Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 28, 2002Appomattox County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 28, 2002, 5:13 PM EDT for Appomattox County, Virginia. It was in force for 47 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: Apr 28, 2002, 5:13 PM EDT (21:13 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2002, 6:00 PM EDT
In force: 47 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Whole counties

County Appomattox County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:15 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
Apr 28, 5:15 PM EDT	Hail 0.75	Evergreen, 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 28, 3:30 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 64 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 17 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -448 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 642 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 370 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 435 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.

789 
WUUS51 KRNK 282113
SVRRNK
VAC011-282200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
510 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  APPOMATTOX COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT.

* AT 510 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES WEST OF APPOMATTOX...MOVING EAST
  AT 35 MPH.

HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS 
STORM.  THIS STORM ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING VERY DAMAGING 
WINDS.


SOME LOCATIONS THREATENED THROUGH 600 PM EDT INCLUDE
  APPOMATTOX...

<<CALL TO ACTION>>IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL...
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER THAT
TORNADOES CAN OCCUR WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED WARNING.

RELAY SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

$$

10

LAT...LON 3744 7900 3726 7888 3724 7874 3744 7871

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 Apr 28, 4:35 PM EDT, 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 4:35 PM EDT, 38 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG, VA
435 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

UPDATED FOR...DOWNGRADING TORNADO WATCH AND ISSUING SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR VAZ007...VAZ009>012...VAZ015.

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 900 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
VAZ013>14...VAZ016>020...VAZ022>024...VAZ032>035...VAZ043>047...
VAZ058>059.
.....................................................................

AFTERNOONS AFD:

A TROUBLESOME COLD FRONT SPAWNING SEVERE WEATHER WILL PASS THRU THE
EAST COAST STARTING THIS AFTN/EVENING.  GOING TO KEEP SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN FOR THIS EVENING THRU 900 PM.  COLD FRONT WILL PASS
THRU CWA AROUND MIDNIGHT WITH CAA TO FOLLOW.  WINDS WILL PICK UP TO
15-25 MPH ACROSS MOST OF RNK CWA WITH 20-30 MPH IN HIGHER
ELEVATIONS.  PRESSURE RISES DECREASE TOWARD THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS...SO NOT EXPECTING TO ISSUE WIND ADV.  850 JET WILL MIX DOWN
CREATING A FEW GUSTS BUT AGAIN NOT ADV CRITERIA.  GOING TO CONTINUE
WITH A MILD NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE PIEDMONT WITH COLDER AIR SLOW
TO ARRIVE.

MONDAY...COOLER...DRIER AIR FILTERS IN WITH NW FLOW AND NORMAL TEMPS.
WINDS WILL ALSO REMAIN BREEZY AND BEGIN TO SUBSIDE AFTER SUNSET.
MONDAY NIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION SHOULD AID IN
DECOUPLING WINDS AND PROVIDE A COOL COMFORTABLE NIGHT.

TUE...COOL AIR LINGERS AS AN INCOMING WARM FRONT MOVES UP FROM THE
SW.  RNK IN STABLE AIR...SHOWERS TO START TUE NIGHT.

EXTENDED...TUE NIGHT-FRI MORNING...QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT SAG ACROSS
MID ATLANTIC.  DEPENDING ON ITS POSITION WILL DETERMINE PCPN
INTENSITY.  FOR NOW...EXPECTING SHOWERS TUE NIGHT-WED NIGHT...THEN
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR THU/THU NIGHT...AND SHOWERS FRI
MORNING.

ROA   51  69  45  74 /  60   0   0   0
LYH   49  71  40  75 /  60   0   0   0
DAN   57  75  43  78 /  60   0   0   0
BLF   42  59  44  69 /  30   0   0   0
LWB   39  57  37  66 /  30   0   0   0
BCB   42  65  40  70 /  50   0   0   0
TNB   41  63  39  70 /  30   0   0   0

.RNK...
NC...NONE.

VA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 500 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
VAZ007...VAZ009>012...VAZ015.

VA...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 900 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES
VAZ013>14...VAZ016>020...VAZ022>024...VAZ032>035...VAZ043>047...
VAZ058>059.

WV...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 500 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR ZONES WVZ042>045.

STONEFIELD

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 11:20 AM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before

VAZ011>014-016>020-022>024-033>035-045>047-281715-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1120 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES ACROSS WESTERN
   AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

THE LEADING EDGE OF A BAND OF HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED FROM AMHERST SOUTHWEST ACROSS ROCKY MOUNT TO NEAR GALAX.
THE BAND EXTENDED WESTWARD TO NEAR WARM SPRINGS...IN BATH COUNTY
SOUTHWESTWARD TO NEAR PEARISBURG. THE STORMS AND RAIN ARE MOVING
EASTWARD AROUND 40 MPH.

THE MAJOR PROBLEM SO FAR THIS MORNING HAS BEEN THE PONDING OF WATER
ON THE HIGHWAYS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2
INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM BATH COUNTY IN VIRGINIA...WEST ACROSS
GREENBRIER COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS LIKELY
BY THIS AFTERNOON.

MOTORISTS NEED TO BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE PONDING OF WATER.

DOC

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 12:41 PM EDT, 4 hours 32 minutes before

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-
WVZ042>045-282200-
SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1241 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS
EVENING...

THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG A COLD FRONT OVER OHIO AND KENTUCKY
ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST INTO THE APPALACHIANS THIS AFTERNOON.
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS.

THE STORM SPOTTER NETWORK MAY BE ACTIVATED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

Local storm report, Apr 28, 3:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
310 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0303 PM    5NE HINTON                WV   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   SUMMERS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 4:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
406 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0344 PM    3W NEW CASTLE             VA   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CRAIG

0403 PM    FINCASTLE                 VA   1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   BOTETOURT

318 PM     14E HINTON                WV   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   SUMMERS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 4:57 PM EDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
457 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

415 PM     NEW CASTLE                VA   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CRAIG

415 PM     PEARISBURG                VA   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   GILES

420 PM     SALEM                     VA   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   ROANOKE                        COVERING GROUND

430 PM     BEDFORD                   VA   WIND DAMAGE
04/28/02   BEDFORD                        REPORTED BY BEDFORD
                                          COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.
                                          EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. CARS
                                          OVERTURNED. HOUSES
                                          DESTROYED. ROADS TORN UP.
                                          POSSIBLE TORNADO.

415 PM     10N TROUTVILLE            VA   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   BOTETOURT                      PUBLIC REPORT

410 PM     LITHIA                    VA   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   BOTETOURT                      PUBLIC REPORT

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 28, 3:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Craig, Giles	47 min
Apr 28, 3:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Botetourt	22 min
Apr 28, 4:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bedford	40 min
Apr 28, 4:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Roanoke, City of Roanoke, City of Salem	49 min
Apr 28, 4:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Wythe	49 min
Apr 28, 4:47 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg	28 min
Apr 28, 5:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Franklin	25 min
Apr 28, 5:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Campbell	48 min
Apr 28, 5:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Charlotte	30 min
Apr 28, 5:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bedford	26 min
Apr 28, 5:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Pittsylvania	46 min
Apr 28, 5:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Henry, City of Martinsville	25 min
Apr 28, 5:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Charlotte	33 min
Apr 28, 6:04 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania	26 min
Apr 28, 6:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Pittsylvania, City of Danville	47 min
Apr 28, 6:27 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	33 min
Apr 28, 7:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bland, Tazewell	34 min
Apr 28, 7:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Pulaski	39 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2002 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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.