Strong daytime heating allowed for spotty shower and thunderstorm development across portions of the mid-Atlantic region during the afternoon and evening. One storm in particular intensified to severe levels for a brief period of time and produced a strong downdraft that resulted in minor damage.
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.
Strong daytime heating allowed for spotty shower and thunderstorm development across portions of the mid-Atlantic region during the afternoon and evening. One storm in particular intensified to severe levels for a brief period of time and produced a strong downdraft that resulted in minor damage.
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 Jul 1, 2:29 PM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 329 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A lee trough resides across the Piedmont this afternoon will slide east this evening. A cold front will approach from the northwest late this afternoon, and pass over the area overnight into early Saturday, before stalling across North Carolina. This front will remain stuck across the region into early next week providing a track for additional showers and storms Sunday and Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Friday... A lee trough over the piedmont may provide enough lift for a few storms to develop late this afternoon across Southside VA. That is, if west winds aloft weaken by this evening. Any storms over the piedmont will move east by sunset. The best focus for showers late this afternoon and evening will come from a cold front currently in the Ohio Valley. Dynamics with this front is centered towards Lake Erie into New England. Showers that enter Southeastern West Virginia and Southwestern Virginia may not hold together past these western slopes. Also with loss of heating, any surviving storms will fade with sunset. Rainfall amounts should not exceed a tenth of an inch /0.10/ with any storm. Dew points across the mountains will lower into the mid to upper 50s across the mountains tonight. Temperatures will be comfortable and in the lower 60s. The dew point front will not make it south of highway 460, therefore another muggy night is likely towards Southside, VA. Overnight lows east of the Blue Ridge will range in the 60s. The cold front will sink south across the area Saturday morning. Its resting place for tomorrow is murky, but appears to slide into North Carolina. Some models are keeping the frontal boundary near the VA/NC border, which could become the focus for some strong storms tomorrow afternoon. SPC has a marginal risk along and south of the VA/NC border. Most models have the theta-e boundary resting near highway 460. With this in mind, we will place chance PoPs across our southern tier counties. Temperatures across the mountains will be on the cool side with winds from the west. Afternoon highs will peak in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Temperatures across the foothills and piedmont may vary depending on where the cold front tracks. North of the boundary, highs will be in the lower to mid 80s, south upper 80s. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 300 PM EDT Friday... Best lift and instability of Saturday night will be south of the North Carolina/Virginia border. Not much organized forcing and a gradually return of higher precipitable water values, in the 1.5 to 2.0 inch range, on Sunday and Sunday night. Monday the short wave that came out of the southwest United States will cross the mid Atlantic region. Models were coming into better consensus with a baroclinic zone and strip of deeper moisture extends from the mid Mississippi Valley through the mid Atlantic region Sunday night and Monday. Still some uncertainty as to where the axis of heaviest rainfall will set up by Monday, although confidence is high on the occurrence of widespread showers and thunderstorms. 00Z ECMWF and GEFS favor the northern county warning area while some of the newer 12Z guidance has the better lift and higher precipitation amounts farther north. Mid level winds, shear and instability increase on Monday which results in a better threat of strong to severe thunderstorms. But if Monday starts out cloudy with precipitation ongoing, especially in the west, the amount of heating and instability will be limited. Will have threat mentioned in the Hazardous Weather Outlook for Monday and Monday night. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Friday... Short wave will be exiting to the east Monday night and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday the 500MB pattern will become more amplified with rising heights in the east. Models bring the next vorticity maximum across the area on Thursday, which would mean a higher probability of showers and thunderstorms. Expecting near or just above normal temperatures Thursday and Friday. && .AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 125 PM EDT Friday... Low clouds remain stubborn over the piedmont (KDAN/KLYH). Mixing is on the increase and by 19Z the piedmont will return to VFR. As mixing subsides this evening, a few showers may develop as modest instabilities hang on. VFR conditions will remain along and west of the Blue Ridge, despite a cold front and associated showers approaching the western slopes (KBLF/KLWB). Only site with some confidence of seeing a shower into this evening is KLWB, but not high enough to go more than VCSH. Some clouds will hang on overnight, but the chance for showers is near zero. The front tries to move south into North Carolina Saturday, however a theta-E boundary splits the County Warning Area (along highway 460). With a boundary and convergent flow south of Roanoke, there is a good chance for thunderstorms to develop in the afternoon along the Blue Ridge then drift toward KDAN during the evening. Extended discussion... Saturday's front will remain stalled over the region Sunday into Tuesday which may yield some heavier rain and storms at times as complexes of showers and thunderstorms spill east. Overall VFR outside storms except more widespread sub-VFR possible later Sunday into Tuesday, and at night with fog/low clouds. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...RCS NEAR TERM...RCS SHORT TERM...AMS LONG TERM...AMS AVIATION...RCS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 331 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 VAZ007-009>014-018-022-023-034-035-045>047-WVZ042>044-021100- TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-CRAIG-ROANOKE- BOTETOURT-BEDFORD-AMHERST-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-MERCER- SUMMERS-MONROE- 331 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE. HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO LIKELY MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ015>017-032-033-043-044-058-059-021100- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA- HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 331 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE. HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ019-020-024-WVZ507-508-021100- ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROCKBRIDGE-EASTERN GREENBRIER-WESTERN GREENBRIER- 331 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO LIKELY MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
419 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
NCZ003-004-020-012100-
YADKIN-SURRY-STOKES-
419 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN YADKIN...SOUTHERN SURRY AND SOUTHWESTERN STOKES
COUNTIES...
AT 416 PM EDT...A SHOWER WAS OVER OVER FAIRVIEW...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 20 MPH...AND IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP INTO A STRONG THUNDERSTORM.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FAIRVIEW...
DOBSON...
PILOT MOUNTAIN...
BOONVILLE...
AND EAST BEND.
THIS STORM 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 3638 8089 3644 8082 3636 8036 3626 8043
3626 8045 3624 8045 3623 8044 3610 8053
TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 307DEG 18KT 3635 8076
WPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
456 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
VAZ033-044-012130-
PITTSYLVANIA-FRANKLIN-
456 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES...
AT 455 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER SAGO...MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CHATHAM...
GRETNA...
CALLANDS...
PENHOOK...
AND CHALK LEVEL.
LAT...LON 3682 7965 3685 7964 3683 7967 3687 7976
3697 7970 3694 7921 3668 7930
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 285DEG 17KT 3689 7959
WPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
533 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
VAZ045-012215-
CAMPBELL-
533 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL CAMPBELL COUNTY...
AT 532 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER EVINGTON...MOVING EAST
AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EVINGTON...
RUSTBURG...
HODGES...
GLADYS...
AND SPRING MILLS.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THIS STORM 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 3703 7901 3704 7902 3705 7906 3707 7911
3709 7913 3709 7914 3718 7932 3731 7929
3726 7892 3724 7892
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 288DEG 12KT 3721 7924
WPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 547 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 VAZ044-058-012230- HALIFAX-PITTSYLVANIA- 547 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL HALIFAX COUNTIES... AT 547 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER CHATHAM...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CHATHAM... INGRAM... DRY FORK... KEELING... AND CLIMAX. THIS STORM 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 3677 7953 3689 7949 3684 7906 3659 7917 TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 288DEG 11KT 3679 7938 WP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 604 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 NCZ004-005-VAZ032-043-012230- ROCKINGHAM-STOKES-HENRY-PATRICK- 604 PM EDT FRI JUL 1 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN STOKES...NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM...SOUTHEASTERN PATRICK...SOUTHWESTERN HENRY AND SOUTHEASTERN CITY OF MARTINSVILLE COUNTIES... AT 604 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR PENNS STORE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MARTINSVILLE... STUART... STONEVILLE... SPENCER... AND CRITZ. THIS INCLUDES THE MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY AND MARTINSVILLE AIRPORT. LAT...LON 3658 8028 3666 8028 3666 7979 3641 7984 TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 282DEG 18KT 3659 8012 WP
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:05 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree was blown down on a trailer along Kentuck Road, while a power line was blown down along Old Richmond Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 2016
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: 636972.