Alert archive / Virginia / River Flood Warnings in 2020

River Flood Warning 17, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 13, 2020Roanoke County, City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this river flood warning at Apr 13, 2020, 9:30 AM EDT for Roanoke County, City of Roanoke, City of Salem, Virginia. It took effect at Apr 13, 2020, 12:12 PM EDT. It was in force for 32 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 13, 2020, 9:30 AM EDT (13:30 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 13, 2020, 12:12 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 14, 2020, 8:34 PM EDT
In force
32 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Moderate

Counties City of Roanoke, VA, City of Salem, VA, Roanoke County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:30 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 river

Written for the forecast point Roanoke River at Roanoke (RONV2). The gauge peaked at 11.68 ft at Apr 13, 2020, 4:00 PM EDT.

actionminormoderate51004/1304/1404/1504/16
Action stage
6 ft
Minor stage
10 ft
Moderate stage
12 ft
Major stage
16 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 02055000, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river flood 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 river flood warning went out at Apr 13, 6:56 AM EDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 6:56 AM EDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
656 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A strong spring storm system will impact our weather this
morning producing strong gusty winds, heavy rain, and the
potential for strong to severe thunderstorms. Cooler weather
returns for midweek as a series of weak cold fronts drop
southeast across the area.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 635 AM EDT Monday...

Cleared the tornado watch along/west of a line from Appomattox
County to Danville to Rockingham county, but could see dropping
the rest of it by 715am as line exits quicker. Will likely be
dropping the flash flood watch as well as mainly scattered
showers/isolated storms occur with the upper wave/actual front.

Previous valid discussion...

Leading edge of convection associated with vort and low level
convergence moving across the VA foothills/NC piedmont. The 00z
Nested Nam had this idea but seems about an hour slow, with HRRR
doing a good job as well. Some storm damage earlier in NC with
this, but appears mixing is being somewhat limited with weak
wedge, but this will change through the morning.

Broad area of moderate to heavy rain exists across the
mountains. The main line from eastern TN to Georgia will head
east between 4am and 9am, with threat of severe winds, hail and
possibly tornadoes ramping up, with the tornadic threat more in
the piedmont toward 6am-9am. Made adjustments to the forecast to
reflect this. May extend the flash flood watch up and along
either side of the Blue Ridge soon per rainfall rates of 2-3"/hr
possible, but more of a 2-3 inches possible thru 7am will lead
to potential flash flood issues.

Expect main line of convection to head east of the forecast area
by 8-11am, with biggest threat east of a Lynchburg-Danville-
Reidsville line for possible tornadoes and damaging winds with
bowing segments and supercells. This has been highlighted in the
Hazardous Weather Outlook.

Will keep the wind advisory as is, but strong low level jet
exits by midday/early afternoon, but strong pressure rises in
the afternoon should hold stronger winds into late afternoon.

We will see showers ending quickly from west to east, with
shortwave energy rounding the main trough in the afternoon to
linger showers in the mountains. Temperatures should be warm
with cold advection lagging.

Weak high pressure should build overhead during Monday night, which
will set up a chilly night across the Mid Atlantic.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 200 AM EDT Monday...

***DUE TO ACTIVE WEATHER THIS MORNING THE FORECAST FOR THIS
 PERIOD WAS NOT CHANGED***

Tuesday morning appears quiet, but high pressure should give
way to an approaching cold front by late Tuesday. Rain chances
should increase on Tuesday night, and confidence is increasing
that the rain will change to snow showers in the higher
elevations. Some flurries may even spread across a good portion
of areas along and west of the Blue Ridge by Wednesday morning
as temperatures dip close to freezing. However, it appears that
most of the Piedmont will remain with just cold rain.

Any appreciable snowfall accumulations from Tuesday night into
Wednesday morning seem to be confined to the higher elevations
across southeast West Virginia and the Alleghany Highlands of
Virginia. There are a few models that push the accumulating snowfall
further eastward toward the I-81 corridor, but it is too uncertain
at this time due to the moisture moving away from the mountains by
midday. Drier air will arrive by Wednesday evening as high pressure
noses over North Carolina. A weak frontal boundary could cross over
West Virginia by Wednesday night, which may allow a slight chance
of light snow showers for the highest peaks of Greenbrier
County.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 300 PM EDT Saturday...

This forecast period starts with zonal flow aloft and high pressure
building in at the surface. This keeps the weather dry until later
Friday. By Friday, guidance becomes divergent in agreement, leading
to a more ensemble heavy forecast. A shortwave trough passes through
the area later Friday into Saturday, bringing the opportunity for
rainfall into saturday evening. A brief window of dry weather
arrives Saturday into sunday with the return of high pressure before
another shortwave trough passes the second part of Sunday.

Thanks to mostly zonal flow throughout and no foreseeable
significant systems, temperatures look fairly seasonal with highs
each day in the 50-60s and lows in the 40-50s.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 630 AM EDT Monday...

Flying conditions will improve for most areas as line of
convection exits by 12z in the east. Some limited MVFR ceilings
possible with showers, especially in the mountains this morning
as the main front and upper trough move across

Winds will be the bigger flying hazard with gusts 30-40kts fro
the southwest, turning west in the afternoon/evening from west
to east. Winds become less gusty after 00z/Tue.

Forecast confidence is high on improving conditions, except
moderate on cigs in the BLF/LWB area through this afternoon.

Extended Aviation Discussion...

Expect mainly VFR Tuesday though some lowering cloud bases and
potential for sub- VFR ceilings will spread back into the area
from an area of low pressure that forms along the southeast
coast Tuesday- Wednesday over the DAN area.

Should be VFR Thursday with high pressure arriving from the
TN/OH Valley.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
As of 200 AM EDT Monday...

Ongoing moderate/heavy rain brining some rates of 2-3
inches/hour but overall appears 2-3 inches in the 3-6 hour
period through 8am will bring potential for flash flooding, then
flooding, mainly west of the Blue Ridge, so added these areas to
the flash flood watch.

Will have to watch smaller rivers and headwaters for possible
flooding as well, then main stem downstream. Current forecasts
suggest minor flooding along the New River at Allisonia, and the
Greenbrier River at Alderson, with ensemble forecasts also
suggesting possible flooding along the upper Roanoke and James
River basin.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM EDT this morning for VAZ007-
     009>020-022>024-032>035.
     Wind Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for VAZ007-009>020-
     022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059.
NC...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM EDT this morning for NCZ001>003-
     018-019.
     Wind Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for NCZ001>006-
     018>020.
WV...Flash Flood Watch until 9 AM EDT this morning for WVZ042>044-
     507-508.
     Wind Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for WVZ042>044-507-
     508.

&&

SYNOPSIS...PM/WP
NEAR TERM...BMG/PM/WP
SHORT TERM...PW/WP
LONG TERM...RR
AVIATION...BMG/PM/WP
HYDROLOGY...PM/WP
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 7:09 AM EDT, 2 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
709 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>044-507-508-141115-
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-
709 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

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.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Wind Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 13, 8:30 AM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
830 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0635 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S SOUTH BOSTON        36.69N 78.90W
04/13/2020                   HALIFAX            VA   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE DOWN JUST SOUTH OF SOUTH BOSTON ON HWY
            501. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

&&

SK
Local storm report, Apr 13, 8:32 AM EDT, 58 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 13, 8:41 AM EDT, 49 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 13, 8:52 AM EDT, 38 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 13, 9:05 AM EDT, 25 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 12, 11:50 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKCarroll, Floyd, Grayson, Patrick, City of Galax12 hr
Apr 12, 11:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd31 min
Apr 13, 12:18 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKGrayson12 hr
Apr 13, 12:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick36 min
Apr 13, 12:44 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell and 2 more12 hr
Apr 13, 1:04 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBedford, Franklin, Henry, City of Martinsville26 min
Apr 13, 1:32 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKSmyth9 hr
Apr 13, 1:33 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Bedford, Henry, City of Lynchburg, City of Martinsville27 min
Apr 13, 1:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, Patrick, City of Radford36 min
Apr 13, 2:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, City of Lynchburg27 min
Apr 13, 2:14 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and 7 more12 hr
Apr 13, 2:33 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell27 min
Apr 13, 2:34 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd26 min
Apr 13, 2:42 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick6 hr
Apr 13, 2:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Patrick27 min
Apr 13, 3:02 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham28 min
Apr 13, 3:47 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and 5 more6 hr
Apr 13, 4:00 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick15 min
Apr 13, 4:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Campbell, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania and 1 more55 min
Apr 13, 5:01 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Martinsville29 min
Apr 13, 5:16 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKTazewell3 hr
Apr 13, 5:19 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKHenry, Pittsylvania26 min
Apr 13, 5:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBedford, Botetourt, Floyd, Franklin, Rockbridge3 hr
Apr 13, 5:30 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville60 min
Apr 13, 5:36 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKPittsylvania, City of Danville24 min
Apr 13, 5:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBuckingham57 min
Apr 13, 5:56 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania34 min
Apr 13, 6:02 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBedford, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, City of Lynchburg, City of Martinsville4 hr
Apr 13, 6:21 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAmherst, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington4 hr
Apr 13, 6:25 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax50 min
Apr 13, 7:01 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKTazewell12 hr
Apr 13, 8:35 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBedford, Botetourt, Franklin12 hr
Apr 13, 8:47 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Patrick6 hr
Apr 13, 9:02 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKGiles15 hr
Apr 13, 9:30 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKPittsylvania24 hr
Apr 13, 9:46 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKSmyth18 hr
Apr 13, 9:55 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKMontgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Wythe, City of Radford6 hr
Apr 13, 10:12 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington5 hr
Apr 13, 10:37 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKSmyth5 hr
Apr 13, 11:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington, City of Lynchburg30 min
Apr 13, 11:40 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax9 hr
Apr 13, 11:40 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKPulaski, Wythe39 hr
Apr 13, 11:40 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKMontgomery, Pulaski, City of Radford43 hr
Apr 12, 10:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKWilkes, Yadkin28 min
Apr 12, 11:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes13 min
Apr 12, 11:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry8 min
Apr 13, 12:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes31 min
Apr 13, 1:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany19 min
Apr 13, 2:18 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAshe27 min
Apr 13, 2:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga6 hr
Apr 13, 2:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry35 min
Apr 13, 3:23 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry37 min
Apr 13, 3:45 AM EDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatRNKWatauga6 hr
Apr 13, 4:06 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSurry, Wilkes, Yadkin24 min
Apr 13, 4:12 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKSurry, Yadkin33 min
Apr 13, 5:58 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCaswell47 min
Apr 13, 8:31 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAshe6 hr
Apr 13, 9:33 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKWatauga6 hr
Apr 13, 5:56 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKMercer6 hr

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2020Every river flood warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.