Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Blacksburg, VA

July 1, 1990Botetourt County, Craig County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 1, 1990, 5:08 PM EDT for Botetourt County, Craig County, Virginia. It was in force for 67 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 1, 1990, 5:08 PM EDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 1990, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Botetourt County, VA, Craig County, VA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 160 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1990-07-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 373 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1990-07-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 115 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
373 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-170 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1629 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KROA 012112
SVRROA
VAC023-045-012215-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
508 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ROANOKE VA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...BOTETOURT COUNTY...CRAIG COUNTY
 
RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WESTERN
VIRGINIA. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO NORTHERN CRAIG AND
CENTRAL BOTETOURT COUNTIES WITHIN THE HOUR.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 12:30 PM EDT, 4 hours 38 minutes before
VAZALL-011620-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYHCHBURG VA
1220PM EDT SUN JUL 01 1990 CORRECTION

WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND IN THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND SOUTH
WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTH
EAST AT 30 MPH. STRONG GUSTY WINDS DAMAGING WINDS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND HAIL WILL ACCOMPANY SOME OF THESE STORMS. SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOPE ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL VIRGINIA LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.

MEADOWS
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 12:44 PM EDT, 4 hours 24 minutes before
VAZALL-011900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
1240 PM  EDT  SUN JUL 01 1990

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.
AT 1235 PM RADAR SHOWS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO
PULASKI CRAIG AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DEVELOPING OVER A LARGE PORTION
OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTEN VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF
A FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN VIRGINIA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP THEY COULD PRODUCE
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING HEAVEY DOWNPOURS STRONG GUSY WINDS AND
POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL.
CE
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 1:28 PM EDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
VAZALL-011900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
130 PM  EDT  SUN JUL 01 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHCENTRAL
AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL 900 PM EDT TONIGHT...

IN THE ROANOKE AREA OF RESPONSIBLILTY THIS INCLUDES THE COUNTIES
OF BLAND BOTETOURT CRROLL CRAIG FLOYD FRANKLIN GILES GRAYSON
HENRY MONTGOMERY PATRICK PULASKI ROANOKE WYTHE AND THE CITIES
OF GALAX MARTINSVILLE RADFORD ROANOKE AND SALEM.

AT 120 PM RADAR SHOWS SOME THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA. AS THESE THUNDER-
STORMS DEVELOP THEY WILL MOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST AND COULD PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SOME
HAIL.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.

ALL PERSONS SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE WATCH FOR SEVERE WEATHER IF
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP IN THEIR AREA.
CE
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 2:02 PM EDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
VAZ008-009-011740

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYHCHBURG VA
1240PM EDT SUN JUL 01 1990 CORRECTION

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT...

AT 1230 WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE LYNCHBURG AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
WITHIN THE NEXT 45 TO 60 MINUTES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
THE DEVELOPMSENT OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING
WINDS..HEAVY DOWNPOURS..AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA ARE STRONGLY URGED TO KEEP A A CLOSE WATCH
ON WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND TO MOVE INDOORS IF A
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

MEARDOWS
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:09 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
VAZALL-012030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
310 PM  EDT  SUN JUL 01 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHCENTRAL
AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA UNTIL 9
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 4:48 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
VAZ008-009-012040

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYHCHBURG VA
341 PM EDT SUN JUL 01 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT...

AT 340  WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG THE COLD FRONT EXTENDING FROM KING AND QUEEN COUNTY TO
BEKLEY WEST VIRGINIA. THE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTH AT 30 MPH
AND WILL ENTER AMHERST COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
THE DEVELOPMSENT OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING
WINDS..HEAVY DOWNPOURS..AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA ARE STRONGLY URGED TO KEEP A A CLOSE WATCH
ON WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND TO MOVE INDOORS IF A
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

MEADOWS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 1, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCraig68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.