECOME AN ISSUE ON
CREEKS AND STREAMS AS WELL AS MAIN STEM RIVERS INTO THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 12:25 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
125 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

VAZ007-009-010-012-041815-
SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-BLAND VA-TAZEWELL VA-
125 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

AT 120 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RICHLANDS...OR ABOUT OVER
RAVEN...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...BANDY AT 130 PM EDT...
CLIFFIELD AND BROADFORD AT 135 PM EDT...ASBERRYS AND TAZEWELL AT 145
PM EDT...MARION AT 150 PM EDT...AND BURKES GARDEN AT 200 PM EDT.

EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF INCH IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR WITH
THIS STORM. ALSO BE PREPARED FOR WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR
UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION.

AMS

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 1:04 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
204 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

VAZ007-009-010-012-041900-
SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-BLAND VA-TAZEWELL VA-
204 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

AT 203 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES NORTH OF MARION...OR ABOUT
3 MILES SOUTH OF ASBERRYS...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...NEBO AND ATKINS AT 215 PM
EDT...BURKES GARDEN AT 220 PM EDT...THE WYTHEVILLE AIRPORT AT 225 PM
EDT...AND RURAL RETREAT AT 230 PM EDT.

EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO ONE INCH DURING THE NEXT
HOUR. THESE STORMS WILL ALSO PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 25
TO 30 MPH.

AMS

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bland

When: July 4, 2:10 PM EST
Where: Bland County, Rocky Gap
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $700
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.233, -81.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Giles

When: July 4, 2:55 PM EST
Where: Giles County, 6 mi SW of Bane
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: POST OFFICE
Coordinates: 37.200, -80.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: July 4, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, 5 mi S of Christiansburg
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.067, -80.417

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: July 4, 3:35 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, 8 mi NE of Burnt Chimney
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 37.183, -79.733

Hail, Bedford

When: July 4, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, 2 mi SW of Stewartsville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.250, -79.833

Hail, Franklin

When: July 4, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, 5 mi N of Burnt Chimney
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.167, -79.833

Hail, Carroll

When: July 4, 4:10 PM EST
Where: Carroll County, Cana
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.583, -80.667

Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick

When: July 4, 4:34 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, 3 mi W of Critz
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: POST OFFICE
Coordinates: 36.633, -80.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick

When: July 4, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, 9 mi W of Stuart
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: COOP STATION
Coordinates: 36.633, -80.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Bedford

When: July 4, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Bedford County, Moneta
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.183, -79.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick

When: July 4, 5:05 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, 2 mi N of Stuart
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.667, -80.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick

When: July 4, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, 6 mi NE of Stuart
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.700, -80.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: July 4, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Carroll County, Cana
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 36.583, -80.667

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsylvania

When: July 4, 5:20 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, Gretna
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.950, -79.367

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: July 4, 5:22 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Penhook
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.983, -79.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 4, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Figsboro
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 36.783, -79.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick

When: July 4, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Patrick County, 5 mi W of Ararat
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: POST OFFICE
Coordinates: 36.600, -80.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Martinsville (C)

When: July 4, 5:35 PM EST
Where: Martinsville (C) County, Martinsville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.683, -79.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 4, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Axton
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 36.667, -79.717

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsylvania

When: July 4, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, 5 mi N of Gretna
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 37.017, -79.367

Flash Flood, Carroll

When: July 4, 6:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Carroll County, Cana
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.732, -80.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsylvania

When: July 4, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania County, 4 mi S of Keeling
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.670, -79.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Charlotte

When: July 4, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Charlotte County, Keysville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.050, -78.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Halifax

When: July 4, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Halifax County, Virgilina
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: POST OFFICE
Coordinates: 36.550, -78.783

Thunderstorm Wind, Halifax

When: July 4, 11:48 PM EST
Where: Halifax County, Scottsburg
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.750, -78.783

Thunderstorm Wind, Halifax

When: July 5, 12:51 AM EST
Where: Halifax County, News Ferry
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.683, -79.033

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, July 2006

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: 5522277, 5522264, 5522274, 5522270, 5522271, 5522278, 5522272, 5522266, 5522265, 5522374, 5522379, 5522380, 5522378, 5522375, 5522373, 5522376, 5522381, 5522377, 5522273, 5522267, 5522275, 5522268, 5522269, 5522276, 5522382, 5522383.