A slow-moving cluster of thunderstorms passed across portions of southern Greenbrier County during the afternoon of August 20th. One thunderstorm cell passed across the Town of Ronceverte and produced rainfall rates as high as 5 inches per hour between 5:30 pm EDT and 5:40 pm EDT.
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 slow-moving cluster of thunderstorms passed across portions of southern Greenbrier County during the afternoon of August 20th. One thunderstorm cell passed across the Town of Ronceverte and produced rainfall rates as high as 5 inches per hour between 5:30 pm EDT and 5:40 pm EDT. The FLASH 1-hour ARI was observed as high as a 20-year event at 5:45 PM.
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 20, 1:00 PM EST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 200 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A frontal boundary will approach the Appalachian Mountains this afternoon to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms, but this activity should stay along and west of the Blue Ridge. The frontal boundary should stall on Thursday to prolong the chance of rain in the mountains. After a drier Friday, a stronger cold front should arrive by this weekend to bring more rain. Cooler and drier weather should follow into next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 200 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is high for scattered showers and thunderstorms along and west of the Blue Ridge this afternoon. 2) Patchy fog is likely later tonight, and more showers and thunderstorms are possible on Thursday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are developing across southeast West Virginia and moving into southwest Virginia. A frontal boundary approaching the Appalachian Mountains this afternoon is responsible for providing the needed lift to generate this convection. Meanwhile, Hurricane Erin continues to move northward in the Atlantic Ocean, which is creating a subsidence zone across the Piedmont. Thus, the showers and storms in the mountains will likely stay along and west of the Blue Ridge through this evening and eventually dissipate by tonight. With a moist air mass in place and little flow aloft, some slow-moving storms could produce heavy rain that might trigger localized flooding issues. Patchy fog is likely to form later tonight, especially in locations that received earlier rain. Low clouds are also possible due to the moist air mass staying through Thursday. After the fog vanishes by the middle of the morning, more scattered showers and thunderstorms could again develop in the mountains towards midday and linger into Thursday afternoon. The high-resolution models seem to favor southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina more for coverage of the storms on Thursday. Temperatures could be a few degrees lower on Thursday compared to this afternoon due to a more pronounced northeast flow as Hurricane Erin passes offshore of the Outer Banks. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 100 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: 1. Hurricane Erin passes Carolina and Virginia coast through Thursday, producing dangerous beach conditions. No major impacts locally. 2. Lingering showers Thursday night into Friday morning over NW NC. Afternoon/evening showers and storms again Saturday. At the start of this forecast period, Hurricane Erin will be tracking north-northeastward well off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia, and then east of the Delmarva Peninsula by Friday. Even though Erin will remain offshore, the size of the storm will produce dangerous surf, rip currents, and storm surge along the Carolina and Virginia coast. No major impacts are expected for the local forecast area, as subsidence around the hurricane will keep precipitation chances to minimum, especially east of the Blue Ridge. Gusty winds will be the main impact as the hurricane continues to track poleward, but even those will decrease through Thursday night. A cold front will eventually stall across the southeast US Friday into Saturday, which will keep moisture in the vicinity, and thus keep chances for showers and storms in the forecast for the end of the work week and beginning of the weekend, with the highest probabilities for the southern Blue Ridge of VA and NC. Otherwise, most of the area looks to remain mostly dry, with a brief period of weak high pressure, ahead of a stronger cold front arriving from the Ohio Valley. Temperatures Friday and Saturday will be cooler, in the low 80s in the Piedmont and mid to upper 70s in the west. Overnight lows will be in the 60s each night. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 100 PM EDT Wednesday... Key Messages: 1. Showers and thunderstorms Sunday with the passage of a cold front. 2. Dry weather and below normal temperatures into the middle of the work week. A strong cold front will cross the area on Sunday, bringing more showers and thunderstorms to the area. There is still some uncertainty with the timing of the frontal passage, but the most likely timing of convection at this time is during the afternoon and evening hours with diurnal instability is maximized. Timing details will continue to be better resolved in the coming days. Showers along and west of the Blue Ridge may begin as early as Sunday morning, and the front will be east and out of the area by Monday. The passage of the 500mb trough through the beginning of the work week will bring below normal temperatures, as well as drier air. Subsidence from the surface high that builds in over the area will also keep precipitation chances low, and the area looks to remain dry through at least the midweek. High temperatures will be gradually decreasing through the beginning of the week, until reaching about 6 to 10 degrees below normal by Wednesday, in the mid 60s west of the Blue Ridge and mid 70s east. Some areas in the mountains will see lows in the 40s Tuesday and Wednesday, under high pressure. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 200 PM EDT Wednesday... Ceilings should eventually reach VFR at all terminals this afternoon. A frontal boundary will approach the mountains to spark scattered showers and thunderstorms along and west of the Blue Ridge through the afternoon and into the evening. BCB, BLF, and LWB have the highest odds for thunder. The storms may approach ROA, but sinking air further east should keep DAN and LYH free of any rain or storms. Patchy fog is likely in the mountains later tonight, and ceilings should lower to IFR or possibly LIFR. A northeast flow should accelerate in the Piedmont during Thursday due to Hurricane Erin passing northward offshore of the Outer Banks. Ceilings should slowly recover by midday, but more scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible by Thursday afternoon along and west of the Blue Ridge. .EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Hurricane Erin should head further away by Thursday night, which will allow a frontal boundary to drift southward towards the Southeast. As a result, coverage of showers and thunderstorms should be reduced on Friday with most locations staying VFR. Patchy fog may be possible during early Friday morning and early Saturday morning due to the moist air mass in place. A stronger cold front will approach from the northwest this weekend to bring more widespread showers and thunderstorms. Cooler and drier conditions should follow by Monday. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PW NEAR TERM...PW SHORT TERM...AS LONG TERM...AS AVIATION...PW
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1232 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-211645- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke- Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 1232 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may bring heavy rainfall that could trigger localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thunderstorms during Thursday afternoon and evening may bring heavy rainfall that could trigger localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032>035-043>047-058-059-211645- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 1232 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
313 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
VAZ018>020-023-024-201945-
Botetourt VA-Bath VA-Craig VA-Rockbridge VA-Alleghany VA-
313 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHEASTERN CRAIG COUNTY
IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL ROCKBRIDGE...SOUTHWESTERN
BATH AND NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
THE CITY OF COVINGTON THROUGH 345 PM EDT...
At 313 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Covington, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Covington...
Clifton Forge...
Eagle Rock...
Oriskany...
Jordan Mines...
Iron Gate...
and Douthat State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3769 8023 3788 8003 3801 7979 3784 7954
3748 7993
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 307DEG 14KT 3772 8002
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
320 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
VAZ020-024-201945-
Bath VA-Rockbridge VA-
320 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN ROCKBRIDGE AND EASTERN BATH COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM
EDT...
At 319 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Yost, or near Millboro, moving southeast at 15
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Goshen...
Millboro...
Warm Springs...
Rockbridge Baths...
Nimrod Hall...
Bells Valley...
and Burnsville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3820 7956 3818 7951 3817 7952 3815 7953
3817 7949 3817 7944 3815 7944 3809 7949
3798 7930 3782 7951 3804 7983 3822 7969
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 307DEG 14KT 3803 7960
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
328 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
VAZ007-009-202000-
Tazewell VA-Smyth VA-
328 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN SMYTH AND SOUTHWESTERN TAZEWELL COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM
EDT...
At 326 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Claypool Hill, or near Cedar Bluff, moving
southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Loose objects may be knocked over.
Locations impacted include...
Richlands...
Tazewell...
Cedar Bluff...
Raven...
Glen Burke...
Jewell Ridge...
and Amonate.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3716 8187 3717 8187 3720 8176 3724 8174
3724 8172 3720 8168 3720 8165 3704 8143
3704 8146 3703 8146 3696 8159 3693 8178
3695 8180 3696 8178 3703 8181 3711 8189
3714 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 307DEG 14KT 3705 8172
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
332 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
NCZ002-003-VAZ015-016-202000-
Surry NC-Alleghany NC-Grayson VA-Carroll VA-
332 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHEASTERN ALLEGHANY AND NORTHWESTERN SURRY COUNTIES IN
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHEASTERN CARROLL AND SOUTHEASTERN
GRAYSON COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND THE CITY OF GALAX
THROUGH 400 PM EDT...
At 332 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Ennice, moving south at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Galax...
Hillsville...
Sparta...
Independence...
Fancy Gap...
Ennice...
and Cana.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3669 8122 3668 8092 3688 8066 3669 8053
3666 8057 3666 8059 3661 8062 3644 8082
3642 8108 3643 8108 3643 8111 3642 8115
TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 342DEG 11KT 3656 8101
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
409 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
VAZ019-020-WVZ507-202045-
Bath VA-Alleghany VA-Eastern Greenbrier WV-
409 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY...SOUTHWESTERN BATH COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA AND EAST CENTRAL GREENBRIER COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN WEST
VIRGINIA THROUGH 445 PM EDT...
At 408 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Neola, moving southeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Loose objects may be knocked over due to gusty winds.
Locations impacted include...
Neola...
Hot Springs...
Lake Moomaw...
Ingalls Field...
Carloover...
Bacova Junction...
and Natural Well.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3800 7979 3788 7987 3777 8006 3790 8026
3806 8010 3806 8005
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 302DEG 9KT 3795 8006
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CDGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
424 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
VAZ011-014-018-019-022-023-WVZ044-507-202100-
Botetourt VA-Giles VA-Montgomery VA-Craig VA-Roanoke VA-Alleghany VA-
Eastern Greenbrier WV-Monroe WV-
424 PM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN ROANOKE AND SOUTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTIES IN WEST
CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHEASTERN GILES AND CRAIG COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA...NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA...
SOUTH CENTRAL GREENBRIER AND EASTERN MONROE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH 500 PM EDT...
At 423 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Mountain Lake, moving southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Loose objects may be knocked over due to gusty winds.
Locations impacted include...
Blacksburg...
Alleghany...
White Sulphur Springs...
New Castle...
Newport...
Paint Bank...
and Sinking Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3735 8065 3791 8026 3764 7981 3737 8006
3720 8046
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 296DEG 22KT 3737 8049
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CDGThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:42 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Runoff from heavy rain was observed flowing several inches deep across Rockland Road near the Town of Ronceverte. No damage was reported to the road, which was reopened to traffic after the water receded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 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: 1293041.