Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure produced damaging winds and three weak tornadoes 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 associated with a trough of low pressure produced damaging winds and three weak tornadoes 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 Jun 18, 2:49 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 349 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS POSITIONED OFF THE VIRGINIA ATLANTIC COAST EXTENDING THROUGH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. A WEAK COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA ON FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... CHANCES FOR MORE SHOWERS/STORMS INCREASING THIS AFTN AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY/MOISTURE STREAMS ACROSS THE REGION IN FLAT WLY FLOW ALOFT. ABUNDANT INSTABILITY WILL HELP STORM INITIATION BUT STRONGEST STORMS WILL STAY TO THE NORTH WHERE THE BEST DYNAMICS ARE LOCATED. THE MAIN IMPACT/THREAT FROM STORMS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS. THE HEAVY RAINFALL COULD PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING OF ROADWAYS IN LOW-LYING AREAS AND AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. SHOWERS/STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH IN INTENSITY BY THE EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS...COMING TO AN END ALONG THE COAST BEFORE DAYBREAK. UPPER LEVEL CLOUDS LIMITED MAX HEATING POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON WITH HIGHS TOPPING OUT AROUND 90 ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. EXPECT ANOTHER WARM NIGHT WITH LOW TEMPS REMAINING ABOVE 70. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN PERSISTS FRI THROUGH SAT NIGHT. A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES EJECTING FROM THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION BILL WILL STREAM INTO THE MID ATLANTIC REGION DUE TO THE PERSISTENTLY FLAT WLY FLOW ALOFT. OVERALL...AFTN/EVENING THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE ANTICIPATED EACH DAY WITH BRIEF DRY PERIODS DURING THE MORNING HOURS. MAIN IMPACTS FROM CONVECTION CONTINUES TO BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL (WHICH MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING) AND STRONG THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE TSTORMS IS LOW...ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS A LACK OF FORCING AND/OR FRONTAL FEATURES TO SUPPORT SUFFICIENT LIFT. MODELS COMING INTO GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE TIMING AND POSITION OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE REMNANTS OF TS BILL. EXPECT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SAT NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN ON SUNDAY. WARM AND MUGGY CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOW 90S. LOWS ALSO REMAIN UNCOMFORTABLE AS TEMPS RANGE FROM THE LOW TO MID 70S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... A WEAK UPPER TROUGH SETS UP OVER NEW ENGLAND INTO THE MID ATLANTIC MONDAY AND THEN SLIP JUST OFFSHORE TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY PLACING THE REGION IN A GENERAL NW UPPER FLOW IN THE LONG TERM. OCCASIONAL DISTURBANCES TRACK FROM NW TO SE IN THE UPPER FLOW LATE MONDAY AND AGAIN LATE TUESDAY. AT THE SURFACE A LEE TROF DEVELOPS OUT AHEAD OF A WEAK COLD FRONT MONDAY WITH THE LATEST MODELS STALLING THE BOUNDARY ACROSS THE NC/VA BORDER THROUGH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BRING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS EACH DAY FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. EXACT TIMING OF ANY S/W IMPULSES ALONG THE BOUNDARY IS RATHER PROBLEMATIC ATTM BUT BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP LOOK TO BE ACROSS CENTRAL/SOUTH CENTRAL VA...SOUTHEAST VA AND NC. UPSHOT WILL BE TO CONTINUE CHC OR SLIGHT CHC POPS EACH DAY. THE UPPER RIDGES BUILDS BACK IN FROM THE SW THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LESS CHANCES FOR PRECIP AND GRADUALLY BUILDING HEAT. SUMMER HEAT CONTINUES MONDAY WITH HIGHS 85-90 ALONG THE COAST WITH 90-95 INLAND. LOWS 70-75. && .AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE WARM FRONT THAT HAD BEEN SLIDING NORTH HAS CLEARED THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND CEILINGS HAVE LIFTED TO VFR LEVELS. WITH THE HEATING OF THE DAY...CU IS EXPECTED TO FORM AND COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE GREATEST FURTHER NORTH NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. HOWEVER...CONVECTION SHOULD BE LIMITED ACROSS THE REGION WITH THE MODELS SHOWING THAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD DEVELOP WOULD BE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS. RIGHT NOW THE BEST CHANCES FOR TSTORMS LOOKS TO BE WEST AND SOUTH OF THE AREA. SO FOR NOW HAVE JUST SHOWN SOME SCT/BKN CU AT THE TAF SITES. FOR TONIGHT...OUT SIDE OF THE AREA OF CONVECTION...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL...WITH SOME HIGH CIRRUS AND SOME MID DECK CLOUDS FLOATING THROUGH THE REGION. ON FRIDAY...THE FRONT TO THE NORTH OVER PA AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE OH VALLEY WILL BEGIN TO SINK SOUTHWARD AND THIS COULD PROVIDE A BETTER CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON CONVECTION...BUT RIGHT NOW EXPECT MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS. OUTLOOK...THE FRONT WILL LIFT BACK NORTH OF THE AREA ON SATURDAY...PUTTING THE ENTIRE REGION IN THE WARM SECTOR AND VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH REDUCED CHANCES FOR CONVECTION. ON SUNDAY...THE REMNANTS OF BILL WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE AREA AND MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE. && .MARINE... GENERALLY S TO SW FLOW AROUND 10 KT THIS AFTERNOON WILL BECOME MORE SOUTHERLY AND INCREASE TO 10 TO 15 KT OVERNIGHT AS WEAK LOW PRESSURE PASSES TO THE NORTH ACROSS THE DELMARVA. WINDS BECOME VARIABLE AND MORE NORTH TO NORTHEAST FOR A BRIEF PERIOD FRI BEFORE TURNING TO A SOUTHERLY FLOW FRI EVENING. THE PRES GRAD TIGHTENS SIGNIFICANTLY LATE SAT INTO SUN AS THE REMNANT OF BILL TRACK TO THE NORTH. THIS WILL RESULT IN INCREASING SOUTHERLY FLOW THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND ESPECIALLY SAT NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AFTER RATHER LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW FRIDAY. SCA CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE SOUTH WINDS. THE GRADIENT REMAINS IN PLACE WITH STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. THE GRAD WEAKENS SOME MONDAY EXPECT OVER THE SOUTHERN WATERS WHERE SW WINDS OF 15 KT OR GRATER MAY PERSIST UNTIL TUE MORNING. WAVES OVER THE COASTAL WATERS WILL REMAIN AROUND 2 FT THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY. OVER THE BAY WAVES OF 1 TO 2 FT ARE EXPECTED. SEAS START TO BUILD SOME LATE SATURDAY AND MORE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING SW WINDS. WAVES BUILD TO 2 TO 3 FT OVER THE BAY FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. NC...NONE. VA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...DAP NEAR TERM...BMD/DAP SHORT TERM...BMD/DAP LONG TERM...JAO AVIATION...ESS MARINE...JAO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 317 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 ANZ637-MDZ021>025-NCZ017-102-VAZ048-060>062-064-066>069-075>078- 080>086-088>090-095-098>100-509>525-191930- JAMES RIVER FROM JAMESTOWN TO THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE-DORCHESTER- WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-INLAND CURRITUCK- OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-FLUVANNA-PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND- CAROLINE-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND- NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY- NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY- NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-VIRGINIA BEACH-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA- WESTERN LOUISA-EASTERN LOUISA-WESTERN HANOVER-EASTERN HANOVER- WESTERN CHESTERFIELD-EASTERN CHESTERFIELD-WESTERN HENRICO- EASTERN HENRICO-WESTERN KING WILLIAM-EASTERN KING WILLIAM- WESTERN KING AND QUEEN-EASTERN KING AND QUEEN-WESTERN ESSEX- EASTERN ESSEX-YORK-NEWPORT NEWS-HAMPTON/POQUOSON- 317 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN JAMES RIVER...THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND...COASTAL 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG THUNDERSTORM 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. NCZ012>016-030>032-VAZ065-079-087-092-093-096-097-191930- NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-BERTIE-CHOWAN- PERQUIMANS-MECKLENBURG-BRUNSWICK-GREENSVILLE-SOUTHAMPTON- ISLE OF WIGHT-SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE- 317 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG THUNDERSTORM 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
403 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0935 PM TSTM WND DMG ONANCOCK 37.71N 75.74W
06/15/2015 ACCOMACK VA EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES DOWN.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AKQ1500888
WRSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
431 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
VAZ060-061-182130-
CUMBERLAND-PRINCE EDWARD-
431 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CUMBERLAND AND
NORTHWESTERN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTIES BETWEEN 5 PM AND 6 PM...
AT 429 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR TOWER
HILL...OR NEAR BENT CREEK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...DIME SIZE HAIL...AND HEAVY RAIN ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CUMBERLAND...FARMVILLE...LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY...HAMPDEN SYDNEY...
HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE...SUNNYSIDE...PROSPECT...DARLINGTON HEIGHTS...
GUINEA MILLS...ANGOLA...GRAYS SIDING...TRENTS MILL...ALLENS MILL...
BEAR CREEK LAKE STATE PARK...OAK FOREST...TUGGLE...STODDERT...
KINGSVILLE...ELAM AND HAWK.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 3726 7868 3734 7860 3739 7860 3740 7859
3737 7858 3737 7857 3733 7851 3734 7847
3757 7829 3753 7811 3746 7814 3744 7819
3739 7822 3714 7852 3714 7858 3717 7863
3719 7864 3720 7869
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 300DEG 25KT 3746 7882
JMThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:10 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree was downed on West 3rd Street.
Falling tree downed a transformer and resulted in a small brush fire.
Power lines were downed in Farmville.
Trees were downed.
Several trees were downed west of Nottoway.
Tree was downed on bypass around Blackstone.
Several trees were downed.
Pier was damaged at Deep Creek Marina.
Pier was damaged at Deep Creek Marina.
Trees and power lines were downed in Onancock.
Boats were capsized and a roof was blown off a building.
Trees were snapped in Tasley.
Trees were downed along Newland Road.
The tornado began 2 miles west of German's Corner in Richmond County, tracking southeast for about 6 miles passing near Naylors Beach and crossing Highway 360. Peak winds were between 70 and 80 mph. Hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped off. Power lines were downed.
The tornado touched down just north and northeast of Sharps near Ivondale in Richmond County. The tornado tracked along Farnham Creek Road crossing Hales Point Road and Simonson Road. Hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped off. Power lines were downed. Peak winds were between 60 to 70 mph.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed.
The tornado touched down in Lancaster County near Mollusk and tracked southeast to Ottoman. This tornado remained mostly in the tree tops and bounced as it tracked southeast for about 4 miles. The tornado paralleled River Road eventually crossing River Road near Ottoman. Peak winds were between 60 to 70 mph. Hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped off. Power lines were downed.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2015Warnings in Virginia, June 2015
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: 587510, 587511, 587512, 587514, 587515, 587519, 587520, 587546, 587552, 587522, 587560, 587556, 587530, 587597, 587603, 587553, 587624, 587554.