Scattered severe thunderstorms along a trough of low pressure 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 along a trough of low pressure 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 Jul 15, 1:22 PM EST, 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 222 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO NEW ENGLAND TODAY AND TONIGHT. A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXPANDS EASTWARD MONDAY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY. A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... LASTEST MODEL DATA SUPPORTS CURRENT FORECAST SO ONLY MINOR CHANGES MADE TO GRIDS ATTM. BEST SUPPORT FOR TSTRMS WILL BE ACROSS THE NWRN HALF OF FA AFTER 18Z. GIVEN PW'S ARND 2 INCHES (MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY) DECIDED TO ADD LCLLY HVY RAINFALL TO TEXT PRODUCTS...ALHOUGH EXPECT LESS OVERALL ECHO COVERAGE TODAY. SUNSHINE ALLOWING FOR QUICK HEATING THIS MORNING. HIGHS 90-93...EXCEPT 85-90 AT THE BEACHES. THE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS PA AND NJ TONIGHT. CHANCE POPS WILL BE MAINTAINED NORTH THROUGH THE EVENING...BEFORE TAPERING TO SLIGHT CHANCE AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES SHOULD RANGE FROM 70-75. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... THE TROUGH PASSES OFF THE COAST MONDAY MORNING AND THE STRONG RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS BUILDS EAST AND ESSENTIALLY MERGES WITH THE RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS DIMINISHES...BUT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WERE MAINTAINED AS AN ELONGATED VORT MAX SLOWLY SAGS THROUGH THE AREA. RISING 850MB TEMPERATURES AND RISING 1000-850 THICKNESS VALUES WILL RESULT IN A HOT DAY WITH MAXIMA RANGING FROM THE LOW TO MID 90S. LOW-LEVEL WESTERLY FLOW WILL ALLOW DEWPOINTS TO MIX DOWN TO THE UPPER 60S TO AROUND 70...SO HEAT INDICES SHOULD MAINLY BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. THE LOW-LEVEL THERMAL PROFILE CONTINUES TO WARM TUESDAY RESULTING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. DEWPOINTS SHOULD AGAIN MIX DOWNWARD DURING THE AFTERNOON...AND RANGE FROM THE MID TO UPPER 60S NORTH AND WEST...TO THE LOW 70S IN THE SE. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN HEAT INDICES AROUND 100 FOR MOST OF THE AREA...BUT PERHAPS AROUND 105 IN NE NC. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... THE RIDGE FLATTENS WEDNESDAY AS A STRONG TROUGH DIGS OVER ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. THIS WILL RESULT IN DEEP LAYER WESTERLY FLOW OVER THE MID ATLANTIC. AGAIN...ANOTHER HOT DAY IS EXPECTED WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES RISING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 90S. DOWNSLOPE FLOW WILL ALLOW DEWPOINTS TO FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 60S NORTH AND WEST...WITH LOW 70S OVER NE NC. HENCE HEAT INDICES WILL AVERAGE AROUND 100-102...ALTHOUGH THEY COULD APPROACH 105 OVER NE NC WITH HIGHER DEWPOINTS. DOWNSLOPE FLOW SHOULD ALSO INHIBIT CONVECTION MUCH OF THE DAY...BUT A SHORTWAVE TROUGH SWINGING ACROSS THE NORTHERN MID ATLANTIC COULD TRIGGER VERY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY NORTH. FOR THURSDAY EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING FRONT IN AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS. THE BEST FORCING WILL COME LATE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE FRONT. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE STILL PROGGED TO BE IN THE MID-UPPER 90S (LOW- MID 90S IMMEDIATE COAST)...WITH LOW TEMPS IN THE LOW-MID 70S REGION-WIDE. IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT COOLER NE FLOW MOVES IN FRIDAY WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE PASSING OFF NEW ENGLAND. THIS WILL COOL AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH ONLY SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS IN THE SOUTHEAST. RETURN FLOW STARTS TO DEVELOP NEXT SUNDAY AS THE BERMUDA HIGH BEGINS TO BUILD BACK TO THE WEST. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR CONDS OVER TAF SITES BUT LOTS OF DEVELOPING CU ACROSS THE REGION. SHOWERS AND TSTMS WILL GENERALLY DEVELOP FROM WEST OF I95 EASTWARD AS THE MOST UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS WEST AND NORTH OF RIC. ONCE AGAIN EXPECT CONVECTION TO LAST UNTIL ONE TO TWO HOURS PAST SUNSET. WINDS WILL BE MOSTLY SW 5 TO 15 KT. UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM PASSING THRU THE REGION OVERNIGHT WILL HELP TO INCREASE WINDS TO 10 TO 15 KT AND GRADUALLY SHFT TO MORE W-WNW ON MON. PTCHY FOG AND STRATUS A PSBLY FOR THE EARLY MORNING HRS BUT HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE TO INDICATE ANY SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS IN TAFS. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS MON AFTN THRU TUE...AS WEAK HI PRES PREVAILS OVR THE AREA. BUT...MVFR/PATCHY IFR FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE ERLY TUE MORNG. && .MARINE... NO HEADLINES IN THE SHRT TERM TDY THRU MON NGT. EXPECT SW WNDS GENERALLY 10 TO 15 KT TDY AND TNGT...DUE TO BERMUDA HI PRES SET UP OFF THE MID ATLC/SE CST. A WEAK COLD FRNT WILL MOVE THRU THE WTRS ON MON...BRIEFLY TURNING THE WNDS TO THE W. OTHRWISE...EXPECT SW OR W WNDS 15 KT OR LESS MON NGT THRU WED...AS BERMUDA HI PRES DOMINATES. A COLD FRNT WILL DROP DWN ACRS THE AREA LATE WED NGT AND THU. WAVES WILL BE 1 TO 2 FT THRU THE PERIOD...WITH SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AJZ NEAR TERM...AJZ/MPR SHORT TERM...AJZ LONG TERM...AJZ/JAO AVIATION...JEF MARINE...TMG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 932 AM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-161345- 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- 932 AM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 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. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS LATE THIS AFTERNOOON AND EVENING. .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. ANZ630>638-650-652-654-656-658-161345- 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- 932 AM EDT SUN JUL 15 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
235 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
VAZ065-066-151900-
LUNENBURG-MECKLENBURG-
235 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS MECKLENBURG AND
LUNENBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT...
AT 234 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF MODERATE TO
HEAVY SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM ROGERS CORNER TO BOYDTON TO RICHARDSON...OR
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHASE CITY TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
CHASE CITY TO 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHASE CITY TO 16 MILES SOUTH OF
CHASE CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH WILL CAUSE MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS INCLUDING DITCHES...CREEKS...ROADWAYS AND
AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS TO AVOID
HYDROPLANING.
LAT...LON 3665 7857 3682 7856 3688 7819 3668 7810
3654 7816 3654 7859
05SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 243 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 VAZ088-089-151915- SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA- 243 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL SURRY AND NORTHEASTERN SUSSEX COUNTIES... AT 239 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM WAVERLY TO WAKEFIELD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE STORMS. HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR CARSLEY AROUND 250 PM...ELLIS FORK AROUND 300 PM AND RUNNYMEDE AROUND 310 PM. LAT...LON 3716 7691 3703 7678 3692 7705 3701 7712 05
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
245 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
MDZ021-022-151945-
DORCHESTER MD-WICOMICO MD-
245 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING OVER DORCHESTER COUNTY...
AT 243 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SECRETARY...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
HURLOCK...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
NEAR HURLOCK AT 305 PM EDT...BROOKVIEW AT 325 PM EDT...ELDORADO AT
330 PM EDT...GALESTOWN AT 345 PM EDT.
WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH
THESE STORMS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING
AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. 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 3863 7570 3850 7569 3846 7569 3843 7601
3858 7606 3858 7603 3861 7599 3863 7599
3869 7576
LSASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
256 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
VAZ062-063-069>071-151930-
CHESTERFIELD-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-HENRICO-POWHATAN-
256 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS CHESTERFIELD...
GOOCHLAND...HANOVER...HENRICO AND POWHATAN COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM
EDT...
AT 255 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CENTERVILLE TO SHORT
PUMP TO SUBLETTS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST
OF TUCKAHOE TO TUCKAHOE TO 8 MILES NORTH OF MOSELEY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH WILL CAUSE MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS INCLUDING DITCHES...CREEKS...ROADWAYS AND
AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS TO AVOID
HYDROPLANING.
LAT...LON 3774 7763 3768 7758 3760 7752 3752 7780
3756 7783 3764 7785
05SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 300 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 VAZ074>076-151930- ESSEX VA-RICHMOND VA-WESTMORELAND VA- 300 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL ESSEX...NORTHWESTERN RICHMOND AND SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTIES... AT 300 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR CARET...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH...INTENSE LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. DO NOT STAY IN THE OPEN NOR SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE RAIN WILL CAUSE RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR NEWLAND AROUND 305 PM...NAYLORS BEACH AROUND 315 PM...PINEY GROVE AROUND 325 PM AND ETHEL AROUND 330 PM. LAT...LON 3815 7663 3789 7666 3797 7703 3809 7702 05
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
307 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
VAZ063-064-072-073-151945-
CAROLINE VA-HANOVER VA-KING AND QUEEN VA-KING WILLIAM VA-
307 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH PARTS OF CENTRAL VIRGINA...
AT 306 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER STUDLEY...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH OF
MECHANICSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BE NEAR ETNA MILLS AT 315 PM EDT...ENFIELD AT 325 PM EDT...EPWORTH AT
330 PM EDT...POLLARDS CORNER AT 335 PM EDT...TURPIN...AND...MANQUIN
AT 340 PM EDT...AYLETT AT 345 PM EDT.
WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL WITH
THESE STORMS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING
AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. 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 3768 7704 3764 7732 3775 7755 3778 7740
3778 7737 3780 7733 3782 7725 3790 7706
LSAThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:18 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on power lines in Studley.
Trees were downed onto a road.
Trees were downed onto a road.
Tree was downed onto a power line.
Power lines were downed along Ridge Road just east of Farnham.
Power line was downed.
Power line was downed on Gammontown Road just north of Interstate 64.
Tree and a power line were downed along Route 606.
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, July 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: 398785, 398786, 398789, 398790, 398791, 398794, 398792, 398793.