Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of central 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 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 May 8, 10:06 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1106 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE
WEST TONIGHT...THEN CROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BRIEFLY BUILD IN FOR SATURDAY...THEN ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
WILL AFFECT THE REGION SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
WL BE BRIEF DUE TO ONGOING CONVECTION...UPDATED ZFP TO ACCOUNT
FOR WW283 TIL 3AM EDT. SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO INDICATE LOCALLY HVY
RAINFALL OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OVERNIGHT (TDS GENERALLY IN L/M
60S ACRS THE CWA...WL CONTINUE HVY RAIN WORDING FOR THIS PERIOD.
STORMS ARE SLOW MOVERS...AND FLOODING IS A CONCERN. FFG REMAINS
HIGH...SO WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY FLOOD PRODUCTS AT THIS TIME AND
CONTINUE TO MONITOR. BEAR IN MIND...TAKE THE STORM TOTAL PRECIP
VALUES ON KAKQ RADAR WITH AN ENTIRE BOX OF SALT...GOOD AMOUNT OF
HAIL CONTAMINATION OVER THE NW CWA.
LO TEMPS OVERNIGHT IN THE 60S.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
SFC LO PRES PASSES ACRS FAR NRN AREAS OF FA FRI MRNG...THEN OFF
SRN NJ CST IN THE AFTN. TRAILING CDFNT TO REACH SE VA/NE NC
ERY/MID AFTN HRS. WL HV LIKELY OR BETTER POPS FOR THE MRNG HRS
MOST PLCS...CONTG MENTION OF LCLLY HVY RA (QPF 1-3 IN...ESP VA/MD
CTYS IN FA). LINGERING/SCTD CNVTN PSBL W/ CDFNTL PASSAGE SE VA/NE NC
DURG THE AFTN (PTNTLLY STRNG/SVR?). TOUGH CALL ON DRYING/CLRG FRI
NGT...AS A 2ND/WKR SYS DIVES THROUGH RGN FM THE NW. HV KEPT
P/MCLDY INTO SAT MRNG W/ AT LEAST SLGT CHC POPS (THOUGH MOD/HVY RA
THREAT WL BE OVR BY THAT TM). BY THAT 2ND SYS SAT AFTN/NGT...MR
DEFINITIVE PD OF DRYING XPCTD.
HI TEMPS FRI FM THE UPR 60S (LWR MD ERN SHR) TO MID/UPR 70S (SRN
VA/NE NC)...LOWS FRI NGT IN THE 40S TO MID 50S...THEN 60S TO LWR 70S
XPCTD SAT.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
ANOTHER LOW PRES SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE REGION ON SUNDAY WHICH WL
LIKELY TRIGGER SHOWERS/TSTMS. LINGERING WITH -RW INTO MONDAY. AMS
WILL BE RELATIVELY UNSTABLE THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD BUT DO NOT
EXPECT PROLOGED WIDESPREAD RAIN AFTER MONDAY BUT ENOUGH TO HAVE AT
LEAST SLIGHT CHCS INTO WEDNESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FIRST BAND OF SHOWERS HAS MOVED THOUGH CENTRAL VA WITH VFR CONDS
AT RIC...CSTL PLAINS SITES WILL SEE TEMPO MVFR INTO EARLY EVE. THE
MAIN AREA OF SHWRS/TSRA WILL APPROACH BY LATE EVE WITH MVFR
CONDITIONS DECREASING TO IFR AS HEAVIER SHWRS MOVE OVER...MVR/IFR
WILL PERSIST INTO FRI.
DRYING/BREEZY AS WINDS TURN WNW BY MIDDAY FRI FROM W TO E (LWR
CIGS/VSBY LINGERING LONGEST AT THE COAST). MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS
AGAIN UNTIL NEXT SYSTEM SUNDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT.
&&
.MARINE...
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE STRONG COLD FRONT THAT WILL CROSS THE REGION
LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...HAVE DECIDED TO RAISE THE SCA
FLAGS FOR ALL OF OUR BAY AND COASTAL WATERS INTO FRI AFTN/EVE. OF
COURSE THIS MAY NEED TO BE MODIFIED PENDING HOW THINGS SHAPES UP. AT
ANY RATE...HAVE BUMPED UP THE WINDS A TAD WITH THIS PACKAGE. WINDS
WILL BECOME MORE BREEZY AS THE FRONT APPROACHES (SOUTHERLY) AND WITH
ITS PASSAGE (NORTHWESTERLY). SEAS WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE 5 TO 6 FT
RANGE WHILE WAVES IN THE BAY PEAKING NEAR 3 FT..HIGHER IN THE SRN
BAY NR THE MOUTH.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
NC...NONE.
VA...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ630>633.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR ANZ650-652-
654-656-658.
&&
SYNOPSIS...ALB/MAM
NEAR TERM...ALB/MAM
SHORT TERM...ALB
LONG TERM...KLL
AVIATION...CY
MARINE...KLLHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ANZ650-652-654-656-658-091100- 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- 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE BY LATE THIS EVENING INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED...SOME STORMS MAY REACH CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 KNOTS AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. MDZ021>025-VAZ099-100-091100- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND AND THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED...SOME STORMS COULD APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS THE PRIMARY THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANZ630>633-091100- 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- 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND CURRITUCK SOUND. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE BY LATE THIS EVENING INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...SOME STORMS MAY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 KNOTS AND HAIL. AN ISOLATED WATERSPOUT WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ077-078-084>086-089>098-091100- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-NORTHUMBERLAND- LANCASTER-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK- SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH- SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH- 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA AND THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING...PERSISTING INTO THE PREDAWN HOURS FRIDAY MORNING. WHILE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...SOME STORMS COULD REACH STRONG TO SEVERE LIMITS AFTER SUNSET TONIGHT...AS THESE STORMS DEVELOP AND MOVE NORTHEAST INTO THE REGION. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD WITH ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP THIS EVENING. ADDITIONALLY...THERE WILL BE THE RISK FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. VAZ048-049-060>076-079>083-087-088-091100- FLUVANNA-LOUISA-PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE- MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO- KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-BRUNSWICK- DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX- 847 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...TORNADO WATCH 283 IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TORNADO WATCH .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. 05
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
820 PM EDT THU MAY 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0807 PM HAIL 1 SE SCOTTSVILLE 37.79N 78.48W
05/08/2008 E1.00 INCH FLUVANNA VA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
MONTEFUSCOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
851 PM EDT THU MAY 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM HAIL PALMYRA 37.86N 78.26W
05/08/2008 E1.00 INCH FLUVANNA VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
NICKEL TO QUARTER HAIL REPORTED AT FLUVANNA SHERIFFS
OFFICE.
&&
MONTEFUSCOSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 1010 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ065-090315- MECKLENBURG VA- 1010 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA... AT 1010 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL GRANVILLE COUNTY...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTH OF OXFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR CLARKSVILLE AT 1035 PM EDT...RICHARDSON AT 1040 PM EDT...FINCHLEY AT 1045 PM EDT...SKIPWITH AT 1050 PM EDT... BOYDTON AT 1055 PM EDT...ROGERS CORNER AT 1100 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. 05
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 1036 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ048-049-060>069-090330- AMELIA VA-CAROLINE VA-CUMBERLAND VA-FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-HANOVER VA-LOUISA VA-LUNENBURG VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NOTTOWAY VA-POWHATAN VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA- 1036 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT... AT 1036 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SOLID LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 16 MILES NORTH OF LOUISA TO 28 MILES WEST OF CHASE CITY...OR FROM 16 MILES NORTH OF LOUISA TO NATHALIE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... LOUISA AROUND 1055 PM EDT... CHASE CITY AROUND 1105 PM EDT... MINERAL AROUND 1115 PM EDT... HAMPDEN SYDNEY AROUND 1125 PM EDT... CUMBERLAND AROUND 1130 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. 44
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 1122 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ049-090345- LOUISA VA- 1122 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS LOUISA COUNTY... AT 1122 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LOUISA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR WARES CROSSROADS AT 1135 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. 44
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 1158 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ048-049-060>071-079-080-090500- AMELIA VA-BRUNSWICK VA-CAROLINE VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-CUMBERLAND VA-DINWIDDIE VA-FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-HANOVER VA-HENRICO VA-LOUISA VA-LUNENBURG VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NOTTOWAY VA-POWHATAN VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA- 1158 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT... AT 1158 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LOUISA TO 26 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHASE CITY...OR FROM LOUISA TO VIRGILINA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... WARES CROSSROADS AROUND 1205 AM EDT... TAMWORTH AROUND 1210 AM EDT... MEHERRIN AROUND 1215 AM EDT... SCHOLFIELD AROUND 1220 AM EDT... SANDY HOOK AROUND 1225 AM EDT... RICHARDSON AROUND 1230 AM EDT... WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. ALSO...RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR WILL LIKELY RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS. 44
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:07 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed in Chase City.
Numerous trees were downed in New Kent.
Numerous trees were downed in Barhamsville.
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, May 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: 103272, 103278, 103281.