Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2017
Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at May 20, 2017, 4:10 PM EDT for Roanoke County, Virginia. It was in force for 35 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
- May 20, 2017, 4:10 PM EDT (20:10 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2017, 4:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
County Roanoke County, VA
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:09 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, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 79 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -255 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1300 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 70 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 57 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
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</html>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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 404 PM EDT Sat May 20 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Series of cold front will cross through the region tonight through Thursday and provide several periods of precipitation. The first will move across southwest Virginia and northern North Carolina from east to west tonight, followed by a stronger front moving from west to east on Monday. The next cold front comes through Wednesday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 350 PM EDT Saturday... Backdoor cold front extended from around Hot Springs to South Boston. Air mass ahead of the front was unstable enough for scattered to numerous thunderstorms. Mean 850-300MB wind is fairly light crossing the axis of the synoptic scale ridge over Virginia and North Carolina so storm motion is less than 20 mph but outflow was also influencing motion and development of storms. Front will have little movement until after sunset then will have a better push southeast. Expect the boundary to reach Boone and Bluefield after midnight. Low clouds will fill in behind the front and showers and thunderstorms will diminish overnight as air mass becomes more stable. Models showed better convergence by Sunday morning along the backdoor front and with the approaching cold front from the west. Stayed at or just below guidance for lows tonight, and took a couple of degrees off the minimum temperatures in the piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina. Also went closer to cooler guidance for the maximum temperatures on Sunday with abundant clouds and numerous showers expected. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 330 PM EDT Saturday... Our weather will remain unsettled through the short term as the upper pattern transitions from an eastern ridge to a deepening broad trof pushing down from the Great Lakes. This will allow a broad surface low moving into southern Canada to slowly push a diffuse cold front through the region on Monday, keeping us in a good chance for showers and thunderstorms. The dynamic support looks rather lackluster in a muddy convective environment with a relatively low threat for widespread severe storms. However, a shallow lingering boundary associated with the retreating wedge and instability pooling ahead of the front seem capable or supporting some robust storm clusters and high precipitable water values indicate the potential for heavy rain and possibly flooding. The cold front will stall to our east and, after a brief break in precipitation Monday night into Tuesday, a wave to move up from the Gulf coast along the front and bring another period of rainfall to the region. Guidance differs in timing/location of rainfall so will have to wait for a consensus to develop in later runs to narrow down any potential hydro issues. Temperatures look to be cooling to levels a bit below normal for the first part of next week as we get on the cools side of the front and deal with considerable cloudiness and precipitation. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Saturday... The upper trof will develop into a closed low as it moves out of the Ohio valley and pushes through the Appalachians and central mid Atlantic region by the end of the week. This will swing another cold front through the region and bring more thunderstorms to the forecast for midweek. Dynamics look to be more supportive of a severe threat but instability is a bit limited so will watch later model runs closely for potential severe threat Wednesday. As the closed low moves over with a cold pool aloft to steepen lapse rates, there looks to be a good chance for thunderstorms with some graupel/small hail on Thursday, before the upper low slowly departs and we get into some upper ridging and improving conditions heading into the weekend. Temperatures will be running slightly below normal through the end of the week. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 155 PM EDT Saturday... Scattered thunderstorms were develop in the central Appalachians. Expect heavy rain and gusty winds with any of the stronger storms. A backdoor cold front will push southwest across the region after sunset. They front was close to KFVX at 18Z and models have it reaching KBLF and KBCB after midnight. MVFR clouds are expected to fill in behind the front late tonight. Medium confidence how low the ceilings will be. Bufkit suggested IFR ceilings are possible. Amount of cloud cover and location of the front will impact where there will be thunder and heavier rainfall. Low level convergence increases Sunday morning. Showers will become widspread across the region with little improvement in ceilings. Extended Aviation Discussion... Wet weather will continue Sunday night and Monday with an opportunity for showers and thunderstorms and MVFR ceilings and visibilitys, especially along and ahead of a cold frontal passage Monday. Improvement is expected behind Monday's front with dry weather returning Monday night into Tuesday. Another front may then bring the next round of showers and subsequent MVFR by Wednesday. Drier weather with VFR conditions is expected behind the front. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS/PM NEAR TERM...AMS/PM SHORT TERM...MBS LONG TERM...MBS AVIATION...AMS/PM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 3:56 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 356 PM EDT Sat May 20 2017 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-210900- 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- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 356 PM EDT Sat May 20 2017 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...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop again today, mainly in the afternoon. A few may become strong, producing gusty winds and hail. In addition, heavy rainfall from slower moving thunderstorms may produce localized flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A slow moving cold front will bring showers and embedded thunderstorms Sunday afternoon into Monday. Additional rainfall from the front may trigger localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 20, 2:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 20, 3:10 PM EDT, 1 hour before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 20, 3:35 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 20, 3:40 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 20, 4:10 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 410 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017 VAZ011-014-018-022-WVZ044-202045- Giles-Montgomery-Craig-Roanoke-Monroe- 410 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN ROANOKE...NORTHEASTERN GILES...SOUTHWESTERN CRAIG... NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN MONROE COUNTIES... At 410 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Kire to near Glenvar. Movement was northeast at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Sinking Creek... Catawba... Glenvar... Kire... and Mc Donalds Mill. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3750 8048 3737 8008 3724 8015 3738 8061 TIME...MOT...LOC 2010Z 223DEG 7KT 3743 8051 3731 8015 DS
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 12:55 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell | 65 min |
| May 20, 1:58 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Grayson, Wythe, City of Galax | 32 min |
| May 20, 2:53 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Patrick | 52 min |
| May 20, 12:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Grayson | 33 min |
| May 20, 1:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Craig | 66 min |
| May 20, 1:25 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Grayson | 3 hr |
| May 20, 1:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Grayson | 60 min |
| May 20, 1:41 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Wythe | 64 min |
| May 20, 1:48 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Grayson | 6 hr |
| May 20, 2:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Carroll, Grayson, Wythe | 45 min |
| May 20, 2:36 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Franklin | 39 min |
| May 20, 2:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Botetourt | 59 min |
| May 20, 2:57 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Carroll, Pulaski, Wythe | 2 hr |
| May 20, 3:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Smyth | 35 min |
| May 20, 3:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Giles | 43 min |
| May 20, 3:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | City of Roanoke, City of Salem | 55 min |
| May 20, 3:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Alleghany, City of Covington | 65 min |
| May 20, 4:19 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Craig | 6 hr |
| May 20, 4:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Tazewell | 52 min |
| May 20, 4:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Botetourt, Roanoke | 66 min |
| May 20, 4:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Giles | 41 min |
| May 20, 4:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Alleghany | 60 min |
| May 20, 5:06 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Giles | 3 hr |
| May 20, 5:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge | 64 min |
| May 20, 6:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington | 32 min |
| May 20, 6:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | City of Lynchburg | 29 min |
| May 20, 6:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Campbell | 30 min |
| May 20, 6:53 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Amherst, City of Lynchburg | 22 min |
| May 20, 6:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Campbell, Pittsylvania | 62 min |
| May 20, 7:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Pittsylvania | 53 min |
| May 19, 10:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 54 min |
| May 20, 1:06 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 54 min |
| May 20, 2:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 63 min |
| May 20, 4:19 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Mercer | 56 min |
| May 20, 4:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Mercer, Summers | 62 min |
| May 20, 5:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Monroe | 37 min |
| May 20, 5:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Greenbrier, Summers | 37 min |
| May 20, 6:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 24 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.