Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds 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 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 Apr 5, 1:24 AM EST, 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
224 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST EARLY THIS
MORNING AND PUSH OFFSHORE TOWARDS EARLY AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS BACK INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY...AND SLIDES OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST ON THURSDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
UPDATED TO ADD TOR WATCH 101
LCHS (LOW CAPE/HIGH SHEAR) EVENT APPROACHING THE RGN FROM THE WEST.
FAIRLY NARROW BAND OF STRONGER SHRAS/TSRAS (BRIEF MOD/HVY RAINFALL)
RIGHT ALONG/AHEAD OF COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE (MAIN THREATS WILL BE
STRAIGHT LINE DAMAGING WINDS AND AREAS OF LARGE HAIL IN STRONGER
UPDRAFTS). CAN NOT OUTRULE AN ISOL TORNADO AS THERE AT TIMES WILL
BE BREAKS IN THE MAIN LINE AS STRONGER WINDS ALOFT FILTER DOWN TO
THE SFC WHICH WILL SEPERATE THE LINE INTO BOW SEGMENTS. CURRENT
TIMING WOULD SUGGEST BEST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SVR WX TO BE
08-12Z WEST OF I-95 AND 10-14Z ERN HALF OF THE CWA. GNRLY SVR WX
WILL ONLY BE EXPECTED FOR AROUND 1-2 HRS IN ANY GIVEN AREA.
RESIDUAL SHRAS WILL CONTINUE BEHIND INITIAL LINE (POST FRONTAL
ACTIVITY) BEFORE SOME CLRG DVLPS W/E LATE DAY. GNRLY SVR WX WILL
ONLY BE EXPECTED FOR AROUND 1-2 HRS IN ANY GIVEN AREA).
ALSO TO NOTE...A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LIGHTNING HAS STAYED FURTHER
TO THE SOUTH OF THE OH/TN VLY EARLIER THIS AM...BUT THINKING
ACTIVITY WILL START TO SPREAD FURTHER NORTH INTO THE SRN HALF OF THE
CWA THIS AM AS INSTABILITY INCREASES.
OVERALL QPF WILL BE IN THE 0.25-0.50 INCH RANGE WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NEAR AN INCH IN THUNDERSTORMS (ESP FAR SE CWA).
BULK OF HIGHS (7AM-7PM) WILL BE SET IN THE AM HRS (GNRLY MID/UPR
60S).
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
DRY/COOL WX TNT...THEN PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY WEDNESDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE TRAVERSES THE AREA. LOWS TUES NIGHT IN THE 30S TO LOW
40S. HIGHS WEDNESDAY FROM THE UPR 50S EASTERN SHORE TO THE UPR 60S
WEST. HIGH PRESSURE WILL PARK ITSELF OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST WED
NIGHT AND THURS. RETURN FLOW FROM THE SOUTH WILL ALLOW FOR A MILD
AFTERNOON ON THURS WITH HIGHS REACHING THE UPR 60S EASTERN
SHORE/IMMEDIATE COAST TO THE MID 70S INTERIOR LOCATIONS.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
GOING CLSR TO THE 12Z ECMWF FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD. WEAK FRNTL
BDNRY (BACKDOOR/WRM FRNT) WILL LAY ACRS THE CWA THU NGT INTO ERLY
SUN. WEAK SHRTWVS/ASSOC AREAS OF MOIST WILL MOVE THRU IN WNW FLO
ALOFT...AND WILL RESULT IN SLGT OR SML CHCS FOR SHRAS ACRS THE
REGION. THAT BNDRY WILL LIFT N OF THE ENTIRE AREA SUN AFTN WITH
WRMER SW FLO EXPECTED ALL LOCATIONS. MAINLY DRY WX SUN AFTN THRU
MON...BEFORE NEXT COLD FRNT BRINGS SLGT CHC OF SHRAS MON NGT.
MAX TEMPS ON FRI RANGING FM NEAR 60 OVR THE LWR MD/VA ERN SHR...TO
THE MID 70S SW. HIGHS ON SAT RANGING FM THE LWR 60S OVR LWR MD ERN
SHR...TO NEAR 80 SW. MAX TEMPS ON SUN RANGING THRU THE 70S TO NEAR
80...AND IN THE MID 70S TO LWR 80S ON MON.
&&
.AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
GUSTY S WNDS BTWN 20-35 KT CONTS OUT AHEAD OF CDFRNT THIS AM. BASED
ON LTST RADAR TRENDS AND MODEL DATA...TRIMMED BACK CONVECTION (CB)
FROM CDFRNTL PASSAGE TO A 2-3 HR WINDOW (10-13Z KRIC...12-15Z ALONG
THE CSTL TAF SITES). ADDED ANTHR 3 HR PRD OF POST FRNTL PCPN THRU
AM HRS. WNDS SHFT TO W THEN NW BEHIND FROPA AND REMAIN GUSTY INTO
AFTRN HRS AS CAA SURGE OVRSPRDS RGN. MVFR TO LCL IFR CNDTNS WITH
PCPN AND FROPA LIFT INTO VFR RANGE BY THE AFTRN. CLRG WITH DMNSHG
WNDS ALL AREAS AFTR 00Z.
HI PRES BLDS INTO THE AREA...THEN OFF THE CST FOR TONITE THRU THU.
&&
.MARINE...
BASED ON CRNT WND GUSTS...DECIDED TO HOIST GALE WRNGS FOR CSTL
WTRS THRU THE REST OF TONITE. OTW...STRNG SCA'S REMAIN IN PLACE
AHEAD OF APPRCHG CDFRNT PROGGED TO CROSS THE MARINE AREA TUESDAY.
PVS DSCN:
COOLER/MORE STABLE AIR OVR THE CHES WTRS SHUD KEEP GUSTS BLO GALE
FORCE INTO TUE MORNG. HIGHER GUSTS PSBL IN CONVECTION THAT DVLPS
LATE TONITE/ERLY TUE MORNG...BUT THOSE WNDS WUD BE HANDLED WITH
MARINE STATEMENTS AND PSBL WRNGS. NW WNDS PROVIDE CAA BEHIND THE
FRNT TUE MORNG THRU TUE AFTN...WITH WND SPEEDS MAINLY 15 TO 25 KT.
HIGH PRES BLDS ACRS THE MARINE AREA AND OFF THE MID ATLC/SE CST WED
THRU THU. A BACKDOOR FRNT THEN DROPS INTO AND ACRS THE AREA FOR
THU NGT THRU SAT...PROVIDING SE...E OR NE WNDS 15 KT OR LESS.
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORD HIGH'S SET FOR MON APRIL 4TH AT RIC...TIED AT ORF.
RIC 86/1956...*87 ACTUAL HIGH TODAY (NEW RECORD)
ORF 86/1963...*86 ACTUAL HIGH TODAY (TIES RECORD)
SBY 83/1999...
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
NC...NONE.
VA...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ630>633.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR ANZ650-652-654-
656-658.
&&
SYNOPSIS...CCW
NEAR TERM...CCW
SHORT TERM...JDM
LONG TERM...TMG
AVIATION...MPR
MARINE...MPR/TMG
CLIMATE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 220 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011 MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ072>078-081>100-060630- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-KING WILLIAM- KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER- 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- 220 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011 ...TORNADO WATCH 101 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING... 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 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. 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...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. ANZ650-652-654-656-658-060630- 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- 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- 220 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .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. GALE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. ANZ630>633-060630- 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- 220 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH 101 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY 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. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VAZ048-049-060>071-079-080-060630- FLUVANNA-LOUISA-PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE- MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO- BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE- 220 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011 ...TORNADO WATCH 101 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .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. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1115 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
VAZ048-049-060>062-066>069-050415-
AMELIA VA-CUMBERLAND VA-FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-LOUISA VA-LUNENBURG
VA-NOTTOWAY VA-POWHATAN VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA-
1115 PM EDT MON APR 4 2011
...SHOWERS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL MOVING INTO PORTIONS OF
THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT REGION...
AT 1115 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SHOWERS WITH BREIF HEAVY RAINFALL FROM 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF
PROSPECT TO 43 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DARLINGTON HEIGHTS...OR FROM 8
MILES EAST OF BENT CREEK TO 28 MILES WEST OF CLOVER...MOVING EAST AT
45 MPH. THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE NEAR...
ELAM AROUND 1135 PM EDT...
PROSPECT AROUND 1140 PM EDT...
FIVE FORKS AROUND 1145 PM EDT...
LAKESIDE VILLAGE AROUND 1150 PM EDT...
ELK HILL AROUND 1155 PM EDT...
GEORGES TAVERN AROUND MIDNIGHT EDT...
WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS CAN BE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. A RUMBLE OF THUNDER AND AN OCCASIONAL
LIGHTNING STRIKE WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL.
LAT...LON 3734 7861 3739 7860 3734 7850 3735 7847
3763 7826 3770 7826 3775 7845 3780 7850
3811 7822 3786 7776 3691 7825 3688 7847
3692 7850 3708 7846 3713 7853 3714 7859
3719 7868 3725 7870
WAMSLEYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1215 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011
VAZ048-049-060>064-066>069-050515-
AMELIA VA-CAROLINE VA-CUMBERLAND VA-FLUVANNA VA-GOOCHLAND VA-HANOVER
VA-LOUISA VA-LUNENBURG VA-NOTTOWAY VA-POWHATAN VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA-
1215 AM EDT TUE APR 5 2011
...SHOWERS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL MOVING INTO PORTIONS OF
THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT REGION...
AT 1215 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SHOWERS WITH BREIF HEAVY RAINFALL FROM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
MINERAL TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF DARLINGTON HEIGHTS...OR FROM 8 MILES
NORTHEAST OF MINERAL TO 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLOVER...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS ACTVITY WILL BE NEAR TAMWORTH AROUND 1220
AM EDT... PLEASANT GROVE AROUND 1225 AM EDT...
VICTORIA AROUND 1230 AM EDT...
RUBERMOUNT AROUND 1235 AM EDT...
OLIVEVILLE AROUND 1240 AM EDT...
MACON AROUND 1245 AM EDT...
WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...SMALL HAIL...AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS
CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS ACTIVITY. A RUMBLE OF THUNDER AND AN
OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKE WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL.
LAT...LON 3739 7860 3734 7850 3735 7847 3763 7826
3770 7826 3775 7845 3780 7850 3809 7825
3814 7817 3815 7802 3811 7784 3800 7764
3825 7737 3825 7730 3824 7729 3698 7820
3695 7848 3708 7846 3719 7868 3725 7870
WAMSLEYThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:01 UTC.
42 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree was downed at Industrial Park.
Several trees were downed.
Trees were downed across the county.
Trees were downed on Bird Mill Road and Cross City Road.
Trees were downed across the county.
Trees were downed on Anderson Highway and Mountain View Road.
Trees were downed on Schutt Road.
Numerous trees were downed.
Trees were downed across the county.
Trees were downed on Old Stage Road.
Trees were downed across the county.
Trees were downed on Rogers Clark Boulevard and Dry Bridge Road.
Trees were downed on Gills Bridge Road, White Oak Road, and Claiburn Road.
Trees were downed on Route 633 and Route 14 five miles southeast of Old Route 33.
Numerous trees were downed.
Two trees were downed on a house on Erlene Drive.
Wind gust of 58 mph was measured at RIC.
Trees were downed.
A shed roof was blown off and carried 100 yards.
Trees were downed.
Trees were downed and an outbuilding lost its metal roof.
Trees were downed on Route 17.
Trees were downed on Route 5 and Route 106.
Numerous trees were downed. Shed was blown into a power pole with power outages. Route 3 was temporarily shut down.
Tree was downed on Highway 17 South at Cross Street.
Farm sheds were destroyed on Lake Road and Walmsley Road. Numerous trees were downed.
Trees were downed on Zacata Road.
Trees were downed on a car on Nuttsville Road and River Road. Trees were also downed on Scott Road.
Tree was downed on Route 36.
Trees were downed on Fentress Airfield Road and Waters Road.
Wind gust of 58 mph was measured at NTU.
Wind gust of 61 mph was measured at NTU.
Tree and power line were downed on Aarons Beach Road. Tree was also downed on Knightwood Road.
A vacant trailer was overturned and trees and power lines were downed.
Two trees were downed blocking the entrance to New Quarter Park.
Large tree was blown down.
Wind gust of 67 mph was measured.
Large tree was downed on Highway 58 near Wilroy Road.
Roof was blown off of a city building on Carolina Road.
Power lines were downed on the 2600 block of Greenwood Drive.
Trees and power lines were downed on Logan Court and Alaric Drive.
Wind gust of 60 mph was measured at NTU.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 2011
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: 300991, 300993, 300994, 300990, 300995, 300988, 300989, 300986, 300987, 300984, 300985, 300983, 300982, 300978, 300979, 300980, 300955, 300977, 300975, 300976, 300974, 300972, 300973, 300971, 300970, 300969, 300967, 300968, 300999, 300966, 300956, 300957, 301001, 300965, 300964, 300963, 301004, 300958, 300959, 300960, and more.