Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
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 AKQ wrote it up.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 4, 2:47 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 347 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLED JUST NORTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...WILL GRADUALLY PUSH ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE DISSIPATING EARLY TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... MODERATE INSTABILITY COMBINED WITH A WEAK TROF/SHRTWV ENERGY WILL PRODUCE ISLTD TO SCTD SHRAS OR TSRAS ACRS THE REGION TNGT. NO SVR WX IS EXPECTED...BUT ANY TSRA CUD PRODUCE GUSTY WNDS OR SML HAIL...ESPLY THIS EVENG. OTHRWISE...PRTLY CLDY WITH MIN TEMPS IN THE UPR 60S TO LWR 70S. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY/... UPR TROF DEVELOPS TO THE W OVR THE OH VLLY FOR SAT INTO MON...HELPING TO GRADUALLY PUSH THE FRNTL BNDRY INTO AND ACRS THE AREA. THIS WILL RESULT IN DEEPER MOIST/ENHANCED LIFT OVR THE ENTIRE REGION THRU THE PERIOD. THIS IN TURN...SHUD IMPROVE OUR CHCS FOR SCTD SHRAS AND TSRAS PRODUCING MUCH NEEDED RAINFALL FOR THE AREA. MAX TEMPS WILL RANGE THRU THE 80S TO NR 90 SAT THRU MON...WITH MIN TEMPS IN THE MID 60S TO LWR 70S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... THE FRONT LINGERS NEAR THE COAST MON NIGHT AND EVENTUALLY WASHES OUT OVER SRN COUNTIES BY EARLY TUE. KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ACRS ALL ZONES EARLY MON NIGHT...THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OVER COASTAL LOCATIONS AFTER MIDNIGHT MON WHERE THE TAIL END REMNANTS OF THE FRONT WILL BE. MILD TEMPS WITH LOWS IN THE UPR 60S/LWR 70S. A WEAK TROF THEN MOVES OFF THE APPALACHIANS DURING THE DAY TUE. RETURN/SW FLOW AROUND BERMUDA HIGH PRES OFFSHORE WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE (ESPECIALLY ACRS SRN SECTIONS)...AS WELL AS WARMER TEMPS (HIGHS IN THE LWR 90S). HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRAS/TSTMS TUE AFTN/EVNG DURING PEAK HEATING. EXTENDED MODELS MOVE ANOTHER FRONT THRU THE REGION ON WED. PLENTY OF AVAILABLE MOISTURE WILL BE IN PLACE WITH SW FLOW STRENGTHENING AHEAD OF FRONT/AROUND THE HIGH OFFSHORE. INCLUDED CHANCE POPS ALL AREAS WED AS FRONT APPROACHES. HIGH TEMPS A BIT COOLER ON WED WITH ADDITIONAL CLOUD COVER IN PLACE...GENERALLY NEAR 90. CHANCE OF PRECIP CONTINUES ACRS SRN SECTIONS THRU THUR AS THE FRONT STALLS OUT AND DISSIPATES AS IT APPROACHES THE COAST. HIGHS SIMILAR ON THUR WITH BOUNDARY LINGERING...NEAR 90. SLIGHT CHANCE PRECIP FOR NEXT FRI WITH TYPICAL SUMMERTIME CONVECTION POSSIBLE...WITH WARM AND MOIST CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... GENERALLY VFR OVER THE TERMINALS TODAY. SMOKE PLUME MOSTLY BLOWING OUT OVER THE LOWER CHES BAY WITH SW WINDS. SATELLITE SHOWS INCREASE IN CU OVER NE NC AND CENTRL VA WHERE FIRST CONVECTION LIKELY TO FIRE FOR OUR CWA. SCATTERED SHOWERS/TSTMS THRU THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. SLOWLY ADVANCING FRONT TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN ISOLD-SCT CONVECTION WITH REDUCED CIGS/VSBYS AS A RESULT. BEST CHANCE FOR IFR CONDITIONS (MAINLY WITH REDUCED VSYBS IN HEAVY SHOWERS) WILL BE FROM KSBY-KRIC AND POINTS W. VCNTY OF FRONT WILL PSBLY KEEP CHC OF PRECIP OVER THE AREA LATE INTO NIGHT AND EARLY AM. ELONGATED WARM CONVEYOR BELT WITH A SUBTROPICAL CONNECTION FROM THE WRN GULF WILL MAINTAIN A FAIRLY MOIST COLUMN OVER THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY...BEFORE A MID LVL SHORTWAVE AND SUBSEQUENT WRLY FLOW FINALLY PUSHES THE SFC FRONT OFF THE COAST. THIS WILL LEAD TO CONTINUED SHOWERS/TSTMS CHANCES AND PERIODIC MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS SAT THROUGH MON. && .MARINE... SEAS HAVE SUBSIDED DURING THE DAY AS THE PRES GRADIENT HAS WEAKENED...WITH LATEST OBS RUNNING BETWEEN 2 TO 3 FT. WINDS ARE GENERALLY ONSHORE WITH A WEAK SEABREEZE DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON. SCATTERED HEAVY SHRAS/TSTMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THRU THE EVENING ACRS THE BAY/SND/CSTL ZONES...WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIEST SHRAS/TSTMS. IN ADDITION...AREAS OF SMOKE (FROM THE WILDFIRE NEAR SUFFOLK VA) WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM ACRS THE SRN CSTL ZONES REDUCING VISIBILITIES. WIND PATTERN WILL REMAIN DIURNALLY DRIVEN...OFFSHORE WINDS LATER THIS EVENING/TONIGHT...THEN ONSHORE AGAIN TOMORROW AFTN WITH SEABREEZE DEVELOPING YET AGAIN. A COLD FRONT MOVES CLOSER THIS WEEKEND WHICH WILL ONCE AGAIN INCREASE THE PRES GRADIENT. COULD HAVE BRIEF SCA CONDITIONS SUN NIGHT/EARLY MON WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW STRENGTHENING AS THE FRONT/BOUNDARY STALLS OUT NEAR THE COASTAL WATERS. MEANWHILE...HIGH PRES WILL REMAIN ANCHORED NEAR BERMUDA THRU NEXT WEEK...WITH ANOTHER FRONT APPROACHING THE COAST BY LATE WED. THE NEXT FRONT THEN WASHES OUT OVER THE SRN COASTAL WATERS THUR THRU FRI. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...TMG NEAR TERM...TMG SHORT TERM...TMG LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...JEF MARINE...JRL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 407 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ANZ630>633-650-652-654-656-658-MDZ021>025-NCZ012>014-030>032-VAZ048- 049-060>094-096-099-100-052015- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO WINDMILL POINT VA- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM WINDMILL POINT TO NEW POINT COMFORT VA- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NEW POINT COMFORT TO CAPE HENRY VA- CURRITUCK SOUND- COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CHINCOTEAGUE VA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND VA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA TO NC VA BORDER OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM NC VA BORDER TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC OUT 20 NM-DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-FLUVANNA- LOUISA-PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE- MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO- KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND- NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE- CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE- SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK-SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT- NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-SUFFOLK-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- 407 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...CURRITUCK SOUND...THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA...THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ015>017-102-VAZ095-097-098-052015- PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK- NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH- 407 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. ALSO...AREAS OF SMOKE WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES AND CREATE POOR AIR QUALITY AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. BAJ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 406 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ048-049-061>063-069-042100- CUMBERLAND VA-FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-HANOVER VA-LOUISA VA-POWHATAN VA- 406 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE NORTHEASTERN VIRGINIA PIEDMONT... AT 406 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES WEST OF PALMYRA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR ANTIOCH AT 415 PM EDT... CUNNINGHAM AT 430 PM EDT...LAKE MONTICELLO AT 435 PM EDT...UNION MILLS AT 440 PM EDT...WILDWOOD AT 445 PM EDT...TROY AT 450 PM EDT. EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THESE STORMS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 414 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ067-068-070-080-042115- AMELIA VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-DINWIDDIE VA-NOTTOWAY VA- 414 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH NOTTOWAY COUNTY IN THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT... AT 414 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CREWE...MOVING EAST AT 23 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR PATTERSONS STORE AT 425 PM EDT...CLAY STORE...AND...DENARO AT 430 PM EDT...SPAINVILLE...AND...NORTH WELLVILLE AT 435 PM EDT...EARLS AT 440 PM EDT...MANNBORO AT 450 PM EDT...AMMON AT 455 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 425 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ079-042130- BRUNSWICK VA- 425 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH BRUNSWICK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA... AT 425 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF LAWRENCEVILLE...OR ABOUT OVER BRODNAX...MOVING EAST AT 27 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR LAWRENCEVILLE AT 435 PM EDT...EDGERTON...AND...DOLPHIN AT 445 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. LEWITSKY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 455 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ048-049-062-063-042145- FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-HANOVER VA-LOUISA VA- 455 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN FLUVANNA AND LOUISA COUNTIES... AT 455 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOUISA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 22 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR BYRD MILL AT 500 PM EDT...LOUISA AIRPORT...AND...LOUISA AT 515 PM EDT...MINERAL...AND... PENDLETON AT 525 PM EDT...WARES CROSSROADS AT 535 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THESE STORMS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 505 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ081-088-089-092>098-042200- CHESAPEAKE VA-ISLE OF WIGHT VA-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON VA-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH VA-PRINCE GEORGE VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SUFFOLK VA-SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA-VIRGINIA BEACH VA- 505 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED OVER THE TIDEWATER AREA AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA... AT 505 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM A GROUP OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SOUTH THROUGH THE TIDEWATER AREA OF VIRGINIA AS WELL AS SURRY...ISLE OF WIGHT AND PRINCE GEORGE COUNTIES. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. MCNATT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 511 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 VAZ068-070-071-080-081-042215- AMELIA VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-DINWIDDIE VA-HENRICO VA-PRINCE GEORGE VA- 511 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY... AT 511 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES WEST OF CHESTER...MOVING EAST AT 24 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR CHESTERFIELD AT 520 PM EDT... CENTRALIA AT 525 PM EDT...CHESTER...AND...BELLWOOD AT 530 PM EDT... MEADOWVILLE AT 545 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THESE STORMS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. MCNATT
The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:23 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were snapped and downed in the Salem neighborhood off Centralia Road.
Multiple trees were downed.
Large trees were downed near Beulah and Ironbridge.
Large limbs and a power pole were downed near the Defense Supply Center.
Estimated wind gust of 60 mph was reported in Varina.
Wind gust of 58 mph was measured at RIC.
Numerous trees were downed in the Dorey Park area off Darbytown Road.
Trees were downed along VA-249 Highway.
Large tree was downed on Route 668.
Large tree was downed near Mechanicsville Turnpike. Trees were downed on White Pines Lane. Powerlines were downed.
Tree was downed on I-85 in the vicinity of South Hill Exit. Tree was downed on Route 635.
Numerous trees were downed between Saint Stephens Church, King and Queen Courthouse and Little Plymouth. Power outages were reported.
Large tree was downed at Rainbow Acres Camping Resort.
Numerous trees were downed.
Large tree was downed across Route 17.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, 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: 126627, 126628, 126626, 126625, 126611, 126612, 126624, 126622, 126621, 126619, 126617, 126618, 126615, 126614, 126613.