During the afternoon and evening of the 21st, the influence of an area of high pressure weakened, while the influence of an approaching frontal boundary strengthened. The result was the development of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms.
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.
During the afternoon and evening of the 21st, the influence of an area of high pressure weakened, while the influence of an approaching frontal boundary strengthened. The result was the development of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. One of these storms increased to severe levels and generated damaging winds.
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 21, 7:46 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 846 PM EDT Sat Jul 21 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A wedge of high pressure east of the Appalachians will gradually weaken tonight in advance of low pressure approaching from the northwest. This system will cross the region Sunday before spilling to the south by early next week. Scattered showers and storms will accompany this system today before rainfall becomes more widespread Sunday and through the first part of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 800 PM EDT Saturday... Convergence between easterly low level flow on the east side of the mountains and westerly flow associated with approaching upper level trough is resulting in scattered showers/storms across the mountains this evening. Upper level winds are out of the west, so this activity will drift east into the foothills and piedmont before dissipating during the overnight. Once the precipitation wanes after midnight, fog formation will be possible, particularly in areas which receive rain. Low level stratus is also possible late tonight and early Sunday. Upper level closed low will continue to sink south toward the gulf tomorrow, providing plenty of moisture ahead of the front before it finally stalls out to the east of the region by the end of the period. A short wave rotating around the upper level low could get get showers and thunderstorms started earlier than in a typical diurnal pattern which would reduce heating during the day and also the severe threat. Shower and thunderstorm coverage will peak during the afternoon into evening hours and will be more widespread than on Saturday. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM EDT Saturday... Blocky pattern remains in place with an upper ridge over the Atlantic and stacked closed low sinking south toward the Gulf coast with a distinct wedge signature in place through the period. This will gradually establish very deep moisture transport into the region with a well developed conveyor of southeasterly low level winds. This moisture will ride up over the top of the wedge and generate a good amount of isentropic lift along and east of the Appalachians. The end result will be persistent and occasionally heavy rain developing over the region, especially along and east of the Blue Ridge with some local enhancement from orographic effects possible. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches by daybreak Wednesday appear quite attainable. However, this wet period is arriving after a couple of weeks of hot and relatively dry conditions, so soils will be eager to absorb a good amount of water and this will help temper runoff. Local hydro issues will be possible if rain rates become excessive, but at this time larger scale flooding problems do not look likely through Tuesday night. Given the wedge and expected cloud cover high temperatures will be running a bit below normal through the first part of next week, though mins will be around normal. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 300 PM EDT Saturday... Once the closed low reaches the Gulf coast, it will open up and become assimilated into the mean flow as another closed low moves across southern Canada to near Hudson Bay by the end of next week. However, the net result will keep us in a wet pattern as a stalled frontal boundary develops over the Appalachians and central mid Atlantic region on the periphery of high pressure over the Atlantic. This is a more typical summertime pattern and will yield ample amounts of instability with lower amounts of shear in southwesterly low level flow. Expect daily rounds of thunderstorms with locally heavy rain and a severe threat generally dependent on storms that can organize into lines and/or clusters. Will have to see where the heaviest rain occurs early in the week to get a handle on where a flood threat may materialize later in the week. Temperatures will warm steadily through the middle of next week with highs by Friday in the upper 80s/near 90 east of the Blue Ridge and in the low/mid 80s to the west. && .AVIATION /01Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 800 PM EDT Saturday... An upper level trough over the Ohio Valley will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorm the next several days with greatest coverage during the afternoon and evening hours. This will result in highly variable flight conditions. In addition, shallow easterly low level winds may allow for the formation of fog/stratus along the Blue Ridge late tonight and early Sunday. Extended Aviation: Wet weather pattern is forecast for most of the upcoming week with a nearly stationary upper level trough of low pressure remaining over the eastern CONUS. As such, forecast will reflect Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms, but mainly during the afternoon hours coinciding with peak heating and instability. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...MBS NEAR TERM...JR/PM SHORT TERM...MBS LONG TERM...MBS AVIATION...PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 312 PM EDT Sat Jul 21 2018 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>034-043-044-WVZ042>044- 507-508-220900- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge- Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Henry-Pittsylvania-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 312 PM EDT Sat Jul 21 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to widely scattered severe thunderstorms containing damaging winds are possible Saturday afternoon and evening. Heavy rainfall that could result in localized flooding may also occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Several periods of heavy rainfall may bring a threat for flooding by the early to mid portion of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ035-045>047-058-059-220900- Amherst-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 312 PM EDT Sat Jul 21 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Several periods of heavy rainfall may bring a threat for flooding by the early to mid portion of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 749 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018 NCZ019-220015- Wilkes- 749 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WILKES COUNTY... Until 815 PM EDT At 749 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Cricket, moving northeast at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... North Wilkesboro... Wilkesboro... Hays... Mulberry... and Cricket. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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 3607 8121 3617 8128 3629 8111 3614 8103 TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 239DEG 13KT 3616 8120 RS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 800 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018 NCZ003-004-220045- Stokes-Surry- 800 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN SURRY AND WESTERN STOKES COUNTIES... Until 845 PM EDT At 759 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Level Cross, moving northeast at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Dobson... Pilot Mountain... Francisco... Pilot Mountain State Park... and Level Cross. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3640 8072 3655 8039 3631 8025 3629 8066 TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 246DEG 11KT 3634 8062 RS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
825 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
VAZ011-WVZ043-044-220130-
Giles-Summers-Monroe-
825 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN GILES...EASTERN
SUMMERS AND WESTERN MONROE COUNTIES...
Until 930 PM EDT
At 823 PM EDT, radar indicated thunderstorms were located along a
line extending from Hix to Parrott. Movement was east at 10 mph.
Torrential rainfall, at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour, is
occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do
not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Winds in excess of
30 mph are also possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Pearisburg...
Hinton...
Pembroke...
Peterstown...
and Sandstone.
LAT...LON 3782 8073 3731 8044 3721 8073 3771 8094
3770 8090 3767 8090 3768 8088 3769 8088
3770 8089 3773 8090 3774 8092 3777 8089
3779 8091 3784 8075
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 251DEG 10KT 3773 8085 3722 8064
RSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
826 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM HAIL 5 ESE BOOMER 36.03N 81.18W
07/21/2018 E0.88 INCH WILKES NC PUBLIC
&&
16Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
855 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
NCZ003-004-020-220200-
Stokes-Yadkin-Surry-
855 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN SURRY...STOKES
AND NORTHEASTERN YADKIN COUNTIES...
Until 1000 PM EDT
At 853 PM EDT, radar indicated thunderstorms were located along a
line extending from near Dobson to near King. Movement was east at
20 mph.
Torrential rainfall, at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour, is
occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do
not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Locations impacted include...
Dobson...
Pilot Mountain...
Walnut Cove...
Danbury...
and Francisco.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3638 8077 3655 8036 3654 8024 3638 8003
3634 8003 3626 8029 3626 8045 3624 8045
3622 8043 3621 8045
TIME...MOT...LOC 0053Z 259DEG 18KT 3640 8068 3627 8044
RSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
858 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0712 PM HAIL 3 SE BOOMER 36.04N 81.21W
07/21/2018 M1.75 INCH WILKES NC PUBLIC
GOLFBALL-SIZE HAIL WAS OBSERVED ALONG PRICE ROAD.
&&
16The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:13 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew two trees down and many tree limbs down within about a one and one-half mile wide area about two miles north of the Virginia, North Carolina state line.
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, July 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: 774691.