Wakefield, VA

Weather Forecast Office

Summary of August 7 Severe Weather/Flash Flooding

Overview

The day before the event (August 6), an upper trough was located over much of the eastern CONUS, with strong ridging centered over the southern Rockies. One shortwave was located just east of Chicago on the morning of the 6th. At the surface, a weak cold front stretched from Quebec to MO/IL. By the morning of August 7th, the trough started to take on a negative tilt as the aforementioned shortwave approached the Mid-Atlantic from the west. At the surface, troughing was developing across the VA/NC Piedmont, while the true cold front was well to the NW. Closer to our area, winds were S/SSW with temperatures (and dew points as well) starting off in the low-mid 70s. It quickly warmed up during the morning under partly-mostly sunny skies. By 17z/1 PM, temperatures had risen into the upper 80s-low 90s across the area, with dew points still in the low-mid 70s. The atmosphere became very unstable (especially for the Mid-Atlantic), with SBCAPE values of ~3000 J/kg west of I-95, with values approaching 5000 J/kg in areas near the Chesapeake Bay/Atlantic Ocean (due to slightly higher dew points in the area). This was in spite of relatively modest mid-level lapse rates. As the shortwave passed just to our north, mid-level (500 mb) winds were out of the SW at 30-45 kt (highest near the coast). This resulted in Effective Shear values of ~40 kt over SE VA (where there was a little bit of localized backing in the surface wind field). Effective shear values were 20-35 kt elsewhere.

Thunderstorms (a couple that were severe) quickly developed across the southern VA/northern NC Piedmont by early afternoon. Semi-discrete cells continued to track to the east. As the storms approached Hampton Roads/NE NC (the area mentioned above with the highest instability/shear), they quickly grew into an organized line by 4 PM. As the line crossed the southern Chesapeake Bay/Norfolk/Chesapeake, there were quite a few reports of 50-65 mph wind gusts. In addition, storms trained over the Norfolk/north Chesapeake/NW VA Beach area for around an hour between 4-5 PM. The very high rainfall rates associated with these storms resulted in 2 inches of rain at Norfolk International Airport in just 31 minutes...from 4:20 to 4:51 PM. This prompted a Flash Flood Warning to be issued, and there were several reports of impassable roads/cars stuck in Norfolk and the far northern sections of Chesapeake. In addition, quarter size hail was reported in Norfolk with a discrete cell that formed just ahead of the line. The line continued to push toward the coast during the evening hours. One more isolated severe thunderstorm tracked across Louisa/Fluvanna/Goochland Counties from 11 PM-1230 AM.

Photos
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Photos

Norfolk Flooding Photos


Flooding in Norfolk (credit: Michael Allen)	Flooding in Norfolk (credit: Michael Allen)	Flooding in Norfolk (credit: Michael Allen)	Flooding in Norfolk (credit: Rich Davis)

Radar

Radar Loop - 1 PM-6:30 PM in 30 Minute Increments

Loop of 0.5° Reflectivity (left) and Velocity (right). Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are denoted by red boxes.

Storm Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0118 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BOYDTON                 36.67N 78.39W
08/07/2019                   MECKLENBURG        VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREES DOWN IN BOYDTON.

0150 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SE DISPUTANTA         37.08N 77.16W
08/07/2019                   SUSSEX             VA   NWS EMPLOYEE     

            TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 460.

0205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BRUNSWICK               36.65N 77.87W
08/07/2019                   BRUNSWICK          VA   PUBLIC           

            TREES DOWN SOUTH OF LAWRENCEVILLE.

0235 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE NEW HOPE          37.33N 77.02W
08/07/2019                   CHARLES CITY       VA   UTILITY COMPANY  

            TREE KNOCKED DOWN RESULTING IN POWER OUTAGE. 
            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0248 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNW BARHAMSVILLE      37.48N 76.85W
08/07/2019                   NEW KENT           VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREE DOWN EASTERN NEW KENT COUNTY.

0324 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PETERSBURG              37.21N 77.39W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF PETERSBURG VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREE DOWN IN THE WALNUT HILL AREA.

0326 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ASHLAND                 37.76N 77.47W
08/07/2019                   HANOVER            VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREES KNOCKED DOWN ON POWER POLE. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0323 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S GILMAN              37.72N 77.58W
08/07/2019                   HANOVER            VA   UTILITY COMPANY  

            TREE KNOCKED DOWN RESULTING IN POWER OUTAGE. 
            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0358 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW POINT COMFORT       37.35N 76.28W
08/07/2019  M58 MPH          MATHEWS            VA   MESONET

0358 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 3 N POQUOSON            37.17N 76.38W
08/07/2019  E60 MPH          ANZ632             VA   MESONET          

            POQUOSON RIVER LIGHT.

0416 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 4 SSW RALEIGH TERRACE   36.94N 76.39W
08/07/2019  M52 MPH          ANZ638             VA   PUBLIC           

            MIDDLE GROUND LIGHT.

0412 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 4 SW RALEIGH TERRACE    36.96N 76.42W
08/07/2019  M50 MPH          ANZ638             VA   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION DOMV2 DOMINION TERMINAL.

0437 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 4 NE BAYSIDE            36.92N 76.08W
08/07/2019  E54 MPH          ANZ634             VA   MESONET          

            LYNNHAVEN LIGHT.

0438 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 4 SSW SILVER BEACH      37.44N 75.99W
08/07/2019  E51 MPH          ANZ631             VA   MESONET          

            SILVER BEACH.

0428 PM     HAIL             1 SE OCEAN VIEW         36.94N 76.24W
08/07/2019  E1.00 INCH       CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   PUBLIC

0507 PM     FLOOD            2 NW NORFOLK INTERNATIO 36.92N 76.22W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   AMATEUR RADIO    

            FLOODING ALONG CHESAPEAKE BLVD, JOHNSTONS 
            RD, AND AUBURN DR. ESTIMATED 6 INCH DEPTH.

0518 PM     FLOOD            1 NE GHENT              36.87N 76.29W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   AMATEUR RADIO    

            FLOODING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF 26TH AND 
            27TH STREETS WITH GRANBY AND COLONIAL 
            AVENUE. ESTIMATED 8 TO 12 INCHES DEPTH.

0415 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE HOBSON             36.88N 76.49W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF SUFFOLK    VA   PUBLIC           

            TREE DOWN.

0523 PM     FLASH FLOOD      DOWNTOWN NORFOLK        36.85N 76.29W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OUTSIDE OF WTKR STUDIO. 
            PORTIONS OF BOUSH ST ARE IMPASSIBLE.

0525 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WARDS CORNER            36.91N 76.27W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   PUBLIC           

            OXFORD ST AND NEWPORT AVE IMPASSIBLE DUE TO 
            HIGH WATER.

0430 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BOWERS HILL             36.78N 76.42W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF CHESAPEAKE VA   PUBLIC           

            TREES DOWN IN BOWERS HILL AREA. I-664 
            BLOCKED.

0430 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SW NORVIEW            36.88N 76.26W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS NORFOLK.

0533 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SW PORTLOCK           36.78N 76.29W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF CHESAPEAKE VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            ROADWAY IS IMPASSIBLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GATES                   36.51N 76.77W
08/07/2019                   GATES              NC   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREES DOWN NEAR GATES.

0450 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE KEMPSVILLE         36.85N 76.13W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF VIRGINIA BEVA   PUBLIC           

            TREES DOWN IN PEMBROKE MANOR.

0338 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S IVOR                36.86N 76.90W
08/07/2019                   SOUTHAMPTON        VA   911 CALL CENTER  

            TREES DOWN.

0430 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 WSW KIPTOPEKE STATE P 37.17N 75.99W
08/07/2019  M53 MPH          NORTHAMPTON        VA   BUOY             

            BUOY STATION KPTV2 KIPTOPEKE, VA.

0421 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 4 SSW RALEIGH TERRACE   36.95N 76.39W
08/07/2019  M57 MPH          ANZ638             VA   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION XMGL MIDDLE GROUND 
            LIGHTHOUSE.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SE OCEAN VIEW         36.95N 76.24W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF NORFOLK    VA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            FLOODING OF STREETS AROUND OCEAN VIEW.

0334 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW HARRIS GROVE      37.20N 76.50W
08/07/2019                   YORK               VA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            TREE KNOCKED DOWN AT A RESIDENCE. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

1109 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NE TABSCOTT           37.87N 78.05W
08/07/2019                   GOOCHLAND          VA   UTILITY COMPANY  

            TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES ALONG SHANNON HILL 
            RD. TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR.

1154 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW OILVILLE           37.68N 77.81W
08/07/2019                   GOOCHLAND          VA   UTILITY COMPANY  

            TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES ALONG SHEPPARD 
            TOWN RD EAST OF GOOCHLAND. TIME ESTIMATED 
            VIA RADAR DATA.

1155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNE GOOCHLAND         37.73N 77.85W
08/07/2019                   GOOCHLAND          VA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS 

            TREE DOWNED AND BLOCKING ROAD AT MAIDENS RD 
            AND POORHOUSE ROAD.

0415 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE NORTHAMPTON       37.02N 76.40W
08/07/2019                   CITY OF HAMPTON    VA   PUBLIC           

            TIME IS RADAR ESTIMATED. TREES DOWNED ALONG 
            BRIARFIELD RD AT ABERDEEN. REPORT VIA SOCIAL 
            MEDIA.

0512 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 15 ENE VIRGINIA BEACH   36.90N 75.71W
08/07/2019  M60 MPH          ANZ656             VA   MESONET          

            MESONET STATION XCLT CHESAPEAKE LIGHT TOWER.

0436 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 WSW KIPTOPEKE STATE P 37.17N 75.99W
08/07/2019  E64 MPH          ANZ632             VA   MESONET          

            KIPTOPEKE.

Environment

Synoptic Summary.


Figure 1: August 6 12z/8 AM 500mb Analysis	Figure 2: August 7 12z/8 AM 500mb Analysis	Figure 3: August 7 12z/8AM WPC Surface Analysis	Figure 4: August 7 18z/2 PM WPC Surface Analysis