Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2017

Special Weather Statement, NWS Wakefield, VA

April 21, 2017Gloucester County, Mathews County, Northampton County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this special weather statement at Apr 21, 2017, 9:13 PM EDT for Gloucester County, Mathews County, Northampton County, Virginia. It was in force for 47 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 21, 2017, 9:13 PM EDT (01:13 UTC)
Expired
Apr 21, 2017, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA

Counties Gloucester County, VA, Mathews County, VA, Northampton County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:14 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

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 94 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2017-04-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 67 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2017-04-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 252 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
67 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-186 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
914 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
252 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
325 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Apr 21, 3:56 PM EDT, 5 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 21, 3:56 PM EDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
356 PM EDT Fri Apr 21 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front crosses the area tonight then becomes nearly stationary
across the Carolinas through the weekend. Low pressure will track
eastward along the front Saturday through Sunday, then slowly drift
offshore Monday through Tuesday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
Latest MSAS has the cold front crossing the mts with a weak bndry
located across the lwr MD ern shore, denoted by the BKN-OVC ST
layer and onshore flow at OXB. Meanwhile, sct convection developing
in warm sector across the fa.

Cold front sags south across the region this evening to a position
near or just south of the VA/NC border by 12Z. Weak wave riding east
along this feature will likely serve to keep chc convection going
through the night, highest pops south. High pressure nudging in from
the north may cut off moisture supply along the eastern shore / nrn
neck after 06Z thus lowest pops there. However, guidance shows
areas of fog expanding west a a bit along the ern shore as winds
remain onshore. Lows from the mid 50s north to low-mid 60s south.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY/...
A wet period ahead with rainfall amounts between 1-3 inches
through Monday, highest (2-3 inches) over the piedmont.

Potent upr level low tracks slowly se and takes on a neg tilt by
Sunday, spawning a sfc low along the sern coast which then is
progged to get cut off from the main flow and drift ivof the Gulf
Stream wall into the middle of next week. Models show both spacial
and timing differences with the moisture fields but the jist of the
forecast will be for waves of Atlantic moisture to rotate inland
resulting in periodic shwrs (embedded tstrms especially over the
sern zones). Lclly hvy downpours psbl starting late Sat. Meanwhile,
high pressure to the ne results in a cool in-situ wedge over the
piedmont along with areas of fog. Likely to categorical pops through
the period except Sat morning with chc pops.

One caveat will be the frontal position on Saturday. Thinking is
that any severe threat stays across NC, but SPC has the MRGL risk
for damaging winds/large hail as far north as VA Route 460. Will
limit thunder chcs to extreme srn VA / NE NC Sat.

Highs Sat from the upr 50s nwrn zones to the lwr 70s across interior
ne NC. Lows Sat / Sun nights in the upr 40s to lwr 50s. Highs Sun in
the upr 50s to mid 60s.  Highs Mon upr 50s NW to near 70 SE.

Hydro wise, no flood headlines expected attm despite the expected
rainfall. Will probably have to wait until the first round or
two of QPF falls then assess the situation. Do expect some
healthy rises in local river by early next week, especially if
the heavy rainfall falls over the headwaters.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Long term period will feature a trend towards drier and warmer
conditions. For Mon night/Tue, mid-level cutoff low and associated
sfc low continue to spin south of the area, allowing for moisture to
stream in off the Atlantic. Bumped up PoPs to likely for most of the
area Mon night and chance far NW, with models tending to push
cutoffs lows offshore too quickly. Slightly lwr PoPs for Tue, with
the best chance near the cst. Temps Tue slightly below
normal...highs in the upr 60s most spots. Warming trend then
commences for Wed as deep SWly flow develops across the eastern
seaboard, lasting through the end of the week with temps reaching
the 80s most areas Thu and Fri.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
A cold front close to the PA/MD border will slowly slide southward
tonight, crossing the region by Saturday afternoon. Ahead of this
front late this afternoon into this evening, a few thunderstorms may
develop but timing and confidence is uncertain enough to preclude
any mention of them in the terminals. However, the best timing of
this activity would be between 22 and 03 Z this evening. Otherwise,
as the front moves through the area tonight winds will turn NE and
bring in moisture laden air from the ocean allowing for some fog to
develop across the eastern shore including SBY. Would not be
surprised to see IFR conditions at SBY aft 06z tonight.

Meanwhile...as the cold front moves south, a wave of low pressure
develops along it in the TN valley and moves toward the area. This
will bring another round of widespread showers to the region
Saturday. MVFR and perhaps IFR cigs are possible on Saturday for the
entire area.

Through early next week, it will remain relatively unsettled with
the front staying south of the area keeping NE flow in place. This
should allow for rain showers to continue right through Monday with
MVFR and occasional IFR conditions before improving weather
conditions by Tuesday/Wed.

&&

.MARINE...
A cold front drops through the wtrs tonight. Expect a brief CAA
surge behind the front Sat midday/aftn. Marginal SCA conditions are
psbl over the Bay but held off on any headlines attm...confidence
not high enough to issue a headline due to winds mainly expected to
be around 15 kt, and a short duration of any SCA conditions. Several
days of NE flow then as low pres develops over the SE states then
slowly slides offshore. Still some uncertainty over when SCA
conditions will commence, but they are likely for at least Sun
through Tue, with 5-8 ft seas over the ocean and 3-4 ft waves over
the Bay. Gale gusts are also psbl but expect mainly 15-25 kt winds
with gusts up to 30 kt over the ocean. Improving marine conditions
thereafter into midweek as the sfc low weakens and pushes off to the
NE.

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...MPR
NEAR TERM...MPR
SHORT TERM...MPR
LONG TERM...MAS
AVIATION...MRD
MARINE...MAS
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 21, 3:34 PM EDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
334 PM EDT Fri Apr 21 2017

MDZ021>025-VAZ048-060>062-064-067>069-075>078-080>086-088>090-093-
099-100-509>525-221945-
Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches-
Fluvanna-Prince Edward-Cumberland-Goochland-Caroline-Nottoway-Amelia-
Powhatan-Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Dinwiddie-
Prince George-Charles City-New Kent-Gloucester-Middlesex-Mathews-
Sussex-Surry-James City-Isle of Wight-Accomack-Northampton-
Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover-Eastern Hanover-
Western Chesterfield-Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)-
Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Eastern Henrico-
Western King William-Eastern King William-Western King and Queen-
Eastern King and Queen-Western Essex-Eastern Essex-York-Newport News-
Hampton/Poquoson-
334 PM EDT Fri Apr 21 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, central
Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north central
Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

A cold front will produce scattered thunderstorms this evening. A few
of the storms may be strong to severe.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

A frontal boundary will become nearly stationary across North
Carolina Saturday through Sunday. At the same time, low pressure will
track eastward along the frontal boundary across Tennessee and into
the Carolinas. This will result in the potential for locally heavy
rain across the region from late Saturday through Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ065-066-079-087-092-095>098-221945-
Northampton-Hertford-Gates-Pasquotank-Camden-Western Currituck-
Bertie-Chowan-Perquimans-Eastern Currituck-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-
Brunswick-Greensville-Southampton-Norfolk/Portsmouth-Suffolk-
Chesapeake-Virginia Beach-
334 PM EDT Fri Apr 21 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina,
south central Virginia and southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

A cold front will produce scattered thunderstorms tonight.
A few of the storms this evening may be strong to severe.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible again late Saturday. A few of
the storms  may be strong to severe.

In addition, a frontal boundary will become nearly stationary across
North Carolina Saturday through Sunday. At the same time, low
pressure will track eastward along the frontal boundary across
Tennessee and into the Carolinas. This will result in the potential
for locally heavy rain across the region from late Saturday through
Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 21, 7:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
749 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

VAZ069-082-083-512>520-220030-
Eastern Hanover-Charles City-Western King and Queen-New Kent-Western
Chesterfield-Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Western
King William-Eastern King William-Powhatan-Eastern Henrico-Eastern
King and Queen-Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)-
749 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN
CHESTERFIELD...CENTRAL KING AND QUEEN...NORTHWESTERN CHARLES CITY...
NORTHERN NEW KENT...HENRICO...KING WILLIAM...SOUTHEASTERN HANOVER AND
SOUTHEASTERN POWHATAN COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF RICHMOND...

At 748 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from King William to Virginia Commonwealth
University to near Moseley. Movement was east at 20 mph.

Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph, pea size hail, and heavy rain are
possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Richmond, New Kent, King William, West Point, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Talleysville, Highland Springs, Downtown Richmond, Bon
Air, Virginia Union University, University Of Richmond, Saint
Stephens Church, Roxbury, King And Queen Court House, Mechanicsville,
Tuckahoe, Chester, Bellwood, Tunstall and Manquin.

Strong wind gusts are possible with these storms. These wind gusts
are capable of knocking down tree limbs...small or weakened trees...
and blowing around trash cans...potted plants...lawn furniture and
other light outdoor objects.

Motorists should use extra caution in the vicinity of these storms.
Be prepared for rapid changes in weather and road conditions. Heavy
rain could cause ponding of water on roads...and possible minor
flooding of ditches and poor drainage areas.

LAT...LON 3751 7791 3760 7750 3765 7743 3764 7742
      3765 7739 3769 7738 3785 7716 3768 7673
      3762 7669 3746 7708 3734 7762
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 286DEG 17KT 3770 7704 3755 7744 3747 7782

DEROSA
Local storm report, Apr 21, 7:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
758 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0726 PM     HAIL             COLONIAL BEACH          38.26N 76.97W
04/21/2017  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

DEROSA
Local storm report, Apr 21, 8:01 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
801 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0735 PM     HAIL             2 N OAK GROVE           38.22N 77.00W
04/21/2017  E1.25 INCH       WESTMORELAND       VA   PUBLIC

            HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL AND ONE TO TWO FOOT
            DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED. NEIGHBOR'S TREE WAS
            UPROOTED.

&&

DEROSA
Special weather statement, Apr 21, 8:27 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
827 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

VAZ083-084-090-518-520-220115-
New Kent-Eastern King William-Eastern King and Queen-Gloucester-James
City-
827 PM EDT FRI APR 21 2017

...A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN
GLOUCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN KING AND QUEEN...NEW KENT...SOUTHEASTERN
KING WILLIAM AND NORTHWESTERN JAMES CITY COUNTIES...

At 826 PM EDT, a thunderstorm with heavy rain was located near West
Point, moving southeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with
this storm.

Motorists should use extra caution in the vicinity of this storm. Be
prepared for rapid changes in weather and road conditions. Heavy rain
could cause ponding of water on roads...and possible minor flooding
of ditches and poor drainage areas.

LAT...LON 3765 7671 3759 7664 3757 7656 3757 7654
      3742 7668 3743 7671 3741 7669 3736 7675
      3734 7675 3728 7680 3732 7687 3737 7688
      3735 7692 3740 7691 3738 7694 3741 7694
      3744 7710 3752 7721 3776 7693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 295DEG 26KT 3757 7690

LSA
Local storm report, Apr 21, 8:54 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 21, 9:13 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 21, 8:14 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQNorthumberland, Westmoreland16 min
Apr 21, 8:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQJames City, King and Queen, New Kent48 min
Apr 21, 8:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQNorthumberland, Richmond28 min
Apr 21, 9:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAccomack37 min
Apr 21, 9:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAccomack50 min
Apr 22, 4:25 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAKQ3 days
Apr 22, 2:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQDinwiddie, Prince George, City of Petersburg37 min
Apr 22, 2:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQMecklenburg43 min
Apr 22, 2:57 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQMecklenburg33 min
Apr 22, 3:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQMecklenburg51 min
Apr 22, 3:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQGreensville, Southampton, Sussex29 min
Apr 22, 3:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQLunenburg38 min
Apr 22, 3:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQLunenburg, Mecklenburg46 min
Apr 22, 3:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton27 min
Apr 22, 3:50 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQLunenburg, Mecklenburg25 min
Apr 22, 3:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton, Sussex19 min
Apr 22, 4:05 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg25 min
Apr 22, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton24 min
Apr 22, 4:22 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Mecklenburg23 min
Apr 22, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton, City of Suffolk30 min
Apr 22, 4:37 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Greensville, City of Emporia23 min
Apr 22, 4:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick, Greensville, Southampton, Sussex, City of Emporia24 min
Apr 22, 4:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCity of Suffolk50 min
Apr 22, 5:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQSouthampton, City of Franklin30 min
Apr 22, 3:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQNorthampton24 min
Apr 22, 3:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCamden, Currituck34 min
Apr 21, 9:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQSomerset41 min
Apr 21, 10:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQSomerset44 min
Apr 22, 12:38 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQDorchester52 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2017Every special weather statement in 2017

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.