A weak front near the Appalachian Mountains interacted with a warm, moist air-mass |to spark widely scattered thunderstorms. A couple of these storms produced damaging winds and penny size hail, and local rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour were 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.
A weak front near the Appalachian Mountains interacted with a warm, moist air-mass |to spark widely scattered thunderstorms. A couple of these storms produced damaging winds and penny size hail, and local rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour were 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 Aug 29, 11:03 AM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1203 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Hot and humid weather, along with daily scattered showers and thunderstorms, will persist into the beginning of the workweek. Rain chances increase significantly by mid-week as the remnants of Ida approach the central Appalachians. In the wake of Ida, high pressure will build in from the northwest for next weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1145 AM EDT Saturday... Split window satellite imagery shows a differential heating interface along a frontal boundary stretching from north and eastern VA and into the Carolinas. Separately, an outflow boundary which originated from last night's convection in the region was in a west to east orientation and had moved south over the Carolinas. These two boundaries will help focus convection in the region this afternoon and evening. Scattered thunderstorms will start bubbling up around 1-2 PM over the higher terrain and near the differential heating boundary. Storm motion will be slow and mainly easterly, but expect some erratic motions eventually depending on outflow interactions. PVA rounding the top of the ridge will help prolong convection somewhat overnight. Adjusted PoPs/temperatures/sky cover based on the above ideas. As of 700 AM EDT Saturday... Modest adjustments to the forecast this morning, basically to account for increased clouds across the Piedmont. Otherwise, the forecast package is mainly on track. As of 500 AM EDT Saturday... Rainfall has ended for the night across the Piedmont, and satellite imagery/surface observations indicate another round of patchy mountain valley fog developing. Expect this fog to linger through around 9 am as in past mornings, before burning off in another day of strong heating. Afternoon highs will again range from the mid 80s across the mountains to the upper-80s to mid- 90s across the Piedmont. Surface observations indicate that an outflow boundary from last night's thunderstorms is spreading westward from the Piedmont to the mountains, where it will likely settle as it loses momentum. Believe this boundary will serve as the focus for another round of showers and storms that will develop this evening across the mountains and foothills. These storms will again have the potential for producing localized heavy rain and perhaps strong winds. Given the potential for deep instability to linger late into the evening, these storms may survive into early Monday morning before finally fading away. For Monday, expect better coverage of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening as a cold front approaches from the north. Warm air pooling ahead of the front will make for another day of afternoon highs reaching the 90s across the Piedmont, with the heat index approaching 100F in spots during mid-afternoon. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 400 AM EDT Sunday... Increased rainfall with the approach of the remnants of Ida... Looking to Monday night, expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to persist into the early hours of Tuesday before gradually fading out as the cold front continues to drift southward toward the Ohio River from the Great Lakes region. Despite Ida beginning to make a more northeasterly shift on Tuesday morning, the deeper moisture associated with the storm will remain west of the central Appalachians, making for only spotty showers and thunderstorms through the day, mainly across the mountains. Increasing high clouds from the storm will help to limit afternoon heating, holding afternoon highs a few degrees cooler than in recent days. By late Tuesday evening, showers will begin to transition to continuous rainfall as Ida begins to pass across eastern Kentucky. At this point, we begin to see differences among the weather forecast models as to how quickly the remnants of Ida pass across the Appalachians toward New England. With precipitable water values quickly ramping up to as high as 2.25" inches, indicating a very moist atmosphere, confidence is increasing in the likelihood of heavy rain and the potential for localized flash flooding heading into the daytime hours of Wednesday. Locations west of the Blue Ridge have been outlooked for a marginal risk of excessive rainfall through sunrise Wednesday. The brunt of the rainfall is still expected to pass across the central Appalachians and lower Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, and with it the greatest potential for any flooding. Still a little too early to discuss storm total rainfall amounts, given differences in the timing among the weather forecast models. Expect rainfall will diminish from west to east during the evening as the system passes, drawing the cold front to our north across our area. Weather forecast models are in good agreement that drying will take place Wednesday night as a large area of Canadian high pressure approaches from the northwest, though lingering upslope rain showers can still be expected overnight. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 400 AM EDT Sunday... High pressure will take over the weather pattern for the end of the week... By sunrise Thursday, any residual showers left from the passage of Ida will be quickly diminishing as drier air associated with a large area of Canadian high pressure builds in from the northwest. As such, expect mostly clear skies through the period with significantly lower afternoon humidity than we've seen in recent weeks. Also a noticeable chill to the air both Friday and Saturday night as temperatures dip into the 50s, possibly even some 40s in spots across the mountains. Afternoon highs will range from the mid 70s to low/mid 80s. && .AVIATION /15Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 1200 PM EDT Sunday... Expect widespread VFR conditions through the afternoon hours, weather forecast models are still indicating an upper level disturbance passing across the central Appalachians during early evening that will support the development of spotty showers and storms along the crest of the Blue Ridge during evening. Locally strong winds and brief reductions in visibility inside the downpours are expected. Believe convection will linger into the early morning hours of Monday north of Highway 460. Patchy fog is expected again early Monday, though believe the extent of which will depend on the amount of residual cloud cover. Extended Aviation Discussion... No changes in the extended aviation forecast as periods of diurnal thunderstorms and morning fog are expected on Monday and Tuesday. Tropical moisture and more widespread rainfall chances arrive by mid week, especially when what's left of Ida arrives Wednesday/Wednesday night. Morning fog will continue to favor the mountain valleys and areas that receive rainfall each day, and will be slow to mix out. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...NF NEAR TERM...NF/SH SHORT TERM...NF/VFJ LONG TERM...NF/VFJ AVIATION...NF/SH/WP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 252 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009-010-015-043-044-058-059-WVZ042-043- 301900- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Grayson-Henry-Pittsylvania-Halifax- Charlotte-Mercer-Summers- 252 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Confidence is increasing that the remnants of Hurricane Ida will bring the potential for heavy rain and localized flooding to the region Wednesday and Wednesday night. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts for any changes in Ida's track and timing. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ011>014-016>020-022>024-032>035-045>047-WVZ044-507-508-301900- Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath- Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst- Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 252 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this evening mainly across the mountains and foothills. A few of these storms will have the potential to produce damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall that may result in flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Confidence is increasing that the remnants of Hurricane Ida will bring the potential for heavy rain and localized flooding to the region Wednesday and Wednesday night. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts for any changes in Ida's track and timing. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1254 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
WVZ507-508-291730-
Western Greenbrier WV-Eastern Greenbrier WV-
1254 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Greenbrier County through 130 PM EDT...
At 1253 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Meadow Bluff, or near Rupert, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Asbury...
and Meadow Bluff.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
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 3795 8044 3772 8057 3782 8073 3785 8077
3795 8070
TIME...MOT...LOC 1653Z 283DEG 11KT 3786 8068
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
PWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1257 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
WVZ043-291730-
Summers WV-
1257 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Summers
County through 130 PM EDT...
At 1256 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bluestone State Park, or near Pipestem, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Hinton...
Pipestem...
Buck...
Bluestone State Park...
Talcott...
Indian Mills...
and Pipestem Resort State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
If on or near Bluestone Lake, get out of the water and move indoors
or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3769 8090 3767 8090 3768 8088 3770 8088
3767 8069 3752 8080 3743 8086 3753 8102
3770 8091
TIME...MOT...LOC 1656Z 290DEG 10KT 3758 8091
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
PWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
131 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
WVZ043-044-291800-
Summers WV-Monroe WV-
131 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Summers and southwestern Monroe Counties through 200 PM EDT...
At 131 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lick Creek, or near Pipestem, moving southeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Red Sulphur Spring...
Indian Mills...
Bozoo...
Lick Creek...
and Buck.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
If on or near Bluestone Lake, get out of the water and move indoors
or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3757 8068 3742 8083 3746 8090 3749 8094
3761 8082
TIME...MOT...LOC 1731Z 295DEG 6KT 3750 8089
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
PWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
200 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
VAZ020-291830-
Bath VA-
200 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Bath County
through 230 PM EDT...
At 200 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Mountain Grove, or near Hot Springs, moving southeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Warm Springs...
Hot Springs...
Bacova Junction...
Lake Moomaw...
and Mountain Grove.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
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 3813 7967 3795 7977 3804 7997 3808 7995
3810 7993 3812 7994 3814 7994 3815 7992
TIME...MOT...LOC 1800Z 292DEG 8KT 3808 7991
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
PWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
218 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
VAZ020-291845-
Bath VA-
218 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
northeastern Bath County through 245 PM EDT...
At 217 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Mountain Grove, or 9 miles north of Warm Springs,
moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Burnsville...
and Williamsville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
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 3822 7971 3820 7956 3818 7951 3817 7952
3815 7953 3817 7949 3817 7944 3816 7944
3810 7949 3808 7949 3812 7966 3814 7987
3825 7983 3825 7982 3827 7980
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 288DEG 10KT 3819 7980
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
VFJSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
221 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
VAZ019-020-WVZ507-291845-
Bath VA-Alleghany VA-Eastern Greenbrier WV-
221 PM EDT Sun Aug 29 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
north central Alleghany, southwestern Bath Counties in west central
Virginia and east central Greenbrier Counties in southeastern West
Virginia through 245 PM EDT...
At 221 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Neola, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Clifton Forge...
Neola...
Warm Springs...
Hot Springs...
Lake Moomaw...
Douthat State Park...
and Ingalls Field.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3805 7975 3781 7980 3791 8025 3804 8021
3804 8016 3806 8011 3806 7998 3807 7996
TIME...MOT...LOC 1821Z 274DEG 21KT 3797 8014
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
VFJThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:51 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Dry Run Road.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Sam Snead Highway near Hot Springs.
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Cowpasture River Highway.
Two or more trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Valley Ridge Road.
A thunderstorm producing hail created minor damage to an exposed vehicle and cracked single pane glass on an out-building.
Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down on a vehicle near the intersection of Northfork Road and Seneca Hollow Road. Two people were transported to the hospital with unknown injury severity.
Between 1.5 and 2.2 inches of rain (both a 5-10 event per NOAA Atlas-14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates) fell across the southern half of the Town of Blacksburg, including the headwaters of Cedar Run, within a 60-minute period. Though not a particularly impressive rainfall event by most standards, flooding of Cedar Run along Cedar Run Road near Sweeny Road is known by locals to flood at times due to constricted culverts passing under the road. Runoff from the rainfall was sufficient to overflow across Cedar Run Road several feet deep, with one automobile becoming stranded in the flood waters up to its headlights. The occupant of the vehicle required the assistance of a swift-water rescue team, with no injuries reported. The vehicle had to be towed out of the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2021
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: 980914, 980915, 980913, 980910, 980927, 980920, 981457.