A warm front cross the region during the afternoon of the 29th, and then a cold front approach the area during the evening. Numerous showers and storms developed in association with both of these fronts.
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 warm front cross the region during the afternoon of the 29th, and then a cold front approach the area during the evening. Numerous showers and storms developed in association with both of these fronts. Some of the storms increased to severe levels and produced damaging winds. Heavy rain from one are of storms prompted minor flooding in parts of Bath County.
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 Feb 29, 11:22 AM EST, 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1122 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 .SYNOPSIS... LOW PRESSURE WAS OVER IOWA WITH A WARM FRONT TRAILING INTO WEST VIRGINIA AND A COLD FRONT EXTENDING INTO TEXAS. THIS LOW WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH THE COLD FRONT REACHING THE EAST COAST BY LATE THURSDAY. ANOTHER LOW WILL APPROACH FROM THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1115 AM EST WEDNESDAY... UPDATED TEMPERATURES AND POPS ACCORDING TO LATEST RADAR AND OBS TRENDS. THIN SPOTS IN CLOUD COVER HAS ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB IN THE WEST...WHILE LOW CLOUDS HOLDING IN EASTERN LOCATIONS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF CWA WILL MOVE EAST THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE THIS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...WITH SPC SLIGHT RISK. WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE ISC GRIDS WITH ACTIVE WEATHER. AS OF 925 AM EST WEDNESDAY... ACTIVE WEATHER DAY WITH CONVECTION AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE AND FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON. SPC HAS UPDATED THE SWODY1 TO INCLUDE A MODERATE RISK TO OUR WEST ACROSS KY/TN. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF CONVECTION EXPECTED TODAY WITH WARM FRONT EARLY THEN FOLLOWED BY COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. WITH LOWER FFG IN THE WEST WILL MONITOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR POTENTIAL FLOOD WATCH FOR LATER. PLANNING TO WATCH THE EVOLUTION OF THIS MORNING CONVECTION AND REVIEW 12Z MODEL RUNS BEFORE MAKING TOO MANY ADJUSTMENTS. EXPECT A BUSY DAY WITH PLENTY OF UPDATES WITH STRONG COLD FRONT. AS OF 345 AM EST WEDNESDAY... EXPECTING THREE PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...BUT MODELS WERE NOT CLEAR IF THERE WILL BE ANY DISCERNIBLE BREAKS BETWEEN EACH BATCH. ALREADY STARTING TO SEE BANDS OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHERN COUNTY WARNING AREA. EXPECT AND EXPANSION OF AREAL COVERAGE THIS MORNING AS THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER OHIO...KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA MOVE EAST INTO THE REGION...ALONG AND NORTH OF A WARM FRONT. THE WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM A LOW IN NORTHWEST IOWA INTO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. THE FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH DURING THE DAY WITH MOST MODELS SHOWING A SURGE IN SURFACE DEW POINTS AND PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT BY 16Z/11AM TO 18Z/1PM THE ENTIRE COUNTY WARNING AREA WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR. LOW LEVEL WINDS INCREASE AND WITH THE HIGH SHEAR ENVIRONMENT...ANY BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS. MODELS...ESPECIALLY THE NAM/SREF AND LOCAL WRF WERE SHOWING TWO AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT THAT IS FORECAST TO COME THROUGH THE COUNTY WARNING AREA BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. EXPECT THE MOST INTENSE STORMS AND THE THREAT OF HEAVIEST RAINFALL TO OCCUR BETWEEN 21Z/4PM AND 03Z/10PM. WITH THE FORECAST AREA IN THE WARM SECTOR TODAY HAVE RAISED MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES. MODELS HAD A WIDE SPREAD IN POSSIBLE MAXES BUT THINK CLOUD COVER AND PRECIPITATION WILL LIMIT THE POTENTIAL WARM UP. THE COOLER AIR JUST STARTS TO COME IN TONIGHT. USED A BLEND OF MET/MAV GUIDANCE. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 400 AM EST WEDNESDAY... LOOKING AHEAD TO THURSDAY MORNING...THE COLD FRONT WILL BE WELL EAST OF OUR AREA BY SUNRISE...AND BELIEVE ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS...IF ANY...WILL BE ALL THAT REMAIN ACROSS THE PIEDMONT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. THE WEST SOUTHWEST WINDS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL BE LESS CONDUCIVE FOR RESIDUAL SHOWER ACTIVITY IN THE MOUNTAINS...ALTHOUGH CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW SPRINKLES THERE AS WELL. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN WILL BE PACIFIC IN ORIGIN...INDICATING MILD AIR...AND WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND SOUTHWEST FLOW FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON...EXPECT ANOTHER VERY SPRING LIKE DAY...WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE 60S IN THE MOUNTAINS...TO THE LOW 70S ACROSS THE PIEDMONTS. HIGH PRESSURE PASSES EAST OF OUR AREA ON THURSDAY NIGHT...AND BY FRIDAY MORNING ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PUSH OUT OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES. THIS LOW WILL LIFT A WARM FRONT ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON...HOWEVER HIGH PRESSURE WEDGED ALONG THE EASTERN FACE OF THE APPALACHIANS MAY KEEP THE FRONT ANCHORED IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THROUGH LATE EVENING. SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PASSES OVER THE GREAT LAKES...DRAGGING A COLD FRONT EASTWARD ACROSS KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. FORECAST MODELS APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT A WAVE WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT BEFORE SUNRISE ON SATURDAY...WHICH WILL ENHANCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS OUR AREA BY CAUSING THE FRONT TO SLOW DOWN...AND ALSO DESTABILIZING THE ATMOSPHERE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AN INCH OR MORE OF RAIN ALONG THE FRONT...WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE POTENTIAL OF FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. THE FRONT WILL THEN BEGIN TO PICK UP SPEED...SHIFTING THE FOCUS OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO THE PIEDMONTS BY EARLY AFTERNOON. MODELS INDICATE ENOUGH INSTABILITY ACROSS THE PIEDMONTS IN THE AFTERNOON TO SUPPORT A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...WITH GUSTY WINDS AS THE PRIMARY THREAT. BY LATE AFTERNOON...THE FRONT WILL SHIFT EAST OF OUR AREA...WITH SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MOVING OUT OF THE REGION. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 400 AM EST WEDNESDAY... HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY BUILDS OVER THE AREA EARLY SUNDAY...BUT BY THE LATE AFTERNOON...OUR NEXT NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM WILL START TO ENTER THE REGION. ANTICIPATE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA BY SUNSET...WITH ISOLATED RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT. COVERAGE OF THE PRECIPITATION MAY EXTEND AS FAR EAST AS I-77 IN NC AND I-81 IN VIRGINIA. COVERAGE WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE IN COVERAGE DURING THE DAY MONDAY AND TREND TOWARDS ALL RAIN SHOWERS. && .AVIATION /16Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 1120 AM EST WEDNESDAY... MVFR EXPECTED WITH POCKETS OF IFR/LIFR THIS AFTERNOON IN CLOUDS AND CONVECTION. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THE COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH BLF AND LWB THIS EVENING AND SHOULD BE EAST OF LYH AND DAN BY 09Z. A BKN LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONTAL PASSAGE...WITH TEMPORARY IFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS. FOLLOWING THE COLD FRONT EXPECT A RETURN TO VFR WEATHER FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. ANOTHER WARM FRONT WILL AFFECT THE REGION FRIDAY...WITH POSSIBLE MVFR CIGS. A STRONG COLD FRONT SHOULD ARRIVE IN THE LATE FRIDAY NIGHT-SAT TIME FRAME RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD MVFR/IFR DUE TO SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS/KK SHORT TERM...NF LONG TERM...DS AVIATION...AMS/KK/PM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 426 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-WVZ042>045-010930- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI- MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE- BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 426 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE AS SEVERAL PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED BY LATE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AS A COLD FRONT CROSSES THROUGH THE AREA ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032>035-043>047-058-059-010930- SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-PATRICK-FRANKLIN- BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 426 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
941 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
VAZ023-024-034-035-291545-
AMHERST VA-BEDFORD VA-BOTETOURT VA-ROCKBRIDGE VA-
941 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AMHERST...BEDFORD...BOTETOURT
AND ROCKBRIDGE COUNTIES...
AT 935 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER TROUTVILLE...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 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 PEAKS OF OTTER RECREATION AREA...PEAKS OF
OTTER SUMMIT...BUCHANAN...AND ARCADIA AROUND 945 AM...NATURAL BRIDGE
AROUND 950 AM...SEDALIA...BIG ISLAND...SNOWDEN...AND GLASGOW AROUND
955 AM AND COLEMAN FALLS AROUND 1000 AM.
LAT...LON 3789 7915 3785 7914 3782 7916 3779 7909
3777 7906 3771 7905 3770 7898 3756 7890
3754 7888 3734 7990 3755 7997 3794 7921
KKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
943 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
VAZ058-059-291515-
CHARLOTTE VA-HALIFAX VA-
943 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CHARLOTTE AND HALIFAX
COUNTIES...
AT 939 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST
OF CLOVER...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 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 WYLLIESBURG AROUND 950 AM AND KEYSVILLE
AROUND 955 AM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3689 7848 3671 7863 3669 7863 3666 7885
3715 7885 3720 7883 3723 7878 3723 7868
3720 7868 3720 7864 3717 7863 3715 7859
3715 7853 3709 7848 3708 7844
KKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1004 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
VAZ034-035-045>047-291600-
AMHERST VA-APPOMATTOX VA-BEDFORD VA-BUCKINGHAM VA-CAMPBELL VA-
1004 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AMHERST...APPOMATTOX...
BEDFORD...BUCKINGHAM AND CAMPBELL COUNTIES...
AT 1001 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES WEST OF
FOREST...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 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 BOCOCK...LYNCHBURG AIRPORT...MADISON
HEIGHTS...AND LYNCHBURG CITY AROUND 1010 AM...CONCORD...AND STONEWALL
AROUND 1015 AM...SPOUT SPRING...OAKVILLE...AND RIVERVILLE AROUND 1020
AM AND APPOMATTOX NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AROUND 1025 AM.
LAT...LON 3734 7846 3733 7852 3737 7859 3734 7859
3732 7863 3725 7868 3723 7907 3723 7960
3745 7941 3755 7886 3754 7883 3755 7883
3765 7824
KKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1011 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
VAZ014-017-022-033-034-291615-
BEDFORD VA-FLOYD VA-FRANKLIN VA-MONTGOMERY VA-ROANOKE VA-
1011 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BEDFORD...FLOYD...FRANKLIN...
MONTGOMERY AND ROANOKE COUNTIES...
AT 1009 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTHWEST
OF COPPER HILL...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 45 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 BOONES MILL AROUND 1020 AM...BURNT CHIMNEY
AROUND 1025 AM...NORTHWEST SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE AROUND 1030 AM...
MONETA AROUND 1035 AM AND HUDDLESTON AROUND 1040 AM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3714 7942 3707 7943 3704 7958 3702 8029
3720 8031 3723 7934
KKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1032 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
VAZ044>046-059-291615-
APPOMATTOX VA-CAMPBELL VA-CHARLOTTE VA-PITTSYLVANIA VA-
1032 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT APPOMATTOX...CAMPBELL...
CHARLOTTE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTIES...
AT 1031 AM EST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHEAST
OF HURT...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 45 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 BROOKNEAL AROUND 1040 AM...MIKE AROUND 1045
AM...RED HOUSE AROUND 1050 AM...MADISONVILLE AROUND 1055 AM AND
ABILENE AROUND 1100 AM.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR LATER
UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
LAT...LON 3702 7846 3702 7890 3705 7897 3703 7901
3706 7908 3702 7911 3701 7946 3703 7947
3724 7933 3725 7867 3720 7868 3720 7864
3715 7859 3715 7853 3709 7848 3708 7844
KKThe Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:56 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck at the South Boston DMV in the vicinity of a flag pole. The strike curled flashing along a window, broke a piece of brick off the building, burnt electrical outlets on the opposing interior wall, and caused a male to be thrown from his chair, uninjured. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down on Route 687 near the intersection of Route 603. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down in Douthat State Park and along State Route 629. Damage values are estimated.
Heavy rain prompted creeks to flow out of their banks.
Quarter size hail was observed on White Top Road north of Konnarock.
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, February 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: 367214, 367211, 367212, 367215, 367213.