North Carolina, 2008

Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, September 30, 2008

September 30, 2008 · NWS RNK · 8 events in 2 counties and zones

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across northern North Carolina and southern Virginia during the evening and continued through the early morning hours. A few of the storms were severe producing large hail and damaging winds in Surry and Rockingham Counties.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$7,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across northern North Carolina and southern Virginia during the evening and continued through the early morning hours. A few of the storms were severe producing large hail and damaging winds in Surry and Rockingham Counties. Rainfall amounts were generally less than one quarter of an inch.

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 Sep 30, 11:50 AM EST, 5 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 30, 11:50 AM EST, 5 hours 43 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 30, 2:39 AM EST, 14 hours 54 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
339 AM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-WVZ042-043-010745-
ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-
MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MERCER-
SUMMERS-
339 AM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA...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.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-010745-
SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-
ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-
CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
339 AM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED AHEAD OF A
COLD FRONT TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

WVZ044-045-010745-
MONROE-GREENBRIER-
339 AM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

COLD HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING OVER THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT MAY LEAD
TO SCATTERED VALLEY FROST LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 30, 3:14 PM EST, 2 hours 19 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 30, 4:14 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 30, 4:17 PM EST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 30, 4:34 PM EST, 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
534 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

NCZ002-003-019-302230-
ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY NC-WILKES NC-
534 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ALLEGHANY...SURRY AND WILKES
COUNTIES...

AT 529 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 6 MILES
SOUTH OF ENNICE TO 5 MILES WEST OF TRAPHILL...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR BARRETT...TRAPHILL...AND ROARING GAP AROUND
540 PM...CUMBERLAND KNOB...AND ROARING GAP AROUND 545 PM...LOW GAP...
PLEASANT HILL...PLEASANT HILL...AND BENHAM AROUND 550 PM AND PLEASANT
HILL AROUND 555 PM.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

JJ
Special weather statement, Sep 30, 4:37 PM EST, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
537 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

VAZ034-035-045-302230-
AMHERST VA-BEDFORD VA-CAMPBELL VA-
537 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN AMHERST...NORTHEASTERN
BEDFORD...NORTHERN CAMPBELL COUNTIES TO INCLUDED THE CITY OF
LYNCHBURG...

AT 534 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTHEAST
OF BEDFORD CITY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR GOODE AROUND 545 PM...FOREST AROUND 555 PM...
LYNCHBURG AIRPORT AROUND 600 PM...MADISON HEIGHTS AROUND 605 PM...
BOCOCK AROUND 610 PM AND CONCORD AROUND 620 PM.

RCS
Special weather statement, Sep 30, 5:18 PM EST, 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
618 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

NCZ003-004-302315-
STOKES NC-SURRY NC-
618 PM EDT TUE SEP 30 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT STOKES AND SURRY COUNTIES...

AT 616 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF DOBSON TO 4 MILES NORTH OF ELKIN...MOVING EAST AT 20
MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR WESTFIELD AND PILOT MOUNTAIN AROUND 630
PM...WOODVILLE AROUND 645 PM...FRANCISCO AROUND 700 PM AND PINNACLE
AROUND 715 PM.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

JJ

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Surry

When
September 30, 5:33 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
Where
Surry County, 0.42 mi SW of Flat Rock
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.495, -80.555

Hail covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Surry

When
September 30, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Surry County, 0.67 mi WNW of Bannertown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.483, -80.591

A tree was blown down on East Devon Road.

Hail, Surry

When
September 30, 5:40 PM EST to 5:50 PM EST
Where
Surry County, 1.11 mi E of Mt Airy
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.500, -80.600

Hail covered the ground and also destroyed a pickup truck.

Thunderstorm Wind, Surry

When
September 30, 5:40 PM EST
Where
Surry County, 0.45 mi SW of Flat Rock
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.495, -80.555

A tree was blown down on Mabe Hollow Trail.

Hail, Surry

When
September 30, 6:05 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where
Surry County, 2.48 mi N of Flat Rock
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.536, -80.549

Hail covered the ground near Slate Mountain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When
September 30, 7:58 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 0.79 mi ESE of Gold Hill
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.317, -79.916

A tree was blown down along Angell Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When
September 30, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, Ellisboro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.330, -79.980

A tree was blown down in Ellisboro.

Hail, Rockingham

When
September 30, 8:44 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 1.74 mi SSE of Foushee
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.255, -79.643

Hail fell on Candy Creek Road.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, September 2008

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: 135887, 135888, 135891, 135893, 135897, 135902, 135903, 135900.