Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 6, 2022

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 6, 2022
Start: 2022-05-06T15:55
End: 2022-05-06T18:12
Location: Virginia

May 6, 2022 · NWS MRX · 3 events in 1 county or zone

Numerous supercell thunderstorms tracked northeast across East Tennessee and into southwest Virginia in the late afternoon and evening. The storms produced damaging wind gusts and large hail in Washington County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MRX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 6, 2:11 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 6, 2:11 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Morristown TN
311 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

.SHORT TERM (Tonight and Saturday)...

Key Messages:

1. The severe thunderstorm threat will continue through the
remainder of the afternoon, diminishing this evening.

2. Lingering showers under an upper low on Saturday, with cooler
temperatures.

Discussion:

The threat of severe thunderstorms continues for the entire area,
with the threat shifting to the northeastern portions over the
next few hours. Radar signatures in last hour have shown less
rotation, so the tornado threat may be diminishing, although it
cannot be ruled out entirely yet in southern sections. The primary
threats through the evening will be large hail and damaging winds.
The large hail threat will be rising in the next hour or two as
WBZ heights drop with the passage of the mid/upper trough axis.
The severe threat will end once the trough moves east, which is
expected to occur around 00-02Z.

A slow-moving closed mid/upper low will track across the central
Appalachians tonight, and be located near the Chesapeake Bay area
tomorrow. Cold temps aloft and overcast cloud cover will keep
temperatures well below normal through Saturday. Light showers
under the low will be scattered to numerous through the day, with
greater coverage in northern sections.

DGS

.LONG TERM (Saturday Night through Friday)...

Key Messages:

1. Some lingering showers possible Saturday night, mainly across far
NE TN and SW VA.

2. Warming temperatures and dry conditions into the new work week.

Discussion:

On Saturday night, an upper level low ENE of the CWA will continue
to shift eastward through the weekend, all while a deepening trough
over the western CONUS begins to amplify ridging over the midwest.
Some lingering activity will be possible Saturday night as the upper
level low still meanders eastward, however, just expect light rain
showers generally in far northeast TN and southwest VA.

Heading into the work week, the synoptic pattern will continue to
amplify. This will result in upper level ridging and surface high
pressure influencing the weather across the south and central
Appalachian region. Warming temperatures can be expected into the
midweek with temperatures above normal by Tuesday through Thursday.

By the end of the week, guidance suggest the upper level low
shifting ENE at the start of the period will sink back southward.
There still remains some discrepancies among long term guidance,
nonetheless, NBM has populated with a return of some slight chance
to chance PoPs Thursday and Friday afternoon. Currently nothing
stands out enough to go against it this far out. Temperatures should
remain above normal Friday as well.

KS

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Thunderstorms will be affecting the area through the rest of the
afternoon, tracking from SW to NE. Gusty winds are expected at the
TAF sites with the storms, along with IFR vis in heavy rainfall.
Most of this activity should exit the area by 00Z. Tonight, an
upper low pressure system will track overhead, which will lead to
low clouds developing at all sites. MVFR cigs are expected to
prevail, although IFR may be possible at TYS and moreso at TRI. A
few scattered showers will also linger into tomorrow morning at
TRI.

DGS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             56  65  52  76  54 /  20  20   0   0   0
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  55  61  51  72  51 /  40  40  10   0   0
Oak Ridge, TN                       55  63  50  72  51 /  40  30  10   0   0
Tri Cities Airport, TN              54  60  49  68  47 /  80  80  40  10   0

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...NONE.
VA...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 1:54 PM EST, 2 hours 1 minute before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Morristown TN
254 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-071900-
Cherokee-Clay-Scott TN-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins-
Sullivan-Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen-
Northwest Cocke-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene-
Southeast Greene-Washington TN-Unicoi-Northwest Carter-
Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon-Knox-Jefferson-Northwest Blount-
Blount Smoky Mountains-North Sevier-Sevier Smoky Mountains-
Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea-Meigs-McMinn-Northwest Monroe-
Southeast Monroe-Marion-Hamilton-Bradley-West Polk-East Polk-Lee-
Wise-Scott VA-Russell-Washington VA-
254 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 /154 PM CDT Fri May 6 2022/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North
Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A threat of severe storms will continue across the entire area for
the remainder of the afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail are
the main threats. Isolated tornadoes are also possible. The severe
threat is expected to diminish between 6 and 9 pm EDT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter reports will continue to be needed through this afternoon.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 6, 3:18 PM EST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
418 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW LENOIR CITY       35.78N 84.28W
05/06/2022                   LOUDON             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN. BROWDER HOLLOW RD AND LOUDON
            RIDGE RD AND 1.25 MIL SOUTH OF LOUDON RIDGE
            RD/ OLD HWY 95.HARRISON RD.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 3:36 PM EST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
436 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0431 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N ALCOA               35.82N 83.98W
05/06/2022  M64 MPH          BLOUNT             TN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KTYS KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 3:40 PM EST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
440 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MARYVILLE               35.75N 83.97W
05/06/2022                   BLOUNT             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN AND
            AROUND THE CITY OF MARYVILLE.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 3:43 PM EST, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
443 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LENOIR CITY             35.80N 84.27W
05/06/2022                   LOUDON             TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWN. SHED DESTROYED.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 3:49 PM EST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
449 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FARRAGUT                35.87N 84.18W
05/06/2022                   KNOX               TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES
            DOWN WEST OF KNOXVILLE.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 3:55 PM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
455 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0431 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N ALCOA               35.82N 83.98W
05/06/2022  M64 MPH          BLOUNT             TN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KTYS KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON.

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FARRAGUT                35.87N 84.18W
05/06/2022                   KNOX               TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES
            DOWN WEST OF KNOXVILLE.

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MARYVILLE               35.75N 83.97W
05/06/2022                   BLOUNT             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN AND
            AROUND THE CITY OF MARYVILLE.

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LENOIR CITY             35.80N 84.27W
05/06/2022                   LOUDON             TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWN. SHED DESTROYED.

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW LENOIR CITY       35.78N 84.28W
05/06/2022                   LOUDON             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN. BROWDER HOLLOW RD AND LOUDON
            RIDGE RD AND 1.25 MIL SOUTH OF LOUDON RIDGE
            RD/ OLD HWY 95.HARRISON RD.

0353 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SE CHATTANOOGA        35.03N 85.20W
05/06/2022  M61 MPH          HAMILTON           TN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KCHA CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT.

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HILLSVIEW               35.39N 84.80W
05/06/2022                   MCMINN             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

0350 PM     HAIL             HILLSVIEW               35.39N 84.80W
05/06/2022  E1.00 INCH       MCMINN             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
05/06/2022                   HAMILTON           TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS
            THE CITY.

0333 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
05/06/2022                   HAMILTON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON VEHICLE EAST 8TH STREET NEAR
            DOUGLAS STREET.

0330 PM     HAIL             2 W TALBOTT             36.16N 83.45W
05/06/2022  E1.25 INCH       HAMBLEN            TN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0310 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EVENSVILLE              35.56N 84.96W
05/06/2022                   RHEA               TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

0250 PM     HAIL             TREADWAY                36.42N 83.23W
05/06/2022  M1.00 INCH       HANCOCK            TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0250 PM     TSTM WND GST     TREADWAY                36.42N 83.23W
05/06/2022  M70 MPH          HANCOCK            TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RECORDED ON HOME WEATHER STATION.

0242 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 W KNOXVILLE           35.98N 84.00W
05/06/2022                   KNOX               TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE TREE DOWN IN VICTOR ASHE PARK.

0220 PM     HAIL             ANDREWS                 35.20N 83.82W
05/06/2022  M1.25 INCH       CHEROKEE           NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

0215 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RUTLEDGE                36.28N 83.52W
05/06/2022                   GRAINGER           TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FEW TREES DOWN.

0210 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KODAK                   35.97N 83.63W
05/06/2022                   SEVIER             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FEW TREES DOWN.

0138 PM     HAIL             MARYVILLE               35.75N 83.97W
05/06/2022  E0.88 INCH       BLOUNT             TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

0130 PM     HAIL             MARYVILLE               35.76N 83.97W
05/06/2022  M1.00 INCH       BLOUNT             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N MARYVILLE           35.76N 83.97W
05/06/2022                   BLOUNT             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN.

0130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MARYVILLE               35.76N 83.97W
05/06/2022                   BLOUNT             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE TREE DOWN.

0125 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KNOXVILLE               35.98N 83.95W
05/06/2022                   KNOX               TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            BEVERLEY ROAD/ANDERSON ROAD IN N. KNOXVILLE,
            TREE DOWN, 3 DIAMETER TOTAL, MULTI TRUNK,
            BEVERLY ROAD PARTIALLY BLOCKED.

&&

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washington

When: May 6, 3:55 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.69 mi S of Burson Place
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.660, -82.180

In addition to large hail, several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 6, 5:40 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 1.77 mi NW of Ketron
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.670, -82.320

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 6, 6:12 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.69 mi S of Kregers Store
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.770, -82.100

A few trees were blown down.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, May 2022

Sources

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: 1017580, 1017581, 1017582.