A strong storm system across the Ohio Valley during the afternoon of Thursday, May 8th, pushed east toward the mountains Thursday evening. A boundary was trailing from the low across southern Virginia. This put the region in a high shear environment, meaning, winds at the surface were blowing from the southeast, while a few thousand feet above the surface, the winds were blowing out of the southwest at 40 to 50 mph. Supercells formed in the foothills and piedmont of Virginia, ahead of a strong but broken line of thunderstorms that formed just west of the mountains and became more organized by the time it reached the Blue Ridge. These severe thunderstorms brought EF-1 tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding to portions of Southwest Virginia.

Thunderstorm Wind in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:04:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:04:00 (EST-5)
Location: PULLENS
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Straight line winds damaged numerous trees after the EF-1 tornado had lifted about 1 mile north of Pullens.

Hail in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:25:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: PITTSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:30:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HURT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:38:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: HURT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BOTETOURT, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:00:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLUE RIDGE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in BEDFORD, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:05:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MONTVALE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:00:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: PULLENS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 116.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado, rated EF-1, with winds of 86 to 95 mph, touched down around 900 PM EDT on Thursday May 8th approximately 3 miles east southeast of the town of Ajax. The touchdown point was just southwest of Oxford Road near Highway 40.
The tornado remained on the ground for approximately 3 minutes, had a maximum path width of 60 yards, and traveled toward the northeast approximately 1 mile before lifting around 903 PM EDT, just northeast of the intersection of Darby Road and Highway 40. Numerous trees were downed along and near the path of the tornado, along with some damage to nearby homes. Additional damage to trees from straight-line winds were also noted approximately 1/4 mile north and east of the point where the tornado lifted.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 20:55:00 to 08-MAY-08 20:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: SNOW CREEK
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Large trees were blown down in Snow Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 21:45:00 to 08-MAY-08 21:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: RENAN
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winds caused moderate structural damage to a home, and downed several trees. This occurred along Renan Road and Discovery Road.

Tornado in APPOMATTOX, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 22:20:00 to 08-MAY-08 22:21:00 (EST-5)
Location: HIXBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado, rated EF-1, with winds of 86 to 95 mph, touched down around 11:20 PM EDT on Thursday May 8th, approximately 1.5 miles west of the town of Hixburg.
The touchdown point was 6 miles east of the intersection of Route 633 and Highway 460. The tornado remained on the ground for approximately three-quarters of a mile and had a maximum path width of 50 yards. The tornado traveled northeast and lifted near the intersection of Route 633 and Route 627 at 11:21 PM EDT. Numerous trees were downed along and near the path of the tornado. Two houses were damaged, along with two other smaller structures. The damage from the tornado was observed within a larger area of straight-line wind damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 23:04:00 to 08-MAY-08 23:04:00 (EST-5)
Location: CASTLE CRAIG
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Large tree blown down on Marysville Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:05:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: ARARAT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.90K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A tree was blown down along Renfro Ridge Road.

Hail in PULASKI, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:00:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FAIRLAWN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:40:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: SONTAG
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:26:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCKY MT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 18:25:00 to 08-MAY-08 18:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: PEMBROKE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BUCKINGHAM, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 18:56:00 to 08-MAY-08 18:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: CENTENARY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 18:50:00 to 08-MAY-08 18:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: STONES STORE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:02:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:02:00 (EST-5)
Location: SNOW CREEK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:45:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRETNA
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A roof was partially blown off a house, and numerous trees were downed, 6 miles west of Gretna.

Hail in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:05:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: ARARAT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in CHARLOTTE, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 to 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: KEYSVILLE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Large trees were blown down on Route 40.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 to 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: STOVALL
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were downed along Highway 40 near Stovall.

Hail in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 09-MAY-08 01:25:00 to 09-MAY-08 01:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLUSTER SPGS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail covered the ground.

Hail in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 09-MAY-08 01:33:00 to 09-MAY-08 01:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: VIRGILINA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 22:20:00 to 08-MAY-08 22:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: BROOKNEAL
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large tree was blown down across a road in Brookneal.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 to 08-MAY-08 22:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: INGRAM
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large tree limbs were blown down 2 miles north of Ingram.

Tornado in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:00:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIGSBORO
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 156.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado, rated EF-1, with winds 86 to 95 mph, was on the ground in Henry County, along a path length of less than a half mile, with a maximum width of 75 yards. Numerous trees were downed, with 2 homes damaged. More specifically, the tornado touched down near state route 886 in Henry County at 8pm EDT, and continued into Franklin County at 801 pm EDT.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 21:21:00 to 08-MAY-08 21:21:00 (EST-5)
Location: SPENCER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large limbs were blown down about 2 miles northeast of the Blue Ridge Airport.

Tornado in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 08-MAY-08 19:01:00 to 08-MAY-08 19:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: SYDNORSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 8.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado, rated EF-1, with winds 86 to 95 mph, moved out of Henry County at 801 pm EDT and continued another half mile into Franklin County, before lifting at 803 pm EDT. The maximum width was 75 yards. Numerous trees were downed, with 2 homes damaged. The tornado lifted at state routes 618 and 632.