Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds 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 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 16, 2:25 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 325 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS OFF THE COAST THROUGH THIS EVENING. A WEAK FRONT MOVES SOUTH ACROSS VIRGINIA OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY AFTERNOON...THEN STALLS OVER NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... SFC HI PRES RMNS OFF THE SE CONUS CST...WHILE A WK (ILL-DEFINED) SFC BNDRY IS DRAPED E-W INVOF MD/PA BORDER WWD INTO SRN OH VLY. VRY WARM AIR S OF THE BNDRY W/ MNLY WSWLY WNDS (A LTL GUSTY AT TIMES TO ABT 20 MPH). CNVTN BEGINNING TO FIRE INVOF NW VA...JUST NNW OF CHO...W/ ONLY ISOLD PCPN FOUND TO THE ENE INTO THE INTR PORTION FO THE LWR MD ERN SHR. CNVTN HIGH BASED (~7KFT) AND MODIFIED SOUNDINGS ACRS NRN PORTIONS OF FA SHOWING INVERTED V IN LWR LVLS (TO ARND 850MB). SLGT POOLING OF DEWPTS (U50S) ACRS NRN VA SO FAR THIS AFTN. ALSO...FREEZING LVL 11.5 TO 12KFT...WILL NEED CORES OF ANY STMS TO AOA 30KFT FOR STRONG/SVR PTNTL. LMTG FACTOR IS DP LYRD/DOWNSLOPING W WNDS PTNTLLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR STM UPDRAFTS TO RISE SUBSTANTIALLY. MAIN THREATS - GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. 17Z/16 RUC GENLY HAS DECENT HANDLING ON STM DVLPMNT ATTM...AND HV FOLLOWED FOR EVE CNVTV POPS (WHICH CONFINES STMS TO AREAS ALG-N OF A FVX TO WAL LN). S OF THAT LN ISOLD STMS AT BEST...BUT RIGHT NOW PROB TOO LO FOR POPS ANY HIGHER THAN 14%. AFT EVE STMS...BNDRY SINKS S THROUGH VA AND WINDS TURN MR NLY AFT MDNGT. LINGERING SHRAS AFT MDNGT...THOUGH POPS AOB 20% THROUGHOUT. LO TEMPS MNLY IN THE L/M60S. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/... FNTL BNDRY STALLS OVR NRN VA ON FRI...W/ SFC HI PRES PASSING BY TO THE NNE OF FA. RESULT WILL BE ONSHR SFC WNDS...AND CORRESPONDING COOLING. WILL HAVE HIGHEST AMT OF CLDNS FM CNTRL VA ON S...AND LMT CHC POPS TO MUCH OF THAT AREA (HIGHEST FAR SCNTRL VA INTO INTR NE NC). FM FRI NGT THROUGH SAT...WK LO PRES TRACKS E INTO THE CNTRL OH VLY...RESULTING IN INCRSG MSTR INTO THE MDATLC RGN. FNTL BNDRY RMNS S ACRS NRN NC...KEEPING ONSHR WNDS OVR MUCH OF THE FA (THROUGH SAT). IN LEANING CLOSER TO 12Z/16 ECMWF WILL HAVE HIGHEST (CHC) POPS INLAND FRI NGT THROUGH SAT...THOUGH WILL HAVE VRB CLDNS OR MCLDY CONDS. HI TEMPS FRI FM THE M/U70S AT THE CST TO L/M80S INLAND. LO TEMPS FRI NGT FM THE M50S TO L60S. HI TEMPS SAT FM THE L/M70S AT THE CST TO 75 TO 80F INLAND. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL LINGER ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCE PASSING OVERHEAD WILL PRODUCE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AN H5 RIDGE AXIS SHOULD BUILD OVER THEN EASTERN U.S. TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK...THEN SLIDES OFF TO THE EAST LATE WEDNESDAY AS THE NEXT SYSTEM BEGINS TO IMPACT THE MID-ATLANTIC. WILL MAINTAIN SLIGHT CHC POPS ON TUESDAY DUE TO SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE MODELS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE UPPER DISTURBANCE PUSHES FAR ENOUGH OFF THE COAST. THE NEXT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BRING A GOOD CHANCE OF SHOWERS BY LATE WEDNESDAY INTO NEXT THURSDAY. TEMPS WILL REMAIN ON THE WARM/MILD SIDE THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND 80S AND LOWS IN THE 60S. && .AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... LOW PRESSURE CONTINUES TO TRACK THROUGH THE NORTHEAST TODAY AS AN ATTENDANT COLD FRONT SLOWLY SAGS SWD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC. EXPECT W/SW WINDS GENERALLY AROUND 10 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 15 KT. AS THE FRONT DROPS INTO NRN VA...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING ACROSS THE REGION...GENERALLY NORTH OF THE NC/VA BORDER. MVFR/IFR VSBYS POSSIBLE IN THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IN TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF ANY STORMS IS NOT HIGH ATTM...SO HAVE ONLY INCLUDED TEMPO GROUP MENTIONING RAIN SHOWERS. THE COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY PROGRESS SWD...CROSSING THE REGION LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. WINDS WILL BACK FROM THE W/SW TO THE NW BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT REMAIN AOB 10 KT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE FRI AFTERNOON/EVENING...MAINLY ACROSS SRN VA/NRN NC. THE FRONT WILL STALL OVER THE CAROLINAS THIS WEEKEND...WITH ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. && .MARINE... WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO VEER TO THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT. THE FRONT WILL SLOWLY CROSS THE WATERS TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. WINDS WILL VEER TO THE N/NE FRIDAY BEHIND THE FRONT...BECOMING EAST IN THE AFTERNOON...BUT WILL REMAIN BELOW SCA THRESHOLDS. THE COLD FRONT WILL STALL OVER THE CAROLINAS THIS WEEKEND BEFORE LIFTING NWD AS A WARM FRONT BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. E/SE WINDS LESS THAN 15 KT ARE EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND. SEAS MAY BUILD TO 5 FT OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL WATERS ON SUNDAY. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...ALB/MPR NEAR TERM...ALB/MPR SHORT TERM...MPR LONG TERM...JDM AVIATION...SAM/DAP MARINE...JDM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 357 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013 MDZ025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ060-065>067-079>081-087>089-091>100- 172000- MARYLAND BEACHES-NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN- INLAND CURRITUCK-BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK- PRINCE EDWARD-MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE- PRINCE GEORGE-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-YORK-SOUTHAMPTON- ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLK- CHESAPEAKE-VIRGINIA BEACH-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- 357 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013 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...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA...THE PENINSULA OF SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ630>638-650-652-654-656-658-172000- 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- 357 PM EDT THU MAY 16 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 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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MDZ021>024-VAZ048-049-061>064-068>078-082>086-090-172000- DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-FLUVANNA-LOUISA- CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-CAROLINE-AMELIA-POWHATAN-CHESTERFIELD- HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND- NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX- MATHEWS-JAMES CITY- 357 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL 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. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. 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
206 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
VAZ048-049-061>064-161900-
CAROLINE-CUMBERLAND-FLUVANNA-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-LOUISA-
206 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL MOVE ACROSS
LOUISA...CUMBERLAND...FLUVANNA...GOOCHLAND...HANOVER AND CAROLINE
COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
AT 206 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WALDROP TO 58 MILES WEST OF ANTIOCH...OR
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF LOUISA TO 49 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BENT CREEK...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...WALDROP...VAWTER
CORNER...LOUISA...WARES CROSSROADS...ZION CROSSROADS...UNION MILLS.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
SMALL HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.
LAT...LON 3814 7821 3816 7809 3812 7789 3810 7783
3802 7772 3800 7764 3824 7739 3825 7722
3819 7725 3821 7722 3817 7717 3817 7713
3772 7744 3770 7831 3777 7848 3781 7849
ALBRIGHTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
302 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
VAZ048-049-061>064-162000-
CAROLINE-CUMBERLAND-FLUVANNA-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-LOUISA-
302 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL MOVE ACROSS
LOUISA...CUMBERLAND...FLUVANNA...GOOCHLAND...HANOVER AND CAROLINE
COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT...
AT 302 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY
WINDS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MINERAL TO 40 MILES WEST OF
ANTIOCH...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MINERAL TO 33 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BENT CREEK...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...UNION MILLS...
NAHOR...CHILESBURG...CEDAR FORK...LOCUST CREEK...BURRUSS CORNER.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
SMALL HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIRST LIGHTNING FLASH BEFORE HEADING TO
SAFETY. MOVE INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING SKIES OR THE
FIRST SOUND OF THUNDER. MAKE SURE THAT LIGHTNING IS WELL AWAY FROM
YOUR LOCATION BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.
LAT...LON 3814 7821 3816 7809 3812 7788 3810 7783
3802 7772 3800 7764 3825 7736 3823 7728
3825 7723 3819 7725 3821 7722 3817 7714
3769 7744 3769 7757 3771 7762 3768 7764
3767 7824 3777 7848 3781 7849
25SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
353 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
VAZ048-049-061>064-069-071-072-162100-
CAROLINE-CUMBERLAND-FLUVANNA-GOOCHLAND-HANOVER-HENRICO-KING
WILLIAM-LOUISA-POWHATAN-
353 PM EDT THU MAY 16 2013
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL MOVE ACROSS
LOUISA...CUMBERLAND...FLUVANNA...GOOCHLAND...HANOVER...HENRICO...POWH
ATAN...KING WILLIAM AND CAROLINE COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...
AT 353 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY
WINDS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LOCUST CREEK TO HARDWARE TO 45
MILES WEST OF HARDWARE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MINERAL TO 12 MILES WEST OF FORK UNION TO 25 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BENT CREEK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...DIXIE...BEAVERDAM...
MABELTON...COATESVILLE...NOEL...OLIVER.
HAZARDS INCLUDE...
PEA SIZE HAIL.
GUSTY WINDS TO 40 TO 45 MPH.
DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARLY BUILDING OR VEHICLE. STRONG WINDS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES AND BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...
POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.
LAT...LON 3783 7847 3800 7767 3772 7710 3756 7787
3753 7833 3763 7826 3768 7824 3770 7829
3771 7833 3773 7837 3773 7841 3775 7845
3777 7848 3781 7849
25The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:31 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on Taylor's Creek Road.
Trees were downed on Plainview Lane.
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: 456669, 456671.