Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 7, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 17, 1998, 6:42 PM EST for Buckingham County, Virginia. It was in force for 63 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
- Feb 17, 1998, 6:42 PM EST (23:42 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 17, 1998, 7:45 PM EST
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Buckingham County, VA
The radar
The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 6:45 PM EST | Hail 2 | Centenary, VA | An isolated severe thunderstorm produced hail up to two inches in diameter near Centenary. |
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
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 95 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 505 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 68 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 728 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 863 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
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 Feb 17, 2:31 PM EST, 4 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 17, 2:31 PM EST, 4 hours 11 minutes before
TO...RDU/WBC/CRW FM...RNK/JDS HAVE NO PROBLEMS DROPPING THE FLOOD WATCHES WITH THE AFTN PACKAGES. ANY PCPN TNGT SHUD BE SCATTERED AND/OR LIGHT.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Feb 17, 1:25 PM EST, 5 hours 17 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058- 059-WVZ042>045-172305- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...AMENDED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 125 PM EST TUE FEB 17 1998 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA... ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR YADKIN... SURRY... STOKES... ROCKINGHAM AND CASWELL COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA... ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR MERCER... SUMMERS... MONROE AND GREENBRIER COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA... AN INTENSE STORM SYSTEM MOVING UP THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WAS CONTINUING TO PULL UP ABUNDANT MOISTURE AND UNSTABLE AIR FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE UP THROUGH THE REGION DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT SWEEPING UP FROM TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA. THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREAS COULD PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL AS WELL AS VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING COULD BE FREQUENT. AS A RESULT OF THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS...A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. HOWEVER...THE FLOOD WATCH WAS DISCONTINUED FOR A FEW COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THESE COUNTIES INCLUDE BATH... ALLEGHANY... CRAIG... BUCKINGHAM... APPOMATTOX... CAMPBELL... HALIFAX AND CHARLOTTE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A STORM APPROACHES. MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE OVER FLOODED ROADWAYS. JDS
Special weather statement, Feb 17, 1:25 PM EST, 5 hours 17 minutes before
NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058- 059-WVZ042>045-172305- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...AMENDED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 125 PM EST TUE FEB 17 1998 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA... ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR YADKIN... SURRY... STOKES... ROCKINGHAM AND CASWELL COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA... ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR MERCER... SUMMERS... MONROE AND GREENBRIER COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA... AN INTENSE STORM SYSTEM MOVING UP THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WAS CONTINUING TO PULL UP ABUNDANT MOISTURE AND UNSTABLE AIR FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE UP THROUGH THE REGION DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT SWEEPING UP FROM TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA. THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREAS COULD PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL AS WELL AS VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING COULD BE FREQUENT. AS A RESULT OF THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS...A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. HOWEVER...THE FLOOD WATCH WAS DISCONTINUED FOR A FEW COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THESE COUNTIES INCLUDE BATH... ALLEGHANY... CRAIG... BUCKINGHAM... APPOMATTOX... CAMPBELL... HALIFAX AND CHARLOTTE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A STORM APPROACHES. MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN. STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE OVER FLOODED ROADWAYS. JDS
Local storm report, Feb 17, 2:30 PM EST, 4 hours 12 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
330 PM EDT TUE FEB 17 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 AM COUNTYWIDE VA HIGH WIND
02/17/98 TAZEWELL SOME RADIO TOWERS ON
RIDGES ACROSS THE COUNTY
KNOCKED DOWN BY HIGH WIND.
TIME IS ESTIMATED.
0645 AM SHAWSVILLE VA HIGH WIND
02/17/98 MONTGOMERY SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES
DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH A
THUNDERSTORM. CAMPER TOP
WAS ALSO DESTROYED.
0200 PM 1 SW RIVERSIDE VA FLOODING
02/17/98 ROCKBRIDGE SOUTH RIVER FLOODED...ONE
LANE OF ROUTE 608 CLOSED.
MTELocal storm report, Feb 17, 3:30 PM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
330 PM EDT TUE FEB 17 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 AM COUNTYWIDE VA HIGH WIND
02/17/98 TAZEWELL SOME RADIO TOWERS ON
RIDGES ACROSS THE COUNTY
KNOCKED DOWN BY HIGH WIND.
TIME IS ESTIMATED.
0645 AM SHAWSVILLE VA HIGH WIND
02/17/98 MONTGOMERY SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES
DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH A
THUNDERSTORM. CAMPER TOP
WAS ALSO DESTROYED.
0200 PM 1 SW RIVERSIDE VA FLOODING
02/17/98 ROCKBRIDGE SOUTH RIVER FLOODED...ONE
LANE OF ROUTE 608 CLOSED.
MTESpecial weather statement, Feb 17, 4:06 PM EST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
NCZ003>006-020-WVZ042>045-172210- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 406 PM EST TUE FEB 17 1998 ...THE TORNADO WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN CANCELLED... ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED... ONLY WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHO$UGH THEY MAY HAVE SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS...THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH SEVERE LEVELS. JACKSON
Special weather statement, Feb 17, 4:06 PM EST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
NCZ003>006-020-WVZ042>045-172210- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 406 PM EST TUE FEB 17 1998 ...THE TORNADO WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN CANCELLED... ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED... ONLY WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING. ALTHO$UGH THEY MAY HAVE SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS...THEY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH SEVERE LEVELS. JACKSON
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 12:38 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Roanoke, City of Salem | 3 hr |
| Feb 17, 12:38 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | City of Roanoke | 3 hr |
| Feb 17, 1:25 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista | 4 hr |
| Feb 17, 1:25 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | City of Lexington | 4 hr |
| Feb 17, 5:15 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista | 105 min |
| Feb 17, 5:15 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | City of Lexington | 105 min |
| Feb 17, 6:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Buckingham | 62 min |
| Feb 17, 6:45 PM EST | Tornado Warning | RNK | Buckingham | 50 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.