Scattered thunderstorms along a cold front produced heavy rain across portions of southeast 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 thunderstorms along a cold front produced heavy rain across portions of southeast 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 Aug 28, 2:41 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 341 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...AND WILL SETTLE ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... LATEST SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SHOW THAT THE COLD FRONT IS NOW DRAPED ACROSS THE CWA FROM ROUGHLY WALLOPS ISLAND TO DANVILLE VA. A WIDESPREAD CU FIELD HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS ALL AREAS...EXCEPT NORTHEAST NC WHERE A SUBTROPICAL AIRMASS IS STREAMING UP FROM THE CAROLINAS AND IS RESULTING IN THICKER CLOUD COVER. PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN N/NW COUNTIES WILL BE VERY LOW FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS NW WINDS AND DRIER AIR (DEWPOINTS 60-65F) ARE MOVING INTO THE REGION. THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NW OVERNIGHT/LATE. ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT (OR FURTHER SOUTH)...DEWPOINTS RANGE FROM THE MID 60S TO MID 70S AND THE CU FIELD IS SHOWING SIGNS OF VERTICAL ENHANCEMENT AS PEAK DAYTIME HEATING IS REACHED. IN ADDITION...THE COLD FRONT WILL INTERACT WITH AMPLE MOISTURE FROM THE SUBTROPICAL AIRMASS AS WELL AS WITH THE RRQ OF AN UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK TO ENHANCE FORCING AND THUS THUNDERSTORM CHANCES LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGHEST POPS FOR MAINLY THE SRN 1/2 OF THE CWA (30-40 PERCENT POPS REST OF THIS AFTN...RAMPING UP TO 60 PERCENT IN NE NC/FAR SE VA THIS EVENING). PWATS RANGING FROM 1.50-2.00 INCHES AND LIGHT LOW-LEVEL WINDS WILL HELP TO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AS PRECIP DEVELOPS. SOME GUSTY WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGEST STORMS ALONG THE FRONT AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN BEHIND IT. EXPECT PRECIP TO TAPER OFF FROM N TO S TONIGHT WITH SOME LINGERING POPS IN NE NC THROUGH DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY MORNING. LOWS TONIGHT IN THE MID 60S NORTH TO LOWER 70S SOUTH. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/... AFTER SOME EARLY AM SHOWERS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FAR SOUTH...DRYING FROM THE NORTH WILL PREVAIL AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES FROM THE NORTHWEST. HIGH TEMPS WED IN THE L/M80S. HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES ACROSS THE REGION LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRI...RESULTING IN MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES THROUGH THIS TIME. EXPECT COOLER OVERNIGHT LOWS FOR THURSDAY MORNING WITH READINGS IN THE 60S (POSSIBLY EVEN UPPER 50S IN A FEW SPOTS OVER THE NORTH). HIGHS IN THE 80S AREAWIDE...CREEPING INTO THE LOW 90S INLAND ON FRIDAY. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... UPR RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE PRESENT OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION THIS COMING WEEKEND. WILL MAINTAIN DRY WX SATURDAY...BUT THE REMAINS OF ISSAC MAY AFFECT THE AREA BY SUNDAY. TIMING ISSUES BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF MAKE THIS A LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST...BUT HAVE INCLUDED SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHC POPS BY SUNDAY INTO THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK. HIGHS UPR 80S TO LOW 90S SAT...THEN MID/UPR 80S SUN-TUES. LOW UPR 60S TO MID 70S. && .AVIATION /20Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... COLD FRONT/SFC TROUGH PUSHING INTO CENTRL VA. WNDS ARE SHIFTING TO THE NW-N BEHIND THE BNDRY. SCATTERED CU DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE FRONT BUT LITTLE DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME. THINK THERE IS ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR SOME CONVECTION TO BUILD THRU THE AFTN/EVENING IN VCNTY AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. GENERALLY ADDED VCTS FOR ALL TAF SITES EXCEPT SBY WHERE NW FLOW WILL LIKELY PREVENT ANY TSTMS. THE FRONT WILL PUSH OFFSHORE LATER TONIGHT. MODELS SHOW SFC HIGH AND UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE REGION EARLY WED THRU FRIDAY. && .MARINE... A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE MARINE AREA INTO TONIGHT. WINDS HAVE ALREADY TURNED TO THE WNW BEHIND THE FRONT OVER THE NORTHERN WATERS THIS AFTERNOON...AND SHOULD BECOME N-NW OVER THE ENTIRE AREA BY EARLY WED MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD OVER THE MARINE AREA WEDNESDAY THEN REMAINS IN PLACE THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY. NO SCA CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED DURING THIS TIME. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...BMD NEAR TERM...BMD SHORT TERM...BMD LONG TERM...JDM AVIATION...JEF MARINE...JDM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 345 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ060-065>067-079>082-084-086>098-100-291945- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-PRINCE EDWARD- MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE- CHARLES CITY-GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY- YORK-SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON- NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH-NORTHAMPTON VA- 345 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HEAVY RAINFALL MAY PERSIST THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ630>638-650-652-654-656-658-291945- 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- RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER FROM URBANNA TO WINDMILL POINT-YORK RIVER- JAMES RIVER FROM JAMESTOWN TO THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE- JAMES RIVER FROM THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE TO THE HAMPTON ROADS 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- 345 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...CURRITUCK SOUND...THE EASTERN JAMES RIVER...THE EASTERN RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AND THE EASTERN YORK RIVER. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MDZ021>025-VAZ048-049-061>064-068>078-083-085-099-291945- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- FLUVANNA-LOUISA-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-AMELIA- POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX- WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-NEW KENT-MIDDLESEX- ACCOMACK- 345 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. BMD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 556 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 VAZ088-089-092-093-096-282230- ISLE OF WIGHT VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SUFFOLK VA-SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA- 556 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA... AT 556 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF IVOR TO 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF COURTLAND...OR FROM 8 MILES EAST OF WAKEFIELD TO 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF COURTLAND...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... IVOR AROUND 605 PM EDT... ZUNI AROUND 625 PM EDT... SEDLEY AROUND 630 PM EDT... EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAINFALL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. LAT...LON 3678 7669 3662 7717 3681 7746 3707 7685 44
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
611 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 NNW NEWMARKET 37.03N 76.44W
08/28/2012 CITY OF HAMPTON VA TRAINED SPOTTER
CAR SURROUNDED BY 3 FEET OF WATER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AKQ1200717
LALEXANDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
615 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM FLASH FLOOD CHERRY ACRES 37.04N 76.34W
08/28/2012 CITY OF HAMPTON VA PUBLIC
FOX HILL ROAD ALMOST IMPASSABLE AT MERCURY BLVD
&&
EVENT NUMBER AKQ1200718
LALEXANDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
617 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
NCZ012-VAZ065-079-087-088-092-282245-
BRUNSWICK VA-GREENSVILLE VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NORTHAMPTON NC-SOUTHAMPTON
VA-SUSSEX VA-
617 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN VIRGINIA...
AT 617 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS FROM EMPORIA TO 19 MILES WEST OF
BUFFALO SPRINGS...OR FROM EMPORIA TO 11 MILES WEST OF
VIRGILINA...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
NEAR... GREEN PLAIN AROUND 630 PM EDT... EBONY AROUND 645 PM EDT...
EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN THE PATH
OF THESE STORMS. THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAINFALL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.
LAT...LON 3658 7872 3668 7870 3684 7743 3655 7730
3649 7781 3651 7790 3654 7792 3653 7864
3654 7873 3656 7874
44SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
621 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
VAZ091-093>098-282245-
CHESAPEAKE VA-ISLE OF WIGHT VA-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON
VA-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH VA-SUFFOLK VA-VIRGINIA BEACH VA-YORK VA-
621 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...
AT 620 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SOLID LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM GRAND VIEW TO ISLE OF
WIGHT...OR FROM HAMPTON TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SMITHFIELD...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
ISLE OF WIGHT AROUND 625 PM EDT...
FORT MONROE AROUND 630 PM EDT...
CRITTENDEN AROUND 640 PM EDT...
NORFOLK NAS AROUND 645 PM EDT...
EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN THE PATH
OF THESE STORMS. THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAINFALL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.
LAT...LON 3671 7665 3699 7681 3705 7661 3696 7647
3691 7646 3690 7640 3693 7639 3693 7634
3699 7631 3700 7636 3696 7643 3702 7647
3707 7654 3714 7630 3709 7626 3698 7629
3692 7611 3694 7600 3692 7598
44PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
628 PM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 NNW NEWMARKET 37.03N 76.44W
08/28/2012 CITY OF HAMPTON VA PUBLIC
CAR SURROUNDED BY 3 FEET OF WATER
&&
CORRECTED SOURCE
EVENT NUMBER AKQ1200717
LALEXANDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Rainfall amount of 3.50 inches was reported. Rainfall caused minor flooding of numerous streets.
Rainfall amount of 6.30 inches was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2012
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: 410925, 410926.