A cold front crossed western North Carolina during the early morning hours on August 15th with associated showers and storms. Some of these storms reached severe levels, producing damaging winds over the mountains and foothills of Northwest North Carolina and a tornado in Watauga County.
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 crossed western North Carolina during the early morning hours on August 15th with associated showers and storms. Some of these storms reached severe levels, producing damaging winds over the mountains and foothills of Northwest North Carolina and a tornado in Watauga County.
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 14, 8:30 PM EST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 930 PM EDT Mon Aug 14 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and potentially strong thunderstorms will arrive tonight with the approach of a cold front. This cold front will cross the Mid Atlantic on Tuesday. High pressure will provide drier and cooler conditions by the middle of the week, but it should become warmer towards next weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 930 PM EDT Monday... The break in the rain showers will continue for a little bit longer, but activity will increase again as a cold front crosses the Ohio River Valley tonight. A few showers and thunderstorms are reaching Tennessee at this time. Only minor changes to precipitation probabilities and sky cover were made. The cold front itself will slowly move to the southeast, while storms track parallel to the front. This may bring a localized flood threat as heavy downpours train over an area. This front will final move over Southside Virginia late Tuesday afternoon. Some strong storms may form along the front, but should move convection out of the area by sunset. High pressure will follow the frontal passage and linger through the rest of the week. Tuesday's forecast highs range from the mid to upper 70s west of the Blue Ridge to upper 80s. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 142 PM EDT Monday... Key Messages: 1) Storms Exiting Tuesday evening. 2) Lower Humidity Wednesday-Thursday. Cold front exits this forecast area Tuesday evening, so will likely sse storms southeast of Lynchburg to Martinsville early in the evening. Skies clear over the piedmont, but west upslope clouds are possible into the overnight in the mountains. Dewpoints will drop into the 50s by Wed morning. The front will hang up across the eastern Carolinas Wed-Thu, with a low pressure wave moving along, as well as some upper support. Currently, model consensus keeping main threat of showers/storms east of our forecast areas, but there is a low chance for Thursday east of Danville. Still fairly dry and flow turns more southwest Thursday with dewpoints starting to creep back up, but nothing out of the ordinary. High temps Wednesday will run to 3-6 degrees below normal, from the mid to upper 70s in the mountains, to mid 80s piedmont. Thursday will be slightly warmer/close to normal with upper 70s to lower 80s west, to mid to upper 80s east. Forecast confidence is above average on temps and average on pops. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1153 AM EDT Monday... Key Messages: 1. Mainly dry with increasing heat 2. Will have to watch for MCS activity potential in northwest flow aloft. Forecast models are showing 5h trough exiting the east by this weekend while heights build over the middle of the country. This ridging looks to extend east to our area by Sunday-Monday as heights go from 585-588DM Friday to 594-597 potentially by Monday. Models keep it dry but with a northwest flow aloft and a frontal boundary across the Great Lakes to northern Plains, this pattern could favor MCS tracks. But for now given model consistency in dry weather will keep pops out. The building heights should also suppress any diurnal convection. Highs by Sunday-Monday will be in the lower, possibly mid 90s east with 80s west. Forecast confidence is moderate on increasing temps through the period but lower on extension and strength of the 5h ridge. && .AVIATION /02Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 825 PM EDT Monday... VFR conditions are present over much of the area, with some lower ceilings lingering along and west of the mountains. A cold front will reach the area from the west, and will bring another round of showers and possible storms by 02Z for KBLF and KLWB. This activity will slowly move eastward and get to the Piedmont by Tuesday midday. However, some high res models have this activity diminishing by the time it reaches the Blue Ridge Foothills by sunrise. Therefore, confidence too low to include thunderstorms in the TAFs at this time, but they cannot be ruled out. Winds will be mostly westerly at 5 to 10 knots before turning more northwesterly behind the front. The cold front will exit to the east by the end of the TAF period, bringing in cooler and drier air. Forecast confidence is average, but low on shower and storm development early Tuesday morning. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... After the frontal passage late Tuesday, high pressure builds in over the Mid Atlantic. VFR conditions should persist for Wednesday through the remainder of the week. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...RCS NEAR TERM...PW/RCS/AS SHORT TERM...WP LONG TERM...WP AVIATION...RCS/AS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1126 PM EDT Mon Aug 14 2023 VAZ018>020-023-024-034-WVZ042>044-507-508-160330- Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Bedford-Mercer-Summers- Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 1126 PM EDT Mon Aug 14 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding will be the main hazards associated with any thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Reports should be submitted by phone by calling 1-866-215-4324, social media, by email at rnk.skywarn@noaa.gov or online at www.weather.gov/rnk. NCZ005-006-VAZ035-044>047-058-059-160330- Rockingham-Caswell-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox- Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 1126 PM EDT Mon Aug 14 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding will be the main hazards associated with any thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001>004-018>020-VAZ007-009>017-022-032-033-043-160330- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth- Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Roanoke- Patrick-Franklin-Henry- 1126 PM EDT Mon Aug 14 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 648 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT TUESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central 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...Tuesday through Sunday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather by calling 1-866-215-4324, social media, email at rnk.skywarn@noaa.gov or online at www.weather.gov/rnk.
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:55 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew large limbs down along Buckeye Ridge Road. Damage values are estimated.
The tornado moved a short distance into western Watauga County from Avery County, NC. Sporadic uprooted hardwood trees were noted by a ground survey and drone flight in a wooded area between Buckeye Road and Seminole Trail. The tornado traveled approximately one-third of a mile, and dissipated before reaching Blevins Lane and Seminole Trail. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds brought down large limbs which fell on and damaged a roof in Vilas. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a wood framed wall near High School Drive. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down on Jakes Mountain Road. Damage values are estimated.
Lightning struck in the 100-block of Sumerset Lane, North Wilkesboro, NC. The strike damaged a metal shed and underground wiring to an old satellite dish. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down across Austin Little Mountain Road. Damage values are estimated.
A broad swath of straight wind damage occurred between a location approximately two miles northwest of Pleasant Hill to Pleasant Hill. The damage consisted of mainly uprooted or snapped hardwood trees, with damage to power lines and homes as a result of fallen trees. The storm initially produced tree damage along Little Elkin Church Road and West Walker Road, where dozens of trees were either uprooted or snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to be as high as 90 mph. One uprooted tree fell onto an outbuilding, damaging a shed and a tractor. As the storm moved east, it produced scattered tree damage along Austin Traphill Road and CB Eller School Road. Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to be 90 to 95 mph caused the uplift and collapse of a carport along CB Eller School Road. Along Pleasant Hill Road, and estimated 175 year-old tree was uprooted. The storm began to weaken as it neared the Wilkes/Surry County border. Damage values are estimated.
The severe thunderstorm that had its origins in Wilkes County started weakening as it entered Surry County. However, the storm was still strong enough to produce wind gusts estimated to be around 65 mph. Trees limbs were downed near Old Mill Lane, and trees were reported downed in the Elkins area. Damage values are estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2023Warnings in North Carolina, August 2023
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: 1132714, 1132712, 1132717, 1132718, 1132719, 1132961, 1132722, 1132953, 1132960.