Hail Predicted and Reported in Several Counties Hit by Storm, Apply Streptomycin in Affected Apple and Pear Orchards

TO ALL LOCATIONS WITH THE POME FRUIT IN VIRGINIA: There is a warning issued around 2 PM today for isolated severe thunderstorms predicted for Virginia locations listed below that have a chance for pea to large size hail and wind gusts that can trigger trauma blight. Trauma blight are fire blight infections on green and woody tissues due to mechanical injury by hail and wind. Wind can move fire blight and allow spread to other locations. If you get hail, please apply streptomycin up to 24 h after a hail storm started.

We have prediction of potential pea to large size hail and damaging wind gusts predicted and protection is needed if hail occurs.

EMERGENCY SPRAY OPTION: Harbor, or Agrimycin 17 WP, or FireWall 17 WP at 1.5 to 3 lb per acre (24 – 48 oz/A) plus LI 700 at a penetrating rate or use Regulaid instead of LI700. Based on the Regulaid label, you could use 2 pints penetrating rate. FireWall changed its formulation to FireWall 50WP and the rate to use this higher concentrated material is 8 – 16 oz/A. If hail occurred apply this antibiotic up to 24 h after the start of the rain or hail storm today (the sooner after rain the better). Application of streptomycin in mix with Regulaid or LI700 up to 24 h after the infection rain event started allows absorption of antibiotic in green tissue and triggers so called “kick-back” mode of action – killing just established infection during the rain that started hours before with start of rain or hail. Add a fungicide to this application for apple bitter rot.

If you used captan recently, DO NOT add Regulaid or LI700 to the streptomycin applied for this hail spray. Keep in mind that hail can damage not only fruit but bark on twigs, shoots, branches and trunk, opening wounds that can be infected with fire blight and lead to trauma blight. If you had a recent history of fire blight and storm does occur on your location, this spray is essential. Please examine hail warnings for your specific location along (Source: https://forecast.weather.gov/):

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
401 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MDZ003>006-503-505-507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501-502-505>508-
526-WVZ050>053-055-052015-
Washington-Frederick-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-Augusta-
Rockingham-Shenandoah-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-
Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-Northern Fauquier-
Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Northwest Prince William-Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-
Hardy-
401 PM EDT Sat Jul 4 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of eastern West
Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western
Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Extreme Heat Warnings are in effect until 8 PM this evening across
north-central Maryland down through the eastern West Virginia
Panhandle into portions of the Shenandoah Valley. Other locations
outside of the Blue Ridge have Heat Advisories in effect.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 PM this evening.
Numerous severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and
evening, all capable of producing damaging wind gusts. A few of
these storms could contain wind gusts to 75 mph, resulting in
significant damage especially east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
A few instances of large hail are also possible in the strongest
storms, mainly east of the Blue Ridge.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Severe thunderstorms are possible, particularly during the
afternoon and evening hours, through Monday.

The chance for a few instances of flooding will increase through
Monday due to repeated rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rain.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may need to be activated again at times through Monday.