At the beginning of a day, a low was centered over the Great Lakes region with an associated cold front extending back through the midwest. An upper level disturbance ahead of the low would trigger pulse convection in the mountains during the afternoon, but become more organized going eastward as the front advanced east.
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.
At the beginning of a day, a low was centered over the Great Lakes region with an associated cold front extending back through the midwest. An upper level disturbance ahead of the low would trigger pulse convection in the mountains during the afternoon, but become more organized going eastward as the front advanced east. High moisture levels and warm temperatures contributed to the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms.
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 Jun 16, 6:02 PM EST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 702 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016 .SYNOPSIS... A vigorous upper level disturbance was centered over northeast Ohio. This feature will move southeast, crossing the Mid-Atlantic States tonight and Friday. Thunderstorms with damaging winds are expected along the leading edge of this disturbance with a risk of severe weather...the primary focus across the Virginias through early tonight. Aside for lingering showers Friday, High pressure will build into the region for the weekend providing fair weather which will last into the first part of next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... As of 700 PM EDT Thursday... Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 261 is in effect until 10 PM for counties just north of highway 460 to focus on inbound thunderstorms from central West Virginia. These storms have had a history of large hail and damaging wind gusts. A Vigorous short wave, compact upper level low, will move from eastern Ohio this evening, into the Virginias tonight. At the surface, low pressure was centered near Pittsburgh, PA, with a cold extending south from the low into Central West Virginia, then southwest into central Kentucky. This front was moving rapidly to the southeast. A solid line of thunderstorms has developed along the leading edge of the front from Latrobe Pennsylvania, to Beckley, West Virginia. Farther southwest along the front...the storm cells were more discrete with some rotation exhibited. The Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) which has developed over northern and central WV is forecast to move east, crossing the highlands of VA between now and 8PM, then continue to progress east through northern...and central Virginia between 8-10PM...a track that will take it primarily north of highway 460. Damaging straight line winds is the primary threat, but certainly can't rule out an isolated tornado per backing low level winds on the east side of the Appalachians which will result in increasing directional shear. Farther southwest along the front (SW of BKW), there is still considerable uncertainty as to whether the trailing convection, which is more discrete in nature (individual cells) will become organized. The RNK 18 UTC sounding was well mixed and contained considerably less upper level moisture to sustain deeper thermals...a PWAT of 0.80. That said, these discrete cells will still have the potential for rotation which could result in large hail and isolated damaging wind gusts. All things considered, will maintain focus for organized severe weather from highway 460 and points north, and hold off on expanding the severe thunderstorm watch any farther south unless the storms become more organized. The airmass over western North Carolina into extreme southern VA remains well mixed and cloud free denoting the dry air which was sampled in the 18 UTC RNK sounding. Unless the MCS can generate enough of a cold pool to drive storms into this drier environment, all of the activity may play out over the Virginias and never make it into North Carolina. Regardless of the outcome, folks need to remain vigilant, and pay particular attention to future forecast updates. It appears the excessive rain threat has been averted. Given fact that PWATs have fallen below an inch, the rain efficiency of the thunderstorms will be significantly reduced. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 315 PM EDT Thursday... Upper low pressure over central VA with surface low pressure over eastern NC on Friday morning will drift off the mid Atlantic coast by Friday evening, placing Blacksburg forecast area in a cooler northerly flow with wrap-around moisture on the western flanks of the system during the day. As a result, expect to see plenty of cloud cover for much of Friday along with an ongoing threat for some light shower/thundershower activity - with the threat for thunder primarily focused southwest of Interstate 77 during the time of peak heating, where some lingering instability will reside. Other than perhaps a lingering sprinkle/shower into early Friday evening across extreme southwestern VA into the northwestern NC mountains, expect good drying and subsidence to ensure a dry forecast for Friday night through Sunday night as surface high pressure builds southwest from out of New England into the mid Atlantic region. Expect slightly below normal temperatures through the short-term period with lows mainly in the 50s, and with daytime highs ranging from mainly 70s in the mountains to around 80 across the Piedmont. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 315 PM EDT Thursday... Much of the long-term period is expected to be dry with slowly warming temperatures as mid Atlantic surface ridge holds into Monday - with axis of upper ridge extending from near the four-corner area east toward the mid-Atlantic states. Old closed upper low is expected to meander off the mid-Atlantic coast through early next week, but none of the longer-range models indicate that steering current will be sufficient to enable it to retrograde far enough west to impact the Blacksburg forecast area. On Tuesday, a series of short wave trofs moving southeast through the upper and lower great lakes expected to push a decaying cool front through the Blacksburg forecast area later Tuesday afternoon or on Tuesday night. However, this front will be preceded by a mainly westerly surface flow, so other than a limited threat for some isolated to scattered shower/thundershower activity across the western upsloping flanks of the Appalachians, most other sections of the forecast area will likely remain precipitation free. Expect a return to dry and slightly cooler weather again following the passage of the front for Wednesday into Thursday as yet another surface ridge builds east from the upper into the lower Great Lake region. && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 400 PM EDT Thursday... Solid line of thunderstorms is expected to move from West Virginia into Virginia this evening with the potential for strong damaging winds. Main threat for storms will be between 6PM and Midnight with impact to flight routes headed north bound. Storms are expected to weaken after midnight with lingering showers persisting over the region through Friday as an upper level low passes overhead. Thunderstorms this evening and tonight will likely be accompanied by MVFR or worse cigs and MVFR or worse vsbys. Lingering showers and areas of MVFR- IFR cigs/vsbys are likely Friday as the upper low passes overhead and off the Mid Atlantic Coast. Extended discussion... Conditions should return to VFR with good flying conditions Saturday and continue into early next week as high pressure builds south behind the departing low. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...PM SHORT TERM...WERT LONG TERM...WERT AVIATION...PM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 601 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016 VAZ022-034-045>047-059-172215- ROANOKE-BEDFORD-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-CHARLOTTE- 601 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A BROKEN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO PORTIONS OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. THERE IS A THREAT THAT SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING STRONG DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009-010-012>017-032-033-043-044-058-172215- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL- FLOYD-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-HALIFAX- 601 PM EDT THU JUN 16 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...TONIGHT. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO PORTIONS OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. THERE IS A THREAT THAT SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING STRONG DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VAZ011-018>020-023-024-035-WVZ042>044-507-508-172215- GILES-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-AMHERST-MERCER- SUMMERS-MONROE-EASTERN GREENBRIER-WESTERN GREENBRIER- 601 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 261 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
606 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016
WVZ042-162300-
MERCER-
606 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT MERCER COUNTY...
AT 605 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR TWIN FALLS STATE
PARK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH OR STRONGER AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BLUEFIELD...
PRINCETON...
ATHENS...
MATOAKA...
AND CAMP CREEK.
THIS INCLUDES MERCER COUNTY AIRPORT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO 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 3742 8131 3741 8129 3742 8128 3746 8131
3747 8128 3750 8126 3751 8121 3754 8120
3757 8120 3760 8114 3759 8112 3759 8111
3743 8086 3726 8126 3737 8135
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 308DEG 33KT 3769 8145
JHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
619 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016
WVZ507-508-162315-
EASTERN GREENBRIER-WESTERN GREENBRIER-
619 PM EDT THU JUN 16 2016
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
NORTHERN GREENBRIER COUNTY OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO...
AT 618 PM EDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR
SUMMERSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM. AN UPGRADE TO A WARNING MAY BE NEEDED AS THE STORM
APPROACHES THE AREA.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NEOLA...
RENICK...
FALLING SPRING...
TROUT...
AND DUO.
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.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR
VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.
LAT...LON 3822 8036 3811 8036 3805 8026 3804 8016
3806 8011 3806 7996 3802 7999 3793 8009
3800 8055 3809 8069 3827 8044
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 291DEG 30KT 3837 8090
JJMThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:32 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was brought down by thunderstorm winds on Mountain Valley Road. near Back Creek Mountain.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto Indian Draft Road.
Trees were down from thunderstorm winds over White Oak Dive and Alleghany Road.
Hail was estimated to be the size of a quarter on Interstate 64.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree across Prices Bluff Road.
There were multiple reports of trees blown down by thunderstorm winds along a line north of Eagle Rock. Roads that were blocked by these trees were Botetourt Road, Gala Loop Road, and Rose Drive.
Trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across Allen Branch Road.
A lightning strike caused a barn to catch fire on Brit Lane near Eagle Rock.
Multiple trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the community of Glasgow.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree onto a truck on I-81 near mile marker 173.9.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines along Redwood Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm wind in the Cedar Bluff Area.
Thunderstorm winds blew over a barn on Green Hill Road.
Thunderstorm winds knocked over trees onto Big Walker Mountain Road.
Reports of two trees down from thunderstorm winds at Graves Mill Road and Breezewood Drive.
Over 50 trees in the county were blown over by thunderstorm winds. Most of the damage was near the town of Forest. Trees were blown onto 7 to 10 houses along Timberlake Drive and some people were trapped in their homes.
Thunderstorm winds blew down two trees. One tree was blown down at the intersection of Greenview and Portico streets. The second tree fell at the intersection of Wexford and Leeville Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees over on Mason Mill Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew off several large tree limbs.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees from Saltville to Marion.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down on the intersection of Landmark Road and Poteet Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down onto Bethlehem Road.
Thunderstorm winds knocked trees down onto Allen Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees down along Virginia State Route 40, close to the border of Campbell County and Charlotte County.
Thunderstorm winds blew a few trees down.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees near Scuffletown Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a few trees near Java.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Sugar Tree Church Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees along Halifax Road east of Chatham.
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, June 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: 642375, 642377, 642531, 642534, 642525, 642542, 642520, 642523, 642547, 642556, 642563, 642568, 642574, 642730, 642561, 642785, 642727, 645610, 642728, 642729, 642764, 642735, 642737, 642732, 642740, 642731, 642742, 642758, 642745, 642751, 642755.