Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 95, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 3, 20126 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2012, 6:52 PM EDT for 6 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 28 min. 2 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 3, 2012, 6:52 PM EDT (22:52 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2012, 7:20 PM EDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Alleghany County, VA, Amherst County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, City of Buena Vista, VA, City of Lexington, VA, Rockbridge County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:53 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 3, 6:55 PM EDTHAIL 0.7510 Sw Lexington City, VADIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL
May 3, 6:57 PM EDTHAIL 0.884 N Eagle Rock, VAAT KELLYS MARKET

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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 68 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 2012-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1044 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 2012-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 30 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1044 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1230 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
22 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.

747 
WUUS51 KRNK 032252
SVRRNK
VAC005-009-023-163-530-678-032345-
/O.NEW.KRNK.SV.W.0095.120503T2252Z-120503T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
652 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF BUENA VISTA IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF LEXINGTON IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHERN BOTETOURT COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  EASTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT.

* AT 648 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 GALA...OR NEAR EAGLE ROCK...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLLIERSTOWN...
  LEXINGTON CITY...
  CORNWALL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3798 7944 3774 7917 3761 7980 3772 7989
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 250DEG 29KT 3770 7972

$$
3 follow-up statements
698 
WWUS51 KRNK 032304
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
704 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

VAC005-032314-
/O.CAN.KRNK.SV.W.0095.000000T0000Z-120503T2345Z/
ALLEGHANY VA-
704 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 3774 7917 3762 7974 3771 7983 3777 7970
      3777 7967 3779 7966 3792 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 250DEG 29KT 3771 7965

$$

VAC009-023-163-530-678-032345-
/O.CON.KRNK.SV.W.0095.000000T0000Z-120503T2345Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-CITY OF LEXINGTON VA-
BOTETOURT VA-AMHERST VA-
704 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT
FOR THE CITY OF BUENA VISTA...THE CITY OF LEXINGTON... CENTRAL
ROCKBRIDGE...NORTHERN BOTETOURT AND NORTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTIES...

AT 702 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE INCH DIAMETER
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COLLIERSTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLLIERSTOWN...
  LEXINGTON CITY...
  BUENA VISTA CITY...
  CORNWALL...
  ALTO...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3774 7917 3762 7974 3771 7983 3777 7970
      3777 7967 3779 7966 3792 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 250DEG 29KT 3771 7965

$$
165 
WWUS51 KRNK 032315
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
715 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

VAC023-032326-
/O.CAN.KRNK.SV.W.0095.000000T0000Z-120503T2345Z/
BOTETOURT VA-
715 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN BOTETOURT COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 3774 7917 3764 7964 3769 7967 3773 7969
      3774 7969 3776 7968 3779 7965 3792 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 250DEG 29KT 3774 7953

$$

VAC009-163-530-678-032345-
/O.CON.KRNK.SV.W.0095.000000T0000Z-120503T2345Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-CITY OF LEXINGTON VA-AMHERST VA-
715 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT
FOR THE CITY OF BUENA VISTA...THE CITY OF LEXINGTON... CENTRAL
ROCKBRIDGE AND NORTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTIES...

AT 711 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE INCH DIAMETER
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR COLLIERSTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLLIERSTOWN...
  LEXINGTON CITY...
  BUENA VISTA CITY...
  CORNWALL...
  ALTO...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3774 7917 3764 7964 3769 7967 3773 7969
      3774 7969 3776 7968 3779 7965 3792 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 250DEG 29KT 3774 7953

$$
392 
WWUS51 KRNK 032320
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
720 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

VAC009-163-530-678-032330-
/O.CAN.KRNK.SV.W.0095.000000T0000Z-120503T2345Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-CITY OF LEXINGTON VA-AMHERST VA-
720 PM EDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR THE CITY OF BUENA VISTA...THE 
CITY OF LEXINGTON...CENTRAL ROCKBRIDGE AND NORTHWESTERN AMHERST 
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND
EXITED THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE...THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

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

LAT...LON 3774 7917 3764 7964 3769 7967 3773 7969
      3774 7969 3776 7968 3779 7965 3792 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 250DEG 29KT 3775 7949

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 1:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson34 min
May 3, 1:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson39 min
May 3, 2:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGrayson36 min
May 3, 3:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd26 min
May 3, 3:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe32 min
May 3, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Wythe53 min
May 3, 3:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd34 min
May 3, 3:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPulaski32 min
May 3, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Giles, Pulaski65 min
May 3, 4:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd31 min
May 3, 4:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, City of Radford51 min
May 3, 4:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGiles39 min
May 3, 5:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd30 min
May 3, 6:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin32 min
May 3, 6:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt28 min
May 3, 6:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Franklin, Pittsylvania48 min
May 3, 6:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt27 min
May 3, 7:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBedford28 min
May 3, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania33 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.