An unusually strong cold front moved across the central Appalachians on July 8th, aiding to trigger a few severe thunderstorms across the Southside of Virginia. Strong afternoon heating ahead of the front promoted surface-based CAPE values in the 1000-1500 J/Kg range, while deep moisture across the mid-Atlantic aided in producing water-loaded downdrafts.
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.
An unusually strong cold front moved across the central Appalachians on July 8th, aiding to trigger a few severe thunderstorms across the Southside of Virginia. Strong afternoon heating ahead of the front promoted surface-based CAPE values in the 1000-1500 J/Kg range, while deep moisture across the mid-Atlantic aided in producing water-loaded downdrafts.
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 8, 1:35 PM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 235 PM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will travel southeast across our region this evening into tonight. Behind the front, expect cooler temperatures and dry weather for tonight and Sunday. Mainly dry weather is anticipated again Monday followed by a gradual warming and moistening trend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 235 PM EDT Saturday... An upper level trough will deepen across the Ohio Valley this afternoon into Sunday. In response to the deepening upper level trough, a cold front will travel east across our region this afternoon into tonight, then it stalls Sunday along the Carolina Coast. Moisture is expected to pool along the front resulting scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening. Storms will develop over the higher terrain and spread eastward into the Piedmont. Shaped the evening into tonight ISC pops towards a blend of HRRR and NAM. The SPC mesoscale analysis showed deep layer moisture flux convergence along the southern Blue ridge mountains. LIs at 18z were minus 2 to minus 4 and SBcapes were 1000 to 1500 j/kg across southern portions of the forecast area. The SPC Day One convective outlook highlights a marginal to slight risk across a large portion of the forecast area. The slight risk is in the south from Darby in Wilkes to MTV in Henry to Drakes Branch in Charlotte county. The main threat is for stronger thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts through the evening hours. Behind the front, advection of cooler temperatures and drier air is anticipated tonight. Added some patchy fog in the Greenbrier Valley late tonight into Sunday morning. Low temperatures tonight will range from the lower 50s in the mountains to the mid 60s in the Piedmont. Noticeably less humid Sunday as a 500 mb longwave trough digs into the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians. To the southeast, little to no significant effects expected from stalled remnant frontal zone in the eastern Carolinas. Any early-morning stratus or fog erodes quickly by mid Sunday morning. Plenty of sunshine is welcomed for Sunday afternoon with high temperatures from the lower 70s in the northwest mountains to the upper 80s in the Piedmont. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 235 PM EDT Saturday... Surface high pressure will be centered over the Mid Atlantic region on Sunday night through Monday night. Moisture will be limited during this time frame with surface dew points in the 50s and precipitable water values between 0.5 and 0.75 inches. This high fades and southwest low level winds around subtropical high take over on Tuesday, increasing moisture across the area. Chance for showers and thunderstorms remains confined north of I-64 and south of I-40. Stayed at or just below bias corrected MOS guidance for lows on Sunday night, especially along the ridge in southeast West Virginia and in the elevated valleys like Burkes Garden and Mountain Lake. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 1245 PM EDT Saturday... More zonal pattern Tuesday night through Thursday at 500 MB with the upper ridge across the southern half of the country. Heights over the Mid Atlantic region rise to just over 590 dm by Tuesday. 500 MB flow amplifies by next weekend with a strong ridge again over the west and trofing in the east. Hot air mass in the west builds east at the beginning of the week, reaching southeast West Virginia, southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina on Tuesday. Models suggest enough synoptic support on Friday for a more organized threat of showers and thunderstorms. Not out of the question for a convective complex to impact the region at some point next week as clusters of showers and thunderstorms move along a front that will extend from the mid Mississippi Valley to the Carolinas by Saturday morning. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 134 PM EDT Saturday... Surface cold front will pass through the Mid-Atlantic Region this afternoon into tonight with a wind shift from southwest to northwest. Scattered MVFR convection will take place primarily ahead of the front this afternoon into tonight. Showers and thunderstorms will advance south and east into the piedmont of NC and far eastern VA. The taf site with the best chance for a thunderstorm is KDAN. Decided to add mention in taf because storm could contain gusty winds. Kept VCTS in most taf locations ahead of the front. Cooler dryer air will move into the region tonight and Sunday promoting VFR. Models suggest some potential for IFR fog in the mountain valleys tonight. There is enough wind to hint fog development. Elected to add mention of MVFR fog in KLWB where the opportunity is greatest a few hours early Sunday. VFR conditions will continue Sunday afternoon. High confidence in ceilings, visibilities and winds during the taf period. Extended Aviation Discussion... A dry airmass will infiltrate the Mid-Atlantic region for the latter half of the weekend as dry High Pressure builds across the forecast area from the northwest. This will result in VFR conditions Sunday night and Monday. Moisture will make a return by the middle of the week with MVFR showers/storms and potential for late night fog returning for Tuesday-Thursday. The unsettled weather could hold on into the weekend. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...KK NEAR TERM...KK SHORT TERM...AMS LONG TERM...AMS AVIATION...KK/PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 318 PM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032-043-044-058-059-091200- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Patrick-Henry- Pittsylvania-Halifax-Charlotte- 318 PM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a slight risk for severe storms this afternoon and evening. The main threat is damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Heat index values will be near 100 degrees Wednesday afternoon. Otherwise there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>018-022-023-033>035-045>047-WVZ042-091200- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Roanoke-Botetourt-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Mercer- 318 PM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a marginal risk for strong to severe storms in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina this afternoon and evening. The main threat is isolated strong to damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ019-020-024-WVZ043-044-507-508-091200- Alleghany VA-Bath-Rockbridge-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 318 PM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. 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
307 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017
VAZ009-081930-
Smyth-
307 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL SMYTH COUNTY...
At 307 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Chilhowie,
moving southeast at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Marion...
Chilhowie...
Thomas Bridge...
Adwolf...
and Quarry.
LAT...LON 3689 8172 3681 8145 3668 8164 3679 8170
3684 8175
TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 302DEG 19KT 3683 8169
DSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 402 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017 VAZ044-058-082030- Halifax-Pittsylvania- 402 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL HALIFAX COUNTIES... At 402 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Chalk Level, moving east at 25 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Chatham... Mt Airy... Ingram... Java... and Leda. LAT...LON 3685 7944 3697 7924 3692 7896 3670 7920 TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 289DEG 21KT 3687 7927 DS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 433 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017 VAZ058-082100- Halifax- 433 PM EDT SAT JUL 8 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL HALIFAX COUNTY... At 432 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Leda, moving east at 35 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Nathalie... Mt Laurel... Leda... and Crystal Hill. If you are on or near Banister Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. LAT...LON 3683 7913 3693 7911 3695 7875 3676 7876 TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 275DEG 28KT 3687 7906 DS
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Highway 501, with another blown down on Lower Liberty Road.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Clarkton Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Thomas Jefferson Highway and two trees were blown down on Virginian Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Pounds Road.
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Route 58.
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees in a swath near the intersection of Philpott Road and Turbeville Road.
Two tree tops and three wrist-size limbs were blown down by thunderstorm winds in 10200 block of Huell Matthews Highway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 2017
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: 700178, 700166, 700179, 700175, 700177, 700171, 700167, 700169.