Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2013

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 180, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 31, 2013Bedford County, Franklin County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 31, 2013, 4:22 PM EDT for Bedford County, Franklin County, Virginia. It was in force for 53 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
Aug 31, 2013, 4:22 PM EDT (20:22 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2013, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bedford County, VA, Franklin County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:25 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 nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 19 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 2013-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 856 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 2013-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 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
856 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
466 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
72 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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 31, 4:20 PM EDT, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 4:20 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 3:44 AM EDT, 12 hours 38 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
344 AM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>045-010745-
ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES-
YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-
CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-
PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-
APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-
GREENBRIER-
344 AM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH
CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

EXPECT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH TONIGHT
TO BRING AT TIMES...HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY GUSTY TO DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALIZED
FLOODING IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS
AND URBAN AREAS AS THESE STORMS WILL NOT BE MOVING TOO FAST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING
SUNDAY AND MONDAY. A FEW STORMS BOTH DAYS MAY BECOME STRONG TO
SEVERE...AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. IN
ADDITION...THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY BE SLOW MOVING...AND CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.

FOR TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:34 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
334 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

WVZ045-312000-
GREENBRIER WV-
334 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  WESTERN GREENBRIER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 400 PM EDT

* AT 333 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BINGHAM...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 MPH.

* PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
  STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON
  ROADWAYS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.
  EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RUPERT...
  BINGHAM...
  RAINELLE...
  AND QUINWOOD.

LAT...LON 3810 8063 3793 8066 3796 8079 3798 8077
      3803 8081 3803 8083 3806 8080 3805 8086
      3807 8088 3808 8088 3809 8075 3808 8071
      3810 8068
TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 277DEG 13KT 3803 8083

DS
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:42 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
342 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

VAZ014-312015-
MONTGOMERY VA-
342 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 341 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BLACKSBURG TO
  CHILDRESS...MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
  THESE STORMS. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
  POND ON ROADWAYS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL
  STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS LINE
  OF STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BLACKSBURG...
  PILOT...
  CHRISTIANSBURG...
  PRICES FORK...
  AND MERRIMAC.

LAT...LON 3722 8029 3704 8032 3702 8036 3702 8039
      3709 8053 3727 8049
TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 298DEG 16KT 3724 8045 3709 8048

DS
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:51 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
351 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

NCZ003-VAZ016-017-032-312015-
SURRY NC-PATRICK VA-FLOYD VA-CARROLL VA-
351 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  NORTHERN SURRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHWESTERN PATRICK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHWESTERN FLOYD COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  EASTERN CARROLL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 350 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DUGSPUR TO CANA...
  MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH.

* WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. VERY HEAVY
  RAIN IS FALLING...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADWAYS AND
  QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT
  CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARARAT...
  CANA...
  WILLIS...
  FANCY GAP...
  AND GLADESBORO.

LAT...LON 3687 8037 3650 8056 3656 8076 3687 8064
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 270DEG 19KT 3684 8057 3660 8069

DS
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:51 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
351 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

WVZ044-045-312015-
MONROE WV-GREENBRIER WV-
351 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL GREENBRIER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 350 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WOLFCREEK...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20
  MPH.

* WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY
  RAIN IS FALLING...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADWAYS AND
  QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT
  CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RONCEVERTE...
  ALDERSON...
  ORGAN CAVE...
  WOLFCREEK...
  AND HOLLYWOOD.

LAT...LON 3761 8039 3763 8068 3768 8068 3771 8066
      3774 8067 3778 8039
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 270DEG 19KT 3769 8061

DS
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 4:03 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
403 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

VAZ034-035-045-312030-
BEDFORD VA-AMHERST VA-CAMPBELL VA-
403 PM EDT SAT AUG 31 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN BEDFORD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  WESTERN AMHERST COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  NORTHERN CAMPBELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT

* AT 359 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SNOWDEN TO
  GOODE...MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. VERY HEAVY
  RAIN IS FALLING...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADWAYS AND
  QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT
  CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  FOREST...
  BIG ISLAND...
  TIMBERLAKE...
  NAOLA...
  AND COLEMAN FALLS.

LAT...LON 3758 7924 3730 7922 3737 7949 3755 7947
      3756 7945 3756 7944 3758 7945 3760 7945
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 294DEG 9KT 3761 7942 3738 7935

DS
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 4:12 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 1:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell64 min
Aug 31, 1:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCraig62 min
Aug 31, 1:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCraig, Giles62 min
Aug 31, 2:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe35 min
Aug 31, 2:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Salem29 min
Aug 31, 2:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Carroll, Pulaski, Wythe53 min
Aug 31, 2:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGiles27 min
Aug 31, 2:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax54 min
Aug 31, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt37 min
Aug 31, 3:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Roanoke28 min
Aug 31, 3:18 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax4 hr
Aug 31, 3:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Radford24 min
Aug 31, 3:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll23 min
Aug 31, 3:26 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBotetourt4 hr
Aug 31, 3:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt27 min
Aug 31, 3:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery33 min
Aug 31, 3:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll24 min
Aug 31, 4:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Lynchburg27 min
Aug 31, 4:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Roanoke33 min
Aug 31, 4:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell, City of Lynchburg63 min
Aug 31, 4:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, Patrick41 min
Aug 31, 4:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, City of Covington60 min
Aug 31, 4:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, City of Martinsville54 min
Aug 31, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell66 min
Aug 31, 5:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, City of Martinsville55 min
Aug 31, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Pittsylvania60 min
Aug 31, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPittsylvania60 min
Aug 31, 2:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes28 min
Aug 31, 2:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKWilkes6 hr
Aug 31, 2:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes26 min
Aug 31, 3:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSurry, Wilkes, Yadkin62 min
Aug 31, 3:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry31 min
Aug 31, 3:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSurry67 min
Aug 31, 3:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKSurry4 hr
Aug 31, 3:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKYadkin91 min
Aug 31, 2:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMercer32 min
Aug 31, 3:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier26 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2013Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2013

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.