diff --git a/docs/changelog/Variant_AsVirtual_force_cast.md b/docs/changelog/Variant_AsVirtual_force_cast.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b1bc1ba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/Variant_AsVirtual_force_cast.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# VariantArrayHandle::AsVirtual<T>() performs casting
+
+The AsVirtual<T> method of VariantArrayHandle now works for any arithmetic type,
+not just the actual type of the underlying array. This works by inserting an
+ArrayHandleCast between the underlying concrete array and the new
+ArrayHandleVirtual when needed.
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCast.h b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCast.h
index 05e4a3486..ac33857b0 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCast.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCast.h
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@
 
 #include <vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleTransform.h>
 
+#include <vtkm/cont/Logging.h>
+
+#include <vtkm/BaseComponent.h>
+#include <vtkm/Range.h>
+
+#include <limits>
+
 namespace vtkm
 {
 namespace cont
@@ -62,6 +69,60 @@ public:
   ArrayHandleCast(const ArrayHandleType& handle)
     : Superclass(handle)
   {
+    this->ValidateTypeCast<typename ArrayHandleType::ValueType>();
+  }
+
+private:
+  // Log warnings if type cast is valid but lossy:
+  template <typename SrcValueType>
+  VTKM_CONT static typename std::enable_if<!std::is_same<T, SrcValueType>::value>::type
+  ValidateTypeCast()
+  {
+#ifdef VTKM_ENABLE_LOGGING
+    using DstValueType = T;
+    using SrcComp = typename vtkm::BaseComponent<SrcValueType>::Type;
+    using DstComp = typename vtkm::BaseComponent<DstValueType>::Type;
+    using SrcLimits = std::numeric_limits<SrcComp>;
+    using DstLimits = std::numeric_limits<DstComp>;
+
+    const vtkm::Range SrcRange{ SrcLimits::min(), SrcLimits::max() };
+    const vtkm::Range DstRange{ DstLimits::min(), DstLimits::max() };
+
+    const bool RangeLoss = (SrcRange.Max > DstRange.Max || SrcRange.Min < DstRange.Min);
+    const bool PrecLoss = SrcLimits::digits > DstLimits::digits;
+
+    if (RangeLoss && PrecLoss)
+    {
+      VTKM_LOG_F(vtkm::cont::LogLevel::Warn,
+                 "VariantArrayHandle::AsVirtual: Casting ComponentType of "
+                 "%s to %s reduces range and precision.",
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<SrcValueType>().c_str(),
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<DstValueType>().c_str());
+    }
+    else if (RangeLoss)
+    {
+      VTKM_LOG_F(vtkm::cont::LogLevel::Warn,
+                 "VariantArrayHandle::AsVirtual: Casting ComponentType of "
+                 "%s to %s reduces range.",
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<SrcValueType>().c_str(),
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<DstValueType>().c_str());
+    }
+    else if (PrecLoss)
+    {
+      VTKM_LOG_F(vtkm::cont::LogLevel::Warn,
+                 "VariantArrayHandle::AsVirtual: Casting ComponentType of "
+                 "%s to %s reduces precision.",
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<SrcValueType>().c_str(),
+                 vtkm::cont::TypeToString<DstValueType>().c_str());
+    }
+#endif // Logging
+  }
+
+  template <typename SrcValueType>
+  VTKM_CONT static typename std::enable_if<std::is_same<T, SrcValueType>::value>::type
+  ValidateTypeCast()
+  {
+    //no-op if types match
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/VariantArrayHandle.h b/vtkm/cont/VariantArrayHandle.h
index 9387287e9..1d39678a3 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/VariantArrayHandle.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/VariantArrayHandle.h
@@ -136,13 +136,22 @@ public:
     return internal::variant::Cast<ArrayHandleType>(this->ArrayContainer.get());
   }
 
-  /// Returns this array cast to a \c ArrayHandleVirtual of the given type. Throws \c
-  /// ErrorBadType if the cast does not work.
+  /// Returns this array cast to a \c ArrayHandleVirtual of the given type.
+  /// This will perform type conversions as necessary, and will log warnings
+  /// if the conversion is lossy.
   ///
-  template <typename T>
+  /// This method internally uses CastAndCall. A custom storage tag list may
+  /// be specified in the second template parameter, which will be passed to
+  /// the CastAndCall.
+  ///
+  template <typename T, typename StorageTagList = VTKM_DEFAULT_STORAGE_LIST_TAG>
   VTKM_CONT vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<T> AsVirtual() const
   {
-    return internal::variant::Cast<vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<T>>(this->ArrayContainer.get());
+    VTKM_IS_LIST_TAG(StorageTagList);
+    vtkm::cont::internal::variant::ForceCastToVirtual caster;
+    vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<T> output;
+    this->CastAndCall(StorageTagList{}, caster, output);
+    return output;
   }
 
   /// Given a references to an ArrayHandle object, casts this array to the
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/internal/VariantArrayHandleContainer.h b/vtkm/cont/internal/VariantArrayHandleContainer.h
index 6c9daae33..a8a571a1b 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/internal/VariantArrayHandleContainer.h
+++ b/vtkm/cont/internal/VariantArrayHandleContainer.h
@@ -22,15 +22,17 @@
 
 #include <vtkm/cont/vtkm_cont_export.h>
 
+#include <vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleCast.h>
 #include <vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleVirtual.h>
 #include <vtkm/cont/ArrayHandleVirtual.hxx>
+#include <vtkm/cont/ErrorBadType.h>
 
+#include <vtkm/VecTraits.h>
 
 #include <memory>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <typeindex>
 
-
-
 namespace vtkm
 {
 namespace cont
@@ -221,7 +223,6 @@ struct VTKM_ALWAYS_EXPORT Caster<T, vtkm::cont::StorageTagVirtual>
   }
 };
 
-
 template <typename ArrayHandleType>
 VTKM_CONT ArrayHandleType Cast(const VariantArrayHandleContainerBase* container)
 { //container could be nullptr
@@ -231,6 +232,54 @@ VTKM_CONT ArrayHandleType Cast(const VariantArrayHandleContainerBase* container)
   auto ret = Caster<Type, Storage>{}(container);
   return ArrayHandleType(std::move(ret));
 }
+
+struct ForceCastToVirtual
+{
+  template <typename SrcValueType, typename Storage, typename DstValueType>
+  VTKM_CONT typename std::enable_if<std::is_same<SrcValueType, DstValueType>::value>::type
+  operator()(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<SrcValueType, Storage>& input,
+             vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<DstValueType>& output) const
+  { // ValueTypes match
+    output = vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleVirtual<DstValueType>(input);
+  }
+
+  template <typename SrcValueType, typename Storage, typename DstValueType>
+  VTKM_CONT typename std::enable_if<!std::is_same<SrcValueType, DstValueType>::value>::type
+  operator()(const vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<SrcValueType, Storage>& input,
+             vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<DstValueType>& output) const
+  { // ValueTypes do not match
+    this->ValidateWidthAndCast<SrcValueType, DstValueType>(input, output);
+  }
+
+private:
+  template <typename S,
+            typename D,
+            typename InputType,
+            vtkm::IdComponent SSize = vtkm::VecTraits<S>::NUM_COMPONENTS,
+            vtkm::IdComponent DSize = vtkm::VecTraits<D>::NUM_COMPONENTS>
+  VTKM_CONT typename std::enable_if<SSize == DSize>::type ValidateWidthAndCast(
+    const InputType& input,
+    vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<D>& output) const
+  { // number of components match
+    auto casted = vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleCast<D>(input);
+    output = vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleVirtual<D>(casted);
+  }
+
+  template <typename S,
+            typename D,
+            vtkm::IdComponent SSize = vtkm::VecTraits<S>::NUM_COMPONENTS,
+            vtkm::IdComponent DSize = vtkm::VecTraits<D>::NUM_COMPONENTS>
+  VTKM_CONT typename std::enable_if<SSize != DSize>::type ValidateWidthAndCast(
+    const ArrayHandleBase&,
+    ArrayHandleBase&) const
+  { // number of components do not match
+    std::ostringstream str;
+    str << "VariantArrayHandle::AsVirtual: Cannot cast from " << vtkm::cont::TypeToString<S>()
+        << " to " << vtkm::cont::TypeToString<D>() << "; "
+                                                      "number of components must match exactly.";
+    throw vtkm::cont::ErrorBadType(str.str());
+  }
+};
 }
 }
 }
diff --git a/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestVariantArrayHandle.cxx b/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestVariantArrayHandle.cxx
index 2a9dd9d1a..31718e516 100644
--- a/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestVariantArrayHandle.cxx
+++ b/vtkm/cont/testing/UnitTestVariantArrayHandle.cxx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
+#include <type_traits>
 #include <typeinfo>
 
 namespace vtkm
@@ -266,11 +267,85 @@ void CheckCastToArrayHandle(const ArrayHandleType& array)
 
   ArrayHandleType castArray2 = arrayVariant.Cast<ArrayHandleType>();
   VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(array == castArray2, "Did not get back same array.");
+}
 
-  using T = typename ArrayHandleType::ValueType;
-  vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleVirtual<T> castArray3 = arrayVariant.AsVirtual<T>();
-  VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(castArray3.GetNumberOfValues() == castArray2.GetNumberOfValues(),
-                   "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+// A vtkm::Vec if NumComps > 1, otherwise a scalar
+template <typename T, vtkm::IdComponent NumComps>
+using VecOrScalar = typename std::conditional<(NumComps > 1), vtkm::Vec<T, NumComps>, T>::type;
+
+template <typename ArrayType>
+void CheckCastToVirtualArrayHandle(const ArrayType& array)
+{
+  VTKM_IS_ARRAY_HANDLE(ArrayType);
+
+  using ValueType = typename ArrayType::ValueType;
+  using VTraits = vtkm::VecTraits<ValueType>;
+  using ComponentType = typename VTraits::ComponentType;
+  static constexpr vtkm::IdComponent NumComps = VTraits::NUM_COMPONENTS;
+
+  using Storage = typename ArrayType::StorageTag;
+  using StorageList = vtkm::ListTagAppendUnique<VTKM_DEFAULT_STORAGE_LIST_TAG, Storage>;
+
+  using TypeList = vtkm::ListTagAppendUnique<VTKM_DEFAULT_TYPE_LIST_TAG, ValueType>;
+  using VariantArrayType = vtkm::cont::VariantArrayHandleBase<TypeList>;
+
+  VariantArrayType arrayVariant = array;
+
+  {
+    auto testArray = arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<ValueType, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  {
+    auto testArray =
+      arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<VecOrScalar<vtkm::Int8, NumComps>, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  {
+    auto testArray =
+      arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<VecOrScalar<vtkm::Int64, NumComps>, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  {
+    auto testArray =
+      arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<VecOrScalar<vtkm::UInt64, NumComps>, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  {
+    auto testArray =
+      arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<VecOrScalar<vtkm::Float32, NumComps>, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  {
+    auto testArray =
+      arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<VecOrScalar<vtkm::Float64, NumComps>, StorageList>();
+    VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(testArray.GetNumberOfValues() == array.GetNumberOfValues(),
+                     "Did not get back virtual array handle representation.");
+  }
+
+  bool threw = false;
+  try
+  {
+    arrayVariant.template AsVirtual<vtkm::Vec<ComponentType, NumComps + 1>, StorageList>();
+  }
+  catch (vtkm::cont::ErrorBadType&)
+  {
+    // caught expected exception
+    threw = true;
+  }
+
+  VTKM_TEST_ASSERT(threw,
+                   "Casting to different vector width did not throw expected "
+                   "ErrorBadType exception.");
 }
 
 template <typename T, typename ArrayVariantType>
@@ -385,6 +460,13 @@ void TryUnusualTypeAndStorage()
   }
 }
 
+template <typename ArrayHandleType>
+void TryCastToArrayHandle(const ArrayHandleType& array)
+{
+  CheckCastToArrayHandle(array);
+  CheckCastToVirtualArrayHandle(array);
+}
+
 void TryCastToArrayHandle()
 {
   std::cout << "  Normal array handle." << std::endl;
@@ -393,42 +475,43 @@ void TryCastToArrayHandle()
   {
     buffer[index] = TestValue(index, vtkm::Id());
   }
+
   vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<vtkm::Id> array = vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandle(buffer, ARRAY_SIZE);
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(array);
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(array);
 
   std::cout << "  Cast array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleCast(array, vtkm::FloatDefault()));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleCast(array, vtkm::FloatDefault()));
 
   std::cout << "  Composite vector array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleCompositeVector(array, array));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleCompositeVector(array, array));
 
   std::cout << "  Constant array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleConstant(5, ARRAY_SIZE));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleConstant(5, ARRAY_SIZE));
 
   std::cout << "  Counting array handle." << std::endl;
   vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleCounting<vtkm::Id> countingArray(ARRAY_SIZE - 1, -1, ARRAY_SIZE);
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(countingArray);
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(countingArray);
 
   std::cout << "  Group vec array handle" << std::endl;
   vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleGroupVec<vtkm::cont::ArrayHandle<vtkm::Id>, 2> groupVecArray(array);
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(groupVecArray);
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(groupVecArray);
 
   std::cout << "  Implicit array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(
     vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleImplicit(TestValueFunctor<vtkm::FloatDefault>(), ARRAY_SIZE));
 
   std::cout << "  Index array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleIndex(ARRAY_SIZE));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleIndex(ARRAY_SIZE));
 
   std::cout << "  Permutation array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandlePermutation(countingArray, array));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandlePermutation(countingArray, array));
 
   std::cout << "  Transform array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(
     vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleTransform(countingArray, TestValueFunctor<vtkm::FloatDefault>()));
 
   std::cout << "  Uniform point coordinates array handle." << std::endl;
-  CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleUniformPointCoordinates(vtkm::Id3(ARRAY_SIZE)));
+  TryCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::ArrayHandleUniformPointCoordinates(vtkm::Id3(ARRAY_SIZE)));
 
   // std::cout << "  Zip array handle." << std::endl;
   // CheckCastToArrayHandle(vtkm::cont::make_ArrayHandleZip(countingArray, array));