Organized severe thunderstorms developed in an unseasonably warm, unstable airmass ahead of an approaching cold front, triggered as a series of strong upper level disturbances passed across central Appalachians. Strong winds aloft being pushed to the surface contributed to the large swaths of sustained damaging winds, while low freezing levels were a factor in the large hail that was observed.
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.
Organized severe thunderstorms developed in an unseasonably warm, unstable airmass ahead of an approaching cold front, triggered as a series of strong upper level disturbances passed across central Appalachians. Strong winds aloft being pushed to the surface contributed to the large swaths of sustained damaging winds, while low freezing levels were a factor in the large hail that was observed.
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 Apr 8, 5:08 PM EST, 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 608 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will over the upper Mid-West will move southeast across the Ohio Valley tonight, then across the Mid Atlantic Region Thursday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will precede the front. Behind the front, look for strong and gusty northwest winds and much colder temperatures. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 605 PM EDT Wednesday... Severe thunderstorm Watch #087 has been canceled for locations behind the line of storms that extends from Halifax to Marion. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms have developed ahead of a southward-advancing cold front from northern KY into southern WV and southwestern VA. Heating ahead of the boundary has allowed instability to increase, resulting in MLCAPE from 500-1500 J/kg in a corridor from southwestern Virginia northwest into southern West Virginia. Modestly steep midlevel lapse rates around 7-7.5 C/km and strong vertical shear, resulting in long, straight hodographs, will favor supercells capable of large hail. Furthermore, steepening low level lapse rates could increase potential for damaging wind gusts. This convection will track southeast through broad northwesterly flow regime, and it appears that it will now make it into parts of northwest North Carolina before sundown. After sunset expect this activity to wane with lull in the precipitation threat after from 10 PM to 2AM... then ramping back up again late tonight. A strong cold front will cross overhead on Thursday morning. A line of showers and thunderstorms will precede the frontal boundary and could pose a marginal risk of severe weather due to damaging winds. Behind the front, winds will sharply increase from the northwest, and confidence is growing that a wind advisory may be needed for Thursday afternoon and Thursday night along the Blue Ridge. For now, the wind threat is highlighted in the HWO. Temperatures tonight will be quite mild with many areas remaining in the 60s for lows, except where any thunderstorm outflow or rain occurs which could allow temperatures to drop into the 50s. A brief spike in temperature back into the 70s may occur Thursday once the morning thunderstorms clear, but all indications point to steady or falling temperatures in the mountains with morning temperatures in the 50s/60s mountains, falling into the upper 40s by the end of the day. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 200 PM EDT Wednesday... Flow between a large vertically stacked closed low moving through New England and a large high pushing in from the mid Mississippi valley will bring string gusty winds and much colder air into the Appalachians and central mid Atlantic region into the weekend. Expect winds will be gusting over 45 mph Thursday night into Friday especially at the higher elevations west of the Blue Ridge. A secondary surge of cold air will arrive as the upper vorticity axis pushes through Thursday night and this will squeeze out moisture in upslope snow showers west of the Ridge with some accumulation possible. Snow showers will dissipate Friday morning but the gust conditions will continue into Friday night. With the surface high centered over the region and low amplitude ridging aloft expect quiet weather for Saturday. Highs Saturday will be running about 10 degrees below normal with mi/upper 50s east of the Blue Ridge, 40s to the west. Some moderation for Saturday will boost temperatures into the lower 60s east, mid/upper 50s west. Looks like potential for frost east of the Ridge Friday night where winds can diminish in the low spots. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 200 PM EDT Wednesday... Closed low over the southwestern US will open up with energy ejecting out and moving into the middle Atlantic region by Sunday. This is a very dynamic system with the main surface low passing to our west as it moves northward into the Great Lakes region. Current guidance indicates the best threat for severe weather will be off to our south. However, with this much energy in play the system bears watching to see if the low level jet can advect more unstable air into the region and bring the severe threat into our neck of the woods. Any way you slice it, Sunday looks wet with unsettled conditions continuing through the first part of next week. && .AVIATION /22Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1145 AM EDT Wednesday... Weak outflow boundary bisects the forecast area from BLF-GSO. This boundary is expected to be the focus for scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Winds aloft are out of the west northwest. Cell movement for any deep convection is expected to be to the east-southeast at 30 kts. Isolated severe storms are possible with wind gusts 40-50kts. All thunderstorms which develop will likely contain at least small hail. The more robust cores may contain hail stones up to an inch in diameter. MVFR ceilings are favored across the mountains with VFR cloud bases east of the Blue Ridge. Thunderstorms will produce localized IFR. IFR cigs are also possible along the ridge crests tonight especially along the western slopes vcnty of KBLF. Overnight, a new squall line is expected to reach the area from the west, but most likely after 06Z. Forecast confidence = moderate. Extended Aviation Discussion... A strong cold front crosses the area Thursday morning with widespread MVFR conditions due to clouds and precipitation. Winds will be strong and gusty behind the front Thursday night. Colder high pressure builds into the area on Friday. In general winds will be diminishing and ceilings will improve to VFR except some lingering MVFR in the mountains. Another system may bring rain our way later Saturday with sub- VFR ceilings, though at the moment confidence is low. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...AMS/PM SHORT TERM...MBS LONG TERM...MBS AVIATION...PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 421 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>018-022-032-033-043-044-058-WVZ042>044- 507-508-091000- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Roanoke-Patrick-Franklin-Henry-Pittsylvania- Halifax-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 421 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 87 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected early Thursday morning. A few of these storms could become strong to severe with damaging wind gusts being the main concern. In addition, strong and gusty northwest winds are expected to develop across the area Thursday afternoon/evening and then continue into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. VAZ019-020-023-024-034-035-045>047-059-091000- Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-Campbell- Appomattox-Buckingham-Charlotte- 421 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south central Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms this evening. Strong wind gusts and large hail would be the main concern. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday morning. A few of these storms could become strong to severe with damaging wind gusts being the main concern. In addition, strong and gusty northwest winds are expected to develop across the area Thursday afternoon/evening and then continue into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
551 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0501 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSW CHRISTIANSBURG 37.13N 80.41W
04/08/2020 MONTGOMERY VA PUBLIC
8 INCH TREE LIMB DOWN.
0450 PM HAIL 2 WNW BLACKSBURG 37.24N 80.45W
04/08/2020 E0.50 INCH MONTGOMERY VA PUBLIC
0503 PM HAIL 1 ENE SONTAG 36.94N 79.78W
04/08/2020 E0.25 INCH FRANKLIN VA PUBLIC
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
558 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM HAIL FERRUM 36.92N 80.02W
04/08/2020 E1.25 INCH FRANKLIN VA PUBLIC
HAIL FROM QUARTER SIZE TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE.
&&
SKSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 601 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 VAZ033-043-044-082230- Henry-Franklin-Pittsylvania- 601 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA...NORTHEASTERN HENRY AND SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES... At 601 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Snow Creek, or near Sydnorsville, moving southeast at 30 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Callands... Snow Creek... and Sago. LAT...LON 3682 7980 3693 7976 3684 7945 3673 7948 TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 292DEG 28KT 3684 7971 DS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
604 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NW BLACKSBURG 37.24N 80.43W
04/08/2020 MONTGOMERY VA NWS EMPLOYEE
POWER LINE DOWN ON BROCE AND TOMS CREEK RD.
&&
SKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
609 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0427 PM HAIL 1 N RICH CREEK 37.39N 80.83W
04/08/2020 E1.50 INCH GILES VA BROADCAST MEDIA
HAIL THE SIZE OF SILVER DOLLAR IN RICH
CREEK. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&
SK<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:21 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A strong thunderstorm with damaging winds brought large limbs down and peeled back metal roofing on a building in Reidsville. Other buildings had shingles and tiles stripped off. A flag pole had a flag ripped from it.
A large tree was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds on Wagon Wheel Road.
A large tree was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds at the intersection of Pagetown Road and Kerrs Chapel Road.
A large tree was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds on Solomon Lea Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 2020
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 876454, 876447, 876449, 876450.