Strong Thunderstorms Sweep Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
NWS Morristown issued two rapid-fire weather alerts June 18 as 50 mph wind gusts threatened communities from Rogersville to Kingsport and across the Virginia state line.
KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE — The National Weather Service office in Morristown, Tennessee issued two Special Weather Statements on June 18, 2026, as a cluster of strong thunderstorms moved northeast through the Tennessee-Virginia border region, bringing the threat of damaging wind gusts to communities in both states.
Storms Tracked Moving Rapidly Northeast
At 12:41 p.m. EDT, NWS Morristown detected a cluster of strong thunderstorms located 7 miles southeast of Abingdon, Virginia, moving northeast at 35 mph. The agency identified wind gusts up to 50 mph as the primary hazard, with radar as the data source.
Communities in the path of that storm cluster included Abingdon, Glade Spring, Damascus, Laurel Bloomery, Konnarock, and Emory-Meadowview, all in the Virginia portion of the region.
By 12:57 p.m. EDT, NWS Morristown issued a follow-up statement reporting a strong thunderstorm near Rogersville, Tennessee, now moving northeast at a faster pace of 45 mph. That storm also carried wind gusts up to 50 mph, according to radar data.
Ten Tennessee Communities in the Warning Zone
The second statement identified ten locations at risk in Tennessee and Virginia: Kingsport, Rogersville, Gate City, Surgoinsville, Weber City, Colonial Heights, Spurgeon, Church Hill, Mount Carmel, and Clinchport.
NWS Morristown warned that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects in all affected areas. No tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning was issued in connection with these storms as of the time of the statements.
Residents Urged to Take Precautions
Meteorologists noted the storms were moving quickly through the region, limiting the window for residents to secure outdoor items or seek shelter from potential wind damage. The 50 mph gusts, while below severe thunderstorm threshold of 58 mph, are strong enough to cause property damage and create hazardous driving conditions.
Residents in all listed communities were advised to bring in any unsecured outdoor furniture, decorations, or equipment and to use caution on roadways as the storms passed through.
