A line of thunderstorms ahead of a cold front from the northwest maintained their strength to deliver damaging wind gusts resulting in downed trees and power lines across southeast West Virginia. In spite of the early morning hours, there was Effective Bulk Shear of 30-40 kts and a few hundred MLCAPE to keep the system alive.
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 line of thunderstorms ahead of a cold front from the northwest maintained their strength to deliver damaging wind gusts resulting in downed trees and power lines across southeast West Virginia. In spite of the early morning hours, there was Effective Bulk Shear of 30-40 kts and a few hundred MLCAPE to keep the system alive. These storms dissipated after crossing the Appalachian mountains and encountering relatively stable air.
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 18, 5:50 AM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 650 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Increased Pops this morning in WV as line moves closer out central WV. Increased winds as well. Aviation updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Severe storms possible this afternoon/evening. Breezy ahead of the front as well with increase fire danger for the NC piedmont. 2) Dry weekend followed by more chances for showers/storms early next week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening. Breezy ahead of the front as well with increase fire danger for the piedmont. Line of showers/storms moving across WV has its eyes set on southeast WV between 7-9am. A few stronger wind gust potentially severe may reach Greenbrier County and the rest of southeast WV in that time frame, then model show weakening trend as best energy/instability stay just west of us. Some lull in activity later this morning before more showers and storms develop midday into the afternoon. Decent mid-level westerly winds will exist this afternoon across our area. to Mid Atlantic. Convection may very well start pushing into our WV area after 8am. We have convective cirrus blowoff from upstream storms this morning, but models do showing clearing after late morning, so ample sunshine to heat the low levels and increase lapse rates. Tornado risk today is low but non-zero. As heating occurs during the day, boundary layer mixing as well as veering and weakening winds at 850 mb may reduce tornado risk. However, ample deep- layer shear and nearly unidirectional wind profiles will favor both cells and fast- moving clusters of storms producing damaging gusts and locally severe hail throughout the day. The surface front arrives this afternoon in the mountains sliding southeast of our CWA early Friday. Storms are expected to diminish somewhat by late Thursday evening, but showers may linger into Friday morning especially in NC. The remnants of Arthur will also push moisture our way, and higher PWATs may lead to localized flooding concerns. This may be a case if we get some training cells. Main flooding threat will be over the mountains of WV/far SW VA into NC. c Gradient, non-thunderstorms winds will also be pretty strong for June, acting more like Spring. 85H winds are forecast between 30-40kts which, if mixed to the surface, will result in windy conditions with surface gusts of 30-35 mph. Though sub- advisory winds, these speeds could still topple outdoor furniture, like deck umbrellas, and chairs. The breezy conditions will also couple with what is expected to be a very warm day (assuming clouds do not mute the numbers)...highs into the lower to mid 90s east of the mountains and the ongoing extreme drought, creating higher fire danger and the need to refrain from any open air burning. In summary, a call to action... 1. Secure patio furniture and lower canopies and umbrellas 2. Prep for possible power outages 3. No open air burning 4. Have a way to receive warnings 5. Watch the sky and take shelter if a storm approaches or a warning is issued. KEY MESSAGE 2: Dry weekend but more storm chances early next week. High pressure follows the front Saturday into Sunday. Models agree on a broad trough over the Great Lakes into the mid-MS Valley heading into Monday swinging through the mountains early next week. This feature with the front and good moisture advection should provide another opportunity for showers and storms, but like previous systems, fronts that come from the northwest favor the mountains (esp western slopes) for rainfall and to a much lesser extent east of the mountains. && .AVIATION /12Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Storms may impact LWB/BLF this morning in the 12-15z time frame, possibly reaching BCB. Winds from the west with these storms could gust over 40kts. Then a lull in activity before more showers/storms form around 15-18z. Kept the forecast mainly VFR outside of storms and tried to time some of the storms at BLF/LWB this afternoon with VCTS elsewhere. Outside of storms, gradient winds will be gusting 20-30kts. Once the front moves across, and moisture increases ahead of the remnants of Arthur expect cigs sinking to MVFR to IFR at most sites tonight with showers. Any thunder should start to diminish by late evening. Wind will also weaken later tonight. Could see some IFR fog at BLF/LWB as well late. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Sub-VFR to last through Friday morning with showers exiting to the east and south. Then VFR conditions will be the norm for the remainder of the weekend. Isolated to scattered showers/storms may return to the mountains Sunday afternoon, with increasing chances into Monday with sub-VFR potential. Other sub-VFR possibilities may be some late night/early morning mountain valley/river fog during the weekend. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...PM/SH/WP AVIATION...DS/SH/WP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 710 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 NCZ004>006-020-191115- Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Yadkin- 710 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina and northwest North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening, with primarily damaging wind gusts or marginal hail the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NCZ001>003-018-019-191115- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes- 710 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina and northwest North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening, with primarily damaging wind gusts or marginal hail the main threats. Localized flooding is also possible, especially in the mountains and urban areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. VAZ024-035-044>047-058-059-191115- Rockbridge-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 710 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 350 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south central Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and 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...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area. VAZ007-009>020-022-023-032>034-043-WVZ042>044-507-508-191115- Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll- Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Henry-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 710 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 350 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and 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...Friday through Wednesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
849 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026
VAZ018-019-023-WVZ044-507-181315-
Botetourt VA-Craig VA-Alleghany VA-Eastern Greenbrier WV-Monroe WV-
849 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHEASTERN
CRAIG COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA...NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT COUNTY
IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL GREENBRIER AND NORTHEASTERN
MONROE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE CITY OF
COVINGTON THROUGH 915 AM EDT...
At 848 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Alleghany, moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Alleghany...
Covington...
Jordan Mines...
Oriskany...
Glace...
Glen Wilton...
and Gala.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until noon EDT for
central, south central, southwestern and west central Virginia...and
southeastern West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3765 8049 3784 8019 3777 7967 3750 7995
TIME...MOT...LOC 1248Z 281DEG 47KT 3772 8023
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
855 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026
WVZ044-181315-
Monroe WV-
855 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY THROUGH 915 AM EDT...
At 855 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Union, moving southeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Union...
Laurel Branch...
Hollywood...
Pickaway...
Wayside...
Raines Corner...
and Zenith.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until noon EDT for
southwestern and west central Virginia...and southeastern West
Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3757 8031 3746 8058 3759 8074 3768 8059
TIME...MOT...LOC 1255Z 294DEG 48KT 3760 8060
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down along Crosier Road just southwest of the town of McRoss.
A tree was reported down across River Road just south of the Sandstone USPS Office.
A tree was reported down over Anvil Rock Lane near the Anvil Rock Training Center.
A large tree was reported down on Matoaka Road just south of its intersection with Cable Road.
A tree was reported down on Athens Road near its intersection with Plymouth Ridge.
A power line was reported down along Wolf Bottom Road near its intersection with Falls Mills Road.
A tree was reported down blocking one lane of traffic near the intersection of New Hope and Surface Hill Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, June 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: 1349432, 1349434, 1349435, 1349436, 1349437, 1349438, 1349439.