Showers and thunderstorms developed along a stationary front. One of these storms produced enough rainfall to allow for a debris flow of mud and a tree to take place.
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.
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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a stationary front. One of these storms produced enough rainfall to allow for a debris flow of mud and a tree to take place.
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 6, 2:20 PM EST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 320 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY WILL PUSH SLOWLY EASTWARD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS LEAVING THE REGION IN A A BROAD...BUT WEAK SOUTHWEST FLOW. HIGH HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SCATTERED ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF THIS UPPER SYSTEM. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH THE BETTER AREAL COVERAGE OF STORMS GRADUALLY SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. STORMS ARE MOVING SLOW AND HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH ANY OF THE STRONGER CELLS. STORM COVERAGE WILL DIMINISH THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH FOG DEVELOPING. AREAS OF DENSE IS POSSIBLE IN MOUNTAIN VALLEYS TOWARDS SUNRISE. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN MUGGY WITH LOWS IN THE 60S TO NEAR 70 IN THE PIEDMONT. UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL DRIFT TO THE NORTHEAST AND WILL LIKELY BE CENTERED OVER THE GREENBRIER VALLEY TOMORROW. THE BERMUDA HIGH CONTINUES TO BLOCK THIS FEATURE WHICH WILL KEEP UNSETTLE SCATTERED CONVECTION OVER THE AREA. LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS...CONVECTION TO START FIRING AROUND NOON ACROSS THE WEST...THEN DRIFTS TO THE EAST IN THE AFTERNOON. STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE SLOW MOVING WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS. AREAS SEEING CONVECTION EARLY MAY STRUGGLE TO REACH 80...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. MOUNTAIN SITES WITH LATER ARRIVAL OF STORMS COULD WARM INTO THE LOWER TO MID 80S. EASTERN SITES SHOULD WARM TO NEAR NORMAL WITH MID TO UPPER 80S...POSSIBLY 90 TOWARD SOUTHSIDE. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... UPPER LEVEL LOW TO OPEN AS A TROUGH AND BE ALONG THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS MONDAY NIGHT. SHORT WAVES RIDING ALONG THIS TROUGH AND WITH A SATURATED ATMOSPHERE...CAN NOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SHOWER THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. SOME DRY AIR MAY ENTRAIN INTO THE REGION IN THE UPPER LEVELS AND WITH LOSE OF HEATING...THERE MAY NOT BE ANY SHOWERS THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. WILL AT LEAST KEEP 20 POPS TO COVER FOR THIS UNCERTAINTY. ON THE OTHER HAND...FOG IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY WITH LIGHT WINDS AND SATURATED LOW LEVELS. PATCHY DENSE FOG IS LIKELY ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS WITH VISIBILITIES UNDER A MILE. OTHER AREAS WILL ALSO SEE SOME FOG BY SUNRISE TUESDAY MORNING WITH VISIBILITIES BEING 4-6 MILES. FOG WILL BURN OFF SLOWLY IN THE MORNING...THEN AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND A SURFACE LEE TROUGH WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE CONVECTION DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. GFS STILL SHOWING THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SLOWLY PROGRESSING TO THE EAST COAST WHILE MAINTAINING A STUBBORN BERMUDA HIGH. WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY SLIGHT/CHANCE POPS...ESPECIALLY IN THE PIEDMONT...WITH UPPER LEVEL FEATURES NEAR/OVER THE AREA. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE SIMILAR TO THIS PAST WEEKENDS TEMPERATURES. MUGGY OVERNIGHTS IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL BE BELOW NORMAL IF SHOWERS COME ACROSS EARLY TO ABOVE NORMAL IF THEY ARRIVE LATE. GENERALLY 80S ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS TO 90 IN THE PIEDMONT. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE REGION WEDNESDAY WITH PREFRONTAL SHOWERS BEGINNING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS IN THE MORNING. DESPITE AN INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET...EARLY ARRIVAL OF SHOWERS AND CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT SEVERE POTENTIAL. EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...ESPECIALLY IN THE PIEDMONT AND ALONG THE NC/VA BORDER...INSTABILITY AND ISOLATION WILL BE BETTER AND THEREFORE STRONG STORMS COULD DEVELOP. THE COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...THERE IS NOT MUCH UPPER LEVEL PUSH WITH THE FRONT AND THEREFORE COULD GET HUNG UP ACROSS SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE CWA (SOUTHSIDE). THE DEW POINT FRONT DOES NOT LOOK TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION UNTIL 18Z THURSDAY. I WILL HANG ON TO SOME POPS FOR COUNTIES ALONG THE NC/VA BORDER THURSDAY MORNING...THEN HAVE A DRYING TREND FROM NORTH TO SOUTH IN THE AFTERNOON. A WEAK HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BUILD IN THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SHOULD BRING SOME TRANQUIL WEATHER IN FOR 24-36 HOURS. HOWEVER...UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE GULF COAST AND ZONAL FLOW OVER THE AREA...COULD BRING STORMS INTO THE REGION BY FRIDAY NIGHT. THESE STORMS WILL GET ORGANIZED IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND TRACK TO THE MID ATLANTIC REGION FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY TRACK ALONG THE OLD WEDNESDAY FRONTAL BOUNDARY...WHICH COULD BE RETREATING THROUGH THE CWA DURING THIS TIME. DESPITE A COLD FRONTAGE PASSAGE MID WEEK...TEMPERATURES WILL HOVER NEAR NORMAL THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AREA EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 03-06Z...WITH THE BETTER AREAL COVERAGE OF STORMS GRADUALLY SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR TRENDS HAVE ONLY INCLUDED TSRA IN THE BODY OF THE TAF FOR BLF AND LWB. STORMS ARE MOVING SLOW AND HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH ANY OF THE STRONGER CELLS. OUTSIDE OF THE MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS...CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL BE VFR THROUGH 06Z. MVFR FOG IS EXPECTED TO FORM AFTER 06Z WITH VISIBILITIES NOT IMPROVING UNTIL AFTER SUNRISE ON MONDAY. THE UPPER TROF IS NOT FORECAST TO MOVE EAST OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA UNTIL TUESDAY MORNING SO MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY. ANOTHER FRONT PASSES ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC REGION ON WEDNESDAY CONTINUING THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...AMS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 603 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-071015- 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- 603 AM EDT SUN JUL 6 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL. A FEW STORMS MAY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN LIKELY MONDAY AND TUESDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. HEAVY RAIN AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 501 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 NCZ001-062200- ASHE NC- 501 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 AT 456 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS FROM JEFFERSON...SOUTH TO TODD...MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST. EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO INCHES OVER THE NEXT HOUR...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF WEST JEFFERSON. THIS WILL CAUSE LOW LYING FLOODING AND PONDED WATER ON THE HIGHWAY. IF TRAVELING...SLOW DOWN TO AVOID HYDROPLANING. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. WP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 536 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 VAZ010-011-WVZ044-062230- BLAND VA-GILES VA-MONROE WV- 536 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 AT 534 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 7 MILES NORTH OF MOUNTAIN LAKE TO 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PEARISBURG TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF PULASKI...MOVING NORTH AT 14 MPH. ETHIS LINE OF STORMS WILL BRING TORRENTIAL RAINS...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING TO AREA FROM WHITE GATE...NORTH TO RICH CREEK...AND EAST TO PEARISBURG AND CASCADES. EXPECT LOW LYING FLOODING OF DITCHES...CULVERTS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. BE ALERT TO WATER PONDED ON THE ROADS. SLOW DOWN TO AVOID HYDROPLANING. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS...HAIL OR FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. WP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 603 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 VAZ024-062245- ROCKBRIDGE VA- 603 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 AT 600 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTH OF ROCKBRIDGE BATHS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 16 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...BROWNSBURG AT 615 PM EDT. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 4 MILES WEST OF LEXINGTON...AND WILL AFFECT THE KERR CREEK AREA. EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO ONE INCH IN LESS THAN AN HOUR WITH THIS STORM...AS IT STAYS JUST WEST OF INTERSTATE 81. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS...HAIL OR FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. WP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 618 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 VAZ013-014-062315- PULASKI VA-MONTGOMERY VA- 618 PM EDT SUN JUL 6 2008 AT 617 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF RADFORD...OR ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF FAIRLAWN...MOVING EAST AT 12 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...FAIRLAWN...AND RADFORD AT 625 PM EDT...WALTON AT 635 PM EDT...PRICES FORK AT 645 PM EDT...BLACKSBURG AT 705 PM EDT...AND CHRISTIANSBURG AT 710 PM EDT... TORRENTAIL RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS...HAIL OR FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. WP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
646 PM EDT SUN JUL 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0634 PM HAIL 1 W PRICES FORK 37.22N 80.52W
07/06/2008 E0.75 INCH MONTGOMERY VA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL LASTED FROM 634 PM UNTIL 639 PM IN LONGSHOP.
&&
WHPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
648 PM EDT SUN JUL 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM HAIL PRICES FORK 37.22N 80.50W
07/06/2008 E0.88 INCH MONTGOMERY VA TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL HAIL OCCURRED FROM 645 PM UNTIL 647 PM.
&&
WHPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain helped produce a mud slide that blocked Highway 42 at Poplar Hill. A tree also was caught in the flow and was across the road. Damage values are estimated.
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: 123263.