Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2019
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 86, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 2019, 4:29 PM EDT for Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina. It was in force for 30 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
- May 31, 2019, 4:29 PM EDT (20:29 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 2019, 4:59 PM EDT
- In force
- 30 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Caswell County, NC, Rockingham County, NC
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:32 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 10 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 47 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
- 62 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -125 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1499 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -4 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 97 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
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 May 31, 3:47 PM EDT, 42 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:47 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 347 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 .SYNOPSIS... An upper level trough will cross the area this evening, associated with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. This disturbance will move off the coast Saturday. A cold front will sweep through the region Sunday with another chance for storms, followed by a change in airmass to a cooler one for early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 330 PM EDT Friday... Severe Thunderstorm Watch #300 is in effect for the entire CWA until 03Z/11PM this evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across the forecast area. A shortwave trough will slowly move southeast across the central/southern Appalachians this evening, reaching coastal Virginia/North Carolina by early Saturday. Ahead of it, a cyclonically curved belt of moderately strong westerlies (30-50 kt at 500 mb) was observed. The atmosphere has destabilized across the Mid-Atlantic region, leading to scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. SBCAPE of near 2000 j/kg will fuel thunderstorms in advance of the upper trough. Cold advection aloft associated with the upper trof will result in lowering freezing levels and increasing the mid-level lapse rates, supporting hail development for storms this evening. The greatest overlap of buoyancy and stronger winds aloft, with upwards of 35-40 kt effective shear, will exist across the majority of our area east of the Blue Ridge. A few supercells will be possible but the greater threat will be storms organizing into clusters promoting damaging wind gusts and large hail. Hi-Res Convective allowing models suggest coverage will be pretty widespread (55-75 percent coverage) through 8PM. Being Friday and the end of the school year, there are a lot of outdoor events scheduled. Again, it appears multicell clusters will be the convective mode, and damaging winds and large hail will be the main threat. The tornado parameters are not that great for our area, but with the upper trof passing overhead this evening, enough spin in the atmosphere may be present over the piedmont to support supercells. An isolated tornado can't be ruled out. The upper trough moves overhead by midnight with main batch of storms heading east of our area during this time, so will see pops lowering from west to east overnight. With residual moisture and upper trough axis lingering, a few showers may stick around even into the late night and early morning hours Saturday. Fog in the mountain valleys may become a concern late tonight if any clearing takes place. Once the trough clears the area Saturday, we will be in between upper level systems and lack any dynamic kicker for organized showers/storms. That said, moist boundary layer and daytime heating may lead to isolated popup showers Saturday afternoon, favoring the mountains. Temperatures through Saturday are expected to remain relatively mild with lows in the U50s to L60s, and highs in the 70s to lower 80s. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 PM EDT Friday... Any convection Saturday afternoon will fade with lose of heating in the evening. An area of weak high pressure will edge into the mountains from the southwest while a lee trough resides over the piedmont. On Sunday, a cold front will slide across the region and may jump to the lee trough in the afternoon. Overnight surface ridging and winds turning quickly to the west will provide some stability, therefore not looking at a large scale severe threat over the area. The 12Z GFS/ECM models fire convection over the coastal piedmont of VA/NC late in the day as the front jumps to the lee trough, but that is well to our east. On the other hand, NAM and associated convective models track scattered strong storms across the foothills and piedmont through the afternoon. Took a blend of models and kept at least chance PoPs during the day Sunday. On the back side of the front, models are also showing upslope rain shower overnight Sunday. Upslope shower typically do not materialize in the warm season, but will likely see low clouds and/or drizzle develop. For now, will carry slight chance PoPs for western slopes Sunday night. Dry cold high pressure will move from the Ohio Valley Sunday night and Monday to over the region Monday night. While this high sits over the Ohio Valley, a tight pressure gradient will bring breezy conditions to ridgetops Sunday night. As the inversion breaks Monday, breezy and gusty winds are expected over the entire area. Winds 15-20 MPH with higher gusts will be common, especially west of the Blue Ridge. Winds will diminish as high pressure settles over the region Monday night. Temperatures will run slightly warmer than normal on Sunday with readings in the 70s west and low to mid 80s east. On Monday, temperatures will average below normal with highs across the mountains in the upper 60s to lower 70s and upper 70s east of the Blue Ridge. With decreasing winds Monday night, lows will range from the upper 40s west to mid 50s east. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 300 PM EDT Friday... Surface high pressure moves off the VA/NC coast on Tuesday. Meanwhile, another upper level ridge builds over the Gulf. With the placement of the upper level ridge, we will need to keep an eye over the Ohio Valley as disturbance track along the ring of fire and towards the region. At this time, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon look active. Temperatures will moderate warmer than normal through the end of the workweek. && .AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 200 PM EDT Friday... Severe Thunderstorm Watch #300 is in effect for all forecast terminals within the RNK CWA until 03Z/11PM this evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across the forecast area this afternoon and evening. A shortwave trough over the Lower Ohio River Valley will move southeast and through the central Appalachians this afternoon, reaching coastal Virginia/North Carolina by early Saturday. This feature in combination with the afternoon heating will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms areawide. Cold air aloft which is associated with the upper trough will result in lowering freezing levels favoring hail storms. Ahead of the trough, a cyclonically curved belt of moderately strong westerlies (30-50 kt at 500 mb) was observed. This will result in fast moving thunderstorm cells capable of damaging surface gusts, downbursts and extreme turbulence. Threat is expected to abate after sunset, however, the trough is slow moving, so showers will linger through the overnight. Partial clearing is expected Saturday with a return to VFR for the afternoon. Another front will cross the forecast area Sunday with the potential for another round of showers and thunderstorms associated with the frontal passage. Extended Aviation Discussion... Passage of a surface front Sunday will introduce a cooler drier airmass for Monday and Tuesday. Primary flight category VFR. Unsettled conditions are expected to return for the second half of the week with the return of moisture and moderating temperatures. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...PM SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...PM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 1:34 PM EDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 134 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 NCZ001>004-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043-WVZ042>044-507- 508-011745- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-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-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 134 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 300 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ005-006-VAZ044>047-058-059-011745- Rockingham-Caswell-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 134 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 300 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. RCS
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 31, 3:58 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 31, 4:00 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, May 31, 4:01 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
401 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0342 PM HAIL 1 SSW HARRISONS CROSSRO 36.42N 79.69W
05/31/2019 E1.00 INCH ROCKINGHAM NC TRAINED SPOTTER
ALSO MEASURED 36 MPH WIND.
&&Special weather statement, May 31, 4:03 PM EDT, 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
403 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
VAZ007-009-010-012-015-016-WVZ042-312045-
Tazewell-Grayson-Bland-Wythe-Smyth-Carroll-Mercer-
403 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT BLAND, WYTHE, SMYTH,
TAZEWELL, NORTHERN GRAYSON AND SOUTHERN MERCER COUNTIES...
Until 445 PM EDT.
At 402 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Tiptop to near Nebo
to Grayson Highlands State Park. Movement was east at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail are possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Bluefield...
Wytheville...
Galax...
Bland...
and Princeton.
This includes The following Location Mercer County Airport.
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 3722 8170 3720 8168 3721 8156 3726 8150
3727 8142 3734 8136 3744 8109 3664 8091
3659 8163 3661 8165 3662 8162 3664 8161
3664 8162 3679 8170 3690 8181 3694 8183
3696 8178 3703 8181 3711 8188 3715 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 254DEG 24KT 3725 8154 3696 8150 3662 8151
LocontoLocal storm report, May 31, 4:04 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
404 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0302 PM HAIL 2 N DILLARD 36.43N 80.10W
05/31/2019 E1.25 INCH STOKES NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE
HAIL. TIMING ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
RRSpecial weather statement, May 31, 4:24 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
424 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
VAZ020-024-312115-
Bath-Rockbridge-
424 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BATH AND WESTERN ROCKBRIDGE
COUNTIES...
Until 515 PM EDT.
At 423 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Bacova
Junction, moving east at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Goshen...
Millboro...
Warm Springs...
Hot Springs...
and Nimrod Hall.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm 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 3809 7949 3805 7942 3783 7951 3786 7961
3787 7964 3787 7966 3794 7992 3795 7993
3796 8002 3809 7994 3810 7993 3811 7993
3815 7991
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 278DEG 22KT 3802 7986
LocontoThe office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 8:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte, Pittsylvania | 44 min |
| May 30, 8:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 46 min |
| May 31, 12:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Carroll | 29 min |
| May 31, 1:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Franklin | 35 min |
| May 31, 2:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Patrick | 30 min |
| May 31, 2:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Patrick | 34 min |
| May 31, 2:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Henry | 30 min |
| May 31, 3:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Danville | 46 min |
| May 31, 3:22 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Giles | 38 min |
| May 31, 3:26 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bedford | 34 min |
| May 31, 3:44 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Carroll | 31 min |
| May 31, 3:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and 3 more | 60 min |
| May 31, 3:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Grayson | 41 min |
| May 31, 3:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville | 38 min |
| May 31, 4:00 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Floyd | 30 min |
| May 31, 4:03 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe | 42 min |
| May 31, 4:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bath | 51 min |
| May 31, 4:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Roanoke, City of Roanoke | 66 min |
| May 31, 4:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Covington and 1 more | 56 min |
| May 31, 5:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Pittsylvania, City of Lynchburg | 63 min |
| May 31, 6:07 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Montgomery, City of Roanoke, City of Salem | 38 min |
| May 31, 6:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax | 56 min |
| May 31, 6:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania | 48 min |
| May 31, 7:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Franklin, City of Martinsville | 40 min |
| May 31, 7:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Franklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania, City of Martinsville | 42 min |
| May 31, 7:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Henry, City of Martinsville | 17 min |
| May 31, 7:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Buckingham | 31 min |
| May 31, 1:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Surry | 29 min |
| May 31, 1:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Wilkes | 33 min |
| May 31, 1:54 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Surry | 36 min |
| May 31, 3:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Yadkin | 67 min |
| May 31, 4:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Stokes, Surry, Yadkin | 45 min |
| May 31, 5:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Stokes | 61 min |
| May 31, 6:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Caswell | 31 min |
| May 31, 2:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 30 min |
| May 31, 3:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 16 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2019Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2019
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.