Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and large hail 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 and large hail 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 12, 12:48 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 148 PM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY CROSS THE AREA TODAY...BEFORE STALLING ACROSS SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. THE FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTH OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY...BEFORE RETURNING NORTH AS A WARM FRONT BY MIDWEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... LATEST WX ANALYSIS DEPICTS LOW PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL QUEBEC...WITH THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK AND EASTERN OHIO. ALOFT...WHILE UPPER LOW REMAINS OVER HUDSON BAY...A STRONG MID/UPPER RIDGE REMAINS ANCHORED OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS/TEXAS. THE RESULT LEADING TO CONTINUED NW FLOW ALOFT. CONTINUE TO FAVOR NAM/SREF BLEND OVER THE GFS FOR TODAY...AS GFS CONTINUES TO BE CONTAMINATED BY CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK ISSUES. FRONT LIKELY PUSHES INTO NORTHERN ZONES BEFORE DAWN...PUSHING INTO CENTRAL VA ZONES AFTER SR THIS MORNING BEFORE STALLING ACROSS SOUTHERN ZONES. WL LKLY SEE SOME CLEARING IN THE MID/LATE MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS NORTHERN/CENTRAL ZONES. LOCAL WRF/NAM/SREF ALL SHOWING ISOLATED SHRAS FIRING ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE STALLED BOUNDARY AS EARLY AS 18-19Z...SLOWLY RIDING SE AND BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS AS THE AFTN PROGRESSES. MLCAPE VALUES OF 15-2K J/KG (WITH LTL/NO CAPPING INVERSION)...0-6KM SHEAR VALUES ON THE ORDER OF 30-40KT AND MIDLVL LAPSE RATES BETWEEN 4-6 DEG C/KM AGAIN ALL LOOK SUFFICIENT FOR STORM INITIATION...AND SOME MULTI- CELL LINES WITH A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE TSTMS LOOK LIKE A GOOD BET. HIGHEST CVG OF SHRAS LOOKS TO BE OVER THE PENINSULA AND SOUTHSIDE VA...COINCIDENT WITH BEST LIFT/SHEAR VALUES. WL ORIENT SCT T WORDING LATE THIS AFTN OVER SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE AREA...WITH ISO WORDING NORTH OF METRO RIC (AND DRY FOR NOW OVER MORE STABLE MD ZONES. AGAIN SIDED CLOSE TO MET GUIDANCE FOR HIGHS TODAY...WITH HIGH TEMPS MAINLY IN UPR 80S/NR 90. FRONT VERY SLOWLY PUSHES TO SOUTHERN ZONES TONIGHT INTO ERY MON...AND HV ALLOWED FOR SLGT SHRA CHC OVERNIGHT AS THIS HAPPENS. SUSPICIOUS OF GFS QPF FORECAST OVER NORTHERN ZONES GIVEN AFOREMENTIONED CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK ISSUES UPSTREAM...AND AM INCLINED TO AGAIN SIDE WITH DRIER NAM/SREF SOLN HERE. STAYED CLOSER TO WARMER ENVELOPE OF MOS GUIDANCE GIVEN SIGNIFICANT SKY CVR OVER SOUTHERN ZNS. WL LKLY SEE A FEW STRAY LOWS IN THE UPR 50S ACROSS INTERIOR EASTERN SHORE...BUT GENERALLY LOOKING FOR EARLY MORNING LOWS MONDAY IN THE 60S NORTH...TO NR 70 SE. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... MODELS BOTH SHOW WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING ALONG THE STALLED FRONT LATER MON. KEPT CWA DRY MONDAY MORNING WITH MODELS SHOWING FRONT MAKING IT A BIT FARTHER SOUTH THAN PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED. WL HOLD ON TO SLGT CHC TSTMS SOUTHERN HALF FOR THE AFTN...AND ANTICIPATE POPS INCREASING QUICKLY MONDAY NIGHT INTO ERY TUE AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVES THROUGH. WL KEEP 20% POPS FAR SRN VA/NC TUE AFTN. HIGHS BOTH DAYS AGAIN MAINLY IN MID/UPR 80S. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... FAIRLY FLAT WRLY FLOW ALOFT WILL DEVELOP AT MID LVLS OVER THE LOWER 48 LEADING TO A SPLIT FLOW PATTERN TO DVLP OVER THE ERN US. CUT OFF LOW NEAR THE HUDSON BAY WILL CONTINUE TO STALL OUT ALLOWING FOR A FEW DISTURBANCES AND COOLER AIR TO ROTATE AROUND THIS LOW INTO THE GRT LKS/NEW ENGLAND RGNS THROUGH THE PERIOD. A SHRTWV AND ASSCD COLD FRONT PUSHING OUT OF THE PAC NW WILL MOVE EASTWARD AND MEET UP AND MERGE INTO THE UPR LVL LOW WED/THU. MEANWHILE...A SERIES OF FAST MOVING SHRTWVS WILL EJECT ESE ALONG A STATIONARY BOUNDARY FROM THE NRN ROCKIES...TO THE TN VLY RGN AND THE CAROLINAS LATE WK AND INTO THE WKND. FOR THE MOST PART OF THE PERIOD OUR CWA WILL BE BETWEEN BOTH SYSTEMS IN A WSTRLY FLOW ALOFT (COLD AIR NORTH/BEST RAIN CHCS FURTHER SOUTH). GENERALLY THIS PATTERN WOULD LEAD TO FAIRLY LOW CHCS OF RAIN AND ABV NRML TEMPS FOR OUR RGN. FOLLOWING CLOSE TO THE ECMWF PATTERN WITH THE GFS TRYING TOO HARD TO BRING COOLER AIR FURTHER SOUTH THAN CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED NEXT WKND. IF AFOREMENTIONED SHRTWVS CAN GIVE THE STATIONARY FRONT A BIT OF A NORTHWARD PUSH...WE COULD SEE THE CHCS FOR RAIN IMPROVE OVER THE RGN NEXT WKND (ESP OVER SRN THIRD). CURRENTLY HAVE LOW CHC/SLGHT POPS. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... TAFS A BIT MORE TRICKY LATE THIS AFTN AND EARLY EVENING AS SHWRS AND TSTMS TRIGGER ALONG A SLOW MOVING FRONTAL BNDRY. HV DECIDED TO BEST DEPICT THIS IN THE TAFS BY USING A 3-4 HR TEMPO GROUP...FROM ROUGHLY 19-23 Z FOR NRN TERMINALS...AND FROM 20-24Z FOR SRN ONES. (WITH KECG POSSIBLY BEING AFFECTED A LITTLE LATER IN THE EVENING.) GENERALLY KEPT ALL TERMINALS AT MFVR IN THESE TEMPO GROUPS...THOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE FOR LOWER CATEGORIES IN ANY OF THE HEAVIER SHWRS. OTHER THAN THE POSSIBLE CONVECTION THIS AFTN/EARLY EVENING... GENLY/PREVAILING VFR CONDS NEXT SVRL DAYS. THIS WKNG FNTL BNDRY WILL SLIDE ACRS THE RGN LTR THIS EVENING...AND THEN REMAIN JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA THRU TUE...BEFORE RETURNING NWRD AS A WARM FRONT BY MIDWEEK. && .MARINE... SCA OV NRN COASTAL WATERS HAS BEEN DROPPED AS WINDS AND SEAS HAVE DIMINISHED. WINDS HAVE BECOME WESTERLY BEHIND A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH BUT WILL BECOME VARIABLE MOSTLY S LATE TODAY OV SE PORTIONS. COLD FRONT WILL PUSH S OF THE AREA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. WK SFC HI PRES MVS OVR THE WTRS TNGT THROUGH MIDWEEK...RESULTING IN VARYING WND DRCTN...AND AVG SPDS AOB 10 KT. SSW WNDS BY WED AFTN INTO THU AHD OF NEXT CDFNT...W/ SPDS GRDLY INCRSG (BUT AT THIS TIME...XPCTD TO RMN BLO SCA MOST PLCS). && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...BKH NEAR TERM...BKH SHORT TERM...MAM LONG TERM...CCW AVIATION...SMF MARINE...ALB/LSA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 852 AM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 ANZ630-650-652-MDZ021>025-VAZ048-049-061>064-069-072>078-085-099- 131300- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO WINDMILL POINT VA- COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CHINCOTEAGUE VA OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND VA OUT TO 20 NM- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- FLUVANNA-LOUISA-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-POWHATAN- KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND- NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-MIDDLESEX-ACCOMACK- 852 AM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ631>633-654-656-658-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ060-065>068-070-071- 079>084-086>098-100-131300- 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 PARRAMORE ISLAND TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA TO NC VA BORDER OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM NC VA BORDER TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC OUT TO 20 NM-NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN- INLAND CURRITUCK-BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK- PRINCE EDWARD-MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-CHESTERFIELD- HENRICO-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT- GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK- SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH- SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH-NORTHAMPTON VA- 852 AM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...CURRITUCK SOUND...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 PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. 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 1245 PM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 VAZ064-072>077-121745- CAROLINE VA-ESSEX VA-KING AND QUEEN VA-KING WILLIAM VA-NORTHUMBERLAND VA-RICHMOND VA-WESTMORELAND VA- 1245 PM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 ...CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA... AT 1242 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE LEADING EDGE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF BOWLING GREEN TO 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF MINERAL. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AROUND 30 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR BOWLING GREEN AROUND 110 PM EDT...MILFORD AROUND 115 PM EDT...MONTROSS AROUND 125 PM EDT...CHAMPLAIN AROUND 135 PM EDT... AND WARSAW AROUND 145 PM EDT. 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. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND LOCALLY 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. HURLEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 148 PM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 VAZ074>077-121845- ESSEX VA-NORTHUMBERLAND VA-RICHMOND VA-WESTMORELAND VA- 148 PM EDT SUN JUL 12 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN NECK... AT 147 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM NEAR THE TOWN OF CHAMPLAIN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. AT THE CURRENT PACE...THIS STORM WILL REACH SINGERLY AT 155 PM EDT...NEWLAND AT 200 PM EDT...NAYLORS BEACH AT 210 PM EDT...ETHEL AT 215 PM EDT...WARSAW AT 220 PM EDT...AND LYELLS AT 225 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...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. HURLEY
The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:58 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed across multiple roads by straight line winds. One house had major damage due to tree falling on it. Several homes received minor wind damage.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed along the Rappahannock River.
Numerous trees were downed or snapped, and power lines were downed. In addition, two barns were completely flattened.
Numerous utility poles and power lines were downed. Utility truck was thrown into the air, and a garage was damaged.
Several trees were downed across roads and on houses.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Pine trees were downed.
Numerous large trees and power lines were downed. Trees were downed on several houses. Tomato cannery collapsed.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Route 354 was closed.
State trooper reported trees down along Route 17.
Trees were downed with lots of debris. Also, there was damage to cars and some structures.
Several trees were downed.
Several large trees and power lines were downed. Several trees fell through houses.
Trees were downed and blocking roads.
Penny size hail was reported.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Wind gusts between 60 and 65 miles per hour were estimated near the Hillpoint area.
Numerous large tree limbs were downed near the Hillpoint area.
Quarter size hail was reported near the Hillpoint area.
There were reports of at least 65 homes receiving minor damage to roofing, siding, and chimneys in the Berkshire Meadows Subdivision. Trees were also reported down and blocking roads in various locations.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Golf ball size hail was reported in the Naxera section of the county along Warner Hall and Free School Roads.
Several large tree limbs were downed.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Trees were downed at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course.
Numerous large tree limbs and power lines were downed.
Trees were downed.
Nickel size hail was reported.
Nickel size hail was reported in the Wyndham area.
Quarter size hail was reported on Branchview Road.
Quarter size hail was reported at Regency mall.
Half dollar size hail was reported at Parham Road and Patterson Avenue.
Quarter size hail was reported on Rivermont Drive.
Large tree was downed near the intersection of Lauderdale Road and Cambridge Drive.
Large tree was downed near the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Forest Avenue.
Large tree was downed on Rolando Drive.
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, July 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: 190737, 190763, 190764, 190765, 190731, 190732, 190733, 190735, 190767, 190760, 190768, 190761, 190769, 190771, 190738, 190774, 190775, 190776, 190778, 190779, 190780, 190759, 190739, 190781, 190785, 190782, 190783, 190741, 190742, 190736, 190743, 190747, 190748, 190750, 190751, 190755.