Hail, Watauga
- When
- June 18, 3:10 PM EST
- Where
- Watauga County, Foscoe
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.170, -81.770
Hail in North Carolina, June 18, 2009
S. brought showers and thunderstorms to NC mountains during the afternoon of June 18th.
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
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
A weakening complex of storms dropping southeast from the ridge over the central U.S. brought showers and thunderstorms to NC mountains during the afternoon of June 18th. One storm brought penny size hail.
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 Jun 18, 2:06 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 2:06 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 306 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2009 .SYNOPSIS... THE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN CONTINUES WITH THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STRONG THUNDERSTORM COMPLEXES TO AFFECT THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. ANOTHER STRONG SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH MORE STORMS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... IMMEDIATE FOCUS ON MCS APPROACHING THE WESTERN CWA AT THIS TIME. PSBL SVR/FF THREAT EXISTS AS THE LONG-LIVED SYSTEM IS STILL HOLDING TOGETHER. THIS DESPITE SOME WEAKENING OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE BEST MOISTURE AND ESPECIALLY INSTABILITY IS STILL FURTHER SOUTHWEST OF HERE WITH LIS -10 OR LESS OVER SE TN...BUT STILL PLENTY UNSTABLE HERE TO MAINTAIN A SEVERE THREAT INTO THE EVENING. LIMITING FACTORS ARE WEAKER MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND AND LESS SHEAR THAN TO THE NORTHWEST. IN ADDITION THE FF THREAT IN TAZEWELL...SMYTH...ASHE...WATAUGA REMAINS QUITE HIGH DUE TO ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS FROM RAIN THIS WEEK. ONCE THIS SYSTEM WEAKENS/EXITS THE CWA WILL HAVE VARIABLY CLOUDY SKIES LATE TONIGHT AND WARM HUMID CONDITIONS. THE AIR MASS AND UPPER AIR PATTERN DOESNT CHANGE MUCH AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A POTENTIAL REPEAT OF SEVERE MCS LATE FRIDAY OR FRIDAY NIGHT. SPS HAS A RARE DAY 2 MODERATE RISK OVER A LARGE CHUNK OF THE MIDWEST INTO THE OH VALLEY AND SLIGHT RISK ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST ENDING 12Z SAT. MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES FROM PREVIOUS CONVECTION WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT INITIATION AND EXACT TRACKS AND TIMING OF AN MCS BUT FRIDAY EVENING/NIGHT MAY BE BEST CHANCE AFTER A VERY WARM DAY FRIDAY WITH HIGHS M/U 80S TO LOW 90S SE. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... THIS PERIOD WILL BE ONE OF TRANSITION AS THE CENTER OF THE DOMINANT UPPER RIDGE OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BUILDS A BIT MORE TOWARD THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. THIS WILL HAVE THE AFFECT OF SHIFTING THE POTENTIAL FOR RIDGE RUNNER MCS SYSTEMS NORTH THROUGH THE AREA WITH A FOCUS CLOSER TO THE MASON DIXON LINE BY SATURDAY MORNING. BUILDING HEIGHTS OVER OUR REGION WILL YIELD A TREND TOWARD WARMER TEMPERATURES. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON LOW TO MID 90S WILL BE COMMON ACROSS SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA WITH MID 80S COMMON OVER SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY THE RIDGE IS PROGGED TO BEGIN BUILDING BACK ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH DIPS SOUTH INTO NEW ENGLAND. THIS FEATURE WILL BRING A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE AREA...WITH CONVECTIVE PRECIPITATION CHANCES RETURNING TO A GREATER PORTION OF THE AREA BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SUNDAY WILL BE ABOUT 5 TO 10 DEGREES COOLER BEHIND THE FRONT WITH SOME RESIDUAL SHOWERS ACROSS PRIMARILY THE MOUNTAINS && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... FOR THIS PERIOD OF THE FORECAST...OUR WEATHER WILL BE INFLUENCED BY THE POSITIONING OF A RIDGE OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CURVING NORTHEAST INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION...AND A PERSISTENT TROUGH/LOW JUST EAST OF NEW ENGLAND. THIS WILL PLACE OUR AREA IN PRIMARILY A NORTHEAST FLOW REGIME WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL. AS JET MAXES SPIN AROUND THE LOW...WE WILL NEED TO WATCH FOR DAILY SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES...BUT THE PROXIMITY OF THE RIDGE TO THE WEST WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE ACTIVITY. HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY WITH HPC POPS AND TEMPERATURES DURING THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... ALL EYES ON A LARGE MCS THAT HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST OVERNIGHT AND HAS BEEN RACING ACROSS INDIANA AND KENTUCKY ALL MORNING PRODUCING WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL TURN MORE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND MISS THE ROA AND LYH ALTOGETHER...BUT PUT CB IN CLOUD GROUP TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME UNDERTAINTY. IF THE MCS JOGS A LITTLE LEFT HOWEVER ALL TAF SITES COULD POTENTIALL BE AFFECTED BY THE VERY STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE HAIL. A SECOND MCS IS OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL LIKELY WEAKEN BEFORE IT AFFECTS THE AREA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ALTHOUGH DEBRIS CLOUDS MAY REMAIN. THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS IN THE FORECAST THROUGH SATURDAY WHEN A STRONGER COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE AREA. ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY ON FRIDAY...AND INTO THE MID ATLANTIC REGION FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT LATE SATURDAY SHOULD BRING TRANSITION IN THE WEATHER SUNDAY WITH VFR CONDITIONS RETURNING FOR THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...PC NEAR TERM...AMS SHORT TERM...DS LONG TERM...DS AVIATION...PC
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 18, 4:35 AM EST, 10 hours 35 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 535 AM EDT THU JUN 18 2009 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-190945- 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- 535 AM EDT THU JUN 18 2009 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. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREAT WOULD BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY. THE PRIMARY THREAT WOULD BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. A SECONDARY THREAT WOULD BE HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY PRODUCE ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED FROM SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE TODAY...AND AGAIN LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 18, 9:54 AM EST, 5 hours 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1054 AM EDT THU JUN 18 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM FLASH FLOOD RICHLANDS 37.10N 81.80W
06/17/2009 TAZEWELL VA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
BETWEEN 6 AND 12 INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER NEAR
INTERSECTIONS OF ROUTE 19 AND HIGHWAY 460 IN THE TOWN OF
CLAYPOOL HILL...AND ON HIGHWAY 460 AT RICHLANDS AND NEAR
RAVEN WITH ROAD CLOSURES FROM 1130 EDT THROUGH 1230 EDT.
&&
WERTSpecial weather statement, Jun 18, 2:01 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
301 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2009
VAZ007-009-015-WVZ042-181930-
GRAYSON VA-MERCER WV-SMYTH VA-TAZEWELL VA-
301 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2009
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT GRAYSON...MERCER...SMYTH AND
TAZEWELL COUNTIES...
AT 300 PM EDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 12
MILES SOUTHWEST OF WELCH TO 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ABINGDON...MOVING
EAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR CLIFFIELD AROUND 310 PM...ALLISON GAP
AROUND 315 PM...TAZEWELL AROUND 320 PM...BOISSEVAIN AROUND 325 PM AND
HUNGRY MOTHER STATE PARK AROUND 330 PM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3720 8178 3725 8175 3721 8167 3721 8154
3726 8149 3729 8140 3742 8129 3750 8126
3753 8105 3711 8137 3706 8138 3704 8146
3698 8140 3658 8152 3661 8165 3663 8161
3677 8169 3692 8183 3698 8178 3714 8191
EXPERIMENTAL
KMSpecial weather statement, Jun 18, 2:35 PM EST, 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
335 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2009
VAZ007-009-010-012-015-WVZ042-182015-
BLAND VA-GRAYSON VA-MERCER WV-SMYTH VA-TAZEWELL VA-WYTHE VA-
335 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2009
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT BLAND...GRAYSON...MERCER...
SMYTH...TAZEWELL AND WYTHE COUNTIES...
AT 331 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 10 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF WELCH TO ABINGDON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
TREES MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO FALL CONSIDERING THE WET GROUND. EXPECT
VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THESE STORMS OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR CLAYPOOL HILL AROUND 340 PM...CLIFFIELD
AROUND 350 PM...SALTVILLE AROUND 355 PM...BROADFORD AROUND 405 PM...
TAZEWELL AROUND 410 PM AND TIPTOP AROUND 415 PM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3717 8186 3720 8178 3725 8175 3721 8167
3721 8154 3726 8149 3729 8140 3741 8132
3742 8129 3747 8127 3752 8108 3666 8134
3667 8164 3679 8170 3692 8183 3698 8178
3710 8189
EXPERIMENTAL
KMThe radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.
Event by event
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 18, 2009
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, June 18, 2009
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Colorado, June 18, 2009
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, June 18, 2009
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, June 18 to 19, 2009
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Dakota, June 18 to 19, 2009
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, June 18 to 19, 2009
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, June 18, 2009
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, June 18, 2009
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Minnesota, June 18 to 19, 2009
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Wisconsin, June 18 to 19, 2009
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Indiana, June 18, 2009
More
Every storm in North Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, June 2009
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: 184856.