A cold front moved across Virginia on April 5, 2026. A weak surface low along the cold front helped produce a line of severe storms 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.
A cold front moved across Virginia on April 5, 2026. A weak surface low along the cold front helped produce a line of severe storms 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 Apr 5, 12:54 PM EST, 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
154 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes to the forecast. The Marginal Risk
(level 1 of 5) continues for SE portions of the area. The main
threat remaining isolated damaging wind gusts.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) A strong cold front brings a high coverage of
showers or thunderstorms today. There is a Marginal Risk (level 1/5)
for severe weather across the SE portions of the area, with the main
threat being isolated damaging wind gusts.
2) Temperatures behind the cold front will trend near or
slightly below average early next week with the potential for
frost/freeze headlines. The coldest morning looks to be
Wednesday, with widespread lows around freezing possible away
from the coast.
3) Depending on the amount of rainfall received, there may be
potential for heightened fire weather concerns early this week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
As of 300 AM EDT Sunday...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A strong cold front brings a high coverage of
showers or thunderstorms today. There is a Marginal Risk (level 1/5)
for severe weather across the SE portions of the area, with the main
threat being isolated damaging wind gusts.
A low pressure system will lift NE of the Great Lakes today dragging
a strong cold front through the area late this afternoon into the
overnight hours. Widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms are
expected across the area today. The timing of the showers and
isolated thunderstorms remains similar from previous forecasts,
expecting convection to begin in NW portions first late this morning
then reaching the SE portions by early afternoon. Good moisture
returns to the area ahead of the front (dewpoints in the low to mid
60s) will allow a few hundred J/kg of SBCAPE across the eastern half
of the area. Additionally, the SE will see higher temperatures as
the timing of the front is later with highs in the upper 70 to near
80F. This higher instability/better surface heating could help
storms to become strong to severe in the SE portions of the area.
SPC maintains the Marginal Risk (level 1/5) with the front in the SE
portions of the area where the conditions are more favorable. The
main threat with any storm would be isolated damaging winds gusts,
as wind profiles look to be largely unidirectional with poor lapse
rates.
Rainfall totals look to be around 0.25-0.50" on average. High values
up to 1.00" is possible in the SE from higher amounts in storms.
While totals of ~1" are unlikely, any rain is welcome, as a large
majority of the area is under a moderate drought. Additionally, a SW
wind will gust to 25-30 mph in advance of the showers/tstms.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Temperatures behind the cold front will trend
near or slightly below average early next week with the
potential for frost/freeze headlines. The coldest morning looks
to be Wednesday, with widespread lows around freezing possible
away from the coast.
Behind the cold front today, temperatures will trend closer to
average or below average this week. Highs on Monday will be in the
mid 60s (lower 60s at the coast) and mid 50s N to mid 60s S on
Tuesday, as a secondary front drops south through the area Tuesday.
providing a reinforced shot of CAA. Strong high pressure builds to
the north of the area by midweek which will result in cooler
conditions Wednesday with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s due to
the NE flow. There will be potential for frost or freeze headlines
both Tuesday night-Wednesday AM and Wednesday night-Thursday AM for
areas where the growing season has started. For reference, the
growing season has started 4/1 for all but the far NW counties,
which start 4/11. At this time, Wednesday morning looks to have the
highest potential for a freeze, with widespread lows around freezing
possible, with even upper 20s possible in the Piedmont, depending on
how much boundary layer decoupling that occurs. Temperatures
gradually moderate back to near seasonal averages late in the week
while dry conditions persist.
3) Depending on the amount of rainfall received, there may be
potential for heightened fire weather concerns early this week.
With the two cold fronts and high pressure building over the area
this week, there is potential for heightened fire weather concerns
as dewpoints drop significantly and minimum RH values reach to the
mid 20s to mid 30s for portions of the area. However, winds are not
expected to be more than 15-20 mph early this week. With the large
majority of the area under a moderate drought, there may be some
concern for fire weather depending on the amount of rainfall
received today.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 155 PM EDT Sunday...
Showers and a few tstms are moving into the region in advance
of a cold front. Primarily VFR ahead of the showers with a SW
wind of 15-20kt gusting to 25-30kt, and locally higher at ORF
and ECG. Showers move through RIC/SBY through 21-23z, ORF/PHF
through 00-02s, and ECG through ~04z, with the best chc of tstms
at PHF, ORF, and ECG. Brief strong westerly wind gusts are
possible with tstms. However, tstm wind gusts will likely not be
much higher than the synoptic gusts occurring as of 18z.
Periodic MVFR cigs are expected the aftn and then prevailing
later this aftn and evening at most sites with the exception of
RIC. Brief IFR vsby is expected in heavy rain. The wind will
generally diminish to WSW 8-12kt after convection passes and
once stratiform rain develops. A wind shift to N/NW is expected
behind the cold front, with gusts to ~20kt at ORF and ECG. Dry
and VFR conditions return tonight into Monday. A NW wind of
5-10kt Monday morning will become W in the aftn.
Outlook: VFR conditions prevail Monday night through Friday. A
secondary dry cold front will cross the area Tuesday.
&&
.MARINE...
As of 400 AM EDT Sunday...
Key Messages:
- SCAs are in effect for the Bay/rivers, and Ocean N of Cape
Charles, and will go into effect later today for the Ocean S
of Cape Charles and the Currituck sound.
- Strong high pressure building in behind another cold front
will likely bring additional SCA conditions Tuesday night into
Wednesday.
High pressure is located offshore to the SE and low pressure is
well to the N and NW across Ontario and Quebec. S-SW winds
average 15-20 kt with gusts to ~25 kt across most of the region
early this morning due to a compressed pressure gradient in
advance of an approaching cold front. Seas are generally 3-4 ft,
but will build to 5-6 ft offshore of the northern waters this
aftn. The more limited fetch will tend to keep them capped at
~4 ft to the south, but with gusts to 25-30 kt, will probably
see seas to ~5ft out near 20 NM offshore so have decided to add
SCAs the southern ocean zones this aftn even though it will be
more marginal. Most of the CAMs depict some sort of line of
convection moving through the waters late in the aftn so
locally stronger convective wind gusts will be possible (and
will be handled w/ SMWs as needed). The front crosses the
waters late afternoon into the evening. CAA is lacking through
most of the evening, so a 6hr+ timeframe with winds only around
10 kt is still expected before a period with stronger N-NW winds
develops late in the evening as we approach midnight and lasts
into early Monday morning. For the Ocean, have extended the
SCAs into early Monday to cover this second surge since seas
will stay near 4-5 ft offshore this evening. For the remainder
of the area, will only cover the SW winds with headlines and
allow subsequent shifts to determine if the sub-SCA period is
long enough to allow the headlines to end with new ones for the
overnight surge.
Weak/transient high pressure brings diminishing winds Monday,
but a secondary cold front pushes through late Monday night,
brining an uptick in winds as they shift back to the N-NW (this
looks to mainly be sub-SCA). However, strong high pressure to
nearly 1040 mb lags behind and will settle into the the NE CONUS
and northern mid- Atlantic region Tue night/early Wed. The
additional CAA and pressure rises will likely lead to a stronger
surge of northerly winds, and with the direction being more
from the NE, seas are likely to build more significantly to at
least 5-6 ft for the southern ocean zones, bringing SCAs back
into the forecast for most of the local waters.
&&
.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for
ANZ630>638.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Monday for ANZ650-652-654.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM EDT Monday for ANZ656-658.
&&
DISCUSSION...AJZ/KMC
AVIATION...AJZ
MARINE...LKBHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wakefield VA 410 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026 MDZ021>023-VAZ048-060>062-064>069-075>083-085-509>522-060815- Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Fluvanna-Prince Edward-Cumberland- Goochland-Caroline-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-Nottoway-Amelia-Powhatan- Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Brunswick-Dinwiddie- Prince George (including Hopewell and Petersburg)-Charles City- New Kent-Middlesex-Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover- Eastern Hanover-Western Chesterfield- Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)- 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- 410 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, central Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and 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... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ024-025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ084-086>090-092-093-095>100- 523>525-060815- Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches-Northampton-Hertford-Gates- Pasquotank-Camden-Western Currituck-Bertie-Chowan-Perquimans- Eastern Currituck-Gloucester-Mathews-Greensville-Sussex-Surry- James City-Southampton-Isle of Wight-Norfolk/Portsmouth-Suffolk- Chesapeake-Virginia Beach-Accomack-York-Newport News- Hampton/Poquoson- 410 AM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, northeast North Carolina, eastern Virginia and southeast Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A cold front will cross the area today bringing widespread showers and storms in the afternoon to evening. Isolated storms may become strong to severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
115 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
NCZ012-VAZ087-092-051745-
Northampton NC-Southampton VA-Greensville VA-
115 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHAMPTON...SOUTHERN
GREENSVILLE AND SOUTHWESTERN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM
EDT...
At 115 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Roanoke Rapids, moving northeast at 60 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.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Roanoke Rapids, Garysburg, and Gaston around 120 PM EDT.
Dahlia around 125 PM EDT.
Seaboard around 130 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Milwaukee, Adams
Grove, Gum Forks, Bryants Corner, Jackson, Slates Corner, Worrell,
Boones Crossroads, Pleasant Grove, and Creeksville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3634 7758 3638 7755 3642 7756 3645 7763
3648 7765 3648 7775 3650 7782 3654 7783
3654 7777 3657 7775 3675 7722 3655 7713
3654 7716 3652 7715 3652 7712 3648 7709
3648 7710 3646 7714 3638 7715 3631 7756
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 242DEG 51KT 3644 7772
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
147 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
VAZ092-093-051815-
Isle of Wight VA-Southampton VA-
147 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHAMPTON AND SOUTHWESTERN
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN THROUGH 215 PM EDT...
At 146 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northwest of Boykins, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Courtland around 200 PM EDT.
Sedley around 205 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Vicksville, Adams
Grove, Handsom, Berlin, Manry, Worrell, Collosse, Dory, Lees Mill,
and Walters.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3655 7732 3671 7742 3696 7690 3674 7677
3668 7685 3654 7730
TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 243DEG 38KT 3665 7729
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
204 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
VAZ084-086-089-093-523>525-051845-
Mathews VA-Hampton/Poquoson VA-Isle of Wight VA-Surry VA-
Newport News VA-York VA-Gloucester VA-
204 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN GLOUCESTER...
NORTHEASTERN ISLE OF WIGHT...SOUTHEASTERN YORK...SOUTHEASTERN MATHEWS
AND EAST CENTRAL SURRY COUNTIES...THE CITY OF POQUOSON...THE CITY OF
HAMPTON AND THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
At 204 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Tabb, or over Patrick Henry Field, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Hampton and Seaford around 210 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Rushmere, Carrollton,
Lackey, Chippokes State Park, Benns Church, Oriana, Hilton Village,
Newport News Golf Course, Poolesville, and Oyster Point.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3729 7623 3726 7628 3728 7633 3721 7633
3710 7622 3701 7625 3689 7666 3710 7682
3720 7662 3719 7662 3717 7661 3718 7658
3722 7660 3742 7620 3738 7619
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 243DEG 23KT 3713 7647
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
213 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
VAZ092-093-095>097-524-051915-
Isle of Wight VA-Norfolk/Portsmouth VA-Southampton VA-
Newport News VA-Suffolk VA-Chesapeake VA-
213 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN SOUTHAMPTON...AND ISLE OF
WIGHT COUNTIES...THE CITY OF NORFOLK...THE CITY OF CHESAPEAKE...THE
CITY OF FRANKLIN...THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH...THE CITY OF SUFFOLK AND
THE SOUTHERN CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS THROUGH 315 PM EDT...
At 212 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Isle Of Wight to near Como. Movement was
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small trees and blow around
unsecured objects. Wind impacting handling of high profile
vehicles. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Smithfield, Windsor, Holland, Suffolk, Isle Of Wight, and
Carrsville around 220 PM EDT.
Kings Fork around 225 PM EDT.
Whaleyville around 230 PM EDT.
Newport News, Downtown Suffolk, Driver, and Crittenden around 235
PM EDT.
Chesapeake and Portsmouth around 240 PM EDT.
Churchland, Norfolk, Bowers Hill, and Western Branch around 245 PM
EDT.
Old Dominion University and Norfolk NAS around 250 PM EDT.
Deep Creek, Downtown Norfolk, Ocean View, Downtown Portsmouth,
Norfolk State University, Ghent, Norview, and Cradock around 255
PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include South Norfolk,
Carrollton, Portlock, Longview, Benns Church, Suffolk Airport,
Huntersville, Bethel Church, Chuckatuck, and Wilroy.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3697 7690 3698 7689 3700 7626 3696 7616
3693 7616 3693 7618 3691 7617 3692 7619
3691 7618 3689 7620 3685 7618 3683 7620
3684 7622 3683 7623 3677 7621 3676 7614
3655 7613 3655 7710
TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 259DEG 34KT 3698 7676 3655 7698
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
216 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
NCZ012>016-030>032-051915-
Pasquotank NC-Hertford NC-Northampton NC-Bertie NC-Camden NC-
Gates NC-Perquimans NC-Chowan NC-
216 PM EDT Sun Apr 5 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CAMDEN...
NORTHWESTERN PASQUOTANK...NORTHWESTERN PERQUIMANS...BERTIE...
SOUTHEASTERN NORTHAMPTON...HERTFORD...GATES AND CHOWAN COUNTIES
THROUGH 315 PM EDT...
At 216 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Como to near Scotland Neck. Movement was
east at 30 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. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Murfreesboro, Aulander, Roxobel, and Como around 220 PM EDT.
Ahoskie, Winton, and Lewiston Woodville around 225 PM EDT.
Gates, Cofield, and Roduco around 230 PM EDT.
Gatesville and Powellsville around 240 PM EDT.
Harrellsville and Corapeake around 245 PM EDT.
Sunbury around 250 PM EDT.
Windsor around 255 PM EDT.
Colerain and Hobbsville around 300 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Goose Pond,
Eagletown, Whites Crossroads, Tunis, Kelford, Earleys, Menola,
Newsome Store, Arrowhead Beach, and Chowan Beach.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3598 7720 3601 7722 3606 7732 3609 7731
3610 7724 3611 7723 3611 7724 3612 7724
3613 7725 3616 7726 3617 7731 3619 7733
3621 7737 3654 7710 3655 7631 3651 7626
3605 7662 3601 7669 3599 7668 3596 7672
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 266DEG 32KT 3656 7696 3606 7743
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JMThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:26 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An NWS employee reported that a tree fell onto a house in Smithfield. Shingles fell from another house.
Several trees fell down in Isle of Wight County south of Windsor Boulevard.
A tree fell down on 56th Street in Newport News.
The AWOS station (KNGU) in Norfolk measured a gust to 61 miles per hour.
A tree fell down along Moses Grandy Trail in Chesapeake near US-17 and Millville Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 2026
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: 1329501, 1329502, 1329503, 1329505, 1329504.