Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 27, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 3, 2026, 6:40 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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 3, 2026, 6:40 PM EDT (22:40 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 3, 2026, 9:50 PM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Amherst County, VA, Bedford County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, Rockbridge County, VA
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:44 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 8:15 PM EDT | RAIN 4.9 | 2 Nnw Naola, VA | Public reported 4.90 inches of rain between 6pm and 8:15pm in the community of Naola. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 32 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 369 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 597 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -12 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 97 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
The text
As transmitted.
395
WGUS51 KRNK 032240
FFWRNK
VAC009-019-023-163-040445-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0027.260803T2240Z-260804T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
640 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern Amherst County in central Virginia...
Central Bedford County in south central Virginia...
East Central Botetourt County in west central Virginia...
South Central Rockbridge County in west central Virginia...
* Until 1245 AM EDT Tuesday.
* At 640 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain
have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 3 to 5 inches in 1
hour. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Lynchburg... Bedford...
Glasgow... Big Island...
Forest... Montvale...
Sedalia...
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Bold Branch, Back Creek, Big Otter River and Back Run.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of flooding,
including mudslides or flooded roads, 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 X.
&&
LAT...LON 3765 7942 3753 7917 3746 7923 3745 7925
3745 7927 3743 7927 3741 7925 3739 7923
3718 7937 3738 7975 3757 7956
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...3-5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
CDG2 follow-up statements
994
WGUS71 KRNK 040014
FFSRNK
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
814 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAC009-019-023-163-040445-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260804T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Amherst VA-Bedford VA-Botetourt VA-Rockbridge VA-
814 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EDT TUESDAY
FOR SOUTHWESTERN AMHERST, CENTRAL BEDFORD, EAST CENTRAL BOTETOURT
AND SOUTH CENTRAL ROCKBRIDGE COUNTIES...
At 814 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 4 and 5 inches of rain have
fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour.
Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned
area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Lynchburg... Bedford...
Glasgow... Big Island...
Forest... Montvale...
Sedalia...
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Bold Branch, Back Creek, Big Otter River and Back Run.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of flooding,
including mudslides or flooded roads, to the National Weather
Service by calling toll free at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports
and pictures can also be shared on the National Weather Service
Blacksburg Facebook page and on X.
&&
LAT...LON 3765 7942 3753 7917 3746 7923 3745 7925
3745 7927 3743 7927 3741 7925 3739 7923
3718 7937 3738 7975 3757 7956
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
CDG141
WGUS71 KRNK 040150
FFSRNK
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
950 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAC009-019-023-163-040200-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260804T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Amherst VA-Bedford VA-Botetourt VA-Rockbridge VA-
950 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN AMHERST,
CENTRAL BEDFORD, EAST CENTRAL BOTETOURT AND SOUTH CENTRAL ROCKBRIDGE
COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3765 7942 3753 7917 3746 7923 3745 7925
3745 7927 3743 7927 3741 7925 3739 7923
3718 7937 3738 7975 3757 7956
$$
CDGWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Aug 3, 1:43 PM EDT, 4 hours 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) A marginal risk of flash flooding remains across North Carolina and Virginia for this evening. 2) Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 3, 1:43 PM EDT, 4 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 143 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... The entire forecast has been updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) A marginal risk of flash flooding remains across North Carolina and Virginia for this evening. 2) Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...A marginal risk of flash flooding remains across North Carolina and Virginia for this evening. While a frontal boundary slowly moves east of the Blue Ridge this afternoon, an upper level trough overhead will ensure more lift and instability available for showers and thunderstorms to develop. The overall flash flood risk has decreased compared to previous days, but there still remains a marginal risk across North Carolina and Virginia this evening. The 12Z RNK sounding this morning revealed a precipitable water value of 1.36 inches, which is notably lower compared to the juicy 1.95 inches from 24 hours ago but still elevated for this time of year. Because of this reduction in moisture and after coordination with neighboring offices, no areal flood watch will be hoisted for this afternoon. However, a flash flood watch remains in effect through this evening in coordination with public officials for some of the dams within the headwaters of the Ararat River given the heavy rainfall that took place there over the past weekend. KEY MESSAGE 2...Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. An upper level low will close off from the main upper level trough over the southern Appalachian Mountains by Tuesday morning. This low should eventually weaken towards the middle of this week as a large upper level ridge builds over Bermuda and another upper level trough approaches the Great Lakes. While Tuesday appears to be a lull in convective activity, moisture will converge again along the Blue Ridge to bring a daily threat of showers and thunderstorms for the rest of the week. The air mass still remains moist with dewpoints ranging from the mid 60s to the lower 70s, so rainfall efficiency will continue to remain rather high. Heavy downpours from stronger storms repeatedly tracking over the same locations could trigger more hydrological issues towards the latter half of this week as a cold front arrives from the west. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR conditions are anticipated for this afternoon, but showers and thunderstorms should develop during the next few hours. The highest confidence for thunder is across the Piedmont, which could impact DAN and LYH. Winds will turn from the west to the north by this evening and eventually swing around towards the northeast during tonight into Tuesday. Patchy fog should take place west of the Blue Ridge overnight, especially for BCB and LWB. IFR ceilings appear likely in the mountains during early Tuesday morning, while MVFR ceilings seem possible to the east. All ceilings may slowly improve by Tuesday afternoon as showers and thunderstorms develop again, but the odds of thunder look to be lower overall compared to today. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms will become more prevalent by Wednesday a cold front approaches from the west. The highest threat for thunder seems to occur during Thursday and Friday, but daily chances should persist through Saturday. Abundant moisture should help to favor MVFR ceilings at times along with patchy overnight fog. && .HYDROLOGY... Per the request of the Patrick County emergency management, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through this evening for the following dams: Dams #2, #28, #63, and the Epperson Dam on the Ararat River. This is a precautionary measure due to the excessive rainfall which occurred over the weekend. There are currently no identified integrity threats to the dams at this time, but there is the potential for additional heavy rainfall within the Ararat River basin this afternoon and evening. Repeated chances of showers and thunderstorms amidst a moist air mass will continue for the latter half of this week as another cold front approaches from the west. Heavy downpours from stronger storms repeatedly tracking over the same locations could trigger a risk of flooding. Antecedent soil conditions are gradually turning wetter across the mountains due to the previous month, but considerable rainfall deficits still exist across the Piedmont. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...PW AVIATION...PW HYDROLOGY...PW
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 3, 1:47 PM EDT, 4 hours 53 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 147 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-033>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-041800- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge- Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox- Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 147 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026 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...This afternoon and tonight. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause a marginal risk of flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Thunderstorms developing each afternoon and evening may produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause a risk of flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ032-041800- Patrick- 147 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause a risk of flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Thunderstorms developing each afternoon and evening may produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause a risk of flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PW
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 3, 3:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
300 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAZ035-045>047-031930-
Buckingham VA-Amherst VA-Campbell VA-Appomattox VA-
300 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
APPOMATTOX...NORTHEASTERN CAMPBELL...WEST CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM AND
SOUTHEASTERN AMHERST COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
At 300 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Stonewall, or near Concord, moving southeast at 15
mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Wind gusts may knock over loose objects.
Locations impacted include...
Amherst...
Appomattox...
Bent Creek...
Concord...
Madison Heights...
Appomattox National Historic Park...
and Stonewall.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3735 7870 3729 7891 3747 7919 3748 7919
3748 7921 3764 7897 3764 7895 3754 7890
3755 7888 3754 7883 3757 7881 3759 7883
3760 7881 3763 7882 3764 7880 3763 7872
3766 7872 3766 7869
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 300DEG 14KT 3744 7896
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CDGSpecial weather statement, Aug 3, 3:06 PM EDT, 3 hours 34 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
306 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAZ044-031930-
Pittsylvania VA-
306 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
CENTRAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
At 306 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Gretna, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Wind gusts may knock over loose objects.
Locations impacted include...
Chatham...
Gretna...
Callands...
Mt Airy...
Java...
Dry Fork...
and Chalk Level.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3675 7920 3673 7967 3701 7960 3702 7949
3701 7948 3701 7946 3702 7946 3705 7910
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 270DEG 8KT 3691 7937
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CDGSpecial weather statement, Aug 3, 3:37 PM EDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
337 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAZ035-046-047-032015-
Buckingham VA-Amherst VA-Appomattox VA-
337 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHERN APPOMATTOX...BUCKINGHAM AND SOUTHEASTERN AMHERST COUNTIES
THROUGH 415 PM EDT...
At 337 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Oakville, or near Bent Creek, moving east at 20
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.
Locations impacted include...
Buckingham...
Dillwyn...
Bent Creek...
Toga...
Appomattox National Historic Park...
Centenary...
and Riverville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3736 7871 3740 7900 3743 7902 3742 7906
3755 7890 3754 7883 3760 7882 3760 7881
3763 7882 3764 7872 3770 7869 3768 7866
3768 7864 3771 7865 3776 7861 3776 7855
3753 7832
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 271DEG 16KT 3746 7882
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CDGSpecial weather statement, Aug 3, 5:51 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
551 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
VAZ034-035-032215-
Amherst VA-Bedford VA-
551 PM EDT Mon Aug 3 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHEASTERN BEDFORD AND SOUTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM
EDT...
At 551 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Big Island, moving southeast at 10 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.
Locations impacted include...
Big Island...
Coleman Falls...
Boonsboro...
Snowden...
Sedalia...
Naola...
and Pleasant View.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3750 7912 3740 7942 3753 7950 3755 7948
3755 7947 3756 7945 3756 7944 3757 7943
3758 7945 3760 7946 3763 7941 3763 7940
3767 7932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 320DEG 9KT 3752 7934
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CDGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 8:07 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Tazewell | 4 hr |
| Aug 2, 11:45 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | RNK | Tazewell | 4 hr |
| Aug 3, 3:00 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Appomattox | 30 min |
| Aug 3, 3:06 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Pittsylvania | 24 min |
| Aug 3, 3:37 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Buckingham | 38 min |
| Aug 3, 5:10 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte | 3 hr |
| Aug 3, 5:51 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Amherst | 24 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
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.