Coach McGuirk

I was monitoring this storm. Baseball sized hail was also reported. The radar returns were like nothing I've ever seen.

Public Information Statement National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 954 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026 ...NWS Damage Survey for 08/14/26 Charlottesville Thunderstorm Wind Event... .Charlottesville, VA Thunderstorm Wind Event... Peak Wind /E/: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.4 miles Path Width /maximum/: 1.4 miles Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: Aug 14, 2026 Start Time: 5:33 PM EDT Start Location: Greenbrier Community / Charlottesville / VA Start Lat/Lon: 38.065 / -78.481 End Date: Aug 14, 2026 End Time: 5:42 PM EDT End Location: Darden Towe Park / Charlottesville / VA End Lat/Lon: 38.041 / -78.448 Survey Summary: On the evening of August 14th, 2026, a powerful thunderstorm began to develop over southeastern Rockingham County out of a cluster of otherwise innocuous showers. The storm would rapidly intensify into a powerful supercell thunderstorm before reaching the Blue Ridge. As the storm crossed into northwestern Albermarle county, particularly around Free Union, the storm would go through a period of weakening as it approached Charlottesville. Just prior to arrival, the supercell thunderstorm went through another cycle of strengthening, making the storm much more intense than it had been earlier. The storm reached it`s peak intensity as it moved across the north side of Charlottesville. It was at this point in the storms life cycle where it started to drop damaging hail and very strong wind gusts under the forward- flank downdraft of the storm. This is where a majority of damage reports were, with numerous trees and powerlines down between the Greenbrier and Locust Grove neighborhoods and continuing into Darden Towe Park. Ground photos and video, paired with drone photos of the aftermath showed a vast majority of this damage occurring in the southeast direction. This is consistent with a damaging straight line wind event, which occurred over roughly a three square mile area. In this area there were numerous snapped and uprooted trees, several of which fell onto structures and/or powerlines. Additionally, there were a few locations with some structural damage, but those few instances could easily occur with this level of straight line wind damage. The damage lacked any true linear continuity overall, but was moreso in several north-to-south swaths. Additionally, this area had measured hailstones in the 2 to 2.5 inch range. At this time, when paired with radar presentation, this would reinforce the thinking that this damage likely occurred under a microburst within the forward flank downdraft region of this powerful supercell thunderstorm. However, the National Weather Service will be sending a storm damage team to further investigate early this coming week. It is important to note that severe thunderstorms are capable of producing wind gusts equal to EF0 and EF1 tornadoes in extreme cases. The National Weather Service would like to thank Albemarle County Department of Emergency Management, City of Charlottesville Emergency Management, the University of Virginia, as well as local reports via social media and local broadcast meteorologists for the invaluable information provided to this survey.

Just measured 3 inches of rain in the bucket. Needed that.

At 2pm, the NWS Wakefield said today was mostly sunny. Now, we're under a severe thunderstorm warning. And another line of the severe storms headed my way.

Thanks. It has to be rare.

The supercell started in Richmond, VA. Dropped a tornado on the James river. Could have been anywhere.

That is literally the most idiotic answer ever. I want an answer from Wakefield NWS and they won't answer either.

That is a legitimate question.

Little to know damage was reported, it traversed the James River. But a super sweet pic. Since it was associated with a large thunderstorm but never hit land, does it not count as a tornado?

Pic of a tornado on the James River next to Newport News, VA last night.

Oh crazy, if got smoky but they predicted it.

2 flood watches in the past two weeks. Maybe some light showers.

Some of these tornado videos are beautiful. They kept saying a stove top tornado could be an EF-5. I'm like no it's not. Turned out to be an EF-3 165 MPH winds.

I also love how everyone has to say, "we're doing this to save lives." No, you're tornado junkies.

I love how a certified weather spotter is a thing. You take a two hour class and you're given a speech. Here's your diploma!