Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 3, 2016

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 3, 2016
Start: 2016-05-03T17:10
End: 2016-05-03T19:07
Location: Virginia

May 3, 2016 · NWS AKQ · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a frontal boundary produced damaging winds and large hail across portions of south central and eastern Virginia.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS AKQ wrote it up.

Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a frontal boundary produced damaging winds and large hail across portions of south central and eastern Virginia.

What forecasters said that day

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 3, 3:41 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 3:41 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
441 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WITH WEAK AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING NORTHEAST
ALONG THE BOUNDARY...WILL SLOWLY SINK SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA
AND TO THE COAST THIS EVENING INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. UNSETTLED
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...AS AN UPPER AIR
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC REGION.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
LATE THIS AFTN...LATEST RDR SHOWED A BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS AND
TSTMS EXTENDING FM NEAR D.C. SW TO JUST W OF FARMVILLE...THEN
CONTINUED TO DANVILLE. ELSEWHERE...ISLTD SHOWERS WERE OVR SE VA
AND NE NC. WILL HAVE 40-60% POPS INTO TNGT...AS THE BROKEN LINE OF
SHOWERS AND TSTMS...AND POSSIBLY OTHER DEVELOPING SHOWERS/TSTMS IN
ADVANCE OF THIS LINE...MOVE EWRD THRU THE CWA. BEST (MARGINAL)
INSTABILITY WILL BE ACRS EXTRM SRN VA AND NE NC...AND THIS AREA
REMAINS IN A SLGT RISK FOR SEVERE TSTMS. PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE
DAMAGING WNDS/HAIL. OTHERWISE...ANY STRONGER STORMS COULD PRODUCE
GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. POPS DECREASE TO 20-40% FM WSW TO
NE LATE TNGT INTO WED MORNG...AS THE COLD FRONT PUSHES TO THE CST.
LOWS TNGT WILL BE MAINLY IN THE MID 50S TO ARND 60...UNDER A
PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/...
UNSETTLED WX WILL CONTINUE ACRS THE FA WED THRU FRI...DUE TO UPR
AIR LO PRES DROPPING FM THE GRT LKS REGION DOWN AND OVR THE MID
ATLC REGION. WILL CARRY MAINLY 20-40% POPS...FM WED AFTN THRU WED
NGT...THEN HAVE 40-60% ACRS THE REGION THU THRU FRI...AS THE UPR
LVL LO TRACKS INTO NC THEN LIFTS NWRD THRU ERN VA/DE AND INTO NEW
JERSEY. OTHERWISE...PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY WED INTO WED
NGT...THEN GENERALLY MOSTLY CLOUDY OR CLOUDY THU THRU FRI. HIGHS
ON WED WILL RANGE FM THE MID 60S TO MID 70S. LOWS WED NGT WILL BE
MAINLY IN THE LWR TO MID 50S. HIGHS ON THU AND FRI WILL RANGE THRU
THE 60S TO NEAR 70. LOWS THU NGT WILL BE IN THE UPR 40S TO LWR
50S.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AN UPPER LOW IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY LIFT TO THE NE FRIDAY NIGHT
INTO SATURDAY. POPS RANGE FROM ~20% SW TO 30-40% NE FRIDAY NIGHT
WITH A PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY...FOLLOWED BY PARTLY SUNNY
CONDITIONS SATURDAY WITH A 20% CHC OF SHOWERS OVER THE ERN HALF OF
THE AREA. FORECAST LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S TO LOW
50S...WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE MID/UPPER 60S OVER THE ERN
SHORE...TO THE LOW 70S FOR INLAND VA/NE NC. A COLD FRONT APPROACHES
FROM THE N SATURDAY NIGHT AND CROSSES THE AREA SUNDAY. GFS/CMC
REMAIN SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE ECMWF...BUT THE OVERALL CONSENSUS IS
FOR A SUNDAY FRONTAL PASSAGE. MOISTURE APPEARS LIMITED WITH THIS
BOUNDARY...WITH ONLY A SLIGHT CHC POP WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE.
HIGHS SUNDAY RISE INTO THE MID/UPPER 70S AFTER MORNING LOWS IN THE
50S. A MID/UPPER RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH
WEAK HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST. THIS SHOULD
LEAD TO GENERALLY DRY AND MILD CONDITIONS...WITH CURRENT FORECAST
HIGHS IN THE MID/UPPER 70S MONDAY AND MODERATING INTO THE UPPER 70S
TO LOW 80S TUESDAY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE W LATE
IN THE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION /21Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
CONSIDERABLE CLOUD COVER WAS OVER THE TAF SITES AT MIDDAY. A COLD
FRONT WAS SITUATED FROM JUST N OF RIC AND SBY AND CONTINUING TO THE
W/SW MOVING VERY SLOWLY SE. CONDITIONS AT THE TAF SITES WERE VARYING
BETWEEN VFR AND MVFR. RADAR SHOWED WIDELY SCT LGT SHOWERS OVER
PORTIONS OF THE AREA. HAVE SHOWERS AT VARIOUS TIMES IN THE TAFS
LATE AFTN/EARLY EVENING.

HAVE THE FRONT MOVE THROUGH RIC/SBY NEXT FEW HOURS AND REACHING PHF
AND ORF OVERNIGHT. WINDS TURN TO THE NE AND CIGS LOWER TO MVFR THEN
LATER IFR BEHIND THE FRONT. AT SBY AND ORF...HAVE LIFR CIGS AND
IFR VSBYS EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING BASED ON CONSENSUS OF MODEL/MOS
DATA. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL IN THE MORNING JUST NORTH OF
ECG.

WIDESPREAD IFR IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH ONLY SLOW
IMPROVEMENT. KEPT ALL THE TAF SITES IFR THROUGH 18Z EXCEPT SLIGHTLY
BETTER AT RIC. CONDITIONS MAY BE A LITTLE BETTER BY 18Z BUT A LOW
OVERCAST IS EXPECTED TO HANG IN FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY.

OUTLOOK...UNSETTLED CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY AS AN UPPER
LOW SETTLES OVER THE AREA WITH PERIODS OF IFR. DRY WEATHER IS
EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND AS THE LOW PULLS SLOWLY OFF TO THE EAST
WITH AN IMPROVING TREND IN AVIATION CONDITIONS.

&&

.MARINE...
A RATHER DIFFUSE COLD FRONT IS GRADUALLY DROPPING INTO THE
MID-ATLANTIC REGION THIS AFTN. THE WIND REMAINS SW AOB 10KT AHEAD OF
THE FRONT...AND IS NORTHERLY AOB 10KT ON THE COOL-SIDE OF THE
BOUNDARY. THE FRONT GRADUALLY DROPS TO NEAR THE VA/NC BORDER
OVERNIGHT WITH THE WIND BECOMING ENE 10-15KT ACROSS THE NRN BAY AND
NRN OCEAN ZONES. SEAS AVERAGE 2-3FT THIS AFTN...AND BUILD TO 3-4 FT
N OF CHINCOTEAGUE LATER TONIGHT. WAVES IN THE BAY GENERALLY
AVERAGE 1-2 FT. BROAD LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OFF THE COAST
WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM APPROACHES
FROM THE W. MEANWHILE...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY DISSIPATES. ANOTHER
LOW THEN DEVELOPS IN VICINITY OF THE COAST THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY
NIGHT AS THE UPPER SYSTEM PASSES OVER THE AREA. THE WIND REMAINS
AOB 15KT THROUGH THIS PERIOD WITH THE DIRECTION AVERAGING NE THEN
N ACROSS THE NRN PORTION OF THE MARINE AREA...TO W THEN NW ACROSS
THE SRN PORTION OF THE AREA. LOW PRESSURE GRADUALLY MOVES OFFSHORE
FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY WITH NW FLOW AOB 15KT. A COLD FRONT CROSSES
THE COAST SUNDAY. SEAS AVERAGE 2-3 FT S...TO 3-4 FT N THROUGH THE
PERIOD WITH 1-2 FT WAVES IN THE BAY...TO 2-3 FT AT THE MOUTH OF
THE BAY.

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
NC...NONE.
VA...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...TMG
NEAR TERM...TMG
SHORT TERM...TMG
LONG TERM...AJZ
AVIATION...LSA
MARINE...AJZ

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 1:48 AM EST, 15 hours 22 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
248 AM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

MDZ021>025-NCZ016-017-102-VAZ048-060>062-064-067>069-075>078-080>086-
089-090-095-097>100-509>525-040700-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-FLUVANNA-PRINCE EDWARD-
CUMBERLAND-GOOCHLAND-CAROLINE-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-WESTMORELAND-
RICHMOND-NORTHUMBERLAND-LANCASTER-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-
CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-SURRY-JAMES CITY-
NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-CHESAPEAKE-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-
248 AM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ012>015-030>032-VAZ065-066-079-087-088-092-093-096-040700-
NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-
MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-BRUNSWICK-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SOUTHAMPTON-
ISLE OF WIGHT-SUFFOLK-
248 AM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

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...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING. PRIMARY THREATS ARE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 3:40 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
440 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ064-075-510-511-517-519-521-032130-
CAROLINE-WESTERN KING WILLIAM-WESTMORELAND-EASTERN LOUISA-WESTERN
HANOVER-WESTERN KING AND QUEEN-WESTERN ESSEX-
440 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL LOUISA...
NORTHWESTERN KING WILLIAM...NORTHWESTERN KING AND QUEEN...
NORTHWESTERN ESSEX...CAROLINE...WEST CENTRAL WESTMORELAND AND NORTH
CENTRAL HANOVER COUNTIES...

AT 439 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LADYSMITH...OR
10 MILES WEST OF MILFORD...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BOWLING GREEN AND MILFORD AROUND 455 PM EDT.
  FORT A.P. HILL AROUND 500 PM EDT.
  NEWTOWN AROUND 515 PM EDT.
  LORETTO AROUND 520 PM EDT.
  CHAMPLAIN AROUND 525 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE SUPPLY...UPSHAW...CEDAR
FORK...ELEVON...DUANE FORK...HUSTLE...WOODFORD...GOLANSVILLE...SPARTA AND
BURRUSS CORNER.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3820 7725 3819 7724 3820 7722 3817 7718
      3817 7715 3815 7712 3816 7709 3814 7708
      3819 7705 3818 7692 3817 7692 3818 7691
      3776 7710 3804 7784 3806 7778 3805 7775
      3802 7775 3803 7773 3799 7764 3821 7740
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 284DEG 37KT 3808 7756

MINNICK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:02 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
502 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ060-061-066>068-032145-
PRINCE EDWARD-AMELIA-NOTTOWAY-LUNENBURG-CUMBERLAND-
502 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LUNENBURG...WESTERN
NOTTOWAY...SOUTHWESTERN AMELIA...PRINCE EDWARD AND SOUTHWESTERN
CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...

AT 501 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HAMPDEN SYDNEY
COLLEGE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE AROUND 505 PM EDT.
  LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY AROUND 510 PM EDT.
  RICE AROUND 520 PM EDT.
  GREEN BAY AROUND 525 PM EDT.
  BURKEVILLE AROUND 535 PM EDT.
  CREWE AROUND 540 PM EDT.
  NOTTOWAY AROUND 545 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE RODOPHIL...BURKES
TAVERN...OLIVEVILLE...SIMPLICITY...STODDERT...TUGGLE...RUBERMOUNT...BRIERY
CREEK LAKE...ARVINS STORE AND SCHOLFIELD.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 3735 7855 3735 7853 3733 7851 3733 7849
      3734 7849 3734 7846 3737 7844 3737 7801
      3692 7813 3706 7845 3708 7844 3709 7848
      3711 7850 3713 7851 3715 7855 3714 7858
      3715 7859
TIME...MOT...LOC 2101Z 282DEG 24KT 3720 7848

MINNICK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:24 PM EST, 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
524 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ064-075>077-521-032215-
CAROLINE-WESTMORELAND-NORTHUMBERLAND-RICHMOND-WESTERN ESSEX-
524 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN NORTHUMBERLAND...
CENTRAL RICHMOND...NORTHWESTERN ESSEX...NORTHEASTERN CAROLINE AND
WESTMORELAND COUNTIES...

AT 523 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PORT ROYAL...OR
7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KING GEORGE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  COLONIAL BEACH AROUND 530 PM EDT.
  LEEDSTOWN AROUND 535 PM EDT.
  MONTROSS AND NEWLAND AROUND 545 PM EDT.
  HAGUE AND COLES POINT AROUND 600 PM EDT.
  KINSALE AROUND 605 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE SINGERLY...TEMPLEMAN...
WESTMORELAND STATE...PINEY GROVE...CHANCE...KREMLIN...VILLAGE...LYELLS...
GIBEON AND THREEWAY.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 3826 7696 3821 7695 3820 7691 3817 7687
      3815 7661 3811 7660 3808 7655 3790 7661
      3815 7724 3820 7722 3817 7718 3817 7715
      3815 7712 3816 7709 3814 7707 3817 7706
      3818 7705 3826 7705 3828 7698
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 285DEG 36KT 3820 7709

MINNICK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:27 PM EST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
527 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ065-032215-
MECKLENBURG-
527 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN LUNENBURG AND CENTRAL
MECKLENBURG COUNTIES...

AT 527 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR REDOAK...MOVING
EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CHASE CITY AROUND 540 PM EDT.
  BOYDTON AROUND 555 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE SPANISH GROVE...
SKIPWITH...NORTH VIEW...JOHN H KERR DAM...BASKERVILLE...ROGERS CORNER...
BEECHWOOD...FAIRVIEW...WIGHTMAN AND JOHN H KERR RESERVOIR.

IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING OR HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE AT RISK. TAKE SHELTER
INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CANNOT FIND SHELTER IN A BUILDING A
VEHICLE PROVIDES SAFETY FROM LIGHTNING.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

LAT...LON 3683 7854 3683 7829 3681 7824 3680 7817
      3679 7815 3657 7822 3670 7865
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 274DEG 19KT 3674 7855

ZIMMERMAN

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:27 PM EST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
527 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ064-076-517-519>522-032200-
CAROLINE-WESTERN KING WILLIAM-EASTERN ESSEX-RICHMOND-WESTERN KING AND
QUEEN-EASTERN KING AND QUEEN-WESTERN ESSEX-
527 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL RICHMOND...
NORTHWESTERN KING WILLIAM...NORTHWESTERN KING AND QUEEN...CENTRAL
ESSEX AND SOUTHEASTERN CAROLINE COUNTIES...

AT 527 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NEWTOWN...OR 8
MILES NORTHWEST OF SAINT STEPHENS CHURCH...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  SAINT STEPHENS CHURCH AROUND 540 PM EDT.
  MILLERS TAVERN AROUND 550 PM EDT.
  TAPPAHANNOCK AROUND 555 PM EDT.
  DUNNSVILLE AROUND 600 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE REXBURG...UPSHAW...
ELEVON...BRAYS FORK...DUANE FORK...GLOBE...SPARTA...HENLEY FORK...OWENTON
AND HOWERTONS.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

LAT...LON 3796 7676 3767 7686 3785 7734 3804 7728
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 281DEG 29KT 3789 7715

MINNICK

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:44 PM EST, 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
544 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

VAZ067-079-080-032230-
BRUNSWICK-NOTTOWAY-DINWIDDIE-
544 PM EDT TUE MAY 3 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN LUNENBURG...
NORTHEASTERN BRUNSWICK...NOTTOWAY...SOUTHEASTERN AMELIA AND WESTERN
DINWIDDIE COUNTIES...

AT 543 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NOTTOWAY...OR
NEAR BLACKSTONE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  FORT PICKETT AND SPAINVILLE AROUND 555 PM EDT.
  WILSONS AROUND 605 PM EDT.
  MCKENNEY AROUND 620 PM EDT.
  DEWITT AROUND 630 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE WELLVILLE...CLAY STORE...
BLACKSTONE AIRPORT...NORTH WELLVILLE...HEBRON...FORD...CHURCH ROAD...
DOMINY CORNER...MURDOCKS AND THE FALLS.

STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THESE WIND GUSTS ARE
CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN TREE LIMBS...SMALL OR WEAKENED TREES...AND
BLOWING AROUND TRASH CANS...POTTED PLANTS...LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER
LIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

LAT...LON 3723 7815 3721 7785 3719 7780 3720 7777
      3719 7775 3720 7773 3719 7759 3692 7767
      3700 7801 3702 7801 3701 7804 3703 7812
      3705 7816 3706 7817 3708 7817 3708 7818
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 279DEG 27KT 3711 7806

ZIMMERMAN

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Essex

When: May 3, 5:10 PM EST
Where: Essex County, 0.69 mi N of Center Cross
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.810, -76.780

Funnel cloud was reported near Center Cross.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mecklenburg

When: May 3, 5:13 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, 2.32 mi ESE of Redlawn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.620, -78.210

Trees were downed along Smith Cross Roads and Highway 1.

Hail, Essex

When: May 3, 5:16 PM EST
Where: Essex County, 3.28 mi E of Montague
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.770, -76.690

Quarter size hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, King and Queen

When: May 3, 5:16 PM EST
Where: King and Queen County, 1.49 mi SSW of Crouch
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.730, -76.880

Trees were downed along Powcan Road and The Trail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex

When: May 3, 5:22 PM EST
Where: Middlesex County, 1.09 mi W of Church View
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Airplane Pilot
Coordinates: 37.680, -76.700

Trees were downed along Briary Swamp Road and Dragon Run Bridge near Jamaica.

Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex

When: May 3, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Middlesex County, 0.69 mi N of Saluda
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.610, -76.600

Trees were downed in Saluda.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brunswick

When: May 3, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Brunswick County, 0.89 mi NE of Ebony
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.580, -77.990

Trees were downed just north of Ebony.

Hail, Northampton

When: May 3, 7:07 PM EST
Where: Northampton County, 0.55 mi E of Exmore
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.530, -75.820

Quarter size hail was reported near Exmore.

What these are

Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, May 2016

Sources

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: 637377, 637380, 637378, 637381, 637382, 637383, 637384, 637379.