Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Wakefield, VA

May 20, 20085 counties in Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2008, 2:47 PM EDT for 5 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 43 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
May 20, 2008, 2:47 PM EDT (18:47 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2008, 3:30 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Brunswick County, VA, City of Emporia, VA, Greensville County, VA, Southampton County, VA, Sussex County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:49 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
May 20, 1:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 187 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2008-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2008-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 399 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
781 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
399 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
426 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 May 20, 1:57 PM EDT, 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 1:57 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 1:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

MDZ021>025-VAZ048-049-062-064-074>076-211730-
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
FLUVANNA-LOUISA-GOOCHLAND-CAROLINE-ESSEX-WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE OF
MARYLAND...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF
VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF
CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

VAZ060-061-063-066>073-077-078-083-211730-
PRINCE EDWARD-CUMBERLAND-HANOVER-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-POWHATAN-
CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-NORTHUMBERLAND-
LANCASTER-NEW KENT-
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST
CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF
VIRGINIA...THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA AND THE PIEDMONT OF
CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

ANZ650-211730-
COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND DE TO CHINCOTEAGUE VA OUT 20 NM-
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

ANZ630>633-652-654-656-658-211730-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT TO WINDMILL POINT VA-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM WINDMILL POINT TO NEW POINT COMFORT VA-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NEW POINT COMFORT TO CAPE HENRY VA-
CURRITUCK SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND VA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND TO CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE CHARLES LIGHT VA TO NC VA BORDER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM NC VA BORDER TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NC OUT
20 NM-
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CHESAPEAKE
BAY...THE SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE MID ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS
AND CURRITUCK SOUND.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ065-079>082-084>100-211730-
NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES-PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK-
BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-MECKLENBURG-BRUNSWICK-
DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE-CHARLES CITY-GLOUCESTER-MIDDLESEX-MATHEWS-
GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY-JAMES CITY-YORK-SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-
NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON-NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE-
VIRGINIA BEACH-ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON VA-
123 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 327 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR COASTAL NORTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA...INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...THE NORTHERN OUTER
BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EAST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...INTERIOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA...THE EASTERN SHORE OF
VIRGINIA...THE MIDDLE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA AND THE PENINSULA OF
SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 20, 8:57 AM EDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 20, 9:07 AM EDT, 5 hours 40 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 20, 1:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
121 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

VAZ060-066>068-070-079-080-201800-
AMELIA VA-BRUNSWICK VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-DINWIDDIE VA-LUNENBURG
VA-NOTTOWAY VA-PRINCE EDWARD VA-
121 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT...

AT 120 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF CREWE TO 30 MILES WEST OF
VICTORIA...OR FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF CREWE TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
PHENIX...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
NEAR...CREWE AROUND 135 PM EDT...MANNBORO AROUND 145 PM EDT...
VICTORIA AROUND 150 PM EDT AND KENBRIDGE AROUND 155 PM EDT.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL ARE EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.

EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IN THE PATH OF THESE
STORMS. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR
AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

SAMMLER
Special weather statement, May 20, 1:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
135 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

VAZ065-066-079-201815-
BRUNSWICK VA-LUNENBURG VA-MECKLENBURG VA-
135 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD LUNENBURG AND MECKLENBURG
COUNTIES...

AT 134 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHASE CITY TO 40
MILES WEST OF CHASE CITY...OR FROM CLOVER TO 8 MILES NORTH OF
MILTON...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
NEAR...CHASE CITY AROUND 155 PM EDT.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND SMALL HAIL ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IN THE PATH OF THESE
STORMS. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR
AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

SAMMLER
Special weather statement, May 20, 2:00 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
200 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

VAZ065>068-070-079>081-087-088-201845-
AMELIA VA-BRUNSWICK VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-DINWIDDIE VA-GREENSVILLE
VA-LUNENBURG VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NOTTOWAY VA-PRINCE GEORGE VA-SUSSEX
VA-
200 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD THE TRI-CITIES AND INTO
PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

AT 159 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF BLACKSTONE TO 25
MILES WEST OF SOUTH HILL...OR FROM MANNBORO TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
REDOAK...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
NEAR...SUTHERLAND AROUND 205 PM EDT...ADDISON AROUND 210 PM EDT...
PETERSBURG AROUND 215 PM EDT...NEW BOHEMIA AROUND 220 PM EDT...
EBONY AROUND 225 PM EDT...AND GASBURG AROUND 230 PM EDT.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS.
IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR
AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL AFTER THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

SAMMLER
Special weather statement, May 20, 2:35 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
235PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

NCZ012-VAZ065-079>081-087>094-201915-
BRUNSWICK VA-DINWIDDIE VA-GREENSVILLE VA-ISLE OF WIGHT VA-JAMES CITY
VA-MECKLENBURG VA-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON VA-NORTHAMPTON NC-PRINCE
GEORGE VA-SOUTHAMPTON VA-SURRY VA-SUSSEX VA-YORK VA-
235 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD WILLIAMSBURG...EMPORIA AND
ROANOKE RAPIDS...

AT 233 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 5 MILES WEST OF CLAREMONT TO 25 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF SOUTH HILL...OR FROM 5 MILES WEST OF CLAREMONT TO 15
MILES EAST OF VIRGILINA...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...STONY CREEK AROUND 245 PM EDT...
JAMESTOWN AROUND 250 PM EDT...ALLIANCE AROUND 255 PM EDT...
BUSCH GARDENS AROUND 300 PM EDT...HORNSBYVILLE AROUND 310 PM EDT AND
SEAFORD AROUND 315 PM EDT.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...HAIL UP TO MARBLE SIZE...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED IN THE PATH OF THESE
STORMS. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. MOVE INTO A SAFE SHELTER BEFORE THESE STORMS REACH YOUR
AREA. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

SAMMLER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 3:10 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ95 min
May 20, 3:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, Southampton, City of Chesapeake, City of Franklin, City of Newport News, City of Norfolk and 2 more49 min
May 20, 3:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQGreensville, Southampton46 min
May 20, 3:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQYork, City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Poquoson27 min
May 20, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQNorthampton37 min
May 20, 3:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Norfolk, City of Virginia Beach25 min
May 20, 4:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach21 min
May 20, 4:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ37 min
May 20, 4:39 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQCity of Virginia Beach3 hr
May 20, 5:20 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ40 min
May 20, 4:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCamden, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank25 min
May 20, 4:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBertie, Hertford, Northampton37 min
May 20, 4:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCamden, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank, Perquimans48 min
May 20, 4:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBertie, Chowan, Hertford, Pasquotank, Perquimans48 min
May 20, 5:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBertie31 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2008Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.