Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 53, NWS Blacksburg, VA

June 16, 20235 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 16, 2023, 2:18 PM EDT for 5 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 57 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 16, 2023, 2:18 PM EDT (18:18 UTC)
Expired
Jun 16, 2023, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Amherst County, VA, Bedford County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, City of Buena Vista, VA, Rockbridge County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:20 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 234 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2023-06-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 119 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2023-06-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 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
119 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-101 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
910 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 16, 10:04 AM EDT, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 16, 10:04 AM EDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1004 AM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move southeast from the Great Lakes and pass
across the Mid-Atlantic today, resulting in more scattered
showers and thunderstorms. Saturday will be dry as high pressure
builds into the region. A low pressure system tracking across
the Tennessee Valley will bring a greater probability of
widespread rain to the area for early next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 1000 AM EDT Friday...

   Adjusted timing of precipitation today...

HRRR and other Convective Allowing Models were an hour or two
behind the current position of the front and isolated showers
and thunderstorms in West Virginia. Air was already starting to
destabilize and better coverage of thunderstorms will fill in
between noon and 2PM. No changes to temperatures at this time.

As of 600 AM EDT Friday...

This morning, mostly clear skies across the region. Some river valley
fog is ongoing and will likely continue for another hour or so.

An upper-level trough passing through the Great Lakes this
morning, which was responsible for numerous storms over
Michigan and the Ohio Valley yesterday, will continue to pivot
southeast and cross through Southern Pennsylvania later this
afternoon. Coinciding front will cross the area and this will be
the focus for some isolated thunderstorms.

Best kinematic parameter space, forcing for ascent and
instability will be over the DelMarVa region. However, hi-res
guidance does have higher MLCAPE/SBCAPE pooling over Central
Virginia (particularly east of the US-29 along a line from
Lynchburg to Danville). O-6km shear also in the 30-40kt range
would indicate there is at least the risk for some organized
convection that would be capable of strong winds and large
hail. Downsloping westerly flow should suppress most convection
from the Foothills of the Blue Ridge and west. A Marginal Risk
has been highlighted for the far eastern counties, which is
where the best instability/shear parameters overlap.

Front quickly clears the area late this evening and drier air
filters in from the northwest as high pressure builds in.

Temperatures today feature 70s for the mountains and 80s in the
east. Tonight, with drier air and high pressure building in,
could see some 40s in the mountain valleys, but likely 50s
elsewhere.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 300 AM EDT Friday...

Moderating temperatures for Father's day weekend.

High pressure across the region will build east into Sunday night.
Under plenty of sunshine, high temperatures Saturday will range the
mid 60s in the northwest mountains to the mid 80s in the Piedmont.
Low temperatures Saturday night will vary from the mid 40s in the
deeper mountain valleys to the mid 50s in the Piedmont.
Sunshine will give way to increasing clouds Sunday. High
temperatures Sunday will generally be from the upper 70s in the
west to the upper 80s in the east. On Sunday night, the wind
turns to the south and southeast with upslope just beginning
along the southern Blue Ridge and rain arriving in the northwest
North Carolina mountains late Sunday night into Monday morning.
With the additional cloud cover low temperatures Sunday night
will be warmer with readings from mid 50s in the mountains to
the lower 60s in the Piedmont.

Moderate confidence in the Short Term Forecast.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 300 AM EDT Friday...

Unsettled and unseasonably cool weather expected for the workweek.

An omega block pattern develops early next week. A piece of energy
comes out of the west long wave trough and tracks as a closed upper
low into the Tennessee Valley by Tuesday. This low lingers across
the Southeast through Friday, blocked by upper ridging over
southeast Canada. There remains good agreement in the overall
pattern on GFS/ECMWF/Canadian but some differences remain on the
location of the 500MB low. Models have trended wetter for next week.

At the surface high pressure will wedge down the eastern slopes of
the central and southern Appalachians. Low pressure will be over the
Tennessee Valley with a warm front extending across the Carolinas.
This will result in unseasonably cold temperatures through the
period. A prolonged period of easterly upslope flow and moisture off
the Atlantic ocean will continue the chances of rain into Friday.
The later part of the week is tricky with high pressure ridging
southward.

Moderate confidence in the Long Term Forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /14Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 645 AM EDT Thursday...

Areas of patchy fog this morning will continue for another hour
or so, lifting by 13z. DAN/LYH may have a brief thunderstorm
this afternoon that could reduce vsby, but too scattered in
nature and not enough confidence to mention in the TAF.

Winds should remain calm to light and variable for another few
hours, but increase in speed from the west as the day
progresses. Could have gusts in the 20-30mph range.

Any rain/storm activity comes to an end late this evening.
Tonight, some upslope clouds in the far west under northwest
flow will introduce some lower cigs for BLF/LWB, possibly sub-
VFR.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

High pressure will build across the Mid Atlantic by Saturday to
provide dry weather and VFR ceiling and visibility, lasting into
Sunday.

Low pressure approaching from the Tennessee Valley looks to
bring a widespread chance of MVFR to LIFR conditions and
widespread light to moderate rain early next week.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...BMG
NEAR TERM...AMS/BMG
SHORT TERM...KK
LONG TERM...KK
AVIATION...BMG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 16, 4:19 AM EDT, 9 hours 59 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 16, 1:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
113 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

VAZ046-047-161745-
Buckingham VA-Appomattox VA-
113 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
northeastern Appomattox and southwestern Buckingham Counties through
145 PM EDT...

At 113 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hixburg, or 9 miles east of Appomattox, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 7846 3733 7848 3734 7848 3733 7849
      3733 7852 3736 7856 3737 7858 3738 7858
      3738 7859 3739 7858 3740 7859 3734 7860
      3727 7867 3747 7874 3754 7839 3746 7838
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 267DEG 17KT 3739 7866

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

AS
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 1:18 PM EDT, 1 hour before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
118 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

VAZ019-020-023-024-035-161745-
Botetourt VA-Bath VA-Amherst VA-Rockbridge VA-Alleghany VA-
118 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of
central Alleghany, Rockbridge, southeastern Bath, northern Botetourt
Counties in west central Virginia and north central Amherst Counties
in central Virginia, the City of Covington, the City of Buena Vista
and the City of Lexington through 145 PM EDT...

At 117 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Rockbridge Baths to Longdale Furnace to
near Callaghan. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Lexington...
Buena Vista...
Covington...
Clifton Forge...
Goshen...
Eagle Rock...
and Collierstown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3793 7920 3789 7915 3785 7915 3782 7916
      3781 7917 3781 7914 3780 7912 3770 7938
      3754 7989 3778 8016 3787 7979 3804 7941
TIME...MOT...LOC 1717Z 297DEG 20KT 3796 7941 3784 7972 3774 8007

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

AS
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 1:31 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
131 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

VAZ047-161745-
Buckingham VA-
131 PM EDT Fri Jun 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
east central Buckingham County through 145 PM EDT...

At 130 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Gold Hill, or 8 miles northwest of Cumberland, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Gold Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3764 7825 3749 7836 3766 7836 3769 7826
      3769 7824
TIME...MOT...LOC 1730Z 265DEG 13KT 3760 7832

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

AS
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 1:48 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 16, 1:57 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 15, 9:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania26 min
Jun 15, 9:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth35 min
Jun 15, 10:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson, Smyth28 min
Jun 16, 1:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham32 min
Jun 16, 1:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Covington, City of Lexington27 min
Jun 16, 1:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCumberland14 min
Jun 16, 1:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington42 min
Jun 16, 1:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCraig33 min
Jun 16, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Martinsville34 min
Jun 16, 2:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBuckingham59 min
Jun 16, 2:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry, Pittsylvania34 min
Jun 16, 3:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBuckingham47 min
Jun 16, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPittsylvania, City of Danville32 min
Jun 16, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAppomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, City of Lynchburg42 min
Jun 16, 3:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax37 min
Jun 16, 3:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHalifax31 min
Jun 16, 4:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte29 min
Jun 16, 5:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville34 min
Jun 16, 5:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte28 min
Jun 15, 9:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry25 min
Jun 16, 3:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023

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.