Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 142, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 28, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT for 7 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 64 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
- Jul 28, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT (20:11 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 28, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 64 min
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Bedford County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, City of Roanoke, VA, City of Salem, VA, Craig County, VA, Franklin County, VA, Roanoke County, VA
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:10 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 1:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 39 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
- 500 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -115 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1072 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 20 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 137 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 150 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.0
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 Jul 28, 1:49 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Key Message 1: Another round of more potent thunderstorms this afternoon into evening. Storms have the potential to be strong/severe.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 1:49 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 149 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued area-wide through 8 PM this evening. Another second, more potent round of storms is expected through this afternoon into evening. Damaging winds will be the main threat, with a secondary tornado and hail threat. && .KEY MESSAGES... Key Message 1: Another round of more potent thunderstorms this afternoon into evening. Storms have the potential to be strong/severe. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Another round of more potent thunderstorms this afternoon into evening. Storms have the potential to be strong/severe. Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 8 PM this evening area- wide. First impulse and associated rain has largely exited the area. Much of the previous activity was stratiform while more cellular development occurred near the western CWA. Some segments of strong storms have quickly triggered across WV and will enter our NW shortly. This was supported earlier this morning with decent CAM consensus and some scattering of the cloud deck has occurred allowing for destabilization. The upper NW flow looks to still support some shortwave impulse influencing dynamic forcing for continued development. Shear parameters look quite favorable for organized storm modes along with possible supercells interacting with low level helicity. Still thinking damaging winds are the primary threat then large hail and isolated tornadoes as secondary threats. As far as the flash flooding threat, there was already some training cells in the west earlier that prompted and verified warning issuance. This could continue to be an issue for other areas that see similar cell trends with the transition into the afternoon round of convection. The morning sounding indicated about a 1.5 inch PWAT so these storms should be efficient precip producers. By later this evening activity should wane and exit southward, then much of the rest of this week should be dry and dominated with an upper ridge of high pressure. The next main chance for precip looks to hold off until next weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... While some shower and thunderstorm activity has pushed southeastward, another round of development is possible through the afternoon that could have strong to severe VRB gusts and reduced vsbys. Some clearing could occur later this evening into the overnight, while cigs of MVFR and lower could form near BLF to LWB. Outside of any storms, winds this afternoon should be west to SW 12- 14 kts gusting to the low 20s, then shift NW this evening through Wednesday with enhanced gusts again during the daytime. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Gusty, post frontal winds are expected Wednesday, but VFR. The rest of the week through Friday will also be mainly VFR, outside of any morning fog. Precipitation chances increase again by Saturday. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...AB AVIATION...AB/BMG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 2:08 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 208 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-291815- 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- Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell- Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 208 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 526 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. A second round of strong to severe storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes this afternoon into evening. Flash flooding is also a threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 2:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:14 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:35 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Jul 28, 4:02 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Jul 28, 4:03 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Special weather statement, Jul 28, 4:05 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
405 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
NCZ019-282030-
Wilkes NC-
405 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHWESTERN WILKES COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM EDT...
At 405 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Wilkesboro Reservoir, or near Boomer, moving southeast 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...
Wilkesboro...
Boomer...
Wilkesboro Reservoir...
Buck...
Elkville...
Moravian Falls...
and Cricket.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
northwestern North Carolina...and southwestern Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3604 8138 3604 8140 3605 8139 3607 8141
3608 8145 3622 8131 3606 8099 3603 8107
3604 8114 3603 8117 3604 8120 3603 8127
3600 8132
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 310DEG 19KT 3611 8132
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ASThe office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 10:41 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Tazewell | 64 min |
| Jul 28, 10:51 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe | 54 min |
| Jul 28, 10:59 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Tazewell | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 11:23 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe | 5 hr |
| Jul 28, 11:43 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Grayson, Smyth, Wythe | 62 min |
| Jul 28, 12:18 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RNK | Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe, City of Galax | 5 hr |
| Jul 28, 12:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Carroll, Grayson, City of Galax | 53 min |
| Jul 28, 1:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Pulaski | 35 min |
| Jul 28, 1:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Carroll, Floyd, Patrick, Pulaski, Wythe | 60 min |
| Jul 28, 2:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Alleghany | 67 min |
| Jul 28, 2:37 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Tazewell | 23 min |
| Jul 28, 2:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe | 56 min |
| Jul 28, 3:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke | 64 min |
| Jul 28, 3:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bland | 31 min |
| Jul 28, 3:22 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Bland, Tazewell, Wythe | 23 min |
| Jul 28, 3:27 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bath, Rockbridge | 25 min |
| Jul 28, 3:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Floyd, Pulaski, City of Radford | 25 min |
| Jul 28, 3:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski | 41 min |
| Jul 28, 3:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Pulaski, Wythe, City of Galax | 23 min |
| Jul 28, 4:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Grayson, Smyth | 53 min |
| Jul 28, 4:45 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | City of Roanoke | 2 hr |
| Jul 28, 4:51 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Henry | 24 min |
| Jul 28, 4:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Henry, Patrick | 65 min |
| Jul 28, 2:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Wilkes | 32 min |
| Jul 28, 4:05 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Wilkes | 25 min |
| Jul 28, 4:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Wilkes | 24 min |
| Jul 28, 4:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Watauga | 33 min |
| Jul 28, 5:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes | 36 min |
| Jul 28, 5:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Caswell, Rockingham | 49 min |
| Jul 28, 6:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Rockingham | 20 min |
| Jul 28, 7:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Caswell | 36 min |
| Jul 28, 7:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Caswell | 43 min |
| Jul 28, 1:28 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 47 min |
| Jul 28, 2:32 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RNK | Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers | 28 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.