Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2018

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

September 2, 2018Tazewell County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at Sep 2, 2018, 3:13 PM EDT for Tazewell 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: Sep 2, 2018, 3:13 PM EDT (19:13 UTC)
Expired: Sep 2, 2018, 4:00 PM EDT
In force: 47 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA

County Tazewell County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:15 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, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 184 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: 220 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -110 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 832 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 9 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 Sep 2, 1:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 1:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
146 PM EDT Sun Sep 2 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure will strengthen across the region into early next
week. This will keep warm and humid conditions in place with
mainly afternoon showers and storms over the next couple of
days.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 120 PM EDT Sunday...

Thunderstorms have fire along the ridges of the North Carolina
High Country early this afternoon. We have raised PoPs to 70
percent areal coverage for the next 2-3 hours. A few other
cells have also formed along ridges across southeastern West
Virginia and southwestern Virginia. We will continue to carry
20-30 PoPs for these isolated/scattered storms. With very
little flow aloft, storm early this afternoon are going straight
up and then collapsing on themselves. Storm life is about 30-60
minutes.

As of 940 AM EDT Sunday...

Patchy dense fog remains over most of the mountain valleys this
morning and may take another hour or 2 to completely burn-off.
Stratus deck east of the Blue Ridge is also stubborn, but
beginning to show a few holes, therefore should be gone by
noon.

As of 250 AM EDT Sunday...

Overall persistence forecast continues over the next 24 hours with
upper ridging gradually strengthening from offshore through tonight
allowing warming aloft to help diminish convective coverage from east
to west today. However forecast soundings still show enough of a window
aloft given strong instability for at least orographically enhanced
showers/storms to develop this afternoon per help of differential
heating under light flow aloft, and weak low level southerly convergence.
Latest HREF/NamNest models again initiate convection along the
southern Blue Ridge before shifting isolated coverage northwest
around a piece of the mid level high parked just southeast of the
mountains. This also where progged surface-850 mb theta ridging
maxes out during peak heating so expecting at least some widely
scattered slow moving storms western third into early this evening.
Appears much of the east may only see isolated pop up showers
at best given better subsidence under the ridging, and early
low clouds that may stay trapped under weak northeast flow until
midday or so per latest HRRR output.

Otherwise after early dense fog, should see a repeat of the
last couple days with low clouds fading to a developing cumulus
field by midday, and then a few mainly western storms from early
afternoon onward. Muggy high temps likely a little warmer
beneath higher heights including a slight bump in 850 mb temps
making for highs mostly 80s to around 90 east. This also likely
to push heat index values to around 100 piedmont for a brief
period later this afternoon.

Should again see isolated convection fade shortly after loss of
heating given lack of support under ridging aloft with evening
coverage due mainly to residual outflow. This supports a quick
decrease in pops during the early evening with any leftover
showers ending by midnight if not sooner. Given the humid airmass,
will again see fog/stratus take shape espcly western valleys
with perhaps less east overnight where not expecting as much
rainfall today. Lows again mainly in the 60s to near 70.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 300 AM EDT Sunday...

High pressure surface and aloft will dominate our weather pattern
through the first part of next week. This will keep the Appalachians
and central mid Atlantic region locked into some steamy late summer
weather. As has been the case of late, expect a good amount of
instability with little in the way of dynamics to aid convection,
leaving orographic effects and differential heating boundaries will to
initiate convection. This will yield slow moving showers and
thunderstorms each afternoon/evening with the potential for locally
heavy rainfall. Any threat for severe thunderstorms also looks
localized to vigorous storms that can cluster together.  However,
Bufkit model soundings start showing some capping under the ridge and
this will be a limiting factor for convection which should lead to less
coverage through the Wednesday.

Temperatures will continue running above normal with highs east of the
Blue Ridge generally in the upper 80s to lower 90s, and readings west
of the Ridge in the mid 80s to near 90. Lows will generally be in the
upper 60s/around 70 east to low/mid 60s west and accompanied by fog
each night.

High confidence in the general warm summertime pattern with diurnal
convection, average confidence in specifics.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 210 PM EDT Saturday...

Models continued to forecast an anomalously strong upper ridge
into Thursday. Ridge starts to flatten and 500MB heights lower
Friday and Saturday. On Saturday backdoor cold front coming out
of the northeast United States may approach the Mid Atlantic
region. ECMWF is slower with this feature than the GFS. With the
front still to the north of the region through Saturday will
maintain persistence of above normal temperatures, especially
overnight lows, and a humid airmass.

Confidence was below average for the position of the back door
front by Saturday and above average for all other elements.

&&

.AVIATION /17Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Sunday...

Showers and thunderstorms began firing along the North Carolina
High Country early this afternoon. With lesser coverage, storms
are also beginning to form along the ridges of SE WV/SW VA.
With weak flow aloft, these storms are not moving and after
about 30-60 minutes are collapsing on themselves. With such a
scattered shotgun pattern of storms this afternoon, we will
only have vicinity thunderstorms mention in the 18Z TAFS.
Showers will fade with cooling temperatures this evening.

We are likely to see a repeat of morning stratus and fog across
the area as we saw this morning. Mountain valleys (LWB/BCB) to
drop to VLIFR by sunrise with slow lifting of fog through the
morning. Stratus base tough to call along and east of the Blue
Ridge (ROA/LYH/DAN) Monday morning. Ceilings may be IFR while
visibilities are VFR.

Extended Discussion...

Subtropical ridge of high pressure is expected to build over
the Mid Atlantic Region into next week. Increased warming aloft
will lessen the coverage of deep convection. This occurrence
will be tied to the peak heating part of the day, with little or
no activity otherwise. Should see shower and thunderstorms
decrease to mainly isolated coverage Monday through Thursday as
the ridge remains parked over the region. Early morning fog
within the river valleys will also be common...restrictions to
visibility limited for a few hours each morning around daybreak.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...None.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JH
NEAR TERM...JH/RCS
SHORT TERM...MBS
LONG TERM...AMS
AVIATION...RCS

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 2, 4:19 AM EDT, 10 hours 54 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
419 AM EDT Sun Sep 2 2018

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>044-507-508-030830-
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-
419 AM EDT Sun Sep 2 2018

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.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 2:25 PM EDT, 48 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
225 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

VAZ009-012-015-021915-
Grayson-Wythe-Smyth-
225 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT EASTERN
SMYTH...SOUTHWESTERN WYTHE AND CENTRAL GRAYSON COUNTIES...

Until 315 PM EDT.

At 224 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Marion
Wytheville, moving south at 10 mph.

Locations impacted include...
Rural Retreat...
Sugar Grove...
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area...
Marion Wytheville...
and Atkins.

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

LAT...LON 3675 8153 3697 8139 3695 8138 3696 8137
      3692 8122 3665 8124
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 021DEG 11KT 3684 8134

JR

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 2:32 PM EDT, 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
232 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

VAZ012-021915-
Wythe-
232 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL WYTHE COUNTY...

Until 315 PM EDT.

At 232 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Wytheville,
moving southwest at 10 mph.

Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Wytheville...
Max Meadows...
Favonia...
and Fort Chiswell.

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

LAT...LON 3697 8125 3703 8112 3702 8111 3704 8108
      3704 8105 3705 8103 3705 8098 3701 8091
      3680 8106
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 046DEG 7KT 3698 8103

JR

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 2:36 PM EDT, 37 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
236 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

NCZ019-021915-
Wilkes-
236 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN
WILKES COUNTY...

Until 315 PM EDT.

At 236 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Maple Springs,
moving south at 10 mph.

Locations impacted include...
Maple Springs...
and Elkville.

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

LAT...LON 3602 8135 3604 8138 3604 8140 3605 8139
      3607 8141 3608 8143 3607 8144 3609 8146
      3609 8147 3610 8149 3621 8139 3621 8130
      3600 8132 3601 8133
TIME...MOT...LOC 1836Z 356DEG 7KT 3613 8136

JR

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 2:51 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
251 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

VAZ011-014-017-018-021930-
Giles-Floyd-Montgomery-Craig-
251 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN GILES...SOUTHWESTERN CRAIG...NORTH CENTRAL FLOYD AND
CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

Until 330 PM EDT.

At 251 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Simmonsville to Crockett Springs.
Movement was northwest at 5 mph.

Locations impacted include...
Blacksburg...
Christiansburg...
Pilot...
Shawsville...
and Mc Donalds Mill.

This includes The following Location Virginia Tech.

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

LAT...LON 3745 8054 3743 8049 3742 8048 3743 8046
      3738 8029 3708 8019 3701 8039
TIME...MOT...LOC 1851Z 113DEG 5KT 3734 8036 3708 8028

JR

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 3:10 PM EDT, 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
310 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

VAZ017-033-022000-
Franklin-Floyd-
310 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN
FLOYD AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

Until 400 PM EDT.

At 310 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Endicott,
moving northwest at 15 mph.

Locations impacted include...
Ferrum...
and Endicott.

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

LAT...LON 3704 8030 3697 8005 3688 8006 3687 8022
      3687 8025 3686 8026 3686 8030
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 112DEG 14KT 3694 8016

JR

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 3:13 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
313 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

VAZ007-022000-
Tazewell-
313 PM EDT SUN SEP 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL TAZEWELL COUNTY...

Until 400 PM EDT.

At 313 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Asberrys. the
storm is nearly stationary.

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

Locations impacted include...
Tazewell...
Asberrys...
and Cliffield.

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

LAT...LON 3720 8163 3721 8155 3710 8142 3702 8149
      3700 8152 3699 8176
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 125DEG 4KT 3705 8151

JR

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 2, 1:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Patrick	61 min
Sep 2, 2:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Smyth	50 min
Sep 2, 2:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Wythe	43 min
Sep 2, 2:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Montgomery	39 min
Sep 2, 3:10 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Floyd	50 min
Sep 2, 3:51 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Smyth, Tazewell	2 hr
Sep 2, 4:06 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Tazewell	39 min
Sep 2, 4:30 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Tazewell	103 min
Sep 2, 5:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Salem	45 min
Sep 2, 2:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Ashe, Watauga	42 min
Sep 2, 2:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Caldwell	39 min
Sep 2, 3:07 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Wilkes	3 hr
Sep 2, 3:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Wilkes	41 min
Sep 2, 3:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Wilkes	40 min
Sep 2, 3:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Surry	47 min
Sep 2, 3:56 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Wilkes	86 min
Sep 2, 4:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Stokes	42 min
Sep 2, 4:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes	44 min
Sep 2, 5:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Yadkin	39 min
Sep 2, 1:54 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Summers	66 min
Sep 2, 5:48 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Summers	42 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2018 Every special weather statement in 2018

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.