West Virginia, 2026

Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, June 12, 2026

June 12, 2026 · NWS RNK · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

A cold front moved slowly southward through the Mid-Atlantic, triggering scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates and severe weather. While shear was not very high (<30 knots), the atmosphere was considerably unstable with SBCAPE values of at least 2000 J/kg.

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
$8,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 RNK wrote it up.

A cold front moved slowly southward through the Mid-Atlantic, triggering scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates and severe weather. While shear was not very high (<30 knots), the atmosphere was considerably unstable with SBCAPE values of at least 2000 J/kg. Low level lapse rates and mid-level lapse rates were up to 8.0 C /km and 6.5 C/km, respectively, in southeast West Virginia. All these parameters, combined with DCAPE values of 900-1200 J/kg, resulted in severe thunderstorms that blew a few trees down in Greenbrier and Mercer Counties.

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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 12:29 PM EST, 4 hours 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon/evening. 2) Above normal temperatures expected today through Sunday.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 12:29 PM EST, 4 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
129 PM EDT Fri Jun 12 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...

A Heat Advisory remains in effect for portions of Central
Virginia and North Carolina.

Highest severe wind risk is now for the entire Piedmont. Sunday's
severe threat is also increasing.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon/evening.

2) Above normal temperatures expected today through Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Strong to severe storms expected this afternoon, quiet for
Saturday, then another chance for severe weather on Sunday.

Remnants from an MCS are moving east through Kentucky but continue
to dissipate. The debris cloud from it is just entering our area,
and may slightly affect instability, which could affect the coverage
of afternoon storms. The morning upper-air sounding at Blacksburg
showed CAPE values already over 2000 J/kg, with sufficient lapse
rates and moisture for storm development. The only missing
ingredient is a forcing mechanism, which will come by way of a cold
front across the western Ohio Valley that will move towards the area
late this afternoon into the evening, along with a shortwave upper-
level trough. Barring any setbacks with instability, scattered to
widespread storms are expected to fire mid afternoon along the Blue
Ridge and in the mountains and progress eastward into the Piedmont.

A consistent westerly wind will downslope across the Piedmont today,
which will limit thunderstorm development there and cause some
storms to dissipate as the move east off of the Blue Ridge.
Redevelopment will occur most likely just east of our area. Storms
that do survive the trip east will have plenty of energy to work
with. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s, and dew points in the
upper 60s to low 70s. DCAPE values are already over 1000 J/kg,
indicative of potential downbursts in strong thunderstorms. Storms
will have the capability to produce damaging wind gusts and isolated
large hail greater than 1" in diameter. Shear values are quite low,
which negates any tornado threat. Isolated flash flooding will again
be a concern, though storms are expected to move at a steady pace.
Most likely locations for flash flooding today would be poor
drainage areas in urban environments, and the usual flood-prone
areas. Storms dissipate fully around midnight as the front pushes
off to the east.

Saturday will be mostly quiet thanks to high pressure moving in from
the north, pushing the cold front off to our south briefly, though
an isolated shower or storm will be possible in Northwest North
Carolina. The high begins to shift east on Sunday, with another cold
front approaching the area in the afternoon, again providing forcing
for strong to severe storms, with damaging winds as the main threat.

KEY MESSAGE 2: Above normal temperatures expected today through
Sunday.

Temperatures today look to increase into the upper 90s to near
100 across the Piedmont, and into the upper 80s to low 90s
across mountain locations. Many across the Piedmont are already
in the low 90s early this afternoon, with several hours of
daytime heating still on tap for today. KRNK 18 UTC sounding
analyzed an 850mb temperature of 20 Celsius, which will
certainly support near 90 degree temperatures at the surface for
the NRV, and higher values further east in the Piedmont at
lower elevations. While a more dry airmass pushes into the
region behind the cold front that will pass through the region
today, temperatures on Saturday still look to be hot, with highs
in the low 90s forecast for the Piedmont, and low to mid 80s for
mountain locations. The drier airmass will make the air feel
less muggy on Saturday; however, a return of higher dewpoints on
Sunday combined with increasing high temperatures back into the
mid 90s for the Piedmont and mid to upper 80s for mountain
locations, will increase Heat Index values once again across the
region.

While Heat Advisory criteria will likely not be met,
temperatures will be warm across the region, and sensitive
groups should avoid outdoor activity during the peak heating of
the day. Those that work outdoors should similarly take frequent
breaks indoors with AC, and drink plenty of fluids.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...

VFR conditions look to mostly prevail through the TAF period,
with late evening storms expected today at all terminals. These
storms will lead to brief periods of MVFR to IFR CIGs and VSBYs
at all terminals this evening if they move in the vicinity of a
terminal. The highest potential time period for these storms
looks to be between 20 UTC and 02 UTC, with BLF and LWB likely
seeing earlier towards that time period, and BCB/ROA seeing the
middle of that time period, and DAN/LYH seeing the tail end of
that time period. These storms as mentioned above will have
gusty erratic winds from downburst, along with heavy rainfall
and some hail.

Outside of the storm chances above, winds look to predominantly
remain west/southwest through today, with a transition to
northwesterly/northerly during the overnight hours behind the
frontal passage. Winds look to remain around 5-10 knots
sustained, with gusts up to 15-20 knots ahead of the storms
today. Much calmer winds look to return to the region overnight
as high pressure settles into the region behind the cold front.
These elevated winds may prevent river valley fog from
developing during the overnight hours; however, some patchy fog
can't be ruled out, especially with areas that see rainfall
today.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK

Passage of the front will bring a period of drying on Saturday
before going back into a general summer time pattern where
scattered showers and storms will become common during afternoon
and evening hours, followed by clearing at night with patchy
fog. Severe weather looks to return Sunday across the area, with
an additional frontal boundary pushing through the northeast.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for VAZ043>047-058-
     059.
NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ004>006.
WV...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...EB/JCB
AVIATION...EB
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 12, 1:07 PM EST, 3 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
207 PM EDT Fri Jun 12 2026

NCZ001>003-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-WVZ042>044-507-508-
131815-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-
Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-
Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-
Bedford-Amherst-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-
Western Greenbrier-
207 PM EDT Fri Jun 12 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia,
southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening.
Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ004>006-VAZ043>047-058-059-131815-
Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-
Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
207 PM EDT Fri Jun 12 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
central Virginia and south central Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Heat Advisory.

Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening.
Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 3:48 PM EST, 42 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jun 12, 3:58 PM EST, 32 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 12, 3:58 PM EST, 32 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jun 12, 4:00 PM EST, 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 12, 4:19 PM EST, 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 12, 4:27 PM EST, 3 minutes before
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The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Greenbrier

When
June 12, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Greenbrier County, 1.36 mi N of Golden
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.040, -80.322

A hailstone with an estimated size of 1.25 inches was reported near the intersection of Seneca Trail and Brownstown Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer

When
June 12, 4:40 PM EST
Where
Mercer County, 0.98 mi E of Littlesburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$800
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.322, -81.202

Large limbs were reported down near the B & G Pro-Shop and Sportsman's Club.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenbrier

When
June 12, 4:40 PM EST
Where
Greenbrier County, 1.24 mi NW of North Caldwell
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.791, -80.588

A tree was reported down near the intersection of Alta Drive and Dyer Lane.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenbrier

When
June 12, 4:44 PM EST
Where
Greenbrier County, 0.36 mi NNE of Ronceverte to 0.89 mi W of Ronceverte
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.755, -80.468

A few trees reported down across Ronceverte. They are as follows:

A tree was reported down at the intersection of Renick Avenue and Chesapeake Street.|A tree was reported down near the intersection of Grandview Drive and Hillcrest Drive. |A tree was reported down at the 500 Block of Pocahontas Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenbrier

When
June 12, 4:45 PM EST
Where
Greenbrier County, 0.86 mi N of Teaberry
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
37.782, -80.452

A tree was reported down and across the road at the 300 Block of Goheen Street near New Covenant Sanctuary.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer

When
June 12, 5:15 PM EST
Where
Mercer County, 0.9 mi SSW of Speedway
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
37.437, -81.004

Several trees were reported down on Route 20 near its intersection with Pump House Road.

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

More

Every storm in West Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, June 2026

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1341652, 1341660, 1341661, 1341668, 1341662, 1341663.