Scattered severe thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching cold front on the night of March 16 into the early morning hours of March 17 across 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 developed ahead of an approaching cold front on the night of March 16 into the early morning hours of March 17 across 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 Mar 16, 7:26 PM EST, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
826 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
Severe storms are possible this afternoon into this evening
with damaging winds as the primary threat. High pressure returns
early next week. Above average temps continue.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
As of 830 PM EDT Sunday...
Key Messages:
- A Tornado Watch is in effect for central VA, south central VA,
and interior northeast NC through 1 AM tonight.
- A slight risk of severe storms has been issued for the
majority of the area for the potential of severe storms with
damaging winds and isolated tornadoes through overnight
hours.
- A flood watch is in effect for parts of SE VA in anticipation
of heavy rainfall totals and possible flash flooding.
A deep upper level trough digs down to the Gulf with a jet streak of
100-150kt just west of the area. A surface low pressure system over
the Great Lakes is dragging a cold front through the area early
morning tomorrow. These features will bring the potential for severe
storms this afternoon into tonight. The main threat with these
storms will be possible damaging winds and an isolated tornado.
The first line of showers has begun making its way through the area,
but does not appear to be severe at this time. The lack of
instability has hindered storms partially from temperatures not
warming up from the SSE flow and previous warm front as thought.
However, CAMs continue on increasing instability with the second
line of storms this evening with around 300-400 J/kg at the surface.
Special 18z soundings from NWS Blacksburg and NWS Morehead City show
low levels of MU CAPE with higher amounts in Blacksburg's area
(around 600 J/kg) with lower amounts towards the coast at Morehead
City (around 400 J/kg). Although the instability is low, some severe
storms are still possible. Shear remains to meet favorable
conditions for severe weather and tornadoes with the RAP showing 35-
40 kt SFC-1km shear in the piedmont with lower amounts towards the
bay/coast with the second line. SPC continues to include most of the
area, except the immediate coast area, in a slight risk (level 2 out
of 5) of severe weather with the primary threat being damaging winds
(15% probs) and an isolated tornado (5% probs).
With these storms and showers, heavy rain and training storms are
possible with expected rainfall totals 1-2 inches with localized
amounts up to 4 inches. CAMs models show training storms over SE VA
including Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach receiving up to
4 inches of rain. PWATs are additionally favorable for high amounts
of rainfall. Flood watches have been introduced for the cities of
Chesapeake, Hampton, James City, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk, and
VA Beach, and the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry,
Sussex, and York through the overnight hours. Urban, low-lying, and
poor drainage areas are more likely to see flash flooding.
Outside of convective wind gusts, a tight pressure gradient will
lead to increased synoptic winds. Wind gusts will be 30-40 mph
through the early morning hours, with the highest gusts in the SE of
the area. Overnight lows will range with the cooler air moving into
the area overnight. Temps will drop to the lower 50s towards the
piedmont and upper 50s towards the coast/Bay.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 330 PM EDT Sunday...
Key Messages:
- Drying out Monday with cooler temperatures. Above average
temperatures return Tuesday.
The upper level trough will push eastward with it lingering over the
east coast on Monday. Most of the rain will be pushed out with the
cold front by Monday morning but a few light showers may linger
towards the coast/Bay into Monday afternoon. Winds will be breezy
again with decent daytime mixing with gusts around 20-30 mph. Temps
will be cooler from the airmass behind the front with highs in
the upper 50s for most and NE NC in the lower 60s. Skies will be
clearing in the evening and overnight as temps drop to the mid 30s.
As the surface low moves further offshore Tuesday, high pressure
will begin to build in from the south bringing clear skies and
calmer winds. Highs on Tues will be in the low to mid 60s with lows
in the lower 40s.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 330 PM EDT Sunday...
Key Messages:
- Above average temperatures on Thursday trend to near to below
average on Friday behind a cold front.
- Showers are likely on Thursday, but rain amounts will be a few
tenths of an inch at most.
- Milder weather returns over the weekend.
An anomalously deep upper trough is progged to track over the ern
CONUS from Thursday through Thursday night. At the sfc, strong low
pressure (~988mb) tracks well to our NW...which will drag a cold
front through the FA during the day. While moisture return ahead of
the front will be meager (and there will likely be no sfc-based
instability in place)...a round of showers is possible with the
FROPA. The most likely timing for precip on Thursday is during the
aftn/evening. Still feel that it is uncertain how much rain will
come out of this system. However, global models are in better
agreement today than they were last night, and show 0.1-0.3" of QPF
east of I-95...with lesser amounts west. Looking to ensemble probs,
both the GEFS amd EPS have 40-80% probs of at least 0.1" of precip
(highest NE/lowest SW). Dry/cooler wx returns on Friday. Highs Thu
in the mid 60s-lower 70s dropping back into the 50s on Fri. A
warming trend is likely this weekend as ridging builds in aloft.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 820 PM EDT Sunday...
VFR to MVFR CIGs with a gusts S wind as of 00z. Convection is
gradually becoming more vigorous, and should become more
widespread between now and 06z. Cigs should mainly be VFR or
MVFR through 03z, with MVFR cigs prevailing thereafter. Vsby
will occasionally fall to LIFR/IFR in heavy rain. The gusty S
wind (to 20-30 kt) will continue through this evening before
becoming SSW and decreasing a bit by 02-04z. In addition, brief
VRB wind gusts to 35-50kt are possible in tstms. The highest
severe threat will be from now to about 05z. Showers exit from
NW-SE early Mon AM as a cold front crosses the area. VFR
conditions return by Monday aftn with SCT-BKN SC. A NNW wind
will increase to 10-15kt with gusts to 20-25kt later Monday
morning into the aftn.
VFR conditions prevail Monday night through Wednesday. A cold
front crosses the region Thursday bringing a chc showers, with
only brief flight restrictions possible. High pressure and
prevailing VFR conditions return Friday.
&&
.MARINE...
As of 259 PM EDT Sunday...
Key Messages:
- SCA Headlines prevail this afternoon into tonight all zones,
lingering through Tuesday on the Ocean.
- While the SCAs end in the Bay, Rivers, and Sound later
tonight, additional headlines will likely be needed later
Monday, and especially Monday night/early Tuesday.
Winds have quickly increased this afternoon ahead of an approaching
cold front. Marine-based observation sites are measuring sustained
winds between 15-25 kts, with occasional gusts to 30 kts. Seas
have rapidly built this afternoon, and will continue to build to
5-8 ft in the southern coastal waters, and up to 7-10 ft in the
northern coastal waters by tonight. Waves in the Bay/Rivers are
between 1-3 ft and are forecast to build to as high as 3-5 ft
in the Bay and 2-3 ft in the rivers/sound this evening. Strong
convection will move through the coastal waters this evening and
overnight. Wind gusts up to 50 kts are possible and will be
handled with Special Marine Warnings as they move into the
waters. Winds outside of convection will briefly diminish late
tonight, so will continue to have the SCAs expire for all but
the Ocean zones (seas remain elevated) between 05z-08z.
There will be a second round of elevated winds starting Monday
afternoon Monday. Guidance has kept a lingering area of low pressure
along the coast as the front slowly moves offshore. The gradient
between this area of low pressure and an area of high pressure
building in from southwest will extend the timeframe of elevated
winds, and with colder air expected Monday night, the highest winds
are anticipated during this timeframe. NNW winds of 15 to 20 kts
with gusts to 25 kts are expected on Monday afternoon, peaking
overnight at 20-25 kts with gusts to 30 kts. Winds will diminish by
Tuesday afternoon to 10 to 15 kts, but seas in the Ocean will linger
through at least Tuesday evening before briefly falling to sub-SCA
conditions. The aforementioned area of low pressure will slowly
slide further out into the North Atlantic and strengthen. This
strengthening low will start to produce easterly swells that bring
back SCA level seas to our ocean zones as early as Wednesday morning
despite the lowered winds. Another area of low pressure is progged
to move through the Plains into the Great Lakes region by late week,
and the gradient will tighten yet again ahead of this front,
bringing increasing southerlies by Thursday afternoon. Winds will
quickly shift to the northwest as the front moves through. SCA level
winds are possible in advance of this system, and are likely with
the CAA in its wake (with Gales even possible in some areas).
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...Flood Watch until 4 AM EDT Monday for VAZ088>090-092-093-
095>098-523>525.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Monday for ANZ630>634.
Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM EDT Monday for ANZ635>638.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT Tuesday for ANZ650-652.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for ANZ654-656-658.
&&
SYNOPSIS...AC
NEAR TERM...AC/KMC/AJZ
SHORT TERM...AC/KMC
LONG TERM...ERI
AVIATION...AJZ/ERI
MARINE...LKB/NBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wakefield VA 1107 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025 MDZ021>025-NCZ014>017-031-032-102-VAZ048-060>062-064>069-075>078- 084>086-099-100-509>513-515>522-180315- Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches-Gates- Pasquotank-Camden-Western Currituck-Chowan-Perquimans- Eastern Currituck-Fluvanna-Prince Edward-Cumberland-Goochland- Caroline-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-Nottoway-Amelia-Powhatan-Westmoreland- Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Gloucester-Middlesex-Mathews- Accomack-Northampton-Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover- Eastern Hanover-Western Chesterfield- 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- 1107 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, northeast North Carolina, central Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north central Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. VAZ090-093-095>098-523>525-180315- James City-Isle of Wight-Norfolk/Portsmouth-Suffolk-Chesapeake- Virginia Beach-York-Newport News-Hampton/Poquoson- 1107 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast 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. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. NCZ012-013-030-VAZ079>083-087-514-180315- Northampton-Hertford-Bertie-Brunswick-Dinwiddie-Prince George- Charles City-New Kent-Greensville- Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)- 1107 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025 ...TORNADO WATCH 56 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina, central Virginia, east central Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast 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. Tornado Watch. Thunderstorms with strong to locally damaging wind gusts and the potential for a brief tornado are possible through this evening. Heavy rainfall may also lead to localized instances of flash flooding, especially in urban or poor drainage areas. Elevated winds are expected through late tonight, with gusts of 35 to 40 mph possible, highest near the coast. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. VAZ088-089-092-180315- Sussex-Surry-Southampton- 1107 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT MONDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 56 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast 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. Flood Watch. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1124 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
VAZ080-081-087>089-092-170400-
Prince George VA-Surry VA-Dinwiddie VA-Sussex VA-Southampton VA-
Greensville VA-
1124 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL GREENSVILLE...CENTRAL
SOUTHAMPTON...PRINCE GEORGE...SUSSEX...SOUTHEASTERN DINWIDDIE AND
WESTERN SURRY COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF EMPORIA THROUGH MIDNIGHT
EDT...
At 1124 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Carson to near Claresville. Movement was
northeast at 75 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small trees and blow around
unsecured objects. Wind impacting handling of high profile
vehicles. Reduced visibility and minor flooding possible.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Sussex, Disputanta, and Homeville around 1130 PM EDT.
Garysville, Burrowsville, and Waverly around 1135 PM EDT.
Wakefield and Dendron around 1140 PM EDT.
Ivor around 1145 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Booth Fork, Adams
Grove, Carsley, Grizzard, Booker, Yale, Lumberton, Ellis Fork, Wharfs
Store, and Cowie Corner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM EDT for south central,
southeastern and east central Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3660 7748 3691 7767 3731 7717 3731 7715
3697 7685 3694 7685
TIME...MOT...LOC 0324Z 237DEG 66KT 3708 7740 3662 7734
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HETPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1138 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 PM Flash Flood 2 W Templeton 37.09N 77.36W
03/16/2025 Prince George VA Public
Street flooding; Street/road closed; Vehicle
stranded.
&&
05Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1140 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 PM Rain 2 ESE Disputanta 37.11N 77.20W
03/16/2025 M4.62 Inch Prince George VA Mesonet
Mesonet station 1 ESE Disputanta.
&&
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1213 AM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025
MDZ024-025-VAZ099-170445-
Maryland Beaches MD-Inland Worcester MD-Accomack VA-
1213 AM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WORCESTER AND NORTHERN ACCOMACK
COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 AM EDT...
At 1212 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Selbyville to 7 miles southeast of Pocomoke
City. Movement was east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Reduced visibility and minor flooding
possible.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Newark, Ocean Pines, Cape Isle Of Wight, and Berlin around 1220 AM
EDT.
Ocean City around 1230 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Bishop, Horntown,
Boxiron, Ocean City Municipality, Bishopville, Goodwill, Public
Landing, Greenbackville, Ironshire, and West Ocean City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3827 7505 3808 7514 3788 7528 3790 7559
3832 7535 3835 7531 3837 7532 3845 7528
3845 7507 3846 7505
TIME...MOT...LOC 0412Z 256DEG 24KT 3847 7520 3799 7547
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BROWNPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1216 AM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1155 PM Flash Flood 2 ESE Disputanta 37.12N 77.19W
03/16/2025 Prince George VA Dept of Highways
On Rt. 613 at Webb Road, VDOT reports water
over the roadway.
&&
05Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
1224 AM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1156 PM Rain 1 N Cowie Corner 36.79N 77.57W
03/16/2025 M3.69 Inch Greensville VA Trained Spotter
&&
05The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:40 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Dominion Energy reported damaged power lines at Pebble Beach Lane.
The 911 call center reported a fallen tree along a road due to the storms.
Dominion Energy reported damaged power lines at Windmill Point Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, March 2025
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: 1248638, 1248639, 1248640.