Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 202, NWS Blacksburg, VA

June 15, 1998Patrick County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 15, 1998, 2:26 PM EDT for Patrick County, Virginia. It was in force for 34 min. 2 reports 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
Jun 15, 1998, 2:26 PM EDT (18:26 UTC)
Expired
Jun 15, 1998, 3:00 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Patrick County, VA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 15, 2:35 PM EDTHail 1.25Stuart, VA
Jun 15, 2:35 PM EDTThunderstorm WindStuart, 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 75 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 1998-06-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 296 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 1998-06-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
296 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-130 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1041 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
51 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.

159 
WUUS01 KRNK 151829 RRA
SVRRNK
VAC141-151900-

BULLETIN--IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
226 PM EDT MON JUN 15 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN PATRICK COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

* UNTIL 300 PM EDT.

* AT 226 PM EDT... BLACKSBURG DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES WEST OF MARTINSVILLE OR 4 MILES SOUTH
  SOUTHEAST OF BUFFALO RIDGE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

<< CALL TO ACTION >> SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.  MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY
IMMEDIATELY.

.END/DK

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.

NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 15, 9:35 AM EDT, 4 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 15, 9:35 AM EDT, 4 hours 51 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
930 AM EDT MON JUNE 15 1998

12Z SURFACE ANALYSIS HAS SURFACE COOL FRONT INTO EASTERN KY WITH
LOTS OF SUN AHEAD OF IT.  MODELS CONSISTANT IN BRINGING H8 TEMP
GRADIENT INTO THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE CWA BY MIDDAY AND THEN
AMPLIFYING TEMP RIDGE ALONG AND EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE DURING THE
DAY WITH +22 UP INTO THE CWA OVER THE PIEDMONTS.  SOUTHWEST WINDS
NOT QUITE IDEAL FOR ADDING SIGNIFICANT DOWNSLOPING...BUT H8 TEMPS
AND NGM T1 TEMPS SUGGESTING APPROACHING 90 IN ROA/LYH TODAY WITH 90
TO 95 IN FVX TO DAN AND INTO NW NC PIEDMONT.  LACK OF STRONG
WESTERLY COMPONENT IN THE LOWER LEVELS WILL NOT ACT TO SQUASH
CONVECTION IMMEDIATELY ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE AS WAS THE CASE ON
SATURDAY.

DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO ADVECT
NORTHWARD EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.  WIND SHEAR IN THE WEST TO BECOME
MORE UNIDIRECTIONAL...BUT WITH GOOD SPEED SHEAR.  FAR EASTERN
SECTIONS TO HAVE SOME DIRECTIONAL SHEAR.  ALL SEEMS TO POINT TO GOOD
POTENTIAL FOR SVR AND POSS ISOLATED TOR THIS AFTERNOON EAST OF THE
BLUE RIDGE.

TEMPS AGAIN SHOULD RANGE FROM NEAR 80 IN BLF TO NEAR 95 IN DAN.

NOGUEIRA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 15, 11:10 AM EDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-
059-WVZ042>045-161200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1110 AM EDT MON JUN 15 1998

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA AND NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON...

AN APPROACHING WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BE THE TRIGGER FOR THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON.  A COMBINATION OF AN INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND VERY STRONG WINDS IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME OF THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE
WITH THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER BEING VERY DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL.

IN ADDITION...EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...A CLOCKWISE TURNING OF WINDS
WITH HEIGHT MAY ALSO SUPPORT ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPOTTER ACTIVITATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN WEST VIRGINIA...VIRGINIA AND
NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE
WEATHER SITUATION.

NOGUEIRA
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 11:10 AM EDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-
059-WVZ042>045-161200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1110 AM EDT MON JUN 15 1998

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA AND NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON...

AN APPROACHING WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BE THE TRIGGER FOR THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON.  A COMBINATION OF AN INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND VERY STRONG WINDS IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME OF THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE
WITH THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER BEING VERY DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL.

IN ADDITION...EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...A CLOCKWISE TURNING OF WINDS
WITH HEIGHT MAY ALSO SUPPORT ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPOTTER ACTIVITATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN WEST VIRGINIA...VIRGINIA AND
NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE
WEATHER SITUATION.

NOGUEIRA
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 11:56 AM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-
059-WVZ042>045-161200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1156 AM EDT MON JUN 15 1998

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA AND NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON...

AN APPROACHING WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BE THE TRIGGER FOR THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON.  A COMBINATION OF AN INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND VERY STRONG WINDS IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME OF THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE
WITH THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER BEING VERY DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL.

IN ADDITION...EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...A CLOCKWISE TURNING OF WINDS
WITH HEIGHT MAY ALSO SUPPORT ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPOTTER ACTIVITATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN WEST VIRGINIA...VIRGINIA AND
NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE
WEATHER SITUATION.

NOGUEIRA
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 11:56 AM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-
059-WVZ042>045-161200-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1156 AM EDT MON JUN 15 1998

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA AND NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON...

AN APPROACHING WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BE THE TRIGGER FOR THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON.  A COMBINATION OF AN INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND VERY STRONG WINDS IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME OF THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE
WITH THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER BEING VERY DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL.

IN ADDITION...EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...A CLOCKWISE TURNING OF WINDS
WITH HEIGHT MAY ALSO SUPPORT ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPOTTER ACTIVITATION MAY BE REQUIRED IN WEST VIRGINIA...VIRGINIA AND
NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE
WEATHER SITUATION.

NOGUEIRA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 15, 4:08 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBotetourt32 min
Jun 15, 4:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington32 min
Jun 15, 3:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCampbell, City of Lynchburg36 min
Jun 15, 3:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBuckingham52 min
Jun 15, 4:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKTazewell48 min
Jun 15, 4:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte37 min
Jun 15, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.