Alert archive / North Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2020

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

July 5, 2020Rockingham County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at Jul 5, 2020, 6:47 PM EDT for Rockingham County, North Carolina. It was in force for 28 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: Jul 5, 2020, 6:47 PM EDT (22:47 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2020, 7:15 PM EDT
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA

County Rockingham County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:50 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 33 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: 667 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -96 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1308 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 2 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 Jul 5, 5:54 PM EDT, 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 5:54 PM EDT, 53 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
554 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A weak boundary over the Mid-Atlantic region will trigger mainly
afternoon and evening scattered showers and thunderstorms
through at least the middle of the week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 530 PM EDT Sunday...

Expect showers/storms to stay widely scattered over our forecast
area (as a whole), but concentrated along outflows, though
latest trends show weakening of storms. High-res models continue
to overall favor east of the Blue Ridge keeping the higher
threat of showers/storms this evening, while the mountains see a
diminishing trend. Forecast updated to show this trend.

Previous discussion from early this afternoon...

The trend of increasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms
continues this afternoon, as a high CAPE/low shear environment
with a diffuse boundary in the region along with weak upslope
southeast low level flow will likely lead to scattered
convection across the region. With the lack of shear, storms
will be in a disorganized shotgun pattern to keep PoPs at a
chance (30-40%). Orographic and diurnal heating will be equal
contributors to storms developing along and just west of the
Blue Ridge this afternoon. Downslope flow into an inverted
trough west of the mountains may minimize areal coverage of
convection in the Bluefield to Lewisburg areas. East of the Blue
Ridge may see storms develop on outflow boundaries late in the
afternoon and into the evening. With a warm unstable
environment, showers will linger deep into tonight, fading
around 4 AM.

From this morning's soundings, capping inversion has weakened
and if storms can bust through into dry air aloft, some storms
may pulse to severe limits this afternoon and evening. Modest
DCAPEs and warm air aloft suggests damaging winds will be the
primary threat. PWATS are also elevated and steering flow is
very weak, therefore if storms are efficient they will produce
locally heavy downpours and possibly flooding.

Monday looks to be a repeat of today with showers and
thunderstorms across the mountains. With a southerly flow,
Bluefield and southeastern West Virginia will see more action.
Due to weak steering flow with the upper level ridge centered
over the area and orographics, models are not display very much
convection east of the Blue Ridge. However, with very warm and
humid conditions along with increasing instabilities, we will
have a chance for storms over the piedmont during the late
afternoon and evening hours.

Similar temperatures today and Monday with highs in the 80s
across the mountains and low 90s east of the Blue Ridge.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 1215 PM EDT Sunday...

During this portion of the forecast, a slow moving upper level
low and associated surface low will make gradual, but steady
progress eastward from the Lower Mississippi Valley eastward to
along the coast of the Carolinas. During its progression, our
region of the country will be along the northern extent of its
associated showers and storms. Moisture levels across the region
will increase as the low level flow taps the Atlantic Ocean,
first from off the coast of SC/GA, and then off the coasts of
the Carolinas in relation to the cyclonic flow around the
advancing low. Without any substantial focused mechanism for
lift, precipitation will be mainly diurnal in nature with
coverage across mainly southern sections of the forecast area.

Temperatures during this portion of the forecast will average a
few degrees above normal.

Confidence in the above portion of the forecast is moderate.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 1145 AM EDT Sunday...

Thursday into Friday we will be watching an upper level
low/trough over the southeast U.S. head northeast along the East
Coast. Its associated surface low will do likewise. The result
will be for easterly flow to increase moisture across our
region, all the while decent mid-level lapse rates persist over
our region. The result will be an active period of daily showers
and storms across the area with the best coverage during the
peak heating of the day, heading into the evening hours. Also,
expect plenty of cloud cover.

By Friday night into Saturday, our attention shift northwest,
where we will be watching a shortwave trough and associated cold
front sweep through the Great Lakes region towards our region.
This will have the impact of helping to eject the coastal
low/trough into the western Atlantic, and our prevailing flow
will become northwest by Saturday afternoon with the passage of
the trough and front. Showers and storms will become more
confined to western sections of the region, while the east sees
limited coverage thanks to the northwest flow adding an element
of low level subsidence thanks to the effects of downsloping. A
reinforcing northern stream shortwave trough will allow for a
near repeat on Sunday of the weather expected from the first
system on Saturday.

Temperatures during this portion of the forecast will average
about three to five degrees above normal.

Confidence in the forecast parameters is moderate.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 550 PM EDT Sunday...

Not much convection near taf sites at the moment, but should see
some in vicinity at times this evening til 02z, with highest
confidence based on radar trends being LYH and DAN. Still no
predominant weather in tafs due to widely scattered nature to
the convection. Will amend as necessary.

Valley fog is again expected late tonight/early Monday morning
and MVFR to IFR visibilities/cigs were introduced at KBCB and
KLWB, where confidence is highest fog will develop. While fog is
also possible late tonight at other TAF sites, especially if
rain falls at those sites today, confidence is not high enough
to include in the TAF.

After fog and low clouds disperse expect VFR Monday. As we head
into the afternoon, showers/storms will fire up but overall
coverage remains limited and not confident enough to have in the
tafs.

Extended Aviation Discussion...

The threat for scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms
continues through the week as moisture and instability become
more widespread, while low pressure hangs over the coast of the
Carolinas, mid to late week.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...RCS
NEAR TERM...RCS/WP
SHORT TERM...DS
LONG TERM...DS
AVIATION...RCS/WP

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 2:22 PM EDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
222 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

NCZ001-002-018-VAZ009-011>020-022>024-033>035-045>047-061830-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Smyth-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-
Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-
Rockbridge-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-
222 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina,
central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and
west central Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms will pepper the area today. A few of these
storms will reach severe limits, capable of producing damaging wind
gusts as they decay. Slow moving storms with torrential downpours
could also produce localize flooding.

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

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ007-010-032-043-044-058-059-WVZ042>044-507-508-
061830-
Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Bland-Patrick-
Henry-Pittsylvania-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
222 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia, southwest
Virginia and southeast West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon 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.

RCS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 5:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
502 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

WVZ042>044-052145-
Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
502 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN SUMMERS...NORTHEASTERN
MERCER...AND WESTERN MONROE COUNTIES...

At 500 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Lick Creek, or
over Pipestem, moving northeast at 15 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Princeton...
Athens...
Camp Creek...
Pipestem...
Buck...
Wayside...
and Pipestem Resort State Park.

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

If you are on or near Bluestone Lake, get out of the water and move
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to
10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you
are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter
now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 3774 8070 3750 8051 3741 8082 3743 8086
      3740 8087 3733 8111 3752 8115
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 240DEG 11KT 3750 8094

PW

Local storm report, Jul 5, 5:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
521 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2020

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

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE MILLERS CREEK      36.18N 81.23W
07/05/2020                   WILKES             NC   PUBLIC

            ONE TREE BLOWN DOWN ALONG GREEN ACRES ROAD
            NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH BOONE TRAIL.

&&

PW

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 5:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
539 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

VAZ046-047-052215-
Buckingham-Appomattox-
539 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN APPOMATTOX AND
SOUTHERN BUCKINGHAM COUNTIES...

At 539 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Andersonville,
or 7 miles south of Buckingham, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Buckingham...
Dillwyn...
Hixburg...
Toga...
Sheppards...
and Andersonville.

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

LAT...LON 3734 7846 3733 7848 3734 7848 3733 7849
      3733 7852 3736 7856 3736 7858 3738 7858
      3738 7859 3739 7858 3740 7859 3734 7860
      3729 7865 3743 7884 3760 7864 3755 7831
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 296DEG 11KT 3745 7858

KK

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 5:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
541 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

NCZ003-004-VAZ032-052230-
Stokes-Surry-Patrick-
541 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN SURRY...WESTERN STOKES
AND SOUTH CENTRAL PATRICK COUNTIES...

At 541 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Capella, or 8
miles southwest of Danbury, moving north at 20 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Mount Airy...
Flat Rock...
Pilot Mountain...
Stuart...
Danbury...
Francisco...
and King.

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

LAT...LON 3626 8047 3626 8048 3649 8067 3664 8027
      3628 8017 3626 8023 3626 8045 3624 8045
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 158DEG 16KT 3633 8031

KK

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:32 PM EDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
632 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2020

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

0355 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S ROARING GAP         36.38N 80.98W
07/05/2020                   ALLEGHANY          NC   911 CALL CENTER

            ONE TREE BLOWN DOWN THAT IS BLOCKING ONE
            LANE ON ROUTE 21 CLOSE TO THE ALLEGHANY AND
            WILKES COUNTY LINE.

&&

PW

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:47 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
647 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

NCZ004-005-052315-
Stokes-Rockingham-
647 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN STOKES AND WESTERN
ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES...

At 646 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Ellisboro, or
near Madison, moving northwest at 25 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Mayodan...
Madison...
Stoneville...
Danbury...
Sandy Ridge...
Pine Hall...
and Intelligence.

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

LAT...LON 3626 8003 3643 8031 3654 8015 3654 7999
      3628 7970 3625 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 137DEG 23KT 3631 7995

KK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 5, 1:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Smyth	29 min
Jul 5, 1:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Craig	25 min
Jul 5, 1:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Grayson	37 min
Jul 5, 1:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Grayson	50 min
Jul 5, 2:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bland, Wythe	48 min
Jul 5, 2:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Roanoke, City of Salem	36 min
Jul 5, 2:50 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Tazewell	25 min
Jul 5, 3:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	36 min
Jul 5, 3:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Tazewell	52 min
Jul 5, 4:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	28 min
Jul 5, 4:31 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	59 min
Jul 5, 5:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	36 min
Jul 5, 6:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bath, Rockbridge	63 min
Jul 5, 6:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Appomattox	24 min
Jul 5, 7:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Henry, Patrick	61 min
Jul 5, 7:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst	33 min
Jul 5, 12:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Ashe	35 min
Jul 5, 2:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, Ashe	26 min
Jul 5, 3:04 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Wilkes	26 min
Jul 5, 3:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes	52 min
Jul 5, 4:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Caldwell	33 min
Jul 5, 4:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Surry	31 min
Jul 5, 5:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Stokes	49 min
Jul 5, 5:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Mercer, Summers	43 min
Jul 5, 6:53 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Greenbrier	37 min
Jul 5, 7:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Greenbrier	34 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in North Carolina, 2020 Every special weather statement 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.