Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2025

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 3, 20254 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at May 3, 2025, 5:42 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 63 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
May 3, 2025, 5:42 PM EDT (21:42 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2025, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Hail
0.25 in
Wind
40

Counties Campbell County, VA, City of Lynchburg, VA, Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:44 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 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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 3, 2:27 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 2:27 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
227 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
A large, slow moving low pressure system will stall over the Ohio
Valley through Monday. This system will push a cold front through
the area Sunday and Monday, resulting in multiple rounds of
showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will stay above normal for
the next several days.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 213 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Messages:

1) Heavy rain at times from storms and potential for isolated severe
storms mainly east of the Blue Ridge this afternoon/evening.

2) Expect showers overnight, then lessening in coverage Sunday, with
best lift to north.

Hindrance of cloud cover has slowed the destabilizing airmass
this afternoon. Still a few storms have developed, with SBCAPEs
in the 500-1000 J/kg range, higher in the piedmont. Latest
trends in convective models/satellite and mesoanalysis indicate
that most strong to severe thunderstorm chances will be east of
the Blue Ridge, and moreso along/east of US 29 from Lynchburg to
Danville to Reidsville. Still cannot rule out an isolated
strong/severe storm along/west of the Blue Ridge.

Looking at greatest coverage of showers to occur this evening into
overnight coincident with best upper support/divergence in relation
to the upper low over southern KY. As this upper low starts to pivot
north into northern KY/southern Ohio Sunday, the upper forcing is
weaker across our area, as main upper support turns north into the
mid-Atlantic. Still plenty of moisture and pieces of shortwaves
along with front moving across should bring scattered to numerous
showers Sunday, with best coverage along the I-64 corridor, then
southeast toward Lynchburg and Danville.

As for flooding, antecedent conditions have been dry, so not too
overly concerned with flash flooding. However, with higher moisture
content in this airmass and potential for repeated rounds of
showers/thunderstorms, would not be surprise for some localized
flooding in urban areas and low water areas, but not enough
confidence or coverage, so no watch for flooding.

Lows tonight to range from the lower 60s in the Piedmont to mid 50s
west. Sunday will be mild to warm with mid 70s east to mid to upper
60s west.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 100 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Message:

1) Shower and thunderstorm chances Monday then becoming more limited
on Tuesday.

In the wake of the departing frontal occlusion to the east the
driving force, or center of the large upper cutoff low, lingers to
our west with persistent south to SW flow aloft into the start of
the work week. This leaves the area susceptible to any vort lobes
traversing the low and open to PVA-induced rounds of convection.
Guidance is in fairly good agreement with this low drifting
northward by Tuesday and coming into phase with another longwave
trough pushing across southern Canada into New England. Thus, have
limited pops Tuesday to just a western and northern tier of the CWA.

Progged instability looks to have some lower end amounts with
daytime heating Monday and have thunder potential though even more
limited for Tuesday so just have shower mention.

Temps look to be right around climo norms for the period.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Saturday...

Key Message:

1) Possible other rounds of precip each day with uncertainty greater
on Friday.

We get a brief reprieve following the aforementioned cutoff low and
a thin swath of drier air before the next moisture axis advects in
from the southwest on Wednesday as a piece of energy breaks off from
yet another upper low. The center of this feature begins to make its
way slowly SEWD from the central plains into the northern Gulf
states by the end of the week and then potentially stagnates into
the weekend. There is uncertainty how far north the moisture field
extends as it could be battling a ridge coming in from the Great
Lakes for Friday following a possible Thursday cold front. Will be
maintaining pops for mostly scattered showers each day though trends
will need to be monitored.

Afternoon max temps look to be above normal both Wednesday and
Thursday then cooler to near normal for Friday behind a possible
front.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 123 PM EDT Saturday...

Have mainly VFR this afternoon but showers/storms will likely
bring in cigs/vsbys of IFR to MVFR at most sites. South to
southwest winds will be gusty at times, and a few strong storms
are possible mainly east of a line from ROA-INT.

Showers and cloudy skies likely into the overnight as slow
moving upper low propagates across the Ohio Valley. Expect sub-
VFR for most, possibly IFR at BLF/LWB/BCB and MVFR east though
IFR possible.

Confidence is average on the above conditions.

Beyond tonight, showers will likely persist Sunday morning
mainly north of a line from BLF-DAN. Anticipate sub-VFR, except
some VFR improvement possible around ROA-DAN.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

Additional chances of precipitation are likely into Tuesday,
bringing sub- VFR conditions to parts of the area, though
forecast confidence decreases by Tuesday.

This is low confidence pattern due to the stalled upper low over
the Ohio Valley. Most of the area will remain dry, but
afternoon showers and thunderstorms are possible each day Wed-
Thu.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP
NEAR TERM...WP
SHORT TERM...AB
LONG TERM...AB
AVIATION...AMS/WP
Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 4:44 AM EDT, 12 hours 58 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
444 AM EDT Sat May 3 2025

NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009-010-058-059-WVZ042-043-508-040845-
Ashe-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-
Western Greenbrier-
444 AM EDT Sat May 3 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina,
south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms this
afternoon into late evening. A couple of storms will be capable of
producing locally damaging winds and large hail. There is also a
Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 4) of Excessive Rainfall with these storms
that could result in localized flash flooding.

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

A few storms on Sunday afternoon and evening may be capable of
producing large hail, localized damaging winds, and heavy rain that
could lead to isolated instances of flash flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ002>006-019-020-VAZ011>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-WVZ044-507-
040845-
Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Giles-
Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-
Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-
Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-
444 AM EDT Sat May 3 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms this
afternoon into late evening. Some storms will be capable of producing
locally damaging winds and large hail. There is also a Marginal Risk
(Level 1 of 4) of Excessive Rainfall with these storms that could
result in localized flash flooding.

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

A few storms on Sunday afternoon and evening may be capable of
producing large hail, localized damaging winds, and heavy rain that
could lead to isolated instances of flash flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 4:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 3, 4:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 3, 4:50 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 3, 5:02 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 3, 5:34 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 3, 5:42 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 8:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth25 min
May 2, 9:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe37 min
May 2, 9:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth35 min
May 3, 1:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth25 min
May 3, 2:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, Patrick32 min
May 3, 2:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge33 min
May 3, 2:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry31 min
May 3, 3:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Patrick64 min
May 3, 3:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry25 min
May 3, 3:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry, Patrick, City of Martinsville35 min
May 3, 3:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBedford33 min
May 3, 3:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Franklin42 min
May 3, 3:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington47 min
May 3, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, City of Martinsville31 min
May 3, 4:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Bedford23 min
May 3, 4:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania, City of Danville, City of Martinsville55 min
May 3, 5:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Bedford, City of Buena Vista58 min
May 3, 2:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham25 min
May 3, 2:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKYadkin35 min
May 3, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKStokes27 min
May 3, 4:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham34 min
May 3, 6:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKStokes56 min
May 3, 2:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMercer31 min
May 3, 3:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSummers30 min
May 3, 4:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier28 min
May 3, 4:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier28 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2025Every special weather statement in 2025

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.