Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 51, NWS Wakefield, VA

July 11, 2003Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, City of Franklin, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 11, 2003, 7:31 PM EDT for Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, City of Franklin, 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 11, 2003, 7:31 PM EDT (23:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2003, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties City of Franklin, VA, Isle of Wight County, VA, Southampton County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:33 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 11, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC4 hr
Jul 11, 7:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 221 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1617 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 153 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
1617 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
788 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
153 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
7.4

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 11, 7:15 PM EDT, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 7:15 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
715 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

QUICK UPDATE TO REDEFINE WACTH HEADLINES IN ZONES...WILL ADJUST POPS
IN THE WATCH AREA AND POSSIBLY REMOVE FROM MD EASTERN SHORE AND NW
COUNTIES.

PREV AFD BELOW

OVERVIEW: LATEST SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE COLD FRONT ALIGNED JUST
EAST OF THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS. OUT AHD OF THE FRONT...SPC HAS
JUST PUT MUCH OF THE AREA FROM JUST S OF FVX EWD TO RIC EWD TO THE VA
ERN SHORE S OF ACCOMACK CNTY...UNDER A SVR TSTM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM
TNGT. THIS AREA IS UNDER A GOOD THETA E RDG...W/ CAPES OVR 2000 J/KG.
A VORT MAX MOVING NEWD FROM THE GA/TN/SC HAS HELPED TO TRIGGER
CONVCTN ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND LOOKS TO MOVE INTO OUR SWRN ZONES
OVR THE NEXT HOUR. STILL ONLY WENT W/ CHC POPS DUE TO SCTD NATURE OF
THE STORMS. BEST CHC (40%) TSTMS SRN ZONES...TAPERED TO SCHC NRN
ZONES. MAIN THREAT WILL BE ISOLATED WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

SHORT TERM: FROPA FM NW TO SE TNGT...POPS ENDING LATER THIS EVENG
FOR ALL BUT SERN ZONES. MDLS SHOW THE FRONT STALLING NR THE VA/NC
BORDER ALIGNED IN A SW TO NE FASHION ON SAT...KEPT SCHC POPS SERN
ZONES TO REFLECT THIS...OTHRWS SAT WILL BE DRY AND LESS HUMID W/
DEW PTS IN THE 60S MOST AREAS...HIGHS MID/UPR 80S. UNDER A LONG WAVE
TROF OVR THE ERN US...MDLS SHOW SEVERAL WAVES OF MSTR SUN AND MON...
ADDED CHC POPS TO SUN FOR ALL BUT MD ZONES ALTHOUGH THINK GFS UPR
DIV AND MSTR FLD A BIT OVERDONE...WENT MORE W/ETA FOR QPF AMTS.

EXTENDED: ...TUE THROUGH FRI...SHORTWAVE PUSHES THROUGH LATE MON
INTO TUE...KEPT TUE DRY EXCEPT SRN ZONES AS THE MSTR BNDRY AGAIN
STALLS SOMEWHERE IN THE VCNTY OF THE NC/VA BORDER...GFS SEEMS TOO
BULLISH ON PUSHING THE BNDRY WELL S OF THE AREA GIVEN THE TIME OF
YEAR. NEXT SHORTWAVE THEN LOOKS TO PUSH THROUGH LATE THU/ERLY FRI
W/ CHC POPS DURING THIS TIME FRAME. ALL OTHER PRODUCTS SENT.

MARINE: SCA TNGT W/ GUSTY SW WINDS AHD OF THE APPRCHNG FRONT.

FCSTID = 19

SBY 68 85 67 84 / 20 10 10 10
OXB 70 83 69 81 / 20 10 10 10
ECG 74 87 73 85 / 40 20 10 30
ORF 73 88 72 85 / 40 10 10 30
PHF 72 88 71 86 / 30 10 10 30
AKQ 69 89 67 86 / 30 10 10 30
RIC 68 88 67 84 / 30 10 10 30
FVX 65 87 66 84 / 20 10 10 30

.AKQ...
.MD...SCA ATLC COASTAL WATERS.

.NC...SEVERE TSM WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT NCZ012>017-30>32-102.

      SCA ATLC COASTAL WATERS N OF CURRITUCK BCH LGT AND FOR
      CURRITUCK SOUND.

.VA...SEVERE TSM WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT SERN AND ERN VA.

      SCA ATLC COASTAL WATERS AND CHES BAY FROM SMITH PT TO CAPE
      HENRY.

BROWN
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 4:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-120000-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
440 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THROUGH 8 PM
TONIGHT. THIS INCLUDES METRO RICHMOND AND NORFOLK. DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS EVENING.

19

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 11, 5:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
VAZ065-112130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
504 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH MECKLENBURG COUNTY...

AT 502 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER RICHARDSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
   EPPES FORK AROUND 510 PM...
   KEATS AROUND 515 PM...
   BOYDTON AROUND 520 PM...
   JOHN H KERR DAM AND PALMER SPRINGS AROUND 525 PM...
   BEECHWOOD AND BASKERVILLE AROUND 530 PM...

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

CULLEN
&&
LAT...LON 3657 7858 3642 7846 3663 7798 3684 7814
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 5:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ070-071-073-078>098-100-112300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
530 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 723 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800
PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THE WATCH INCLUDES MUCH OF CENTRAL...EASTERN...SOUTHSIDE
VIRGINIA...THE VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS THROUGH THIS EVENING
...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SEVERE STORMS 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.

22
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 5:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
VAZ065-079-112215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
532 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH MECKLENBURG COUNTY...

AT 531 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER KEATS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
   PALMER SPRINGS AROUND 535 PM...
   BEECHWOOD AND BASKERVILLE AROUND 540 PM...
   BRACEY AROUND 545 PM...
   SOUTH HILL AROUND 555 PM...
   LA CROSSE AROUND 600 PM...
   BRODNAX AND FORKSVILLE AROUND 605 PM...

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

CULLEN
&&
LAT...LON 3659 7843 3644 7831 3670 7774 3690 7790
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 6:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
VAZ079-087-112300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
614 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH SOUTHERN BRUNSWICK COUNTY...

AT 612 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER WHITE PLAINS...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
   BRUNSWICK AROUND 615 PM...
   VALENTINES AROUND 620 PM...
   TRIPLET AROUND 635 PM...
   BARLEY AROUND 640 PM...
   ANTE AROUND 645 PM...
   SLATES CORNER AROUND 650 PM...

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

CULLEN
&&
LAT...LON 3669 7801 3651 7797 3653 7748 3678 7753
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 6:42 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 11, 7:07 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
NCZ012-VAZ087-088-092-112345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
707 PM EDT FRI JUL 11 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...

AT 705 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GRIZZARD TO
JACKSON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
   MASON AND ADAMS GROVE AROUND 710 PM...
   GRAY AND MARGARETTSVILLE AROUND 720 PM...
   HILDA AND GALATIA AROUND 725 PM...
   JOYNER AND YALE AROUND 730 PM...
   CONWAY AND MILWAUKEE AROUND 735 PM...
   BOYKINS AND WORRELL AROUND 740 PM...

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. WINDS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN
SMALL TREES AND TREE LIMBS. EXPECT FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM.

CULLEN
&&
LAT...LON 3680 7754 3631 7757 3641 7713 3689 7710

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 9:30 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ60 min
Jul 10, 10:24 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ51 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.