Hail, Patrick
- When
- July 31, 11:35 AM EST to 11:40 AM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, Stuart
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.630, -80.280
Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 31, 2008
As a cold front moved across the area, a line of thunderstorms formed along it. Some sections of this line of storms took on bowing characteristics and produced damaging winds.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $125,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
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.
As a cold front moved across the area, a line of thunderstorms formed along it. Some sections of this line of storms took on bowing characteristics and produced damaging winds. One report of severe hail also was received.
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 31, 10:43 AM EST, 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 10:43 AM EST, 52 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1143 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DRIFT SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE DISSIPATING OVERNIGHT. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE
WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT LATER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY BEFORE ANOTHER WEAK
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WORKS SE THRU THE AREA ON SATURDAY. DRIER
WEATHER AND PROGRESSIVELY HOTTER TEMPS ARE EXPECTED FOR LATER IN
THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE EDGES IN FROM
THE WEST.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
AREA OF SHOWERS/SCT TSTMS HAS HELD TOGETHER FAIRLY WELL. NOW LOOKS
LIKE SHOWERS WILL MAKE IT INTO THE ERN CWA...SO I HAVE RAISED
POPS. FLOW HAS BACKED SOME IN NW NC AHEAD OF THE CONVECTION...AND
THE AREA HAS BECOME UNSTABLE. LOOKS LIKE NW NC FAR SW VA ALONG THE
BLUE RIDGE...AND SOUTHSIDE VA WILL BE WHERE TSTMS WILL BE CONFINED
THIS AFTERNOON...SO I TOOK THUNDER OUT OF AREAS FURTHER NORTH.
MODIFIED GSO SOUNDING SHOWS THAT STORMS MAY BE MOVING INTO A 2000
CAPE ENVIRONMENT IN NW NC THIS AFT...AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR
STRONG WINDS WITH ANY STRONG STORMS. ALSO...PWATS ARE QUITE HIGH-
ABOUT 130% OF NORMAL...SO THE RAINFALL WILL BE HEAVY IN TSTMS. I
HAVE ADDED IN GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WITH TSTMS THIS AFTERNOON.
I HAVE ALSO ADJUSTED TEMPS DOWNWARD MORE IN THE WEST WHERE THERE
HAS BEEN RAIN MUCH OF THE MORNING AND NO SUN.
EXPECT MORE ORGANIZED AREA OF TSRA TO TAKE AXIS OF DEEP RH TO THE
SE BY MIDNIGHT WITH DEEPENING NW FLOW ALOFT ADVECTING IN. WILL
LIKELY SEE QUITE A BIT OF FOG AROUND OVERNIGHT ONCE SKIES START TO
CLEAR WHILE DEWPOINTS REMAIN MOIST. THINK SHRA A BIT QUICKER TO
EXIT SO REDUCED COVERAGE AFTER THIS EVENING...OTRW LOW CHANCE
MAINLY SOUTHERN THIRD EARLY ON. LOW TEMPS CLOSER TO WARMER MET MOS
UNLESS DRY ADVECTION IS A BIT STRONGER BEHIND THE DEPARTING S/W.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
ANY COOLING IN THE WAKE OF THE TROF/FRONT WILL BE SHORT ON FRIDAY
AS +20C 85H TEMPS SURGE BACK IN FROM THE WEST AND DEEP MIXING
DEVELOPS IN CONJUNCTION WITH DOWNSLOPE. FALLING DEWPOINTS SUGGEST
SHRA POTENTIAL QUITE LIMITED DESPITE DECENT CAPES SO CUT BACK MOST
POPS ON FRIDAY...OTRW MAINLY SUNNY AND STILL HOT BUT LESS
HUMID. AREA WILL REMAIN IN DEEP NW FLOW ALOFT ALONG BACK OF
STUBBORN UPPER TROF INTO SAT WITH YET MORE ENERGY FLYING INTO THE
REGION FROM THE OHIO VALLEY BY EARLY SAT AS FINAL S/W PIVOTS THRU.
THIS FEATURE REMAINS MAINLY SUPPORTED BY THE 00Z GFS AND OLD ECMWF
ATTM...WITH LIMITED RH SHOWN BY MOST OTHER SOLUTIONS AT THIS
POINT. UNLESS THE MCS IS WELL ORGANIZED...THINK EARLY TIMING AND
DEEP NW FLOW WILL LIMIT MOST DEEPER RH TO THE NORTH/WEST WHERE
WILL HAVE LOW CHANCE POPS INTO LATE SAT. OTRW BUMPED UP TEMPS SOME
FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT AND TRIMMED DOWN A LITTLE SAT SINCE NOT QUITE
AS WARM ALOFT AS SEEN EARLIER.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS THE RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE REGION NEXT WEEK...DIURNAL PULSE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL PLAGUE THE AREA. WILL PLACE A SLIGHT CHANCE
POPS IN THE AREA FOR NEXT WEEK. STORMS THAT DO FIRE NEXT
WEEK...WILL START IN THE MOUNTAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND COULD
DRIFT TO THE EAST IN THE EVENING. VERY LITTLE STEERING
CURRENTS...SO THESE STORMS MAY NOT MOVE OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.
HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. HEAT
INDICES WILL BE IN THE 90F ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS TO TRIPLE DIGITS IN
THE EAST. THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS AN UPPER LEVEL
RIDGE IN THE MID WEST. THIS RIDGE WILL SLOWLY TRACK TO THE EAST OVER
THE NEXT 4-7 DAYS...THEREFORE HEAT INDICES COULD RUN HIGH WITH A
WEEK LONG HEAT WAVE NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION /16Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LIGHT WINDS ALONG WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF
FOG/HAZE MAINLY ACROSS THE RIVER VALLEYS AGAIN THIS MORNING. THIS
WILL RESULT IN A PERIOD OF IFR/LIFR AT LWB AND PERHAPS MVFR AT
SOME EASTERN SITES OTRW VFR UNDER AC CIGS. HOWEVER BANDS OF
SHRA/TSRA WILL AFFECT LOCATIONS BETWEEN BLF/LWB THRU MID MORNING
WITH CIGS/VSBYS BRIEFLY LOWERING TO MVFR AS THE FOG LIFTS AND THE
RAIN SKIRTS THE AREA.
MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...RESULTING IN MVFR OR
LOWER CONDITIONS...ARE EXPECTED AS EARLY AS LATE MORNING AT BLF
AND LWB WITH THE APPROACH AND PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE
AREA. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE IN THE AREA FROM ROANOKE
EAST TO LYH AND DAN DURING THE AFTERNOON...BUT EXPECTING MORE
SCATTERED COVERAGE...BUT ENOUGH TO INCLUDE SOME VCTS OR PREVAILING
-SHRA IN A FEW SPOTS BY EARLY AFTERNOON...OTRW ONLY A CB MENTION
FOR NOW AT LYH/DAN. LATEST MODELS SHOWING THAT BLF/LWB WILL SEE
BETTER CHANCES THE ENTIRE DAY.
DRIER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN BEHIND THE FRONT FRIDAY INTO THIS
WEEKEND...ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AN ORGANIZED AREA OF
SHOWERS AND TSTMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON THE NORTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT ON SATURDAY.
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES AND YEAR ACHIEVED
AUG 2 AUG 3 AUG 4 AUG 5
BLACKSBURG VA...92/1953 92/1975 95/1987 93/1987
BLUEFIELD WV....92/1988 89/1987 90/1995 89/2005
DANVILLE VA.....98/1999 98/1980 101/1989 99/1991
LYNCHBURG VA...101/1942 100/1935 100/1930 98/1936
ROANOKE VA.....101/1942 100/1935 103/1930 105/1930
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
WV...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JH/JJ
NEAR TERM...JH/JJ
SHORT TERM...JH
LONG TERM...RCS
AVIATION...JH/KK/WP
CLIMATE...Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 5:32 AM EST, 6 hours 3 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 632 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032-043-044-058-059-011045- SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-PATRICK-HENRY- PITTSYLVANIA-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 632 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION TODAY. SCATTERED STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY HEAT INDICES MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ022>024-033>035-045>047-011045- ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-CAMPBELL- APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- 632 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION TODAY. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY HEAT INDICES MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-WVZ042>045-011045- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI- MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MERCER- SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 632 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT DROPPING INTO THE REGION TODAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 10:46 AM EST, 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1146 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 VAZ015-016-311630- GRAYSON VA-CARROLL VA- 1146 AM EDT THU JUL 31 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF GALAX MOVING EAST... AT 1141 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES EAST OF FRIES...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...WOODLAWN...GALAX HILLSVILLE AIRPORT AT 1155 AM EDT...LAMBSBURG AT NOON EDT...HILLSVILLE AT 1205 PM EDT...FANCY GAP AT 1210 PM EDT...GLADESBORO AND CANA AT 1215 PM EDT AND DUGSPUR AT 1220 PM EDT... EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH TO AN INCH AND A HALF IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS NEAR 30 MPH ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. JDS
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:36 UTC.
Event by event
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Patrick
- When
- July 31, 11:35 AM EST
- Where
- Patrick County, Stuart
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $500
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.630, -80.280
Large tree limbs were blown down. Damage values are estimates.
Thunderstorm Wind, Danville (C)
- When
- July 31, 12:45 PM EST
- Where
- Danville (C) County, 0.68 mi NE of Danville
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 36.588, -79.412
Two trees were blown down on Route 29. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Danville (C)
- When
- July 31, 12:51 PM EST
- Where
- Danville (C) County, 2.26 mi NNE of Danville
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.607, -79.397
A tree was blown down onto a moving car on Arnet Blvd. Damage amounts are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Danville (C)
- When
- July 31, 12:51 PM EST
- Where
- Danville (C) County, 0.19 mi SE of Danville
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.578, -79.417
A tree was blown down onto a home on Cherry Lane. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Danville (C)
- When
- July 31, 12:58 PM EST
- Where
- Danville (C) County, 1.44 mi ESE of Danville
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.570, -79.397
Two trees were blown down on Betts Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsylvania
- When
- July 31, 1:00 PM EST
- Where
- Pittsylvania County, 0.44 mi ENE of Blairs
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $75,000
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 36.682, -79.372
A building under construction was completely destroyed by severe thunderstorm winds. One construction worker received a concussion. Damages are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Halifax
- When
- July 31, 1:20 PM EST
- Where
- Halifax County, Alton
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $300
- Reported by
- Post Office
- Coordinates
- 36.570, -79.000
Several branches measuring up to four inches in diameter were blown down. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Halifax
- When
- July 31, 1:26 PM EST
- Where
- Halifax County, Cluster Spgs
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 36.620, -78.920
Several trees were blown down. Damage values are estimated.
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
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 31, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 31, 2008
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arkansas, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Winds in New Mexico, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 31, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, July 31, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, July 31, 2008
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 31, 2008
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Alabama, July 31, 2008
More
Every storm in Virginia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 125450, 125451, 125452, 125461, 125462, 125463, 131659, 125464, 125465.