A strong, negatively tilted upper low pressure area was moving from the central U.S. toward the northeast U.S.  An associated strong cold front extended down the spine of the Appalachians early in the morning.  An unseasonably warm air mass resided across the region in advance of this weather system, responsible for some of the warmest temperatures since the previous early fall across the area.  Afternoon temperatures Thursday afternoon soared to 90 in the Roanoke area.  The very warm temperatures in advance of the strong upper dynamics supported the development of an intense line of thunderstorms or quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) which marched through southern Virginia and northern North Carolina during the early morning hours.  Strong thunderstorm wind gusts blew down a number of trees through the counties bordering North Carolina from Carroll county on the west to Pittsylvania county on the east.  There was also one lightning strike causing considerable damage to a home in Botetourt county, just northeast of Roanoke.

Lightning in BOTETOURT, VIRGINIA
From 12-APR-13 01:15:00 to 12-APR-13 01:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: FINCASTLE
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Botetourt View reported that a home in Fincastle sustained significant damage from fire and smoke as a result of a lightning strike.  A portion of the attic and roof of the large two-story home on Brugh's Mill Road were badly damaged by fire from the lightning strike.

Thunderstorm Wind in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 12-APR-13 03:55:00 to 12-APR-13 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLIMAX
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Pittsylvania County 911 Center reported that a tree was blown down along Anderson Mill Road just west of Climax.  The Virginia Department of Highways reported that another tree was blown down across Sandy Road about four miles west-northwest of Gretna.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUCKINGHAM, VIRGINIA
From 12-APR-13 04:50:00 to 12-APR-13 04:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: WINGINA
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured a wind gust of 64 mph just north-northeast of Bent Creek on Spears Mountain.  No damage was reported from the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 12-APR-13 03:18:00 to 12-APR-13 03:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: BASSETT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Henry County 911 Center reported that considerable damage to an area approximately six miles west of Bassett in northwestern Henry county.  Three homes sustained damage, two vehicles were damaged, and a garage was destroyed.  A window was also blown out of a church on Fairystone Park Highway.  In addition, several trees and power lines were down along Chestnut Oak Drive.  The damage was determined to have been caused by a thunderstorm microburst embedded within a line of severe thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm Wind in CARROLL, VIRGINIA
From 12-APR-13 01:40:00 to 12-APR-13 01:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: HILLSVILLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that five buildings were damage and several trees sere down approximately three miles northwest of Hillsville.  A storage shed was pushed into one of the buildings.  An adjacent camper sustained damage from the building debris.  The damage was determined to have been caused by a microburst.