Lightning struck a power line, breaking it in half. Small limbs also were knocked off a tree.
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.
Lightning struck a power line, breaking it in half. Small limbs also were knocked off a tree.
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 Aug 15, 3:18 PM EST, 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 418 PM EDT Mon Aug 15 2016 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure centered over the western Atlantic will remain nearly stationary through Tuesday. A frontal boundary will also remain nearly stationary, extending from New England into the Ohio Valley. This front will eventually get kicked farther south and east by an upper level trough of low pressure which will move across the northern tier states later in the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 405 PM EDT Monday... Radar showed isolated to scattered thunderstorms with the better coverage west of the Blue Ridge. Freezing level between 13500 and 15000 feet and precipitable water values from 1.5 to 1.8 inches were contributing to efficient warm rain processes. Similar to past few night thunderstorms will dissipate between 10PM and midnight. With little change in the weather pattern...once clearing occurs overnight, west valleys and locations that had rain this afternoon will have early morning fog. Combination of persistence and MAV guidance was used for lows tonight and high temperatures on Tuesday. Some of the guidance for coverage of thunderstorms was on the more pessimistic side but stayed with a pattern closer to coverage from Sunday and today. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 1245 PM EDT Monday... During this portion of the forecast, a cold front is forecast to slowly progress into, through, and then perhaps just south of the region. The result will increasing chances of showers and storms during the daytime hours as compared to simply diurnally and orographically based convection. Coverage is expected to be greatest Wednesday afternoon and evening across the central and southern portions of the region. By Thursday night, coverage will be confined to primarily isolated to scattered coverage near and south of the VA/NC border with limited if any activity near the I-64 corridor. Temperatures will be warmest on Wednesday compared to slightly cooler conditions for Thursday. Despite this minor decrease in temperature, readings will still average about five to ten degrees above normal for lows and less than five degrees above normal for the high temperatures. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 115 PM EDT Monday... Our trend towards a drier air mass across the area is short lived. By Friday night, the cold front to our south is expected to return north again as a warm front in response to an approaching upper tough in the central U.S. Look for daytime/evening chances of showers and storms to again increase across the area. Based upon the latest guidance, Sunday will have the potential for the best coverage, along with the best chance for strong storms with and approach and passage of a strong cold front. Precipitation chances will decrease again Monday in the wake of the cold front as high pressure builds into the area. Temperatures will show very little deviation from day to day during this part of the forecast. Values will continue to average about five to ten degrees above normal for lows and less than five degrees above normal for the high temperatures. && .AVIATION /20Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 110 PM EDT Monday... Radar images since noon have shown the development of isolated to scattered thunderstorms along the west of the Blue Ridge. Probability of storms will continue until 23Z/7PM. Medium to high confidence for scattered to numerous during that time frame. KLWB and KBLF will have a higher chance of storms than KLYH and KDAN. The more intense storms today have the potential to produce strong gusty winds. Aside from any sub-VFR associated with the TSRA, conditions through the afternoon and evening should be VFR. Medium to high confidence for fog in the mountain valleys again late tonight with potential for LIFR in the Greenbrier Valley of WV vicinity of KLWB, and across the New River Valley of VA impacting KBCB/KPSK/KMKJ. Conditions will be similar on Tuesday with the fog dissipate and VFR conditions by 14Z/10AM then more thunderstorms after 16Z/noon. Extended aviation discussion... Same pattern will continue Tuesday as a subtropical upper ridge remains anchored along the NC/VA coast. A frontal system will be stalled well to our north across from OH into PA with primary thunderstorm threat confined to this frontal boundary. Thunderstorm coverage across our forecast area will remain widely scattered with little or no organization and confined mainly to the mountains during the peak heating times of the day (18Z/2PM to 00Z/8PM). For the second half of the week, Wednesday and beyond, the area of high pressure along the southeast Atlantic coast is expected to weaken. This will allow the aforementioned frontal system to begin moving southward toward the region, resulting in an increased probability of showers/thunderstorms with attendant periods of MVFR cigs/vsbys. Early morning low clouds and fog will likely be on the increase also. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS SHORT TERM...DS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...AMS/PM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 124 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016 NCZ001>004-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-WVZ042>044-507-508- 161100- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-WATAUGA-WILKES-YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH- BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG- ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN- BEDFORD-AMHERST-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-EASTERN GREENBRIER- WESTERN GREENBRIER- 124 PM EDT MON AUG 15 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS THE PRIMARY THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ005-006-VAZ043>047-058-059-161100- ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 124 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AS THE PRIMARY THREAT. HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY GET CLOSE TO 105 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. ASIDE FROM THE HEAT...THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
358 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
VAZ024-152030-
ROCKBRIDGE-
358 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHWESTERN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY...
AT 358 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER ROCKBRIDGE
BATHS...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GOSHEN...
ROCKBRIDGE BATHS...
BELLS VALLEY...
BROWNSBURG...
AND FAIRFIELD.
LAT...LON 3803 7939 3796 7927 3780 7934 3791 7960
3797 7957 3803 7951 3804 7952 3805 7952
3806 7950 3808 7948
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 188DEG 19KT 3793 7945
SKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
411 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0153 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW ROANOKE 37.29N 79.99W
08/15/2016 CITY OF ROANOKE VA 911 CALL CENTER
SEVEN TREES DOWN IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE CITY OF
ROANOKE...TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR
&&
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
418 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM FLOOD ROANOKE 37.28N 79.96W
08/15/2016 CITY OF ROANOKE VA 911 CALL CENTER
THREE SWIFT WATER RESCUES REPORTED IN DOWNTOWN
ROANOKE...SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE TO TREES DOWN AND
FLOODING...HIGHEST DEPTH OF WATER ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT A
FOOT
&&
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
432 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0145 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 W ROANOKE 37.28N 80.00W
08/15/2016 CITY OF ROANOKE VA PUBLIC
SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON NORWAY AVENUE
&&
PWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 447 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016 VAZ010-011-WVZ042>044-152115- BLAND-GILES-SUMMERS-MERCER-MONROE- 447 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN GILES...NORTHEASTERN BLAND...SOUTHEASTERN SUMMERS... SOUTHEASTERN MERCER AND SOUTHWESTERN MONROE COUNTIES... AT 447 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER WILLOWTON... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NARROWS... ATHENS... PETERSTOWN... PIPESTEM... AND RICH CREEK. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 3721 8096 3729 8108 3765 8090 3752 8060 TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 209DEG 22KT 3735 8093 WP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
504 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
VAZ016-017-032-152130-
FLOYD-CARROLL-PATRICK-
504 PM EDT MON AUG 15 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTH CENTRAL PATRICK...SOUTHWESTERN FLOYD AND EAST CENTRAL CARROLL
COUNTIES...
AT 503 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WILLIS...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLOYD...
INDIAN VALLEY...
WILLIS...
ROCKY KNOB RECREATION AREA...
AND MABRY MILL.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3671 8062 3699 8053 3700 8052 3701 8052
3701 8051 3699 8050 3699 8049 3700 8048
3699 8048 3700 8047 3688 8024 3667 8045
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 211DEG 12KT 3679 8051
WPThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:02 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a power line, breaking it in half. Small limbs also were knocked off a tree. Damage values are estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 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: 657132.