Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 1, 2012Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 1, 2012, 3:14 PM EDT for Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. It was in force for 76 min. 6 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 1, 2012, 3:14 PM EDT (19:14 UTC)
Expired
May 1, 2012, 4:30 PM EDT
In force
76 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:15 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 1, 3:41 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 E Keeling, VASEVERAL LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN ON HERMAN FARMER ROAD...INCLUDING A 100 YEAR OLD OAK TREE. REPORT FROM WSET.
May 1, 3:57 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Halifax, VAPENNY SIZE HAIL ON ROUTE 501 IN HALIFAX AND ONE TREE DOWN IN FRONT OF THE HALIFAX COURTHOUSE
May 1, 4:00 PM EDTHAIL 15 W Halifax, VAMOUNTAIN ROAD
May 1, 4:00 PM EDTHAIL 1Halifax, VA
May 1, 4:05 PM EDTHAIL 1.755 W Halifax, VAKENNON LANE
May 1, 4:10 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 S Halifax, VAMULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON BERRY HILL RD

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 1, 3:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 59 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 2012-05-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 660 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2012-05-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 167 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
660 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
496 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
167 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
213 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

526 
WUUS51 KRNK 011914
SVRRNK
VAC083-143-012030-
/O.NEW.KRNK.SV.W.0076.120501T1914Z-120501T2030Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
314 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT.

* AT 310 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 CHALK LEVEL...OR NEAR MT AIRY...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CHALK LEVEL...
  MT AIRY...
  LEDA...
  NATHALIE...
  CRYSTAL HILL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3670 7893 3671 7936 3700 7930 3699 7890
      3697 7890 3698 7888 3698 7881 3697 7880
      3695 7879
TIME...MOT...LOC 1914Z 275DEG 17KT 3690 7925

$$
2 follow-up statements
999 
WWUS51 KRNK 011935
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
335 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

VAC083-143-012030-
/O.CON.KRNK.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-120501T2030Z/
PITTSYLVANIA VA-HALIFAX VA-
335 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT
FOR EASTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...

AT 334 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR RIDGEWAY...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF INGRAM...MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RIDGEWAY...
  HALIFAX...
  CRYSTAL HILL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3670 7893 3671 7936 3700 7930 3699 7890
      3697 7890 3698 7888 3698 7881 3697 7880
      3695 7879
TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 271DEG 31KT 3685 7910

$$
231 
WWUS51 KRNK 012028
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
428 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

VAC083-143-012038-
/O.EXP.KRNK.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-120501T2030Z/
PITTSYLVANIA VA-HALIFAX VA-
428 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND
NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 430 PM EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3670 7893 3671 7936 3700 7930 3699 7890
      3697 7890 3698 7888 3698 7881 3697 7880
      3695 7879
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 271DEG 31KT 3684 7853

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 30, 9:59 PM EDTDense Fog AdvisoryRNKAmherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Roanoke, Rockbridge and 5 more9 hr
Apr 30, 11:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, City of Martinsville56 min
May 1, 2:57 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, City of Covington63 min
May 1, 2:58 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Bath, City of Covington62 min
May 1, 3:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBath61 min
May 1, 4:45 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington60 min
May 1, 4:49 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBedford, City of Lynchburg56 min
May 1, 5:46 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin, Pittsylvania59 min
May 1, 12:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell41 min
May 1, 12:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland51 min
May 1, 1:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd, Montgomery, Pulaski, City of Radford53 min
May 1, 2:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania33 min
May 1, 2:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin26 min
May 1, 2:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Floyd, Franklin, Pittsylvania63 min
May 1, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Pittsylvania58 min
May 1, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania, City of Martinsville62 min
May 1, 3:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell56 min
May 1, 3:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania66 min
May 1, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick55 min
May 1, 6:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick32 min
May 1, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCity of Martinsville35 min
May 1, 7:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry54 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.