Winds associated with a strong upper level jet wrapping into the area behind an exiting upper level disturbance were brought downward to the surface by associated severe thunderstorms.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Winds associated with a strong upper level jet wrapping into the area behind an exiting upper level disturbance were brought downward to the surface by associated severe thunderstorms.
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 8, 6:35 PM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 735 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 .SYNOPSIS... UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE WESTERN PIEDMONT SHIFTS EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING BUT STILL SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FRONT OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL MAKE SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD THE AREA WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MORE ORGANIZED STORMS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HAVE INCREASE PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE NEAR TERM AS A LINE OF CONVECTION MAKES ITS WAY EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA. REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST WILL REMAIN AS IS WITH THE CONTINUED POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS INTO THE OVERNIGHT AFTER THIS FIRST ROUND. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT RIDGING BUILDING IN ALOFT OVERNIGHT COULD SUPPRESS SHOWERS DEVELOPMENT IN THE MORNING AND WITH AN INCOMING COLD FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER COULD INCREASE WITH A SATURATED ATMOSPHERE AND HIGH INSTABILITIES IN THE AFTERNOON. THE COLD FRONT WILL BE IN THE OHIO VALLEY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND WILL NOT ENTER THE AREA UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. THIS FRONT WILL BE HUNG UP UNTIL A SURFACE WAVE TRACKS ALONG IT AND MOVES TO THE MASON DIXON LINE AROUND MIDNIGHT THURSDAY. WILL RUN MUGGY TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO MAV TONIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY...THE UPPER LOW WILL BE OUT OF THE AREA AND BEING AHEAD OF THE FRONT...WE SHOULD BE A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN AND AROUND SEASONABLE LEVELS. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... THE SURFACE LOW RIDING ALONG THE FRONT SHOULD BE NEAR THE NJ COAST BY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS SHOULD HAVE THE FRONT TO AT LEAST THE VA/NC BORDER...IF NOT IN NC THURSDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE AND NORTHERLY WINDS WILL USHER IN A NEW WEATHER PATTERN WITH DRIER AND MORE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD. THIS SURFACE HIGH WILL RESIDE IN THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLIDE OFF THE EAST COAST OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL BRING SOUTHERLY FLOW ACROSS THE AREA WITH A RETURN OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. MODELS ARE SHOWING A WEAK FRONT AND/OR OVER RUNNING MOISTURE ON SUNDAY TO INCREASE THE THREAT FOR RAIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS. MODELS HAVE NOT BEEN CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL LONG TERM FORECAST. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP POPS LOW (20/30) FOR THIS FORECAST PACKAGE. && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... SCATTERED TSTMS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH COLD POOL ALOFT THIS EVENING WILL MOVED EAST ACROSS OUR EASTERN CWA. AREAS OF FOG WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT WITH CLEARING OVERNIGHT. MVFR FOG...POSSIBLY IFR COULD FORM AT LWB TONIGHT. MODELS HAVE A PREFRONTAL AREA OF SHOWERS/TSTMS MOVING INTO THE WEST WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN PROGRESSING EAST ACROSS THE AREA...SO I HAVE PUT IN VCNTY TSTMS FOR ALL SITES WEDNESDAY BEGINNING 14Z IN THE WEST AT BLF AND AT 17Z IN DANVILLE. COOL FRONT PASSES ACROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY EVENING. COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE WIDESPREAD WED AFT/EVENING BRINGING MVFR OR EVEN BRIEF IFR CONDITIONS. WILL BE A THREAT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN...POSSIBLY STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. FRONT MAY STALL ACROSS NC THU...SO THERE WILL BE A THREAT FOR TSTMS MAINLY AT DANVILLE. SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR WILL WORK INTO MOST OF THE AREA FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...RCS NEAR TERM...DS/RCS SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...JJ/KK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 341 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-091945- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON- CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE- PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL- APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE- GREENBRIER- 341 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL. A FEW STORMS MAY CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY MODERATE TO STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN AND DAMAGING WIND POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RCS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 638 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 NCZ004-005-VAZ032-043-082345- ROCKINGHAM NC-STOKES NC-PATRICK VA-HENRY VA- 638 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 ...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED WITH A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS... AT 634 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STUART...OR ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CRITZ...MOVING EAST AT 21 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...SANDY RIDGE...PRESTONVILLE AT 650 PM EDT...PENNS STORE AT 655 PM EDT...SPENCER AT 700 PM EDT...AYERSVILLE AT 705 PM EDT... HORSE PASTURE...MAYODAN AT 715 PM EDT...PRICE AT 720 PM EDT... WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
715 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0656 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 E EAGLE ROCK 37.63N 79.75W
07/08/2008 BOTETOURT VA PUBLIC
2 TREES DOWN ON RT 43. NICKEL HAIL.
&&
RSTONEFIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
718 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0656 PM HAIL 3 E EAGLE ROCK 37.63N 79.75W
07/08/2008 E0.88 INCH BOTETOURT VA PUBLIC
&&
RSTONEFISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 723 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 VAZ033>035-044-045-058-090030- HALIFAX VA-FRANKLIN VA-AMHERST VA-PITTSYLVANIA VA-BEDFORD VA- CAMPBELL VA- 723 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2008 ...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL... AT 722 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BIG ISLAND TO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PENHOOK...MOVING EAST AT 23 MPH. THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...PITTSVILLE AT 730 PM EDT...GOODE AT 735 PM EDT...BIG ISLAND...LEESVILLE AT 740 PM EDT... COLEMAN FALLS...GRETNA AT 745 PM EDT...NAOLA...FOREST AT 750 PM EDT...TIMBERLAKE...HURT AT 755 PM EDT... EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS APPROACHING ONE HALF INCH DURING THE NEXT HOUR...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS APPROACHING 45 MPH. BOATERS ON SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK SHELTER. DS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
750 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0704 PM TSTM WND DMG FIELDALE 36.70N 79.95W
07/08/2008 HENRY VA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
2 LARGE TREES DOWN ON KOEHLER ROAD
&&
RSTONEFIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
803 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM TSTM WND DMG ROCKY MOUNT 37.00N 79.88W
07/08/2008 FRANKLIN VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN ROCKY MOUNT.
&&
KKOSTURAThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:08 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were blown down. Damage values are estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2008
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: 124465.