Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and large hail across portions of central 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 and large hail across portions of central 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 May 11, 3:16 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 416 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT CROSSES THE MID ATLANTIC TONIGHT FOLLOWED BY A SECONDARY COLD FRONT SUNDAY EVENING. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT BRINGING A VERY COOL AIR FOR THE MIDDLE OF MAY...BEFORE SLIDING OFF THE COAST TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... THE LATEST REGIONAL RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION MARGINALLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS (~1000 J/KG OF MLCAPE) ALONG WITH MODEST DEEP LAYER SHEAR (30-40KT 0-6KM). CURRENT GOES WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH LIFTING NE ACROSS PA ALONG WITH STRONGER SYNOPTIC SCALE DYNAMICS...HENCE ANY STORMS ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA HAVE STRUGGLED TO ORGANIZE AND PERSIST. THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS BEFORE A JET STREAK OVER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY EJECTS NE ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF A FRONTAL ZONE APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. THE LATEST RUC BRINGS THE JET ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE MID-EVENING THROUGH EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS. GIVEN THIS...A BAND OF LIKELY POPS WILL BE FORECAST TO MOVE W-E OVER THE CWA. HOWEVER...QPF AMOUNTS SHOULD BE RATHER MINIMAL. THUNDER WILL BE MAINTAINED THROUGH MIDNIGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY LINGERING INSTABILITY BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO ONLY SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES SHOULD RANGE FROM THE LOW 50S NW...TO LOW 60S SE. SHORT TERM... STEADY CAA COMMENCES SUNDAY AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES OFF THE COAST SUNDAY MORNING AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS SHOULD PRODUCE A RATHER PLEASANT DAY WITH LOW-LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES SUPPORTING HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S N/NW...TO THE LOW/MID 70S SE UNDER AN INCREASINGLY SUNNY SKY. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/... STEADY CAA COMMENCES SUNDAY AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES OFF THE COAST SUNDAY MORNING AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS SHOULD PRODUCE A RATHER PLEASANT DAY WITH LOW-LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES SUPPORTING HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S N/NW...TO THE LOW/MID 70S SE UNDER AN INCREASINGLY SUNNY SKY. A SECONDARY COLD FRONT SWINGS THROUGH THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT. THE CONTINUATION OF STEADY CAA OVERNIGHT WILL DRIVE LOW TEMPERATURES DOWN INTO THE UPPER 30S N/NW TO THE MID/UPPER 40S FAR SE UNDER A CLEAR SKY. THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH MIXING ALONG WITH DRY AIR/LOW DEWPOINTS TO INHIBIT ANY FROST DEVELOPMENT IN THE COLDER SPOTS. VERY COLD AIR ALOFT FOR MID-MAY ARRIVES MONDAY DRIVING 1000-500MB THICKNESS VALUES DOWN TO AROUND 532-540DAM. A STRONG VORT MAX/PV MIN DIVES AROUND THE BACK-SIDE OF THE PARENT TROUGH DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS ENERGY DROPPING INTO THE TROUGH WILL DROP 500MB HEIGHTS TO -2 TO -3 ST DEV PER 11/12Z GEFS MEAN AT 00Z TUESDAY. GIVEN THIS...A BKN SC DECK IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON. LOW AND MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL BE RATHER STEEP...SO THERE WILL BE A MINIMAL POTENTIAL OF SHOWERS WHEN COMBINED WITH THE COLD AIR ALOFT AND MID/UPPER LEVEL ENERGY. HOWEVER...POPS WILL BE LIMITED BELOW 15 PERCENT AT THIS TIME GIVEN THAT THE AIRMASS WILL BE VERY DRY (SFC DEWPOINTS IN THE MID/UPPER 20S INLAND). 850MB TEMPERATURES DROP TO AROUND 0C MONDAY...WHICH IS AROUND -2 ST DEV BELOW NORMAL PER 11/12Z GEFS MEAN. FULLY MIXED...AS EXPECTED WILL RESULT IN HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE UPPER 50S N...TO NEAR 65 FAR S...WHICH WOULD ALSO BE AROUND -2 ST DEV BELOW SEASONAL MEANS. DAYTIME HIGHS MAY BE REACHED AROUND MIDDAY BEFORE DROPPING A FEW DEGREES IN THE AFTERNOON AS CLOUD COVER INCREASES. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE PIEDMONT MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. THE SKY SHOULD CLEAR MONDAY EVENING...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A COOL START TO THE DAY TUESDAY. FORECAST LOWS RANGE FROM THE MID 30S OVER THE PIEDMONT AND E/S-CENTRAL VA COASTAL PLAIN TO THE LOW/MID 40S FOR SE COASTAL LOCATIONS. IF ANY FROST POTENTIAL EXISTS...IT WOULD LIKELY BE OVER THE PIEDMONT WHERE FULL DECOUPLING COULD OCCUR. THE HIGH DRIFTS OFFSHORE TUESDAY. LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW WILL MAINTAIN RATHER COOL HIGHS IN THE LOW 60S (STILL NEAR -1.5 ST DEV) NEAR THE COAST...AND LIGHT RETURN FLOW SHOULD ALLOW HIGHS TO RISE INTO THE UPPER 60S TO NEAR 70 OVER THE PIEDMONT UNDER A MOSTLY SUNNY SKY. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... CANADIAN HIGH PRS SETTLES OVR THE AREA TUE RESULTING IN A COOL BUT DRY BEGINNING TO THE PRD. COMBO OF DECOUPLING WNDS...CLR SKIES AND RTHR LOW DP TMPS ALLOWS FOR GOOD RADITIONAL COOLING MON NITE. LOWS FM THE U30S NW PIEDMONT TO M-U40S AT THE BEACHES. M SUNNY & COOL TUE. HIGHS 65-70...XCPT U50S-L60S NRN BEACHES. LOWS TUE NITE 45-50. LEANED TOWARD THE ECMWF FOR THE REST OF THE PRD. HIGH PRS MOVES S OF RGN WED WITH A WRM FRNT APPRCHG FROM THE WEST. KEPT IT DRY FOR NOW AS IT APPEARS ANY PCPN ASSCTD WITH THIS BNDRY STAYS N&W OF FA. RETURN FLOW AND WRMG H85 TMPS RESULTS IN READINGS RISING INTO THE M-U70S W OF CHES BAY...M60S-L70S AT THE BEACHES. WILL CONT TO WATCH FOR ANY CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES THAT DVLP IN NW FLOW ARND THE HIGH TO THE SOUTH. MODELS HINTING AT THIS OCCURRING WED NITE INTO THU. GIVEN LOW CONFIDENCE THIS FAR OUT...ELECTED TO ONLY GO WITH SLGHT CHC POPS ACROSS NRN HALF OF FA THU WHERE BEST SPRT WUD BE. LOWS WED NITE IN THE M-U50S MUCH WRMR THU WITH HIGHS L-M80S WEST OF CHES BAY...70S AT THE COAST. LEE TROF DVLPMNT AHEAD OF NEXT FRNT SEEN FOR FRI...THUS WENT WITH A SLGHT CHC POPS. HIGHS 80-85...XCPT 70S AT THE COAST. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... COLD FRNT CURRENTLY OVER WV WILL SLOWLY APPROACH THE MID ATLANTIC THIS AFTERNOON. S/SW WINDS WILL OCCASIONALY GUST TO 20-25 MPH THROUGH THE AFTN. SCATTER SHOWERS AND POSIBLE TSTMS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. TIMING OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AT ANY GIVEN AIRPORT IS DIFFICULT AS THEY MOST LIKELY WILL FORM IN VARIOUS GROUPS ON SMALL SCALE BOUNDARIES. BELIEVE THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND COULD SEE AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM WITH BEST CHANCES FOR IT TOWARD THE COAST. AFTER SUNSET WILL STILL SEE A NUMBER OF SHOWERS AROUND BUT BELIEVE MOST OF THE THUNDER WILL END. COULD SEE BRIED IFR CONDITIONS IN SOME OF THE EHAVIER THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OTHERWISE MAINLY VFR CONDTIONS. THESE SHOWERS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST AS THE COLD FRONT SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. THE COLD FRONT MOVES OFF THE COAST DURING SUNDAY MORNING AND SKIES WILL CLEAR WITH WINDS BECOMING NORTHWEST. VFR EXPECTED SUN THRU THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITH HI PRES IN PLACE. && .MARINE... SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES TDY WITH HI PRES WELL OFFSHORE AND A COLD FRNT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. WILL MAINTAIN INHERITED SCA OVER THE BAY WITH WINDS CURRENTLY GUSTING TO NEAR SCA CRITERIA...CONTINUING AT TIMES THRU THE DAY AHEAD OF THE FRNT. SEAS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO BLD HOWEVER 44009 HAS NOW MADE IT TO 4 FT AND EXPECT NORTHERN COASTAL WATERS TO GET TO 5 FT LATER THIS MRNG THRU LATE AFTN. WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY HEADLINES SOUTH OF PARRAMORE ISLAND WHERE 3-4 FT SEAS ARE EXPECTED. WINDS WILL STAY SUB-SCA OVER THE RIVERS AND SOUND...WITH THE LWR JAMES BEING CLOSE TO CRITERIA. THE COLD FRNT CROSSES THE WATERS TNGT BUT WITH WEAKENING WINDS BEHIND THE FRNT WILL END THE SCA AT 7 PM. SECONDARY SURGE MAY PRODUCE NW WINDS UP TO 15 KT SUN AFTN. OTHERWISE...SUB-SCA CONDS FOR SUN THRU THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AS SFC HI PRES BLDS INTO THE AREA. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AJZ NEAR TERM...AJZ SHORT TERM...AJZ LONG TERM...MPR AVIATION...MAS/JAB MARINE...MAS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 357 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-VAZ048-049-060>100-122000- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-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- 357 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL TRIGGER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS AND SMALL HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ630>638-650-652-654-656-658-670-NCZ102-122000- 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- WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC FROM 20 TO 40 NM-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK- 357 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013 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 NORTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...THE EASTERN RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AND THE EASTERN YORK RIVER. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
238 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
NCZ015>017-031-032-102-111945-
CAMDEN NC-CHOWAN NC-EASTERN CURRITUCK NC-PASQUOTANK NC-PERQUIMANS NC-
WESTERN CURRITUCK NC-
238 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CAMDEN...CURRITUCK...EASTERN
PERQUIMANS...PASQUOTANK AND SOUTHEASTERN CHOWAN COUNTIES...
AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS COVERED PORTIONS OF CAMDEN...
CHOWAN...CURRITUCK...PASQUOTANK AND PERQUIMANS COUNTIES AT 234 PM
EDT. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE GENERALLY MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...AND WILL
CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE RAIN
WILL CAUSE RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.
LAT...LON 3604 7646 3653 7637 3653 7602 3645 7601
3642 7591 3629 7587 3634 7583 3642 7586
3648 7598 3653 7600 3653 7599 3653 7586
3622 7579 3627 7584 3623 7585 3608 7578
3617 7599 3614 7600 3610 7629
FORECASTER: JBILLETSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
356 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
MDZ024-025-VAZ099-112030-
ACCOMACK-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
356 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS WORCESTER AND ACCOMACK
COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT...
AT 355 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
ASSAWOMAN...OR ABOUT 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHINCOTEAGUE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...CHINCOTEAGUE.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.
WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...AND WILL
CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE RAIN
WILL CAUSE RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.
LAT...LON 3787 7534 3785 7538 3788 7541 3781 7550
3779 7558 3786 7562 3802 7537 3798 7542
3795 7541 3796 7536 3800 7535 3801 7529
3804 7532 3803 7528 3806 7528 3811 7522
3808 7519
05SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
431 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
VAZ060-066-112130-
LUNENBURG-PRINCE EDWARD-
431 PM EDT SAT MAY 11 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS PRINCE EDWARD AND LUNENBURG
COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM EDT...
AT 431 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES
WEST OF BRIERY...OR ABOUT OVER CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE...MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...BRIERY...AND...
SIMPLICITY...VIRSO...AND...MEHERRIN...SCHOLFIELD...GREEN BAY...AND...
PRINCE EDWARD LAKE...BURKES TAVERN.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
HALF INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING.
IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING OR HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE AT RISK. TAKE SHELTER
INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CANNOT FIND SHELTER IN A BUILDING A
VEHICLE PROVIDES SAFETY FROM LIGHTNING.
LAT...LON 3723 7824 3694 7826 3699 7847 3708 7846
3709 7850 3713 7853 3714 7855 3714 7859
3716 7862
05The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:43 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Forty five year old pine tree was downed across a road. Farm buildings were damaged.
Large tree was downed across a road.
Shed was damaged and 300 pound dog pen roof was blown off by winds.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Several trees were broken off at the ground downing power lines.
Large tree was downed across East Courthouse Road.
Half dollar size hail was reported.
Large tree was downed along Route 740 (Turkey Egg Road).
Two trees were downed with minor crop damage on Ballahack Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 2013
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: 454371, 454372, 454373, 454369, 454374, 454375, 454370, 454376, 454377.