A strong upper level disturbance passed across the central Appalachians, triggering scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. Strong daytime heating, with temperatures ranging from the mid 80s across the mountains to the low 90s across Piedmont, supported MLCAPE values ranging from 2000 to 3000 J/Kg east of the Blue Ridge.
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.
A strong upper level disturbance passed across the central Appalachians, triggering scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. Strong daytime heating, with temperatures ranging from the mid 80s across the mountains to the low 90s across Piedmont, supported MLCAPE values ranging from 2000 to 3000 J/Kg east of the Blue Ridge.
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 27, 12:29 PM EST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 129 PM EDT Wed Jul 27 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A wavy front will be nearly stationary from the Mid Atlantic region to the mid Mississippi Valley through the end of the week. Weak impulses tracking along the front will combine with deep moisture to produce periodic rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The front will finally move well south of the area on Tuesday or Wednesday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1110 AM EDT Wednesday... Isolated showers late this morning near the Blue Ridge east of Fancy Gap, VA, with a few more showers in far SW VA. Models coming in initiating convection across the western forecast area by 18z/2pm, then shifting the storms east thru late afternoon. There is some disagreement in synoptic models somewhat with the 06z GFS hanging onto higher threat along/west of the Blue Ridge all day while the NAM and ECM shift some of the storms into the piedmont. The high-res models focus activity along the southern Blue Ridge, northwest toward Southern WV, and actually show the mountains keeping most of the activity through late afternoon. For now will have high chance pops cwa wide, higher in the west and north. The better dynamics with 25-30kt effective shear will stay in northern VA but should dip far enough south to increase threat of organized convection into southern VA. Still looking at highs from the mid to upper 80s west to lower to mid 90s east. Heat indices should stay under 105 so no advisory needed out east. Previous valid discussion... Precipitable water values range from 1.8 inches in the western county warning area to 2.0 inches in the extreme east. Storm motion will be southeast about 20 knots. Areas that had heavy rain on Tuesday will be more susceptible to flooding problems if there are storms again in the same locations today. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 400 AM EDT Wednesday... We are in for a continuation of unsettled weather as a shallow upper trof becomes established over the eastern part of the country through the weekend. This will allow a steady stream of short wave energy to move into the region from the southwest, while the upper jet provides diffluence to aid synoptic ascent. These factors will be combining with warm/humid/unstable air along a diffuse old frontal boundary lingering across the region. This all spells a good chance for showers and thunderstorms for the latter portion of the week and into the weekend. The variability among guidance solutions is still creating a good degree of uncertainty in timing/location, but the general consensus is for increasing shear to bring a severe threat to the area for Thursday afternoon into Friday, with a possibility for an organized MCS. High precipitable water values will also make excessive rainfall a threat, so hydro issues are a concern during this period as well. There is still much to be determined with this scenario so it warrants close attention in later model runs. Coverage of showers/storms looks considerable again for Saturday but with less shear and dynamic support so a more limited severe threat. Temperatures will continue to run a bit above normal with highs going from the mid 90s to lower 90s east of the Blue Ridge, and generally low/mid 80s to the west. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 130 PM EDT Tuesday... Overall pattern situation favors storminess every day but especially in the afternoon/evening. A frontal boundary situated from the Ohio Valley over to the Central Plains will slowly shift southeast into the Virginias and North Carolina over the weekend. Airmass will remain unstable and moist. Some issue with how far this front makes it as 5h ridge may be hard to break, but still looks like belt of westerlies will shift at least into our northern forecast area over the weekend. Highs will be seasonal with lows slightly above normal through most of the period. Highs will range from the lower to mid 80s mountains, to upper 80s to around 90 east. Lows will be in the lower to mid 60s mountains, to upper 60s to around 70 east. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 120 PM EDT Wednesday... Convection will again be problematic as we head through the afternoon. Radar at issuance time shows a cluster of storms heading toward BLF therefore put a tempo group for moderate thunder here from 18-19z. Otherwise will keep VCTS in for the afternoon and amend as necessary when storms near terminals. Storms will end/weaken this evening with fog developing overnight. Similar to this morning, fog will be dense at LWB and possibly BCB/BLF, with MVFR possible at the other sites. Another cluster of storms should form in the mountains around or after 18z Thursday so nothing added to the terminals before 18z. Extended aviation discussion... The upper ridge will remain just south of the area and a residual front nearby through Monday. This should allow for periodic daily convective coverage. Appears more widespread sub-VFR possible with thunderstorms later Thursday with a stronger wave along the front with perhaps some decrease in coverage by the weekend as this feature passes. At least diurnal MVFR/IFR possible each afternoon/evening through Monday for now. Late night and early morning fog will likely occur at the usual valley locations, and those chances increase across the entire region if any rain occurs during the afternoon or evening at any site. && .CLIMATE... Record high temperatures for Wednesday (7/27) Roanoke.....103 in 1936 Lynchburg...103 in 1936 Danville....102 in 1952 Blacksburg...94 in 1993 Bluefield....89 in 1966 Record highs for July 28 Roanoke......104 in 1930 Lynchburg....103 in 1936 Danville.....102 in 1952 Blacksburg....95 in 1966 Bluefield.....90 in 2011 && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS/WP SHORT TERM...MBS LONG TERM...WP AVIATION...AMS/WP CLIMATE...PM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 953 AM EDT WED JUL 27 2016 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-281400- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON- CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE- PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL- APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE- EASTERN GREENBRIER-WESTERN GREENBRIER- 953 AM EDT WED JUL 27 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY. EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE AND MAY BRING A THREAT FOR FLOODING. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER WILL BE LOWER THROUGH THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
105 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
NCZ019-271745-
WILKES-
105 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN WILKES COUNTY...
AT 103 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER MULBERRY...MOVING EAST
AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NORTH WILKESBORO...
WILKESBORO...
RONDA...
WILBAR...
AND TRAPHILL.
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 3616 8136 3630 8137 3636 8096 3637 8093
3637 8092 3635 8090 3634 8090 3633 8087
3614 8088 3612 8088
TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 267DEG 11KT 3625 8118
JRSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
122 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
VAZ007-271745-
TAZEWELL-
122 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
WEST CENTRAL TAZEWELL COUNTY...
AT 121 PM EDT...SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER JEWELL
RIDGE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RICHLANDS...
CEDAR BLUFF...
CLIFFIELD...
CLAYPOOL HILL...
AND GLEN BURKE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS SLOW MOVING STORM...AND
MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3715 8190 3716 8187 3717 8187 3718 8180
3720 8178 3720 8176 3724 8174 3724 8172
3720 8168 3721 8155 3707 8163 3701 8180
3705 8182 3711 8189 3714 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1721Z 287DEG 18KT 3721 8180
JJMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
143 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
VAZ007-271815-
TAZEWELL-
143 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
...AN AREA OF STRONG...SLOW MOVING...THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL TAZEWELL COUNTY...
AT 142 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER AMONATE...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH...AND PEA SIZE HAIL
ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TAZEWELL...
BURKES GARDEN...
CLIFFIELD...
BOISSEVAIN...
AND GRATTON.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3724 8172 3720 8168 3721 8156 3722 8154
3724 8151 3726 8150 3725 8148 3727 8145
3727 8142 3729 8141 3729 8137 3706 8134
3708 8170 3715 8176
TIME...MOT...LOC 1742Z 266DEG 30KT 3717 8162
JJMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
146 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
NCZ019-271815-
WILKES-
146 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
SOUTHEASTERN WILKES COUNTY...
AT 145 PM EDT...A STRONG...NEARLY STATIONARY THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER
WINDY GAP.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINDY GAP...
AND CLINGMAN.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3606 8105 3610 8110 3620 8104 3617 8088
3606 8088 3606 8098 3605 8101
TIME...MOT...LOC 1745Z 211DEG 3KT 3610 8101
JJMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
153 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
VAZ022-271830-
ROANOKE-
153 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016
...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AFFECT CENTRAL
ROANOKE
...THE CITY OF SALEM AND THE CITY OF ROANOKE...
AT 152 PM EDT...A SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR GLENVAR...MOVING
EAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ROANOKE...
SALEM...
VINTON...
ROANOKE MOUNTAIN...
AND GLENVAR.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS THE SALEM FAIRGROUNDS AND
ROANOKE REGIONAL AIRPORT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3735 7991 3734 7989 3727 7987 3717 7991
3728 8020 3736 8018
TIME...MOT...LOC 1752Z 280DEG 13KT 3732 8016
JJMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 201 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016 NCZ005-271830- ROCKINGHAM- 201 PM EDT WED JUL 27 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY... AT 200 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER MAYODAN...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... EDEN... WENTWORTH... MAYODAN... MADISON... AND STONEVILLE. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 3637 8002 3644 8003 3650 7977 3637 7973 TIME...MOT...LOC 1800Z 258DEG 20KT 3642 7995 JJM
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:07 UTC.
18 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds on West Riverside Drive near Kingsmill Drive. In addition, a roof was ripped off of a building on Industrial Drive.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds at the intersection of Back Creek Road and Mayo Drive.
Five trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds on Middle Valley Road. Also, one tree was blown down on Northridge Road near the intersection with Hardy Road.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Lakestone Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto a storage building along Highfield Road.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds at the intersection of Franklin Street and Pleasant Hill Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto a vehicle along Ferrum Mountain Road near the intersection with Franklin Street.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across the community of Gretna.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across the community of Chalk Level.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Murry Hill Lane.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Sontag Road near Toms Knob Road.
Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across the community of Horse Pasture, blocking several roads.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds blocking Chatham Road.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the community of Martinsville. One tree fell onto a home, while another fell onto a car. Two businesses on Memorial Boulevard near Starling Avenue, as well as some vehicles parked nearby, where damaged. The roof of a business was blown off by strong winds. Several cars were damaged by flying debris at an auto dealership. A small shed was also damaged by strong winds.
Two trees were blown down across Commonwealth Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees in the community of Chatmoss, blocking several roads.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Winn's Creek Road.
Two large trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the community of Axton.
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: 651288, 651286, 651289, 651292, 651290, 651291, 651293, 651295, 651294, 651297, 651298, 651296, 651299, 651306, 651304, 651301, 651302, 651303.