A cold front moved southeast through West Virginia and encountered an unstable and very moist atmosphere. This led to the development of moisture laden showers and storms, some of which increased to severe levels and produce winds strong enough to down 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.
A cold front moved southeast through West Virginia and encountered an unstable and very moist atmosphere. This led to the development of moisture laden showers and storms, some of which increased to severe levels and produce winds strong enough to down 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 17, 1:55 PM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 255 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A weak frontal boundary will stall across southern West Virginia and central Virginia tonight and dissipate, with a large ridge of high pressure and high moisture content over the region. This pattern will result in a chance for showers and thunderstorms for the area through the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 255 PM EDT Friday... Very unstable and high moisture content are the concerns the remainder of the afternoon and into this evening. Surface-based CAPE over 4000 J/kg in the Piedmont as of 2pm and precip water values around 2.0 inches across southern parts of the Piedmont. Strong to severe storms to continue through early evening and slower-moving or backbuilding will pose a flash flood threat as well. Expectation is for these to push east and south by 6pm or so. Expect clearing late and any areas that receive rainfall today are likely to see areas of fog, as well as some of the typical mountain valleys, especially given the extremely high humidities in place with little to no wind. Saturday, another hot one in store as upper ridge is not moving anywhere and weak frontal boundary will remain across the northern part of the CWA but will be somewhat diffuse. Best chance for diurnal storms will be southern half of CWA in deeper moisture. High chance to low likely PoP values across the south, with low chance to slight chance across the north. Atmosphere may not be quite as unstable as today but ample for potential for more strong storms and efficient rainers, so will have to watch for at least a few strong to potentially severe or local flash flooding, again mainly south of US 460 and especially in the NC mountains and foothills. Highs Saturday to remain above normal with mid to upper 80s in the mountains and low to some mid 90s in Piedmont. Heat index values will get above 100 in Piedmont but not expected to see 105, which is the heat advisory criteria. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday... Hot and stormy are the operative terms for this forecast period. Upper level ridging continues to build in over the region Saturday night into Sunday before weak zonal flow sets up through the remainder of this period. Sunday and into Monday, high pressure sets up to our south, establishing a pattern of SW flow that will help drive in very warm weather. Sunday will be close to heat advisory criteria, but Monday at this point seems likely that we will be pushing one with highs topping off in the mid to upper 90s with heat indices forecast to surpass 105 degrees. After Monday, a shortwave enters the area, increasing rain chances for Tuesday (primarily from the AM to the afternoon). Because of these storms, temperatures will be slightly "cooler" thanks to the increased cloud cover and obvious cooler areas that are lucky enough to catch the rain. Regardless of cooler, temperatures will still be slightly above average. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 230 PM EDT Friday... Zonal flow aloft from earlier in the week starts to weaken as an upper level trough crosses to our north over the Great Lakes/Northern Tier. With this trough will come numerous shortwaves within the flow that will continue to work with ample diurnal heating to help drive daily shower and thunderstorm chances. There's still time to better establish exact areas on where the greatest rain chances will be based on boundaries, but it appears that coverage will be pretty wide reaching every day. Temperatures will continue to remain above average, but not like they will be earlier in the week for Sunday and Monday thanks to the increasing clouds and rain each afternoon. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 155 PM EDT Friday... Scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front in West Virginia will continue developing throughout this afternoon and into the early evening hours. Mainly south of KLWB vicinity but cannot rule out a shower there through 21 UTC. Showers and storm will likely move south and east of KBLF, KBCB, and KROA by 2100 UTC as well. Storms will last longer at KLYH and especially KDAN through about 00Z before heading south and east. Any storms could produce brief MVFR with heavy rain and very gusty wind potential as well. Otherwise VFR and light winds will prevail outside of storms. Overnight, do not expect any showers or storms at TAF sites, but locations that receive rainfall are likely to get patchy fog after midnight if not sooner. KLWB most likely even with no precip with clearing skies, and KDAN next most likely with best chance of rainfall, along with KLYH and KBCB. So did including period of MVFR to IFR fog at these locations lat tonight through early morning. A little less coverage of storms expected tomorrow and mainly in the afternoon beyond the current TAF period, with focus south of US 460. Light and variable winds during the day tomorrow as well. Extended Aviation Discussion... Overall mainly VFR weather to continue through the weekend and most likely for most of next. We will continue to have afternoon and early evening scattered storms through the extended period and with best chances on Saturday and Sunday mainly south of US 460, but spreading north again by Monday and into the remainder of the week. Thus periods of sub- VFR are possible in storms, and potential for late night/early morning fog at LWB/BCB and perhaps other locations depending on daily significant rainfall, will continue most likely all next week. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...SK NEAR TERM...SK SHORT TERM...RR LONG TERM...RR AVIATION...RCS/SK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 324 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032>035-043-044-181930- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania- 324 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 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...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered showers and storms may be strong to severe at times through early evening. In addition, very heavy rainfall rates with some storms could lead to localized flash flooding through the early evening as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Heat index readings could approach 100 degrees over the next couple of days, especially on Monday. Otherwise the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ045>047-058-059-181930- Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 324 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered showers and storms may be strong to severe at times through early evening. In addition, very heavy rainfall rates with some storms could lead to localized flash flooding through the early evening as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Heat index readings will reach to near 100 this weekend and by MOnday could get closer to 105. Thus there is a potential for heat-related headlines by Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-181930- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke- Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 324 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
428 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0227 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNW RUSTBURG 37.31N 79.11W
07/17/2020 CAMPBELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE.
&&
AMSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
440 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020
VAZ044-058-172130-
Halifax-Pittsylvania-
440 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND
SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...
At 440 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Elmo, or near
Ingram, moving southeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Turbeville...
Ingram...
Blairs...
Milton...
Cluster Springs...
Elmo...
and Alton.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3654 7892 3654 7922 3668 7938 3681 7918
3657 7882
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 317DEG 12KT 3670 7920
BMGSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 449 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 VAZ044-172115- Pittsylvania- 449 PM EDT Fri Jul 17 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY... At 449 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Climax, or near Gretna, moving east at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Chatham... Gretna... Climax... and Chalk Level. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3682 7951 3696 7949 3695 7922 3673 7931 TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 279DEG 13KT 3689 7942 BMG
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</html>The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:57 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed two trees. Damage values are estimated.
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, July 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 911663.