Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2021

Special Weather Statement, NWS Wakefield, VA

April 9, 2021Powhatan County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this special weather statement at Apr 9, 2021, 8:05 PM EDT for Powhatan County, Virginia. It was in force for 25 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
Apr 9, 2021, 8:05 PM EDT (00:05 UTC)
Expired
Apr 9, 2021, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA

County Powhatan County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:04 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 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 157 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-04-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 219 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2021-04-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 188 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
219 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1557 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
188 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
174 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.4

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 Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Apr 9, 3:48 PM EDT, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 3:48 PM EDT, 4 hours 17 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
348 PM EDT Fri Apr 9 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
Unsettled weather continues through the weekend as a stationary
boundary lingers across the area through tonight and then lifts
north as a warm front on Saturday. A cold front approaches from
the west and crosses the area late Sunday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
As of 345 PM EDT Friday...

Severe Thunderstorm Watch #78 has just been issued until
04z/midnight for roughly the srn third of the FA (except for
near the immediate coast). Afternoon wx analysis shows low
pressure at the surface and aloft continuing to slowly move NNE
over the Upper Midwest (with a subtle shortwave at the base of
the trough axis approaching the central Appalachians).
Meanwhile, another surface low is developing over the srn
Plains. Locally, the warm front is now positioned roughly from
Farmville-West Point-Melfa. The low overcast has finally burned
off across the NW. Temperatures have warmed into the upper 70s-
low 80s with dew points in the upper 50s-low 60s across most of
srn VA and NE NC. SPC mesoanalysis shows some instability
(MLCAPE 500-1500 J/kg) across these areas. The steeper mid-level
lapse rates are still confined to mainly western portions of
VA. Scattered tstms have developed across SE VA and NE NC, but
so far this activity has been sub-severe (although the storms
have shown a strengthening trend over the past hour).

Latest CAMs are in good agreement that the main severe threat holds
off for another hour or two as additional tstms move into the
south- central VA Piedmont (while the storms in SE VA/NE NC
strengthen/increase a bit in coverage). While deep-layer wind
fields remain relatively modest for early April, mid-level lapse
rates are forecast to steepen to around or just above 7 degrees
C/km after 21z/5 PM (highest across wrn zones). This will help
increase the amount of instability in place through much of the
evening. The most likely timing for severe wx is from 6-11 PM
before diurnal weakening occurs overnight. The severe threat is
very low over the nrn third of the FA and the Ern Shore. SPC has
roughly the SVR Watch area in a Slight Risk, with large hail
and damaging winds the main threats. There is a very low chc of
a brief tornado (mainly with storms that are able to interact
with the warm front...where low level directional shear will be
enhanced). PoPs fall to 15-30% after 06z Sat. Low temps will
remain mild tonight ranging from the mid 50s to around 60 over
the SE.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 345 PM EDT Friday...

On Saturday, low pressure deepens as it tracks from the Plains to
the srn Great Lakes. This will allow the warm front to lift well
north of the local area as the associated cold front approaches the
area from the west (but remains well to our west until late this
weekend). Generally dry through the first half of the day on
Saturday. With southerly flow but mostly cloudy skies, highs are
forecast to be in the mid to upper 70s. By late aftn, am expecting
isolated to perhaps scattered showers (and maybe a few tstms) to
form over the wrn half of the FA. However, the threat for severe wx
is low through Saturday evening. As the area of low pressure slowly
tracks ENE through the Great Lakes Sat night, a band of better mid-
level forcing arrives from the W (still well ahead of the actual
cold front). Therefore, shower/tstm chances increase from W-E across
the FA Saturday night (but there continue to be signs that one area
of heavier pcpn misses us to the N (where the best upper level
dynamics will be) while another misses us the the S. Scattered
showers are possible Sunday morning with shower/tstm re-development
possible by the aftn/evening (mainly over the ern third of the FA)
as the actual cold front approaches the area. Highs mainly in the
upper 70s-around 80F on Sunday. The cold front is progged to cross
the area Sunday night...and shower/tstm chances decrease from W-E
during the night. Will see a noticeable drop in dew points by Monday
but it will still be warm with downsloping WNW flow behind the
front. Highs in the mid 70s in most areas.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 345 PM EDT Friday...

For at least the first half of next week, model/ensemble
consensus continues to indicate that the upper level flow will
be fairly zonal across the local area as low pressure at the
surface and aloft meanders in the vicinity of the Northeast
CONUS/New England/SE Canada while another upper trough/low
remains anchored over the Rocky Mountains. Slight chances for
rain potentially return by Tuesday aftn as a weak frontal
boundary crosses the region from NW-SE. A stronger cold front
approaches the area from the NW late Wed or Thu of next week as
the upper low over the Northeast starts to track SE toward the
Mid-Atlantic. The second cold front is progged to move to our
south by the end of the day on Thu. It is too early for
specifics regarding the second FROPA, but the chc of thunder is
too low to include in the forecast attm for Wed/Thu. Mainly dry
wx is expected on Wed, with low chances for showers returning by
Thu/Fri. Did not stray too far from NBM guidance for the Tue-
Fri timeframe. Cooler wx returns by the end of next week (with
continued shower chances) as 850 mb temperatures potentially
drop to around 0C.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Friday...

CIGs have improved to (low-end) VFR with SCT-BKN CU at the VA/NC
terminals early this aftn, and some localized IFR at SBY. Winds
are ESE or SE at ~5 kts at RIC and 10-15 kts near the coast. A
few gusts to 20 kts are possible near the coast through early
evening but winds become light and variable overnight. Isolated-
scattered tstms are expected to develop INVOF PHF and ORF by
19-21z with scattered tstm chances continuing through the
evening. At ECG, the most likely timing for tstms is from
22-04z. Some of the storms could contain localized strong wind
gusts/hail in SE VA and NE NC. Expect mainly showers at SBY with
a very low chc of tstms. There is a slight chc of thunder at
RIC (will not include in the TAF attm). Ceilings fall to MVFR at
all sites by 12z Sat with IFR possible at RIC/SBY by early
Saturday morning. Will likely see a break in the pcpn through at
least the first part of Saturday, but flight restrictions are
possible due to CIGs at RIC and especially SBY. S-SE winds below
10 kts are expected at the terminals by late Sat AM.

Outlook...Another round of scattered showers/isolated tstms is
expected Sat night-Sunday morning (with at least some flight
restrictions likely during this time). A cold front will cross the
area late Sunday with drier and mainly VFR conditions expected into
early next week.

&&

.MARINE...
As of 300 PM EDT Friday...

A stationary frontal boundary will linger nearby the local area
through Saturday morning before lifting north of the area as a warm
front Saturday afternoon. As a result, winds will generally remain
SE aob 15 kt during this time. Seas 3-4 ft; waves 1-2 ft.

Winds turn to the SSW at similar speeds Sat night and Sun ahead of a
cold front approaching from the west. Winds shift to the NW Sun
night behind the fropa, then become ENE Mon night and Tue. Winds
generally remain aob 15 kt thru the period. Seas 3-4 ft, except up
to 5 ft Sat night/Sunday when an SCA may be needed for the coastal
waters. Waves generally 1-2 ft thru the period.

&&

.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
NC...None.
VA...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...CMF/ERI
NEAR TERM...ERI
SHORT TERM...CMF/ERI
LONG TERM...CMF/ERI
AVIATION...ERI
MARINE...JDM
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 9, 3:49 PM EDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
349 PM EDT Fri Apr 9 2021

NCZ017-102-VAZ048-060>062-064-067>069-082>086-090-095-098-509>513-
515>525-102000-
Western Currituck-Eastern Currituck-Fluvanna-Prince Edward-
Cumberland-Goochland-Caroline-Nottoway-Amelia-Powhatan-Charles City-
New Kent-Gloucester-Middlesex-Mathews-James City-Norfolk/Portsmouth-
Virginia Beach-Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover-
Eastern Hanover-Western Chesterfield-
Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Eastern Henrico-
Western King William-Eastern King William-Western King and Queen-
Eastern King and Queen-Western Essex-Eastern Essex-York-Newport News-
Hampton/Poquoson-
349 PM EDT Fri Apr 9 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina,
central Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north
central Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening.
Some of these storms may be strong to severe with large hail and
damaging wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ012>016-030>032-VAZ065-066-079>081-087>089-092-093-096-097-514-
102000-
Northampton-Hertford-Gates-Pasquotank-Camden-Bertie-Chowan-
Perquimans-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-Brunswick-Dinwiddie-Prince George-
Greensville-Sussex-Surry-Southampton-Isle of Wight-Suffolk-
Chesapeake-Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)-
349 PM EDT Fri Apr 9 2021

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 78 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT
TONIGHT...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina,
central Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast 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.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MDZ021>025-VAZ075>078-099-100-102000-
Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches-
Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Accomack-Northampton-
349 PM EDT Fri Apr 9 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, east
central Virginia, eastern Virginia and southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 9, 7:19 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 9, 7:20 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 9, 7:21 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 9, 7:50 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 9, 7:54 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 9, 8:05 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 8:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQChesterfield, Dinwiddie, Henrico, City of Colonial Heights, City of Petersburg, City of Richmond47 min
Apr 9, 8:30 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ60 min
Apr 9, 8:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQGloucester, Isle of Wight, City of Newport News, City of Williamsburg44 min
Apr 9, 8:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQHanover29 min
Apr 9, 8:55 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatAKQCity of Chesapeake3 hr
Apr 9, 9:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Portsmouth2 hr
Apr 9, 8:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCamden49 min
Apr 9, 8:26 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQCamden, Currituck3 hr
Apr 9, 8:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQBertie, Gates, Hertford44 min
Apr 9, 8:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningAKQCurrituck3 hr
Apr 9, 9:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQChowan52 min
Apr 9, 9:34 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQBertie, Chowan3 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2021Every special weather statement in 2021

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.