A closed upper level low combined with a passing cold front sparked scattered severe thunderstorm during the afternoon. These storms blew down plenty of trees and power lines, and they also produced large hail up to the size of half dollar coins.
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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 closed upper level low combined with a passing cold front sparked scattered severe thunderstorm during the afternoon. These storms blew down plenty of trees and power lines, and they also produced large hail up to the size of half dollar coins.
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 12, 9:37 AM EST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1037 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A weak cold front will shift southeast across the area today beneath an upper level area of low pressure that will sink into the mountains this afternoon and tonight. Added rounds of showers and stronger storms will accompany the front today with lingering scattered showers and thunderstorms into Monday. Weak high pressure builds in with somewhat drier weather for the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1037 AM EDT Sunday... Adjusted this morning pops with latest radar and their trends. Then, pops and weather were shaped with a blend of the Hiresw- Arw-east and HRRR. The latest Day One Convective outlook has a marginal risk of severe weather for much of the forecast area. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop as diabatic heating reduces MLCINH. The upper trough should close off and travel southeast this afternoon into tonight. Associated low-level destabilization will coincide with the increase of large-scale lift associated with the upper low. Low level moisture convergence will combine with heating and surface boundaries to generate showers and thunderstorms quickly across the mountains. Then, convection will spread eastward across our forecast area. The main threats for this afternoon are damaging winds, hail and heavy rains. Adjusted temperatures with the latest surface obs, their trends and blended towards GLAMP for late morning into this afternoon. More changes later this morning... As of 315 AM EDT Sunday... Active day appears in store as the weak cold front to the northwest shifts slowly southeast beneath the developing cut off low sinking south into the mountains. Appears combination of cooling aloft and moist PWATs to lead to high instability espcly east of the Blue Ridge this afternoon where the greatest threat for more organized storms will exist. This boundary should help fire convection initially over the far western mountains as soon as midday before pushing east and organizing/strengthening east of the mountains by mid afternoon. Latest model severe parameters also show the best support along and just east of the Blue Ridge as clusters over the west become more linear within better lift heading east of the mountains. This evolution supported by most solutions although low level winds quite weak with the severe wind threat driven more initially by pulse per stronger winds aloft, and outflow with the possible eastern line. Lapse rates also appear weak with stronger winds likely within wet microbursts given the degree of moisture seen in forecast soundings out east. Other threat will also be with heavy rain although appears storms will move better once things organize so appears flooding threat more isolated at this point. Thus wont hoist a watch out east espcly after a couple days of drying and some boost in flash flood guidance at this point. Otherwise lowered pops to start the morning with some fog around before quickly ramping up to likelys just west of the Blue Ridge early afternoon, followed by likely to categorical coverage east with inclusion of a gusty wind/heavy rain mention. Expect a bit more heating early on so bumped up highs slightly with eastern sections possibly reaching the upper 80s, while range elsewhere from the 70s far west to low/mid 80s Blue Ridge. Expect stronger storms within the line to exit the east by early this evening as the band accelerates a bit. However with the cold pool lingering, may see added shower/storm development espcly central/northern sections through midnight. Thus held onto chance pops this evening before showers lift north ahead of the closed upper system after midnight. Should also see enough clearing in the wake of the convection per developing light northerly flow aloft to allow more fog formation late espcly in the wake of the earlier rainfall. Lows mostly in the 60s although likely to see enough cooling behind the showers to allow for more 50s western valleys where radiational cooling should be better. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 545 AM EDT Sunday... The upper low of earlier in the week will lift out. A brief short wave ridge will drift over the area Wed-Thu resulting in a minimum of convective activity. However, the northern stream, anchored just south of the Canadian border, will remain quite active with a series of vigorous troughs or closed lows steadily moving along near the 40-45 degree latitude line. This will continue to result in an active weather pattern across the north and northeast with effects into the mid-latitudes as well. The Gulf is also fairly open, but absent any tropical activity. Expected continued bouts of active convection interspersed with slightly less active periods. Temperatures will change little through the period with highs near normal mostly in the lower to mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s, remaining slightly above normal. Humidity levels will remain high through the period with no appreciable air mass changes expected. /Forecast Confidence Levels/ Temperatures - High, Precipitation Chances - Moderate, Winds - Moderate to High, Thunderstorm Chances - Moderate to High. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 545 AM EDT Sunday... The upper low of earlier in the week will lift out. A brief short wave ridge will drift over the area Wed-Thu resulting in a minimum of convective activity. However, the northern stream, anchored just south of the Canadian border, will remain quite active with a series of vigorous troughs or closed lows steadily moving along near the 40-45 degree latitude line. This will continue to result in an active weather pattern across the north and northeast with effects into the mid-latitudes as well. The Gulf is also fairly open, but absent any tropical activity. Expected continued bouts of active convection interspersed with slightly less active periods. Temperatures will change little through the period with highs near normal mostly in the lower to mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s, remaining slightly above normal. Humidity levels will remain high through the period with no appreciable air mass changes expected. /Forecast Confidence Levels/ Temperatures - High, Precipitation Chances - Moderate, Winds - Moderate to High, Thunderstorm Chances - Moderate to High. && .AVIATION /14Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 705 AM EDT Sunday... Patchy fog/stratus will again result in local sub-VFR conditions to start this morning with most of this across the western valleys including KLWB. Should see most of this erode by mid morning leading to a period of VFR across the region toward midday. An isolated shower could occur mainly south and west of KBLF/KLWB early on but wont include mention for now. Flying conditions will then deteriorate from northwest to southeast this afternoon as a stalling upper low positioned to our northwest combines with moderate instability ahead of a cold front to allow for scattered to potentially numerous showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours. The latest model suite continues to show initial storms developing along or just west of the Blue Ridge early this afternoon and congealing into a broken line of storms as they march east between 17-23z. Will thus have a VCSH/VCTS mention at all locations into the afternoon and include a TEMPO group at sites along and east of the Blue Ridge where expecting a better shot at a storm impacting a terminal location. Storms may be capable of torrential rain and IFR/lower vsby, gusty outflow leading to localized wind shear/turbulence, and frequent lightning. Otherwise winds light and variable becoming northwest at 4 to 10 kts this afternoon. Main axis of stronger storms should shift east of the area around sunset although more isolated showers may linger over the mountains espcly near KLWB beneath the upper low. Otherwise expecting some slow clearing overnight which will lead to areas of fog formation espcly deeper valleys and eastern locations where perhaps heavier rainfall may have occurred. Medium confidence in ceilings, visibilities and winds during the taf period. Extended Discussion... Model solutions are coming into better agreement with cutting off an upper level low over Ohio into Monday. This situation should put the Mid Atlantic in an unsettled and wet pattern throughout this time period. Localized MVFR ceilings and visibilities will likely occur in scattered showers and thunderstorms. The upper level low should progress eastward by Tuesday and Wednesday to bring drier weather and a better chance of VFR conditions into midweek. && .EQUIPMENT... As of 1030 AM EDT Sunday... KFCX WSR-88D will be down until further notice due to a HV Transmitter Switch Failure. El techs are at the RDA and will be addressing the problem as soon as possible. No specific time for restoration known at this time. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...JH/KK NEAR TERM...JH/KK SHORT TERM...RAB LONG TERM...PH/RAB AVIATION...AL/JH/KK EQUIPMENT...RAB
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 420 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 NCZ003>006-020-VAZ016-017-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-130830- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Yadkin-Carroll-Floyd-Roanoke- Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry- Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 420 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Clusters and bands of strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible through late this afternoon with damaging winds the primary threat. Very heavy rainfall within the stronger storms may be enough to result in localized flooding. .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. NCZ001-002-018-019-VAZ007-009>015-018>020-WVZ042>044-507-508-130830- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Wilkes-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe- Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Mercer-Summers- Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 420 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Clusters of strong to isolated severe thunderstorms containing locally damaging winds and heavy rainfall will be possible this afternoon. .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.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1159 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
VAZ007-010-121645-
Tazewell-Bland-
1159 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL TAZEWELL AND SOUTHWESTERN BLAND COUNTIES...
Until 1245 PM EDT.
At 1156 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Tazewell,
moving east at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with
this storm. In addition, this storm is producing a prolonged period
of heavy rain, which may cause creeks and streams to fill quickly,
possibly rising out of their banks.
Locations impacted include...
Tazewell...
Burkes Garden...
Gratton...
and Asberrys.
Motorists are urged to drive slower and with extreme caution when
encountering heavy rain, especially on curves and where water is
ponding on the roadway surface.
LAT...LON 3721 8157 3717 8131 3697 8139 3697 8140
3701 8144 3699 8147 3700 8148 3702 8147
3701 8150 3700 8151 3704 8163
TIME...MOT...LOC 1556Z 284DEG 7KT 3710 8146
16Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1210 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
VAZ033-121700-
Franklin-
1210 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY...
Until 100 PM EDT.
At 1208 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were clustered near Ferrum,
moving northeast at 5 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible
with these storms. In addition, the storms are producing a prolonged
period of heavy rain, which may cause creeks and streams to fill
quickly, possibly rising out of their banks.
Locations impacted include...
Ferrum...
and Callaway.
Motorists are urged to drive slower and with extreme caution when
encountering heavy rain, especially on curves and where water is
ponding on the roadway surface.
LAT...LON 3685 8009 3695 8018 3696 8017 3695 8016
3695 8014 3698 8014 3699 8012 3700 8014
3701 8011 3702 8011 3709 8003 3694 7987
TIME...MOT...LOC 1608Z 236DEG 6KT 3694 8008
16Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1255 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
VAZ013-121730-
Pulaski-
1255 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN PULASKI COUNTY...
Until 130 PM EDT.
At 1254 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Dublin, moving
east at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Radford...
Pulaski...
Dublin...
Claytor Dam...
and Fairlawn.
LAT...LON 3718 8080 3725 8061 3721 8061 3718 8059
3720 8055 3720 8052 3718 8057 3716 8055
3715 8053 3714 8053 3715 8056 3712 8060
3708 8058 3708 8056 3706 8055 3704 8055
3705 8057 3702 8056 3704 8081 3716 8082
TIME...MOT...LOC 1654Z 267DEG 14KT 3713 8074
16The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree at the intersection of Route 114 and Viscoe Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees and tree limbs throughout the city of Radford. Trees knocked down a dozen power poles in the city, including near the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Vienna Avenue.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Claytor Dam Road and Wilderness Road.
Hail the size of quarters fell near the intersection of Prices Fork Road and Peppers Ferry Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree at the entrance to the Pulaski Hospital.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell from Lions Drive Northwest to Gobblers Spur.
Thunderstorm winds blew down large limbs near the intersection of Route 11 and Route 460 in Christiansburg.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Three Creeks Road and Lewis Ford Road and a second tree near the intersection of Route 501 and Swinging Bridge Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees along Route 687 from Falling Spring to Lake Moomaw.
Hail up to the size of half dollar coins fell in Madison Heights.
Thunderstorm winds blew down two trees along Ran Lynn Drive and were blocking the road.
Lightning struck a tree along the 6500 block of Sugar Hill Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down multiple trees and power lines along Dixie Airport Road in Madison Heights.
Lightning struck a house and set it on fire at the 2000 block of Leda Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree in the town of Phenix.
Thunderstorm winds blew down two trees along Climax Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Ridgeway Road and Pittsville Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a few large tree branches along Selma Low Moor Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew down two trees in the town of Charlotte Court House.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2018
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: 768458, 768467, 768461, 768471, 768476, 768479, 768488, 768512, 768543, 768544, 768497, 768534, 768545, 768519, 768523, 768537, 768540, 768542, 768530.