Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 31, 2021Montgomery County, City of Radford, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Aug 31, 2021, 6:39 PM EDT for Montgomery County, City of Radford, Virginia. It was in force for 36 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 31, 2021, 6:39 PM EDT (22:39 UTC)
Expired: Aug 31, 2021, 7:15 PM EDT
In force: 36 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties City of Radford, VA, Montgomery County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:38 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 31, 6:40 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 Nne Childress, VA	TORNADO FORMED IN A FIELD JUST SOUTH OF I-81 AND CROSSED IN FRONT OF THEM AT EXIT 108 ON I-81. TYLER ROAD AND MUD PIKE.
Aug 31, 7:05 PM EDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	1 S Blacksburg, VA
Aug 31, 7:05 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Blacksburg, VA	TREE DOWN ONTO A CAR ON MAIN STREET NEAR THE CELLAR RESTAURANT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 31, 7:08 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ene Blacksburg, VA	A LARGE TREE BLOCKS THE INTERSECTION OF HAPPY HOLLOW ROAD AND GOBBLERS KNOB ROAD.
Aug 31, 7:17 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ne Blacksburg, VA	LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN ON HAPPY HOLLOW ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 31, 7:18 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ene Blacksburg, VA	TREE DOWN PARTIALLY BLOCKING CATAWBA ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 89 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: 46 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -156 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1029 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 107 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

637 
WFUS51 KRNK 312239
TORRNK
VAC121-750-312315-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0023.210831T2239Z-210831T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
639 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

The National Weather Service in BLACKSBURG has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  The City of Radford in southwestern Virginia... Southern 
  Montgomery County in southwestern Virginia...

* Until 715 PM EDT.
    
* At 638 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Childress, or near Radford, moving north at 20
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Blacksburg...
  Christiansburg...
  Radford...
  Prices Fork...
  Merrimac...
  and Walton.

This includes The following Location Virginia Tech.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of hail of any
size, as well as reports of any wind damage, including downed trees
or large limbs, to the National Weather Service by calling toll free
at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports and pictures can also be
shared on the National Weather Service Blacksburg Facebook page and
on Twitter.

&&

LAT...LON 3727 8027 3707 8050 3708 8054 3714 8055
      3713 8053 3714 8052 3716 8053 3716 8055
      3719 8055 3719 8052 3720 8052 3721 8054
      3720 8055 3726 8056
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 195DEG 15KT 3710 8052 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

WP

3 follow-up statements

186 
WWUS51 KRNK 312250
SVSRNK

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
650 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

VAC750-312300-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-210831T2315Z/
City of Radford VA-
650 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR 
THE NORTHEASTERN CITY OF RADFORD IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3727 8035 3727 8032 3712 8048 3711 8050
      3714 8051 3715 8052 3717 8052 3718 8050
      3726 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 202DEG 19KT 3717 8048 

$$

VAC121-312315-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-210831T2315Z/
Montgomery VA-
650 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EDT FOR 
CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY...
    
At 650 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Walton, or near
Christiansburg, moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Blacksburg...
Christiansburg...
Prices Fork...
and Merrimac.

This includes The following Location Virginia Tech.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of hail of any
size, as well as reports of any wind damage, including downed trees
or large limbs, to the National Weather Service by calling toll free
at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports and pictures can also be
shared on the National Weather Service Blacksburg Facebook page and
on Twitter.

&&

LAT...LON 3727 8035 3727 8032 3712 8048 3711 8050
      3714 8051 3715 8052 3717 8052 3718 8050
      3726 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 202DEG 19KT 3717 8048 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

WP

198 
WWUS51 KRNK 312259
SVSRNK

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
659 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

VAC121-312315-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-210831T2315Z/
Montgomery VA-
659 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EDT FOR 
CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY...
        
At 659 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Merrimac, or near
Blacksburg, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Blacksburg...
Christiansburg...
and Merrimac.

This includes The following Location Virginia Tech.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of hail of any
size, as well as reports of any wind damage, including downed trees
or large limbs, to the National Weather Service by calling toll free
at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports and pictures can also be
shared on the National Weather Service Blacksburg Facebook page and
on Twitter.

&&

LAT...LON 3727 8035 3727 8032 3716 8045 3716 8047
      3717 8047 3717 8048 3718 8048 3726 8046
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 208DEG 16KT 3719 8045 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

WP

428 
WWUS51 KRNK 312307
SVSRNK

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
707 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

VAC121-312315-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-210831T2315Z/
Montgomery VA-
707 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EDT FOR 
CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY...
    
At 707 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Blacksburg,
moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Blacksburg.

This includes The following Location Virginia Tech.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of hail of any
size, as well as reports of any wind damage, including downed trees
or large limbs, to the National Weather Service by calling toll free
at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports and pictures can also be
shared on the National Weather Service Blacksburg Facebook page and
on Twitter.

&&

LAT...LON 3726 8041 3727 8035 3721 8042 3721 8044
      3724 8044
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 189DEG 8KT 3722 8043 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

WP

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 30, 8:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Martinsville	32 min
Aug 30, 8:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Martinsville	31 min
Aug 31, 1:42 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Smyth	33 min
Aug 31, 2:59 PM EDT	Wind Advisory	RNK	Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell	15 hr
Aug 31, 4:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Carroll	31 min
Aug 31, 4:54 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Carroll	36 min
Aug 31, 4:57 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Galax	33 min
Aug 31, 5:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Floyd	24 min
Aug 31, 6:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Montgomery, City of Radford	31 min
Aug 31, 7:11 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Craig, Montgomery	34 min
Aug 31, 7:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Montgomery, City of Radford	31 min
Aug 31, 7:33 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Floyd	27 min
Aug 31, 7:50 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Giles, Montgomery	25 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2021 Every tornado warning in 2021 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.