Hail and Damaging Wind in Virginia, September 28, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Virginia, September 28, 2011
Start: 2011-09-28T13:52
End: 2011-09-28T14:50
Location: Virginia

September 28, 2011 · NWS AKQ · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and large hail across portions of southeast Virginia.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 AKQ wrote it up.

Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and large hail across portions of southeast Virginia.

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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 28, 11:52 AM EST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 28, 11:52 AM EST, 2 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1252 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY EAST ACROSS THE AREA TODAY... THEN
PUSH OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST ON THURSDAY. A SECONDARY COLD
FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION LATE FRIDAY...USHERING IN MUCH COOLER
CONDITIONS FOR THE WEEKEND.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
BASED ON CRNT RADAR TRENDS...PUSHED BACK THE LIKELY POPS TO AFTR
19Z SO THAT IT IS "LATE AFTRN" B4 ANY STORMS GET GOING. THIS
BASED ON CONTD SUBSIDENCE BEHIND DEPARTING FIRST S/W. CONVECTIVE
TMPS TO BE REACHED SHORTLY...SO XPCT SHWRS/TSTRMS TO DVLP NXT FEW
HRS. HIGHS L-M80S. SPC HAS TAKEN FA OUT OF SLGHT RISK. MAIN TSTRM
THREAT WILL BE WET MICRO-BURSTS AND HVY DOWNPOURS.

HAVE ADDED A CLIMATE SECTION (BELOW) TO UPDATE FOR RICHMOND
PRECIPITATION'S STATUS FOR THE MONTH.

SHWR/TSTM ACTIVITY MAINLY PUSHES EAST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR TONITE
WITH CHC POPS OVER EASTERN VA/NE NC AND THE EASTERN SHORE AS DRIER
AIR FILTERS INTO THE WESTERN ZONES AS THE SFC COLD FRONT STARTS TO
SHIFT EAST. LOWS TONIGHT IN THE 60S.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THE SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT FINALLY REACHES THE COAST LATE THURS
MORNING...BEFORE MOVING OFFSHORE DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE UPPER
LOW FINALLY GETS A KICK EAST BY ANOTHER UPPER TROUGH DIVING SOUTH
OUT OF SOUTHERN CANADA. AS IT DOES SO...IT WILL OPEN UP AND TAKE ON
A NEGATIVE TILT AS IT LIFTS NE THROUGH THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC/
NORTHEAST THURS. THIS SCENARIO KEEPS ENOUGH MOISTURE/LIFT AROUND THE
EASTERN HALF OF THE FA FOR SCT SHWRS/TSTMS. FARTHER WEST...ENOUGH
DRY AIR WILL FILTER IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT (ESPECIALLY OVER THE
PIEDMONT) TO PREVENT ANY PCPN. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 80S.

DRY AIR WILL WIN OUT THURS NIGHT WITH CLEARING SKIES AND MORE
COMFORTABLE CONDITIONS EXPECTED. LOWS IN THE MID 50S TO LOW 60S.
SEASONABLY WARM WX IS EXPECTED OUT AHEAD OF THE NEXT SIGNIFICANT
COLD FRONT ON FRIDAY. SHOULD BE ENOUGH HEATING BEFORE THE FROPA
FOR MAX TEMPS TO REACH THE UPR 70S TO LOW 80S.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
A STRONG TROUGH DIGS INTO THE GREAT LAKES BY THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS
TROUGH WILL WILL PUSH A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE MID ATLANTIC FRIDAY
NIGHT AND CONTINUE TO DIG AND SETTLE OVER THE EAST COAST THROUGH THE
WEEKEND. MOISTURE SHOULD BE LIMITED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT
AND THE EARLIER OUTLIER (MORE MOIST) GEM GLOBAL HAS TRENDED TO THE
DRIER ECMWF AND GFS. AN EARLY AUTUMN DEEP COOL CANADIAN AIRMASS
ARRIVES BEHIND THE FRONT FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY EVIDENCED BY
1000-500 MB THICKNESS VALUES NEARING A MINIMUM OF 540 DAM AND 850 MB
TEMPERATURES AROUND -1 TO +2C. THE AIRMASS SHOULD REMAIN WELL MIXED
DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON AND THIS WOULD SUPPORT MAXIMA
IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S. SOME AIRMASS MODIFICATION WILL BE
ALLOWED FOR AT THIS POINT...SO FORECAST HIGHS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID 60S. LOW TEMPERATURES SATURDAY MORNING
SHOULD RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S NW...TO THE UPPER 50S FAR
SE...WITH LOW TO MID 40S NW TO LOW 50S SE ON SUNDAY AND
MONDAY MORNING. IF ENOUGH DECOUPLING OCCURS SUNDAY AND MONDAY
MORNING A FEW FAVORED COOL SPOTS IN THE INTERIOR COASTAL PLAIN AND
PIEDMONT COULD FALL INTO THE UPPER 30S. HEIGHTS BEGIN TO RISE EARLY
NEXT WEEK AS UPPER RIDGING BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST WITH MILD AND DRY
CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VARYING CONDS AGN OVRNGT RNGG FM VFR TO IFR. FAVORING ANOTHER RND
OF STRATUS OVR MUCH OF THE FA THROUGH THE ERY/MID MRNG HRS. CNVTN
CURRENT APPROACHING FM THE WSW (FM SW VA/NCNTRL NC)...APRS POISED
TO ARRIVE IN THE NEXT FEW HRS/BY DAYBREAK. YET ANOTHER DAY OF AT
LEAST SCT CNVTN...LASTING INTO THE EVE HRS. INFO FM BUKFIT
PROFILES ONCE AGN FAVOR PTNTL FOR STRATUS VS WDSPRD FG WED NGT/ERY
THU MRNG. WILL NOT RULE OUT AT LEAST ISLTD CNVTN ON THU. STRNG
CDFNT PUSHES ACRS THE LT FRI.

&&

.MARINE...
SIMILAR CONDS TO PAST 24 HRS OVR THE WTRS FOR TDA. PRIMARILY S WNDS
THROUGH THU...SPDS AVGG ARND 10 KT THROUGH BULK OF WED (THOUGH A LTL
MR ROBUST ERY THIS MRNG (ESP ON BAY TO ABT 15 KT OR SO...AND AGN LTR
IN AFTN/EVE HRS TDA).SPDS AVGG 10-15 KT TNGT/THU. STRNG CDFNT TO CRS
THE WTRS LT FRI...W/ WINDSHIFT TO NNW AND CORRESPONDING LLVL COLD
SURGE LT FRI NGT INTO SUN (WL LIKELY SCA FOR THE WTRS FOR MUCH OF
THAT PD AS SPDS AVG IN LWR PORTION OF ADSVRY CAT)). WVS/SEAS RMNG
BLO SCA THROUGH THU...THOUGH PD WL AVG 11-13 SEC (ON OCN WTRS).

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...TIDAL DEPARTURES AVGG 1/2 TO 1 FT ABV
ASTRONOMICAL TIDES W/ NEW MOON. WL CONT NEED TO MONITOR THROUGH THU
     ESP CNTRL BAY (LEWISETTA VA/CAMBRIDGE MD) W/ CONTD S WNDS...AND
INVOF PORTIONS OF ERN SHR (ESP OCEAN CITY) FOR LVLS TO PSBLY
APPROACH MINOR FLDG.

&&

.CLIMATE...
SEPTEMBER 2011 NOW RANKS AS THE 9TH WETTEST ON RECORD AT RICHMOND
(THROUGH 8 AM THIS MORNING 9/28). AT NORFOLK PRECIPITATION HAS
BEEN WELL ABOVE AVG...BUT STILL WELL BELOW AT 10TH WETTEST
RANKING.

THE WETTEST SEPTEMBERS AT RICHMOND (DATA BACK THROUGH 1871):

1) 16.60" (1999)
2) 10.98" (1975)
3) 10.41" (1888)
4) 10.12" (2003)
5)  9.76" (1979)
6)  9.58  (1924)
7)  9.52" (2006)
8)  9.23" (1935)
9)  8.92" (2011/THROUGH 8 AM 9/28)

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
NC...NONE.
VA...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JDM
NEAR TERM...MPR/JDM
SHORT TERM...JDM
LONG TERM...AJZ
AVIATION...ALB
MARINE...ALB
CLIMATE...LKB

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 28, 9:40 AM EST, 4 hours 12 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1040 AM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-291445-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK-
BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-FLUVANNA-LOUISA-
PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-MECKLENBURG-
LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-
KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-
BRUNSWICK-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-
1040 AM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

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...THE PENINSULA OF
SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATER TODAY. ISOLATED STRONG
STORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY. GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE
THE PRIMARY THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

ANZ630>634-650-652-654-656-658-291445-
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 LITTLE CREEK VA-
CURRITUCK SOUND-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM LITTLE CREEK TO CAPE HENRY VA...INCLUDING THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL-
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-
1040 AM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

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.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

44

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 28, 7:55 AM EST, 5 hours 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
855 AM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0755 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE DOWNTOWN RICHMOND 37.52N 77.45W
09/27/2011                   CITY OF RICHMOND   VA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            PORTION OF ROOF BLOWN OFF BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT ON JEFF
            DAVIS HWY

&&

LALEXAND

Special weather statement, Sep 28, 12:18 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
118 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

MDZ021>023-281800-
DORCHESTER MD-SOMERSET MD-WICOMICO MD-
118 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE...

AT 116 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS...ORIENTED FROM GALESTOWN TO PRINCESS ANNE...MOVING
NORTH AT 25 MPH. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  SHARPTOWN AROUND 130 PM EDT...
  SALISBURY AROUND 135 PM EDT...
  DELMAR AROUND 150 PM EDT...

VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

LAT...LON 3871 7581 3868 7579 3869 7576 3864 7570
      3846 7568 3845 7551 3818 7566 3817 7586
      3822 7585 3824 7587 3822 7588 3824 7589
      3870 7590

05

Special weather statement, Sep 28, 12:36 PM EST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
136 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

VAZ088-089-092-093-281815-
ISLE OF WIGHT VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA-
136 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

...THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...

AT 135 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER COURTLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR STORY...AND...COURTLAND AT 140 PM
EDT...HUNTERDALE AT 145 PM EDT...SEDLEY AT 200 PM EDT...VICKSVILLE...
AND...BURDETTE AT 205 PM EDT.

LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND
POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

LAT...LON 3701 7699 3689 7672 3658 7699 3667 7717

44

Local storm report, Sep 28, 1:20 PM EST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
220 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0755 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE DOWNTOWN RICHMOND 37.52N 77.45W
09/27/2011                   CITY OF RICHMOND   VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SHEET METAL AWNING FROM A ROOF CAME OFF OF A BUSINESS
            ESTABLISHMENT ON JEFF DAVIS HWY. NO STRUCTURE DAMAGE WAS
            DONE

0800 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SE BON AIR            37.49N 77.51W
09/27/2011  U0.00 INCH       CITY OF RICHMOND   VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING AT TRAILER PARK DUE TO BLOCKED DRAINAGE

0805 PM     LIGHTNING        DOWNTOWN RICHMOND       37.53N 77.47W
09/27/2011                   CITY OF RICHMOND   VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES DUE TO LIGHTNING

&&

LALEXAND

Special weather statement, Sep 28, 1:37 PM EST, 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
237 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

VAZ092-093-096-281920-
ISLE OF WIGHT VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SUFFOLK VA-
237 PM EDT WED SEP 28 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SUSSEX COUNTY...

AT 236 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER HUNTERDALE...OR ABOUT OVER COURTLAND...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR
HUNTERDALE AT 245 PM EDT...FRANKLIN AT 250 PM EDT...LEES MILL AT 255
PM EDT...BURDETTE AT 305 PM EDT...CARRSVILLE...AND...WALTERS AT 310
PM EDT...COLLOSSE AT 315 PM EDT.

WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. 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.

LAT...LON 3684 7681 3664 7671 3663 7701 3671 7705

SCALORA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Isle of Wight

When: September 28, 1:52 PM EST
Where: Isle of Wight County, 3.09 mi WSW of Wills Corner
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.860, -76.630

Golf ball size hail was reported.

Funnel Cloud, Portsmouth (C)

When: September 28, 2:30 PM EST
Where: Portsmouth (C) County, 6.32 mi N of Portsmouth
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.910, -76.350

Funnel cloud was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Norfolk (C)

When: September 28, 2:50 PM EST
Where: Norfolk (C) County, 1.38 mi S of (Ngu)nas Norfolk
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.910, -76.280

Large oak tree was blown down near the intersection of Newport Avenue and Oxford Street near Grandby High School. The fallen tree also brought down power lines.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, September 2011

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: 349334, 349335, 349333.