Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure produced damaging winds and a lightning strike across portions of southeast Virginia.
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 AKQ wrote it up.
Scattered severe thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure produced damaging winds and a lightning strike across portions of southeast Virginia.
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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 27, 7:29 PM EST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 829 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure remains centered off the southeast coast through Friday. The remnants of Tropical cyclone Laura moves across the area Saturday. High pressure builds in from the north Sunday and early Monday, bringing drier and cooler weather to the area. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... As of 830 PM Thursday... Kept slght chc PoP across the piedmont over the next few hrs due to the dying convective complex crossing the mts. Otw, pt to mstly cldy at times tonite. Lows in the 70s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 400 PM Thursday... High pressure remains off the SE coast on Friday with flow aloft becoming zonal to west-southwesterly by the afternoon. A weak lee trough sets up downwind of the higher terrain. Will show slight chance/chance PoPs across the northwestern half of the area tomorrow. SPC has a Marginal Risk for a few strong storms tomorrow afternoon but with the belt of stronger westerlies well to our north expect convective coverage to be isolated and limited to a stronger cell or two forming on the higher terrain and sneaking into the northwestern counties late afternoon. It will be warm once again with high temps rising into the low/mid 90s. Dewpoints rise a few degrees into the low/mid 70s, especially across the SE VA and NE NC where a Heat Advisory may be required for heat indices in excess of 105 degrees. Will hold off on any heat headlines due some remaining uncertainty regarding degree of cloud cover and associated effects on max heating on Friday. Overnight lows only fall into the mid to upper 70s. 27.12z model guidance has come into somewhat better agreement regarding the track and timing of the remnants of TC Laura. The GFS remains the fastest of the bunch with ECMWF still on the slower side. Model consensus has trended toward a weaker low as it crosses our area on Saturday but with sufficient dynamics to support strong to severe storms across the region. Confidence has increased such that likely to categorical PoPs have been introduced Saturday afternoon for western and central portions of the area as the remnant low and cold front cross the region. With relatively fast timing, expect excessive rainfall to be limited and have precip totals in the 0.5-1.25 inch range. WPC has the entire region in a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall on Saturday. The low/cold front will exit to the east Saturday night with lows ranging from the mid 60s to low 70s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 400 PM Thursday... Improving conditions expected on Sunday with the cold front clearing the area by sunrise. Falling dew points and northwest winds will make for a pleasant afternoon with highs in the low to mid 80s. Overnight lows are forecast to be in the low to mid 60s. Continued dry on Monday with zonal flow aloft. Chances for precip begin to increase across the west by Monday evening into the overnight. Highs Monday remain in the low to mid 80s with lows in the mid 60s to low 70s as moisture slowly increases. Much of the same is expected into mid-week with a slow warming trend. Highs generally in the mid 80s Tuesday increase to mid and upper 80s by Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight lows in the upper 60s and low 70s. Models disagree on timing and placement of precip but will continue to highlight the west and northwest for the highest PoPs on Tuesday, spreading east on Wednesday/Thursday but will limit PoPs to aob 30% pending greater consistency in the models. && .AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 710 PM EDT Thursday... VFR conditions this forecast period. No convection so far this eve so kept a dry forecast. Expect the CI shield from TC Laura to slowly overspread the region Fri along with SCT-BKN CU. WSW windsarnd 10 kts. Outlook... The remnants of TC Laura will impact the area Sat and Sat night, resulting in periodic flight restrictions in shwrs/tstms. Drier conditions/VFR Sun-Mon behind the passage of a cold front. && .MARINE... As of 300 PM EDT Thursday... Mid-Atlantic is poised between high pressure dominating offshore and a weak low passing across New York. This has put the area in a bit of a tighter pres grad this afternoon resulting in SW winds of 15 kt and gusty this afternoon. Winds will decrease later this evening with the loss of mixing and a relaxing pres gradient. Weaker SW winds around 10 kt persist Friday with high pressure holding on offshore. Winds increase Friday night to 15 kt and then 15 to 20 kt Saturday as the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Laura approach form the west. Winds could reach 20 to 25 kt for a brief time Saturday afternoon depending on the track of the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Laura. The remnant low of Laura is then expected to get absorbed into the upper level flow as it speeds up and turns eastward on Friday. It is expected to become extratropical when it reaches the mid-Atlantic as it starts to interact with an approaching cold front. Laura is expected to quickly track over or near the marine area area from west to east sometime Saturday afternoon through evening hours on Saturday. The track of the remnant low and exact timing are still in question and forecasts may change some, but overall SCA are likely Saturday and Saturday night. The aforementioned cold front crosses the waters from north to south Saturday night as Laura departs the area. Winds become NW behind the front and weak cool air advection behind the front combined with warm water temps may result in a short lived northwesterly surge late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Expect S-SW winds around 20 kt sustained by Sat aftn, then N-NW winds around 20 kt for a portion of Sat night/early Sun AM behind the front on the back side of Laura. Seas build to 3-5 ft (highest 20 nm offshore) by late Sat, with waves of 2-4 ft likely on the bay during this time. Winds are expected to drop below SCA criteria by late Sunday morning, but some lingering 5 ft seas are possible 20 nm offshore through midday Sun. Sub- SCA conditions return late Sunday and are expected to prevail early next week. && .CLIMATE... Through 8/26, the August monthly rain total at RIC remains 15.26". A pretty good chance for adding to this by the weekend as the remnant of Laura interacts with a cold front. * This remains the 2nd wettest August on record (wettest August on record is 16.30" in 2004). The normal rainfall total for the entire month of August at RIC is 4.66". * This is also the 4th wettest month on record for any month. (wettest is 18.87" July 1945). && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...RHR NEAR TERM...MPR SHORT TERM...RHR LONG TERM...RHR AVIATION...MPR MARINE...RMM/JAO CLIMATE...AKQ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wakefield VA 403 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020 MDZ021>025-VAZ048-060>062-064-067>069-075>078-082>086-099-509>522- 282015- Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches- Fluvanna-Prince Edward-Cumberland-Goochland-Caroline-Nottoway-Amelia- Powhatan-Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Charles City- New Kent-Gloucester-Middlesex-Mathews-Accomack-Western Louisa- Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover-Eastern Hanover-Western Chesterfield- Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)- Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Eastern Henrico- Western King William-Eastern King William-Western King and Queen- Eastern King and Queen-Western Essex-Eastern Essex- 403 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, central Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north central Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Peak heat indices of 100 to 105 degrees are expected on Friday. The remnants of Tropical cyclone Laura are expected to impact the region Saturday and Saturday night. The potential exists for heavy rain, and strong gusty winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ065-066-079>081-087>090-092-093-095>098- 100-523>525-282015- Northampton-Hertford-Gates-Pasquotank-Camden-Western Currituck- Bertie-Chowan-Perquimans-Eastern Currituck-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg- Brunswick-Dinwiddie-Prince George-Greensville-Sussex-Surry- James City-Southampton-Isle of Wight-Norfolk/Portsmouth-Suffolk- Chesapeake-Virginia Beach-York-Newport News-Hampton/Poquoson- 403 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina, eastern Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Peak heat indices of 102 to 108 degrees are expected on Friday. The remnants of Tropical cyclone Laura are expected to impact the region Saturday and Saturday night. The potential exists for heavy rain, strong gusty winds and isolated tornadoes. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
916 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020
VAZ081>084-089-090-516-520-523-280200-
Charles City-New Kent-Prince George-Surry-Eastern King and
Queen-Eastern Henrico-York-Gloucester-James City-
916 PM EDT Thu Aug 27 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN GLOUCESTER...
SOUTHEASTERN KING AND QUEEN...CHARLES CITY...NORTHEASTERN PRINCE
GEORGE...NORTHWESTERN YORK...SOUTHERN NEW KENT...SOUTHEASTERN
HENRICO...NORTHERN SURRY...AND JAMES CITY COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF
WILLIAMSBURG...
At 915 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Barhamsville to near Roxbury.
Movement was southeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph are possible with these storms.
These storms will be near...
Barhamsville around 920 PM EDT.
Norge and Toano around 930 PM EDT.
Holdcroft around 940 PM EDT.
Claremont, Queens Lake and Rustic around 945 PM EDT.
Gloucester Courthouse around 950 PM EDT.
Gloucester Point, Hayes and Wicomico around 955 PM EDT.
Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary, Virginia Institute For
Marine Sciences, Jamestown, Achilles, Kings Point, Scotland, York
Terrace, Carver Gardens and Busch Gardens around 1000 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Eltham, Croaker,
Chippokes State Park, Lackey, Wayside, Camp Peary, Naxera, Glendale,
Ewell and Allmondsville.
If you see lightning or hear thunder, you are at risk! Take shelter
indoors immediately. If you cannot find shelter in a building a
vehicle provides safety from lightning.
LAT...LON 3729 7629 3728 7631 3731 7634 3727 7634
3720 7655 3722 7656 3722 7659 3719 7658
3706 7694 3736 7725 3738 7725 3738 7727
3744 7733 3754 7681 3752 7679 3754 7679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 293DEG 30KT 3748 7689 3740 7720
PocheThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:58 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on Eastbury near Williamsburg. Numerous power outages were reported in the area.
Trees were downed at Route 60 and East Avenue.
Large tree limbs were downed on Cranford Road.
Numerous trees were downed in Deep Creek and Bowers Hill section of Chesapeake.
Numerous trees were downed in Deep Creek and Bowers Hill section of Chesapeake.
Trees were downed on Woodbridge Drive. Numerous power outages were reported in southwest portion of Chesapeake city.
Lightning strike caused the Gabriel Chapel at Long Ridge Road to completely burn down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 918643, 918644, 918645, 918646, 918647, 918648, 918649.