Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced wind damage and large hail across portions of 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 wind damage and large hail across portions of 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 Apr 6, 2:53 AM EST, 5 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
353 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT CROSSES THE AREA THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
BREEZY AND COOL WEATHER WILL FOLLOW TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY...AS
HIGH PRESSURE IS SLOW TO BUILD INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL SLIDE BY TO THE SOUTH AND OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
WARM FRONT MOVED NORTH THRU THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT AND HAS THUS
ALLOWED WARM AND MOIST ADVECTION TO ENSUE. MEANWHILE...SFC LOW PRES
OVR ERN OH WILL INTENSIFY AND MOVE NE ACROSS PA/NY THIS MORNING AND
AFTN...DRAGGING A COLD FRONT THRU THE MID ATLC. FRONT IS CURRENTLY
BACK ACROSS WV...MAKING ITS WAY INTO FAR WESTERN VA BY EARLY
MORNING. THUS FAR LINE OF SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HAS HELD
TOGETHER...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE LINE BEGINS TO FALL
APART AS IT CROSSES THE MTNS, AND THEN FORM AGAIN AS IT ENTERS INTO
OUR CWA.
FOR TODAY...SPC CONTINUES TO PLACE ENTIRE CWA (SAVE FOR PIEDMONT)
IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SVR TSTMS. LIMITING FACTOR FOR SVR THREAT
WILL BE THE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONT AS MODEL CONSENSUS CONTINUES
TO SUGGEST A MORNING/EARLY AFTN FROPA. EXPECT CONVECTION TO BEGIN
FIRING OVR SE VA/NE NC EARLY THIS MORNING...WHERE BEST MSTR AND
INSTABILITY LIES. WRT SLIGHT RISK...PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND SOME HAIL. AND IF ENUF DEEP LYRD SHEAR
EXISTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AN ISOLATED TOR THREAT IS
POSSIBLE...MAINLY FOR NE NC AND FAR SE VA. FRONT SHOULD BEGIN
MOVING OFFSHORE SHORTLY AFTER 18Z.
ASIDE FROM TSTM THREAT...EXPECT BREEZY TO WNDY CONDS TODAY. MAX
TEMPS WILL BE IN THE MID 60S TO LWR 70S.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
FRONT WILL HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE BY THIS EVENING. MUCH COOLER/BREEZY
WX IN STORE FOR TONIGHT INTO TUE...DUE TO STRNG LO PRES LIFTING NWRD
FM NY STATE INTO ERN CANADA. MDL TSXNS SUGGEST HI RH IN THE H85-70
LYR...LEADING TO HI CONFIDENCE OF MCLDY CONDS...BEGINNING BACK
ACROSS THE PIEDMONT THIS EVENING...THEN EXTENDING EASTWARD ACROSS
THE REST OF THE AREA FOR TUE. MIN TEMPS TONGT MUCH COOLER IN THE UPR
30S TO MID 40S. MAX TEMPS ON TUE ONLY IN THE LWR TO MID 50S. EXPECT
EVEN COOLER TEMPS TUE NIGHT WITH WIDESPREAD READINGS AOB THE FREEZING
MARK.
RETURN TO A PRTLY SNY SKY AND A COUPLE DEGREES WRMER ON WED...AS
THE LO LIFTS FARTHER AWAY TO THE N AND HI PRES SLIDES ACRS THE
GULF CST STATES TO THE SE CST. MAX TEMPS RANGING THRU THE 50S.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
ONLY SLIGHT VARIATIONS ON MID LVL FLOW PATTERN BWTN LONG RANGE MODEL
GUIDANCE. OVERALL PATTERN FITS WELL WITH PREV FCST AND MADE ONLY
SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS AT THIS TIME. INITIAL IMPULSE EJECTS OUT OF THE
FOUR CORNERS RGN THU AND MOVES INTO THE LWR GRT LKS ON FRI WITH AN
ASSCD WARM FRONT PUSHING NORTHWARD OVER THE COASTAL MID ATL. LOOK
FOR A CHC OF SHRA AND POSSIBLE TSRA (SOUTH) FRI AFTN INTO SAT BEFORE
A TRAILING COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE RGN ON SAT. DRYING OUT OVER
THE WKND AHEAD OF ANOTHER IMPULSE EJECTING OUT OF THE FOUR CORNERS
RGN ON SUN AND EFFECTING THE MID ATL RGN TUE-WED OF NEXT WK. AS
FAR AS TEMPS...NEAR NRML MAXS FOR THE YR...AND NEAR/ABV NORMAL
READINGS FOR LOWS.
&&
.AVIATION /08Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
GUSTY SSW FLOW THIS MORNING AHEAD OF THE APPRCHG COLD FRONT. EXPECT
HIGHEST GUSTS ( 30 KT) AT ORF/PHF/ECG...AND MORE LIKE 20-25 FOR
RIC/SBY. CONDITIONS GNLY WILL BE VFR THROUGH 12-13Z...WITH A PERIOD
OF IFR (OR LOW END MVFR) EXPECTED FROM ROUGHLY 13Z THROUGH 17Z WITH
THE SHWRS/SCTD TSTMS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH. EXPECT BULK OF
PRECIPITATION AND LWR CIGS/VSBYS TO END AFTER 18Z WITH WINDS BECMG W
AND REMAINING GUSTY 20-25 KTS. VFR OVERNIGHT SHIFTING TO WNW AND
CONTG TO GUST TO ARND 20 KTS.
TUE THROUGH THU...GNLY EXPECTING VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD.
WINDS REMAIN FAIRLY BREEZY TUE/WED (GUSTS 20-25 KT) FROM A WESTERLY
DIRECTION.
&&
.MARINE...
RAISING SMALL CRAFT ADVSY ALL ZONES WITH THIS ISSUANCE. EXPECT SSW
WINDS TO INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING HRS AS LOW LVL JET OUT AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT MOVES OVER THE WATERS. HAVE DECIDED TO REFRAIN
FROM ANY GALE WARNING HEADLINES FOR NOW DUE TO COLD WATER
TEMPERATURES/STABILITY IN LOW LVLS. BELIEVE ANY GUSTS TO GALE FORCE
WILL BE SHORT LIVED OR CONVECTIVELY INDUCED (ASSOCIATED W/
SHWRS/TSTMS)..AND THIS CAN BE HANDLED W/ SPECIAL MARINE WRNGS IF
NECESSARY. WITH THAT SAID...EXPECT GUSTS TO 30 KTS FOR ALL AREAS
SOMETIME BETWEEN 12 AND 18Z...WITH A FEW HRS OF SUSTAINED WINDS
CLOSE TO 30 KTS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS (ESPECIALLY OVER CSTL WTRS
FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT SOUTHWARD TO CURRITUCK BCH LGT). AS FOR
SEAS...THEY ARE STILL RATHER LOW 3-4 FT AT MOST...BUT WILL BUILD
SIGNIFICANTLY BY LATE MRNG/ERLY AFTN...TO 6-8 FT NORTH AND 5-7 FT
SOUTH.
MAY SEE A 3 TO 5 HR WINDOW OF LIGHTER WINDS LATE THIS AFTN (15 KTS)
BEFORE THE COLDER AIR MOVES IN DURING THE EVENING BUT WILL NOT GET
SPECIFIC AT THIS PT SINCE WINDS WILL AGAIN INCREASE TO 20-25 KTS
DURING THE EVENING AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. BEYOND THIS...EXPECT A
GENERAL 20 KTS OR SO TUE/TUE NGT. MAY BE ABLE TO DROP THE HEADLINES
OVER SOUTHERN CSTL WATERS ON TUE IF SEAS DROP OFF WITH OFFSHORE WIND
DIRECTION BUT WILL STAY WITH 4-5 FT FOR NOW AND KEEP HEADLINES UP
THROUGH TUE AFTN ALL ZONES.
WINDS GRADUALLY BACK MORE TO THE SSW LATER WED/WED NGT AND SPEEDS
DECREASE.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
NC...NONE.
VA...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR ANZ630>632.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR ANZ633-650-652-
654-656-658.
&&
SYNOPSIS...SMF
NEAR TERM...SMF
SHORT TERM...SMF
LONG TERM...CCW
AVIATION...LKB
MARINE...LKBHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 729 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 ANZ630>633-650-652-654-656-658-071130- 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- 729 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND CURRITUCK SOUND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. 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... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ048-049-060>062-065>069-079-071130- FLUVANNA-LOUISA-PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-MECKLENBURG- LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-BRUNSWICK- 729 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A BAND OF SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THE STORMS ALONG THE LINE MAY PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ063-064-070>078-080>100-071130- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-HANOVER-CAROLINE- CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND- RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE- CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE- SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK-SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT- NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE- VIRGINIA BEACH-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- 729 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER BANKS OF 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 AND THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT CROSSES THE REGION. A BAND OF SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. IN ADDITION...THERE WILL ALSO BE A RISK FOR ISOLATED TORNADO...MAINLY EAST OF I-95. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HURLEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 736 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 VAZ060-061-065>070-079-080-087-088-061230- AMELIA VA-BRUNSWICK VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-CUMBERLAND VA-DINWIDDIE VA-GREENSVILLE VA-LUNENBURG VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NOTTOWAY VA-POWHATAN VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA-SUSSEX VA- 736 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS WERE EXPANDING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA WEST OF I-95... AT 734 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE LEADING EDGE EXTENDING FROM ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHASE CITY TO 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SOUTH HILL. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AROUND 55 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... BOWENS CORNER AROUND 745 AM EDT... MORAN AROUND 750 AM EDT... PRICES MILL AROUND 755 AM EDT... MAPLEWOOD AROUND 800 AM EDT... TRUXILLO AROUND 805 AM EDT... WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED UNDERNEATH THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU CAN 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. HURLEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 851 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 VAZ072-073-078>094-061345- BRUNSWICK VA-CHARLES CITY VA-DINWIDDIE VA-GLOUCESTER VA-GREENSVILLE VA-ISLE OF WIGHT VA-JAMES CITY VA-KING AND QUEEN VA-KING WILLIAM VA-LANCASTER VA-MATHEWS VA-MIDDLESEX VA-NEW KENT VA-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON VA-PRINCE GEORGE VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA-YORK VA- 851 AM EDT MON APR 6 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA... AT 847 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM BRUNSWICK AND SUSSEX COUNTIES NORTHEAST INTO LANCASTER COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 TO 50 MPH...AND WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE AREA EAST OF A SOUTH HILL TO RICHMOND TO URBANNA LINE THROUGH 10 AM. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. 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. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND EASTERN VIRGINIA. WRS
The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:46 UTC.
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Penny size hail broke several windshields near Route 199 and Penneman Road.
Nickel size hail was reported in Mathews.
National Weather Service storm survey report concluded that straight line winds produced structural damage to buildings on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News. The hardest hit was the Old Point Packing Incorporated facility, where more considerable roof damage was incurred along with damage to the facade. Other nearby buildings had some damage to shingles, while there were also a couple of trees down. Top winds were estimated between 60 and 70 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 2009
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: 167628, 167627, 167631.