Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Wakefield, VA

August 4, 1991Goochland County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 4, 1991, 6:28 PM EDT for Goochland County, Virginia. It was in force for 32 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 4, 1991, 6:28 PM EDT (22:28 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 1991, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Goochland County, VA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 4, 6:55 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Goochland, VA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 144 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1991-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1991-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -28 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KRIC 042226
SVRRIC
VAC075-042300-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
628 PM EDT SUN AUG 4 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RICHMOND HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  700 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION                        ...
 
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
 
   ...EASTERN GOOCHLAND COUNTY
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS INDICATED BY RADAR IN EASTERN GOOCHLAND
COUNTY. THESE STORMS LIKELY CONTAIN HAIL...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS.
 
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

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, Aug 4, 4:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
VAZ001>004-042200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
4:20 PM EDT SUN  AUG  04 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM FOR MOST OF
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEASTERN
UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT. THE WATCH DOES INCLUDE ALL OF HAMPTON ROADS..
THE MIDDLE PENINSULA...LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AND TRIBUTARIES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO FORM OVER SOUTHCENTRAL VIRGINIA
AND ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT 30 MPH.

AT PRESENT THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OVER SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY 6:20 THIS EVENING OR
EARLIER IF NECESSARY.

YANKES
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 5:31 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
VAZ003-004-006-007-017-018-042330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 525 PM EDT SUN AUG 4 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR COUNTIES SOUTH OF HENRICO UNTIL 1000 PM..
 ...DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST PIEDMONT OF VIRGINIA...

AT 525 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES AND VERY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS OVER THE WESTERN PORTION OF NOTTOWAY COUNTY EXTENDING SOUTH
ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTION OF LUNEBURG COUNTY AND THE EASTERN PORTION
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 25 MPH. THIS MOVEMENT
WILL CARRY THE STORMS ACROSS THE COUNTIES OF BRUNSWICK AND THE SOUTHERN
PORTION OF DINWIDDIE COUNTY.

ANOTHER AREA OF STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER FLUVANNA COUNTY. THESE STORMS
WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO THE COUNTY GOOCHLAND.

<
A SEVER THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR BRUNSWICK COUNTY WILL BE ISSUED
SHO#RTLY...

WILLS
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 5:47 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
VAZ001>004-042230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
5:45 PM EDT SUN  AUG  04 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM FOR MOST OF
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEASTERN
UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT. THE WATCH DOES INCLUDE ALL OF HAMPTON ROADS..
PART OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA AND THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE
ADJACENT TRIBUTARIES.

AT 5:40PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED DEVELOPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM GREENSVILLE COUNTY EAST INTO WESTERN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
TO THE WEST OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING
THROUGH BRUNSWICK COUNTY AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO GREENSVILLE COUNTY
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...
...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORFOLK WILL MONITOR THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST CLOSELY.

REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PETROLITO
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 5:52 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
VAZ001>004-042230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
5:45 PM EDT SUN  AUG  04 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM FOR MOST OF
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEASTERN
VIRGINIA UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT. THE WATCH DOES INCLUDE ALL OF HAMPTON
ROADS...PART OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA AND THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY
AND THE ADJACENT TRIBUTARIES.

AT 5:40PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED DEVELOPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM GREENSVILLE COUNTY EAST INTO WESTERN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
TO THE WEST OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING
THROUGH BRUNSWICK COUNTY AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO GREENSVILLE COUNTY
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DAMAGING WINDS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...
...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORFOLK WILL MONITOR THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST CLOSELY.

REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PETROLITO
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 6:12 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
VAZ006-018-050015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 615 PM EDT SUN AUG 4 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR COUNTIES SOUTH OF HENRICO UNTIL 1000 PM..
 ...DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHEAST PIEDMONT OF VIRGINIA...

AT 610 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER
OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER GOOCHLAND COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEASTAT 25 MPH. IF THESE STORMS CONTINUE ON THEIR PRESENT COURSE THEY WILL AFFECT
THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA DURING THE NEXT HOUR. THESE STORMS LIKELY CONTAIN
DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TV/RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

PLEASE REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LIPSON
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 6:14 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
VAZ006-018-050015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 615 PM EDT SUN AUG 4 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR COUNTIES SOUTH OF HENRICO UNTIL 1000 PM..
 ...DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

AT 610 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER
OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER GOOCHLAND COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEASTAT 25 MPH. IF THESE STORMS CONTINUE ON THEIR PRESENT COURSE THEY WILL AFFECT
THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA DURING THE NEXT HOUR. THESE STORMS LIKELY CONTAIN
DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TV/RADIO FOR FRURTHER UPDATES.

PLEASE REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER TO NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LIPSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 4, 5:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick43 min
Aug 4, 6:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton62 min
Aug 4, 7:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, Southampton, City of Suffolk57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

Sources

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