A Bermuda high pressure area ushered in warm and humid air to the mid-Atlantic region and the Carolinas. Diurnally driven thunderstorms developed with a few of storms turning severe southwest 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 RNK wrote it up.
A Bermuda high pressure area ushered in warm and humid air to the mid-Atlantic region and the Carolinas. Diurnally driven thunderstorms developed with a few of storms turning severe southwest 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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 18, 2:47 PM EST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 347 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 .SYNOPSIS... A LARGE BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MAINTAIN WARM AND HUMID AIR OVER THE MID ATLANTIC REGION AND CAROLINAS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE THREAT FOR SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK AS WEATHER DISTURBANCES MOVE EAST OUT OF THE UPPER PLAINS STATES ALONG THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/... WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWED A SMALL SHORT WAVE CROSSING THE BLUE RIDGE AT 19Z/3PM. WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS HAVE BEEN ONGOING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA SINCE 1PM. STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE SLOWLY EAST THROUGH THE EVENING. BY 00Z...THE COVERAGE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL START TO DIMINISH IN THE MOUNTAINS AND BY 04Z/MIDNIGHT...THE LOCAL WRF FORECAST A MAJORITY OF ANY REMAINING ACTIVITY SOUTH AND EAST OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. PROBABILITY OF PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR THESE TRENDS. A SECOND SHORT WAVE NOW APPROACHING THE OHIO VALLEY IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA JUST AFTER 09Z/5AM...AND BE OVER THE FAR EASTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE TIME OF PEAK HEATING. SO THERE SHOULD BE A LULL IN THE PRECIPITATION OVERNIGHT WITH STORMS DEVELOPING AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. WITH NO CHANGE IN THE AIRMASS TONIGHT OR MONDAY AND SURFACE DEW POINTS STAYING IN THE LOWER 60S TO LOWER 70S... STAYED CLOSE TO BLEND OF MAV/MET GUIDANCE FOR LOWS TONIGHT AND HIGHS ON MONDAY. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... HAVE LEANED TOWARD THE MORE REASONABLE 00Z ECMWF SOLUTION FOR THIS TIME FRAME. THE 12Z NAM IS ON THE SLOW SLIDE WHILE THE 12Z GFS IS ON THE FASTER SIDE. THE SURFACE FRONT WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA WHILE THE UPPER TROUGH TRIES TO SINK SOUTHWARD. THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES WILL MAKE IT TOUGH FOR THE UPPER TROUGH TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS. SHORTWAVES WILL CONTINUE RIDING THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE UPPER RIDGE. EXPECT MAINLY SCATTERED DIURNAL CONVECTION THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. MAIN HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING AS THE FLOW REGIME WILL BE FAIRLY LIGHT. MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES WILL RUN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... MODELS SUGGESTS AN UPPER RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES BEING SUPPRESSED AS SHORTWAVES RIDE ALONG ITS NORTHERN PERIPHERY. WHILE AT THE SURFACE...HIGH PRESSURE SLOWLY WEAKENS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THESE WILL AID IN UNSETTLED WEATHER IMPACTING THE COUNTY WARNING AREA THROUGH MOST OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. MODELS PROG ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHING DOWN FROM THE NORTHWEST FOR THE WEEKEND. HOT AND HUMID AIR WILL PERSIST OVER THE FORECAST AREA LEADING TO BOTH MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN ABOVE SEASONAL NORMS THROUGH THE EXTENDED. && .AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AREA RADAR SHOWING THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN SOMEWHAT RANDOM COVERAGE...MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. ROA...BLF...ANF LWB ALL HAVE SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS CLOSE TO...OR WITHIN 10MN OF THE AIRPORT. HAVE INCLUDED VCTS AT ALL TAF SITES WITH STORMS EXPECTED BEFORE 23Z. ONCE HEATING ENDS AND THE WEAK SHORT WAVE OVER THE MOUNTAINS PASSES TO THE EAST...THERE WILL BE A BREAK IN THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. EXPECT CLOUDS TO CLEAR OUT AFTER 04Z WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE FORMATION OF MVFR FOG. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE WILL REACH THE FORECAST AREA JUST BEFORE 12Z ON MONDAY. HAVE NOT ADDED ANY PRECIPITATION INTO THE TAF YET. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATIONS FOR SHOWERS AND WEAKENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE AT BLF AND LWB. WEATHER PATTERN THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY FAVORS CHANCES OF SHOWERS/STORMS AS WEAK SHORT WAVE TROFS DRIFT SOUTHEAST OUT OF THE OHIO VALLEY TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC REGION...WITH A LARGE BERMUDA HIGH ANCHORED OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES AND OFFSHORE. EXPECT MVFR TO LOCALIZED IFR RESTRICTIONS IN VICINITY OF ANY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY...ALONG WITH PATCHY LATE NIGHT/EARLY MORNING FOG. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS SHORT TERM...REB LONG TERM...REB AVIATION...AMS/WERT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 413 AM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-190815- 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- 413 AM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 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 AGAIN TODAY AS TEMPERATURES RISE AND AS ANOTHER WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVES EAST THROUGH THE AREA. SOME OF STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS. ALTHOUGH WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...ISOLATED DAMAGING WINDS MAY OCCUR WITH THE SOME OF THE STRONGEST STORMS. .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. WERT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
312 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WSW BOTTOM 36.46N 80.82W
07/18/2010 SURRY NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF FISHER VALLEY ROAD AND
HAYSTACK ROAD.
&&
CHENARDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
330 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
NCZ003-004-182030-
STOKES NC-SURRY NC-
330 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT STOKES AND SURRY COUNTIES...
AT 325 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PILOT
MOUNTAIN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH AND HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE
WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL
STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING FROM THIS STORM.
DO NOT STAY IN THE OPEN OR SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING
THREATENS. MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR KING AROUND 345 PM...HANGING ROCK STATE PARK
AROUND 400 PM...GERMANTON AROUND 415 PM AND PINE HALL AROUND 430 PM.
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...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 3625 8047 3625 8053 3626 8054 3627 8054
3649 8047 3648 8003 3626 8002 3625 8003
AMSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 333 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 VAZ044-182030- PITTSYLVANIA VA- 333 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY... AT 329 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GRETNA... MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR GRETNA AROUND 345 PM...CHALK LEVEL AROUND 415 PM AND MT AIRY AROUND 430 PM. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV. LAT...LON 3676 7917 3685 7955 3701 7947 3701 7912 AMS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
345 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0143 PM HAIL 2 N BOTTOM 36.51N 80.76W
07/18/2010 E1.00 INCH SURRY NC PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL ON BRYANT ROAD.
&&
CHENARDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 404 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 VAZ033-043-044-182100- FRANKLIN VA-HENRY VA-PITTSYLVANIA VA- 404 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT FRANKLIN...HENRY AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTIES... AT 400 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER SYDNORSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR SONTAG AROUND 410 PM...SNOW CREEK AROUND 430 PM...MOUNTAIN VALLEY AROUND 450 PM AND SAGO AROUND 500 PM. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. LAT...LON 3699 7952 3672 7956 3680 8002 3698 8001 KK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
415 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
VAZ024-182115-
ROCKBRIDGE VA-
415 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2010
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY...
AT 413 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF
GOSHEN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR BROWNSBURG AROUND 435 PM...FAIRFIELD AROUND
440 PM AND VESUVIUS AROUND 500 PM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3793 7919 3788 7913 3782 7915 3782 7916
3794 7952 3808 7947
JJThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:30 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds brought down a tree at the intersection of Galveston Road and Brandon Road.
Thunderstorm winds brought down a tree and many small branches.
Large limbs were blown down across town.
Numerous large tree limbs were knocked down by thunderstorm winds. Some of the limbs fell on a roof of a home.
Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down on Wilkerson Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew off part of tree, which blocked a portion of Bow Hill Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down on Melon Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 2010
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: 243226, 243227, 243228, 243229, 243230, 243231, 243232.