An upper level disturbance interacted with instability near the surface to help generate showers and storms across the region. A line of these storms crossed Patrick and Henry Counties and its associated winds downed two trees.
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 upper level disturbance interacted with instability near the surface to help generate showers and storms across the region. A line of these storms crossed Patrick and Henry Counties and its associated winds downed two trees.
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 30, 6:53 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 753 PM EDT Mon Jul 30 2018 .SYNOPSIS... East to southeast winds between high pressure to the northeast and low pressure to the southwest will pull in increasingly warm and muggy tropical air back into the mid- Appalachian region for at least the next several days. The threat for more widespread showers and thunderstorms will gradually increase through the period as a weak front approaches from the west and then stalls over or near the area through late in the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Monday... Weak wedging pattern remains in place this afternoon, with high pressure nosing southward from New England across the Piedmont, supporting a light east-southeasterly windflow across the mid- Atlantic region. Meanwhile, waves of upper level energy are rounding the base of an approaching upper level trough and have triggered scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly across the mountains, a few of which have intensified to severe levels. This trend will continue into late this evening and, while storm intensity will diminish, the possibility of locally heavy rain will persist as the southeasterly flow provides deep moisture into the mountains. Overnight, coverage of rainfall will decrease, making for widely scattered light shower activity by dawn, more so in the vicinity of the Blue Ridge where the terrain will provided added lift in the southeasterly flow. Low clouds will become widespread just after midnight, helping to limit cooling, with overnight temperatures holding in the mid 60s to the low 70s. Patchy fog is possible for areas which receive significant rainfall this evening, as well as any areas where low clouds break even for a short period of time. Deeper moisture will enter the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday as the upper trough deepens across the upper Mississippi Valley, resulting in an increasingly southerly wind shift as high pressure moves offshore. Believe coverage of showers and thunderstorms will increase during late morning as heating increases: spotty at first and then filling in during early afternoon and becoming more organized. With precipitable water values increasing into the 1.7 to nearly 2.0 inch range and CAPEs again rising to 1500+J/Kg, heavy rain will be the main concern. Would not be surprised for some storms to produce 2 to 3 inches rainfall amounts locally, possibly more, especially along and east of the Blue Ridge where surface convergence appears stronger. Will let the overnight shift have a look at evening synoptic data to determine if/where a flash flood watch is appropriate. Widespread clouds/scattered rain will hold afternoon temperatures in the upper 70s/low 80s. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 145 PM EDT Monday... We are offering very limited change to the forecast that was in place for this time period. A very generous plume of moisture is expected to advect northeast into the region from the eastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico in advance of a amplifying upper level trough positioned over the Mississippi River Valley. NAEFS Percentile output is still offering 90-99 percent values on elements such as precipitable water and 850mb specific humidity and the V- component of the wind across our region Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. This suggests high confidence in widespread coverage of showers and storms, with locally heavy rain likely. While the percentile numbers are not as high on Thursday, the overall synoptic pattern does not change that much, so that the weather should be similar to that of Wednesday. Thanks to abundant cloud cover and the expected precipitation, low temperatures are forecast to be slightly above normal and high temperatures will be slightly below normal. Forecast confidence in the above portion of the forecast is moderate to high regarding the overall synoptic pattern and temperature forecast. Confidence in a greater than normal coverage and amounts of precipitation is high. We will need to monitor daily rainfall amounts leading into the middle of the week to assess where any region may become more prone to flash flooding for any potential watches or warnings. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1215 PM EDT Monday... The weakening upper trough over the Mississippi River valley is expected to continue to do just that, dissipate, all while an upper high off the southeast U.S. coast retrogrades closer to the coast by the start or middle of the weekend. While our area will lose the upper level dynamics associated with its location on the eastern flanks of the trough, we will maintain a decent low level moisture feed off the eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico. This will allow for a transition of our precipitation becoming progressive diurnally based, and less organized as we head into the weekend. There will also be a trend toward warmer temperatures as heights build over the region and we lose the widespread coverage of cloud cover and precipitation. Our weather picture heading into early next week gets a bit more uncertain. The Canadian solution wants to bring the center of the upper high overhead and keep the better dynamics north of the region along the northern jet which is progged to become zonal over the U.S/Canadian border. The GFS is content to keep the upper high just off the southeast U.S. coast all while a shortwave trough dips south into the the mid-Atlantic region. The European solution is similar to the Canadian in that it keeps the best dynamics to our north near the U.S/Canadian border, but is more nebulous on just where the center of the upper high progresses and/or there is not just one main center, but perhaps as many as three bull's eye of high pressure, all across the southeast U.S. The European solution is close to a compromise of the other two solutions, and represents what would be close to typical early August summer pattern for the region with near normal temperatures and diurnally based convection. Our forecast will reflect this scenario for Monday. Forecast confidence in the above forecast scenario is moderate heading into the weekend, with levels dipping more to the low to moderate side for the Monday portion of the forecast. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 745 PM EDT Monday... Band of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms had developed from KLYH to KROA to KTNB this evening. This band of showers and thunderstorms will drift southeast through midnight and gradually weaken but not completely dissipate as indicated on the last few HRRR runs. Some wind gusts up to 25 knots with a few of these storms. Visibility also reduced to MVFR/IFR due to very heavy rain. Overnight, expect widespread MVFR to IFR stratus to redevelop. Additionally, may see areas of MVFR fog develop, especially where significant rainfall occurred. Expect a return of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon as a strong upper level disturbance approaches from the south. Do not expect much improvement in ceilings from the morning into the afternoon. Average confidence on areal coverage of precipitation and above average confidence in formation of stratus overnight. Extended... Tropical airmass is expected to remain over the forecast area through the longer-range terminal forecast period with widespread flight restrictions often to remain in the MVFR range or lower - especially in/near increasing threat/coverage of showers/thunderstorms as a frontal system approaches from the west and then stalls over the area by midweek. Therefore, any VFR flight is expected to be relatively short-lived, not widespread, and mainly confined to afternoon hours each day outside of any areas of precipitation. Confidence is moderate to high, both temporally and spatially throughout the extended period. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...JH/NF NEAR TERM...NF SHORT TERM...DS LONG TERM...DS AVIATION...AMS/NF
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 410 PM EDT Mon Jul 30 2018 NCZ002>006-019-020-VAZ016-017-032>035-043>047-058-059-312015- Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Carroll- Floyd-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell- Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 410 PM EDT Mon Jul 30 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. Thunderstorms this evening will produce heavy rain at times, which could lead to localized flooding. Also, some of the storms could become strong to severe, with damaging winds the main threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. A wet weather pattern is expected this week with the potential for periods of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. This may lead to localized flooding in some areas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009>015-018>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-312015- Ashe-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery- Grayson-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer- Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 410 PM EDT Mon Jul 30 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few thunderstorms during early evening may become strong to severe, capable of producing locally damaging winds, heavy rain and frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. A wet weather pattern continues for the rest of the week. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
719 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
VAZ012>017-032-033-310015-
Franklin-Grayson-Pulaski-Patrick-Floyd-Montgomery-Wythe-Carroll-
719 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN PULASKI...FLOYD...
SOUTHEASTERN WYTHE...CARROLL...EASTERN GRAYSON...SOUTHWESTERN
FRANKLIN...NORTH CENTRAL PATRICK AND SOUTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES
AND THE CITY OF GALAX...
Until 815 PM EDT.
At 718 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from near Childress to
near Spring Valley. Movement was southeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Galax...
Hillsville...
Fries...
Floyd...
and Pilot.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3709 8045 3691 7999 3656 8085 3656 8097
3675 8126
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 299DEG 11KT 3702 8046 3675 8110
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
736 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
VAZ017-032-033-043-310030-
Henry-Franklin-Patrick-Floyd-
736 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL FLOYD...
NORTHWESTERN HENRY...SOUTHERN FRANKLIN AND NORTHEASTERN
PATRICK COUNTIES...
Until 830 PM EDT.
At 735 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Callaway to near Ferrum to near Endicott.
Movement was southeast at 10 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Rocky Mount...
Bassett...
Sydnorsville...
Ferrum...
and Penhook.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3690 8033 3695 8016 3708 8000 3697 7961
3689 7963 3678 7977 3669 8007
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 298DEG 9KT 3700 8000 3692 8009 3689 8022
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
815 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
VAZ016-017-032-310100-
Patrick-Floyd-Carroll-
815 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN FLOYD...NORTHEASTERN
CARROLL AND CENTRAL PATRICK COUNTIES...
Until 900 PM EDT.
At 815 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from Indian Valley to near
Dugspur. Movement was southeast at 10 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Floyd...
Indian Valley...
Willis...
Dugspur...
and Laurel Fork.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3656 8040 3675 8066 3695 8059 3697 8056
3692 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 303DEG 10KT 3692 8054 3677 8059
MBSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 834 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018 VAZ017-032-033-043-310115- Henry-Franklin-Patrick-Floyd- 834 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL FLOYD...NORTHERN HENRY...SOUTHERN FRANKLIN AND NORTHEASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES... Until 915 PM EDT. At 834 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from Sydnorsville to near Charity. the storms are nearly stationary. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Bassett... Sydnorsville... Ferrum... Woolwine... and Snow Creek. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3681 7966 3672 8032 3689 8034 3697 7980 TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 327DEG 3KT 3690 7983 3685 8026 MBS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
903 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
NCZ003-004-VAZ016-017-032-033-043-310145-
Stokes-Surry-Henry-Franklin-Patrick-Floyd-Carroll-
903 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN SURRY...NORTHWESTERN
STOKES...SOUTH CENTRAL FLOYD... SOUTHEASTERN CARROLL...WESTERN
HENRY...SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN AND PATRICK COUNTIES...
Until 945 PM EDT.
At 902 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from Fairy Stone State
Park to Woolwine to Cana. Movement was south at 5 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Airy...
Flat Rock...
Stuart...
Francisco...
and Spencer.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3661 7987 3652 8026 3634 8067 3664 8071
3684 8032 3689 8001
TIME...MOT...LOC 0102Z 351DEG 6KT 3682 8009 3678 8031 3658 8065
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
907 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
VAZ033-034-044-045-058-059-310145-
Franklin-Halifax-Campbell-Bedford-Pittsylvania-Charlotte-
907 PM EDT MON JUL 30 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL
CHARLOTTE...SOUTHERN CAMPBELL...NORTHERN PITTSYLVANIA...
NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX...SOUTH CENTRAL BEDFORD AND EASTERN FRANKLIN
COUNTIES...
Until 945 PM EDT.
At 906 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from Aspen to near
Huddleston to near Rocky Mount. the storms are nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Rocky Mount...
Altavista...
Hurt...
Gretna...
and Brookneal.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3690 7874 3696 7952 3682 8003 3709 7995
3718 7951 3710 7875
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 358DEG 3KT 3704 7884 3712 7952 3704 7986
MBSThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:37 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down on a power line on Egg Farm Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew two or three wrist-size live limbs down. Damage values are estimated.
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: 774709, 774710.