Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 166, NWS Blacksburg, VA

September 21, 2024Appomattox County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 21, 2024, 6:30 PM EDT for Appomattox County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Virginia. It was in force for 60 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
Sep 21, 2024, 6:30 PM EDT (22:30 UTC)
Expired
Sep 21, 2024, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Appomattox County, VA, Campbell County, VA, Charlotte County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:32 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 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 Sep 21, 2:30 PM EDT, 4 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 21, 2:30 PM EDT, 4 hours before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
230 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A frontal system will move through the region through tonight.
Showers and storms will be possible but should diminish after
dark. Sunday looks pleasant with some clouds lingering over the
east and high pressure building in. A cold front will gradually
approach during the next work week, resulting in a higher
chance of showers and thunderstorms that will persist into next
weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 140 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Messages:

1) A few strong to severe storms possible over S. Shenandoah Valley,
parts of the central/northern Blue Ridge, and the VA/NC piedmont
this afternoon and evening. Main concerns are localized damaging
winds and urban flooding.

2) Other areas may see showers/storms but likely not anything
strong. Heavy rain/isolated flooding still possible.

3) Fog and stratus possible overnight; stratus may linger over
the east through noon tomorrow under high pressure wedge.

The region remains in between broad upper level troughing over
the NE states and ridging centered over TX. At the surface, a
frontal system was approaching from the west. Farther north over
the eastern Great Lakes, the system was in the process of
occluding. IR imagery shows plenty of dry air aloft, with weak
mid level capping in place. This capping will continue to erode,
especially over the southern Shenandoah Valley and piedmont
areas by this afternoon.

PW values were around 1.2" this morning at KRNK, and will
increase  to about 1.4" or so through this afternoon in the
Shenandoah Valley, parts of the central/northern Blue Ridge, and
the piedmont ahead of the frontal system. Southerly winds will
increase convergence along the terrain, so convection will also
form along the Blue Ridge before drifting south. An upper level
left front jet streak and passing short wave energy will also
help support convection areawide. Instability and shear amounts
will be low to moderate over our area, but better to the NE and
E. We should still have enough ingredients to support a few
strong to isolated severe storms, again mainly over the S.
Shenandoah Valley, parts of the central/northern Blue Ridge and
the piedmont. Most of the activity will be multicell
clusters/lines and should be sub-severe, but may still contain
heavy rain. These main ideas are supported by SPC's Day 1
Outlook, SREF ensembles, machine learning and CAMs.

The main concerns for the above mentioned areas will be isolated
damaging downdraft winds, as well as moderate to heavy rain
leading to isolated urban, small stream, and possibly flash
flooding.

Overnight we will be in the warm sector briefly before a
backdoor front moves through, allowing PW values to drop to
0.7 inches or less over the mountains by morning. This will
support moderate radiational cooling where skies clear, leading
to temperatures in the 50s to low 60s. Stratus will develop/move
over the foothills and also the eastern piedmont in association
with the passage of the backdoor front. Models are indicating
this stratus will hang around our eastern counties for much of
the day. Where skies clear overnight, and especially where it
rains, expect localized dense fog.

For Sunday, the upper level energy will be lacking for much of
the area, but there will be a stripe of PVA crossing over the
piedmont. At the surface, much drier air and high pressure
wedging in from the NE will likely smother most convection that
tries to form, but a stray shower will be possible later in the
day. Otherwise, expect mostly to partly sunny skies (outside of
where the stratus lingers) with highs in the upper 70s to mid
80s.

Confidence in the near term is moderate.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
... As of 200 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Messages:

1: Monday should see the return of showers and storms, and
continuing into Tuesday

After a dry Sunday under some ridging and northeasterly flow, an
approaching front out of the plains will turn our flow back to the
south/southwest. With a stationary/warm front in the vicinity,
showers are likely to form on Monday afternoon, with the highest
probability in the mountains west of the Blue Ridge. Some of these
showers could produce lightning, but there is a low probability that
these storms will grow in strength such that they grow in strength
to become severe and potentially cause wind damage.

Tuesday the cold front will continue its march to the east, while
the warm front slowly lifts north in response to the approaching
attendant low associated with the cold front. Tuesday will see even
higher chances of showers and storms, with even more widespread
coverage in the entirety of the CWA. Temperatures will nudge a bit
cooler in this timeframe due to the increased cloud cover and rain
showers. Highs will remain in the mid to low 70s, and overnight dip
into the low 60s/upper 50s.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Messages:

1) High uncertainty remains in the long term period.

2) Chance of rain lingers through much of the week.

Quite a bit of variance among guidance this morning for the
period beyond Wednesday. This does not lead to much confidence
in the long term forecast, however ensemble guidance continues
to paint a rather stagnant pattern featuring daily chance of
rain and perhaps thunderstorms through mid to late week.

With rain potential and cloud cover, temperatures remain
slightly on the cooler side, generally in the 70s during the day
and 50s/60s overnight.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 150 PM EDT Saturday...

Showers and thunderstorms will affect the Southern Shenandoah
Valley and parts of the Blue Ridge during early to mid
afternoon, and much of the piedmont during the evening. Storms
will be capable of damaging winds, large hail and heavy
downpours limiting visibility locally to less than 1SM. Outside
of convection, VFR conditions are expected into late Saturday
night, when patchy fog will redevelop. For LYH and DAN, low
stratus looks more likely and will linger into Sunday.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

Isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are
expected again Sunday afternoon/evening. Otherwise, VFR during
the day then areas of MVFR/IFR fog and stratus at night.

Daily chance of showers, thunderstorms, and lingering sub-VFR
conditions continue Monday through at least midweek as a slow-
moving cold front approaches from the west.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...NF/SH
NEAR TERM...SH
SHORT TERM...VFJ
LONG TERM...BMG
AVIATION...NF/SH
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 21, 1:45 PM EDT, 4 hours 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
145 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

VAZ018>020-022>024-033>035-044>047-058-059-WVZ507-221745-
Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Franklin-
Bedford-Amherst-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-
Charlotte-Eastern Greenbrier-
145 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south
central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and
southeast West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a Marginal Risk for Severe Thunderstorms through this
evening. A few storms may be capable of producing damaging winds,
large hail and heavy downpours that may result in minor flooding
issues.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>017-032-043-WVZ042>044-508-221745-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-
Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-
Carroll-Floyd-Patrick-Henry-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Western Greenbrier-
145 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

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.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 21, 4:53 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
453 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

VAZ035-046-047-212130-
Buckingham VA-Amherst VA-Appomattox VA-
453 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN APPOMATTOX...WEST CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM AND EASTERN AMHERST
COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM EDT...

At 453 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lowesville, or 9 miles north of Clifford, moving south at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Amherst...
Bent Creek...
Clifford...
Riverville...
New Glasgow...
Lowesville...
and Tower Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 7868 3743 7905 3779 7919 3781 7914
      3778 7911 3779 7909 3778 7907 3772 7907
      3770 7899 3754 7890 3754 7882 3757 7881
      3759 7883 3761 7881 3763 7882 3764 7879
      3764 7875
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 338DEG 27KT 3779 7900

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SH
Special weather statement, Sep 21, 5:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
511 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

VAZ033-044-212145-
Franklin VA-Pittsylvania VA-
511 PM EDT Sat Sep 21 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH
545 PM EDT...

At 510 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Western Smith Mountain Lake, or 8 miles northwest of Penhook, moving
southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Penhook...
Western Smith Mountain Lake...
Union Hall...
North Shore...
Southern Smith Mountain Lake...
Ajax...
and Westlake Corner.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3706 7982 3714 7976 3707 7961 3705 7959
      3705 7960 3704 7960 3703 7956 3704 7956
      3701 7949 3688 7963
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 308DEG 22KT 3707 7975

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SH
Local storm report, Sep 21, 5:45 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 3:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBath30 min
Sep 21, 4:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKNelson37 min
Sep 21, 5:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin34 min
Sep 21, 5:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Buckingham67 min
Sep 21, 6:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Lynchburg31 min
Sep 21, 6:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Buckingham3 hr
Sep 21, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg50 min
Sep 21, 7:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania63 min
Sep 21, 7:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCampbell, Charlotte43 min
Sep 21, 7:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington32 min
Sep 21, 3:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes28 min
Sep 21, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKYadkin30 min
Sep 21, 5:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes27 min
Sep 21, 6:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes14 min
Sep 21, 6:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes22 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.