Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 50, NWS Wakefield, VA

July 9, 2003Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 9, 2003, 5:56 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Virginia. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 9, 2003, 5:56 PM EDT (21:56 UTC)
Expired
Jul 9, 2003, 6:25 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Lancaster County, VA, Northumberland County, VA, Richmond County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:59 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 9, 1:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2003-07-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2488 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2003-07-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 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
2488 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
912 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
19 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 9, 3:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 3:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 21 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
335 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

OVERVIEW: VRY WRM/HUMID AIRMASS COMBINED WITH A COUPLE
OF FRNTS DROPPING INTO OR PUSHING THRU FA...WILL HELP
MAINTAIN CHCS FOR SHRAS/TSRAS FM THIS EVENG RIGHT THRU
FRI NGT.

SHORT TERM: SVR TSTM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM FOR
VA/MD CNTIES...AS TSRAS NOW OCCURRING OVR SE VA AND
APPROACHING FM THE W.  WILL GO LIKELY POPS THRU THIS
EVENG FOR WATCH AREA CNTIES...AND HI CHC ACRS NE NC
CNTIES AS SHRAS/TSRAS PROGRESS EWRD INTO/ACRS FA.
CHC POPS EVERYWHERE AFTR MIDNGT.

FRNTL BNDRY WILL DROP INTO AT LEAST EXTRM NRN CNTIES
ON THU...THEN LIFT BACK N OF THE AREA BY FRI MORNG.
SCTD SHRAS/TSRAS WILL BE A POSSIBILITY ANY TIME DURING
THU AND THU NGT...DUE TO COMBO OF PROXIMITY OF FRNTL
BNDRY/ANY LEFTOVR BNDRIES/VRY UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE.

COLD FRNT THEN PUSHES ACRS REGION FM W TO E DURING FRI
INTO SAT MORNG.  SCTD SHRAS/TSRAS EXPECTED AGAIN ESPLY
RIGHT IN ADVANCE OF FRNT FRI AFTN INTO FRI NGT.

EXTENDED: FRNT MOVES OFFSHR SAT MORNG WITH SOME DRIER
AIR/WK HI PRES MOVNG IN FOR SAT INTO SUN.  SCTD PCPN
POSSIBLE MON AFTN AS SHRTWV TROF SWINGS THRU.  HI PRES
RDG THEN BLDS OFF THE MID ATLC CST FOR TUE AND WED.
ISLTD AFTN TSRAS POSSIBLE BOTH DAYS...BUT FOR NOW WILL
GO DRY.

FCSTID = 32

SBY 73 85 74 85 / 60 40 40 40
OXB 75 83 75 82 / 60 40 40 40
ECG 78 91 78 88 / 50 40 40 40
ORF 77 91 78 88 / 60 40 40 40
PHF 77 91 78 89 / 60 40 40 40
AKQ 74 92 75 87 / 60 40 40 40
RIC 74 91 76 87 / 60 40 40 40
FVX 73 90 74 87 / 60 40 40 40

.AKQ...
.MD...SVR TSTM WATCH UNTIL 900 PM FOR MDZ021>025.
.NC...NONE.
.VA...SVR TSTM WATCH UNTIL 900 PM FOR VAZ048-049-060>100.

GINGRICH
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 9, 12:30 PM EDT, 5 hours 26 minutes before
MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-092200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1230 PM EDT WED JUL 09 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...
NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM 90 TO 95 COUPLED WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE MID TO
UPPER 70S WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDICES FROM 105 TO 110 DEGREES THIS
AFTERNOON.  ALSO...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

32

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...AND
STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
WAKEFIELD, VA CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING
(LOWER CASE): WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 9, 1:42 PM EDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
VAZ063-064-070>100-092030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
142 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA...

AT 140 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN
VIRGINIA...INCLUDING CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AROUND 15 MPH. THROUGH 4 PM...THUNDERSTORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE NUMEROUS OVER THE REGION. WIND GUSTS TO
40 MPH...SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND RAINFALL
RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

ALSO...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM. AS
THE THUNDERSTORMS BECOME MORE NUMEROUS ACROSS THE REGION LATER THIS
AFTERNOON...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT A FEW MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND HAIL 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER OR
GREATER.

HURLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 2:25 PM EDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
MDZ021>025-VAZ048-049-060>100-100100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
225 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT...

THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL OF CENTRAL...EASTERN...AND SOUTHSIDE
VIRGINIA...ALONG WITH THE LOWER MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA EASTERN
SHORE.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS BY MID AND LATE AFTERNOON...
WITH THE POTENTIAL THAT A FEW MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER...ALONG WITH HAIL 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER OR
LARGER. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN CAN
BE EXPECTED WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP...WITH RAINFALL
RATES BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES WITHIN ONE HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR
WEB SITE AT WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

HURLEY
Local storm report, Jul 9, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
0307 PM EDT WED JUL 09 2003

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

0251 PM    NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIR VA   68 MPH TSTORM WIND
07/09/03   CITY OF NORFOLK                REPORTED BY ASOS

BH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 3:47 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
VAZ048-049-060>071-079-080-092015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
347 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

AT 345 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER RADAR DETECTED NUMEROUS CLUSTERS OF
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH WESTERN VIRGINIA...TOWARD CENTRAL
VIRGINIA. THE INITIAL AREA OF STORMS WAS FOUND FROM LOUISA TO PRINCE
EDWARD COUNTIES...WITH ADDITIONAL STORMS OCCURRING WEST OF THAT
AREA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AROUND 40 MPH...AND WILL BE LIKELY
TO OCCUR OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON
HOURS.

GUSTY WINDS...HAIL...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN ARE POSSIBLE IN STRONGER STORMS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
UPDATES AND ANY POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 4:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
VAZ063-064-066>068-070>074-079>083-092130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
440 PM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

AT 440 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
BEAVERDAM TO ATLEE TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF MANNBORO TO 2 MILES SOUTH
OF REHOBOTH...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH...
   WILBURN AND WELLVILLE AROUND 445 PM...
   CITY OF RICHMOND...WILSONS AND RUTHER GLEN AROUND 450 PM...
   CEDON AND NANCY WRIGHTS CORNER AROUND 455 PM...
   WOODFORD AND WESTWOOD AROUND 500 PM...
   MILFORD AND BOWLING GREEN AROUND 505 PM...
   WALKERTON AND SUTHERLAND AROUND 510 PM...

WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR IS
EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM. WATCH FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 5:46 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 9, 2:10 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ80 min
Jul 9, 3:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Virginia Beach30 min
Jul 9, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ41 min
Jul 9, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ41 min
Jul 9, 3:45 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ45 min
Jul 9, 3:45 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ45 min
Jul 9, 4:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQMecklenburg45 min
Jul 9, 5:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQChesterfield, Dinwiddie29 min
Jul 9, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQHenrico, City of Richmond31 min
Jul 9, 5:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQPrince George, City of Colonial Heights, City of Hopewell, City of Petersburg30 min
Jul 9, 6:06 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ54 min
Jul 9, 6:51 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ54 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.