Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 15, 20124 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 2012, 6:57 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 63 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 2012, 6:57 PM EDT (22:57 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bedford County, VA, Campbell County, VA, Franklin County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:56 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 15, 7:01 PM EDTHAIL 0.54 S Northwest Smith Mou, VADIME SIZE HAIL AT THE DAIRY QUEEN ALONG SCRUGGS ROAD
May 15, 7:02 PM EDTHAIL 0.883 N Western Smith Mount, VA
May 15, 7:24 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nne Western Smith Mou, VAONE TREE DOWN ON GUILFORD ROAD

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 2 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 2012-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 54 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2012-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
54 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-43 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
511 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
39 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.

598 
WUUS51 KRNK 152257
SVRRNK
VAC019-031-067-143-160000-
/O.NEW.KRNK.SV.W.0101.120515T2257Z-120516T0000Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
657 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHWESTERN CAMPBELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHERN BEDFORD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 800 PM EDT.

* AT 652 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL...
  AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED
  NEAR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE STATE PARK...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF MONETA...
  AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SOUTHERN SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...
  SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE STATE PARK...
  MONETA...
  HUDDLESTON...
  LEESVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

INTENSE RAIN AND STRONG DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY FROM THIS STORM.
TAKE COVER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

IF ON OR NEAR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE 
INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 
15 MILES FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU 
ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER 
NOW. DON'T BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM!

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF QUARTER OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 7938 3710 7923 3697 7970 3715 7983
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 245DEG 10KT 3710 7964

$$

JH
2 follow-up statements
249 
WWUS51 KRNK 152325
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
725 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012

VAC019-031-067-143-160000-
/O.CON.KRNK.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-120516T0000Z/
PITTSYLVANIA VA-FRANKLIN VA-CAMPBELL VA-BEDFORD VA-
725 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
FOR NORTHERN PITTSYLVANIA...NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN...SOUTHWESTERN
CAMPBELL AND SOUTHERN BEDFORD COUNTIES...

AT 724 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE INCH
DIAMETER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE
STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MONETA TO WESTERN
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MONETA TO 9
MILES NORTHWEST OF PENHOOK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WESTERN SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...
  SOUTHERN SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...
  SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE STATE PARK...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE HAIL AND...OR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
IN ADDITION...TORRENTIAL RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS
DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!

IF ON OR NEAR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE 
INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 
15 MILES FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU 
ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER 
NOW. DON'T BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM!

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY. ONCE AGAIN THAT NUMBER IS 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 7938 3710 7923 3697 7970 3715 7983
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 243DEG 5KT 3716 7959 3707 7975

$$

WERT
828 
WWUS51 KRNK 160003
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
803 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012

VAC019-031-067-143-160013-
/O.EXP.KRNK.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-120516T0000Z/
PITTSYLVANIA VA-FRANKLIN VA-CAMPBELL VA-BEDFORD VA-
803 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN PITTSYLVANIA...
NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN...SOUTHWESTERN CAMPBELL AND SOUTHERN BEDFORD
COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 800 PM EDT...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW 
SEVERE LIMITS. THUS THE WARNING WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. ONCE AGAIN
THAT NUMBER IS 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

LAT...LON 3734 7938 3710 7923 3697 7970 3715 7983
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 243DEG 5KT 3716 7959 3707 7975

$$

WERT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 8:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBedford28 min
May 14, 8:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBedford, Franklin5 hr
May 14, 8:55 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAmherst, Bedford, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington6 hr
May 14, 9:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland35 min
May 14, 9:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Giles4 hr
May 14, 9:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAmherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington6 hr
May 15, 1:27 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKBedford, Franklin6 hr
May 15, 1:39 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBedford, Franklin6 hr
May 15, 3:15 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBotetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington6 hr
May 15, 5:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchRNKAmherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Floyd, Franklin and 8 more17 hr
May 15, 6:19 AM EDTDense Fog AdvisoryRNKBland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery and 6 more4 hr
May 15, 1:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Galax64 min
May 15, 4:57 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKGrayson5 hr
May 15, 5:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson62 min
May 15, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe58 min
May 15, 6:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPulaski, Wythe62 min
May 15, 6:56 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBedford, Franklin6 hr
May 15, 7:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPulaski56 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2012Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.