Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 31, 2021Giles County, Montgomery County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Aug 31, 2021, 7:50 PM EDT for Giles County, Montgomery County, Virginia. It was in force for 25 min. 2 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, 7:50 PM EDT (23:50 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2021, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Giles County, VA, Montgomery County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:49 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 31, 7:59 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 E Merrimac, VACORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2 E MERRIMAC. A LARGE TREE BLOCKING THE ROAD ALONG THE 936 BLOCK OF JENELLE ROAD.
Aug 31, 8:14 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 E Blacksburg, VATREE DOWN NEAR INTERSECTION OF ROANOKE AND JEFFERSON STREET, PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 31, 7:36 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 81 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 12:00Z on 2021-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 46 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2021-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 1 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
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.

677 
WFUS51 KRNK 312350
TORRNK
VAC071-121-010015-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0025.210831T2350Z-210901T0015Z/

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

The National Weather Service in BLACKSBURG has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Giles County in southwestern Virginia...
  Northeastern Montgomery County in southwestern Virginia...

* Until 815 PM EDT.
    
* At 749 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Merrimac, or near Christiansburg, moving northeast
  at 15 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...
  Newport...
  Prices Fork...
  Merrimac...
  and Mc Donalds Mill.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

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 3734 8044 3732 8044 3732 8043 3733 8041
      3728 8023 3727 8023 3714 8046 3715 8051
      3735 8050
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 203DEG 12KT 3716 8047 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

WP
2 follow-up statements
875 
WWUS51 KRNK 010002
SVSRNK

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

VAC071-121-010015-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210901T0015Z/
Giles VA-Montgomery VA-
802 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR 
EAST CENTRAL GILES AND NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...
    
At 802 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Blacksburg, moving northeast 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...
and Merrimac.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.

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 3734 8044 3732 8044 3732 8043 3733 8041
      3728 8024 3727 8024 3718 8044 3720 8048
      3735 8050
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 206DEG 18KT 3722 8044 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

WP
317 
WWUS51 KRNK 010013
SVSRNK

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

VAC071-121-010023-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210901T0015Z/
Giles VA-Montgomery VA-
813 PM EDT Tue Aug 31 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR 
EAST CENTRAL GILES AND NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE
AT 815 PM EDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However heavy rain
is still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 AM EDT for southwestern
and west central Virginia.

LAT...LON 3734 8044 3732 8044 3732 8043 3733 8041
      3728 8024 3727 8024 3718 8044 3720 8048
      3735 8050
TIME...MOT...LOC 0013Z 203DEG 12KT 3725 8043 

$$

WP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 30, 8:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Martinsville32 min
Aug 30, 8:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Martinsville31 min
Aug 31, 1:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth33 min
Aug 31, 2:59 PM EDTWind AdvisoryRNKGrayson, Smyth, Tazewell15 hr
Aug 31, 4:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll31 min
Aug 31, 4:54 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCarroll36 min
Aug 31, 4:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Galax33 min
Aug 31, 5:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd24 min
Aug 31, 6:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, City of Radford31 min
Aug 31, 6:39 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKMontgomery, City of Radford36 min
Aug 31, 7:11 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCraig, Montgomery34 min
Aug 31, 7:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, City of Radford31 min
Aug 31, 7:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd27 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes 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.