Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2017

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 20, 2017Alleghany County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at May 20, 2017, 4:45 PM EDT for Alleghany County, Virginia. It was in force for 60 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, 4:45 PM EDT (20:45 UTC)
Expired: May 20, 2017, 5:45 PM EDT
In force: 60 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA

County Alleghany County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:48 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, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 78 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 41 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, 49 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, 4:10 PM EDT, 35 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

Local storm report, May 20, 4:13 PM EDT, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
413 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

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

0245 PM     HAIL             LANSING                 36.50N 81.51W
05/20/2017  E0.50 INCH       ASHE               NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MARBLE SIZE HAIL

0300 PM     HAIL             CHILHOWIE               36.80N 81.68W
05/20/2017  E0.88 INCH       SMYTH              VA   PUBLIC

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0325 PM     HAIL             4 NNE BENT MOUNTAIN     37.20N 80.10W
05/20/2017  E0.25 INCH       ROANOKE            VA   PUBLIC

            BRIEF PERIOD OF PEA SIZE HAIL

0409 PM     HAIL             SIMMONSVILLE            37.38N 80.37W
05/20/2017  E0.25 INCH       CRAIG              VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL

&&

MBS

Special weather statement, May 20, 4:19 PM EDT, 26 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
419 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

VAZ011-WVZ042>044-202115-
Giles-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
419 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL GILES...SOUTHWESTERN SUMMERS...MERCER AND SOUTHWESTERN MONROE
COUNTIES...

At 418 PM EDT,strong thunderstorms extended from near Spanishburg to
near Willowton. Movement was northeast at 10 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and dime size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Princeton...
Pearisburg...
Narrows...
Athens...
and Peterstown.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 3742 8128 3750 8126 3751 8121 3754 8120
      3757 8120 3760 8114 3759 8109 3761 8106
      3764 8107 3767 8100 3746 8053 3738 8060
      3722 8088 3728 8101 3730 8098 3729 8104
      3740 8130
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 210DEG 9KT 3744 8118 3732 8092

MBS

Special weather statement, May 20, 4:23 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
423 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

VAZ007-009-202115-
Tazewell-Smyth-
423 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN SMYTH AND WESTERN
TAZEWELL COUNTIES...

At 420 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms extended from near Amonate to
near Claypool Hill. Movement was north at 10 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and dime size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Richlands...
Tazewell...
Cedar Bluff...
Raven...
and Glen Burke.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3716 8187 3717 8187 3720 8176 3724 8174
      3724 8172 3720 8168 3720 8159 3721 8156
      3723 8151 3726 8150 3701 8157 3689 8179
      3693 8183 3695 8182 3696 8178 3698 8179
      3705 8182 3711 8189 3715 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 193DEG 7KT 3722 8158 3701 8175

MBS

Local storm report, May 20, 4:44 PM EDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
444 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

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

0424 PM     HAIL             3 SW TROUTVILLE         37.39N 79.91W
05/20/2017  E1.00 INCH       BOTETOURT          VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HALF INCH TO ONE INCH SIZE HAIL NEAR TINKER MOUNTAIN

&&

JRUCKMAN

Special weather statement, May 20, 4:45 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
445 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

VAZ019-202145-
Alleghany-
445 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
SOUTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

At 445 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Alleghany to near Jordan Mines. the
storms are nearly stationary.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Alleghany...
Jordan Mines...
and Earlehurst.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 3773 7997 3767 7998 3765 8002 3766 8003
      3763 8008 3764 8027 3766 8028 3769 8030
      3772 8025 3774 8026 3775 8026
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 164DEG 1KT 3772 8027 3770 8004

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, 4:10 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Roanoke	35 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, 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, 2017 Every 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.