Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 33, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 27, 2026Henry County, Patrick County, City of Martinsville, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 2026, 5:17 PM EDT for Henry County, Patrick County, City of Martinsville, Virginia. It was in force for 43 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
May 27, 2026, 5:17 PM EDT (21:17 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties City of Martinsville, VA, Henry County, VA, Patrick County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:16 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 27, 1:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

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 May 27, 1:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a flash flood risk today.
Area forecast discussion, May 27, 1:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
154 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Severe thunderstorm watch #247 in effect until 9PM for WV/VA
primarily east of I-77, all the way to the coast.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening
with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat.

KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a flash flood risk today.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening
with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across the forecast
area with the main threat between 2PM-9PM. Strong to severe
gusts capable of producing wind damage should be the primary
hazard, but isolated hail may also occur.

30-40 kt of mid-level westerly flow will promote relatively fast
moving storm cells this afternoon and evening. Upper short wave
trough over the Ohio Valley along with east-west oriented front
across the northern Mid-Atlantic will serve as a focus for
organized storm development. In addition, expecting isolated to
scattered storms to develop along the Blue Ridge... all activity
moving east as we progress through the late afternoon and
evening.

Moderate instability (MLCAPE 1500 J/kg) is being forecast across
the northern part of our CWA coupled with 30-40 kt of westerly
deep-layer shear. This should support a mix of multicells and
marginal supercell structures is anticipated along/south of the
front, with scattered damaging winds the main severe risk. Some
hail could also occur with the strongest cores.

KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a flash flood risk today.

Rain has been plentiful the last seven days. With precipitable
water (PWAT) values AOA 1.50 any deep convection will be rain
efficient promoting rain rates of 2-4". Organized storms will
have the best chance to produce excessive rainfall, so be on the
lookout for localized flash flooding. Given the relatively fast
storm cell movement, expecting somewhat lower residence time of
the heavy rain cores, so unless we have training cells, rainfall
totals should generally be held under an inch. That said, high
rain rates can still quickly translate into rapid runoff and
localized flooding.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Thunderstorms are already beginning to form in southwest
Virginia, but as the afternoon continues, they will become more
organized and widespread. All TAF sites have the potential to
experience a strong thunderstorm today. Thunderstorms will quiet
down and taper off sometime before midnight for most of the
area. Strong wind gusts can occur with little notice in the
vicinity of thunderstorms. Additionally, some of these showers
and storms could have high rain rates, temporarily reducing vsby
from the relatively clear conditions we are seeing right now.

Cigs will lower in the presence of any showers or storms,
potentially dropping conditions into MVFR/IFR. Once the
precipitation clears up tonight, cigs will lift again, leaving
most of the area VFR or high end MVFR through Thursday morning.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

By Thursday, the stalled front pushes south of the area, with
high pressure from the north moving in. While shower/storms may
still be possible, they will be isolated and primarily limited
to our southern locations, such as DAN. This will allow for
mostly VFR flight conditions to return to the remainder of the
terminals. VFR will be expected to continue, though fog remains
possible during the overnight hours.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...PM
AVIATION...RCS/VFJ
Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 2:03 PM EDT, 3 hours 14 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

VAZ011-013-014-017>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-WVZ042>044-
507-281815-
Giles-Pulaski-Montgomery-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-
Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-
Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-
Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-
203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 247 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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.

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 Slight Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon and
evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated
damaging wind gusts.

A Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall is also forecast for today as
repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to
an approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash
flooding risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms
train over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of
producing rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.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.

WVZ508-281815-
Western Greenbrier-
203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 247 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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 Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall is forecast for today as
repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to
an approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash
flooding risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms
train over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of
producing rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour.

A Slight Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon and
evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated
damaging wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.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.

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009-010-012-015-016-281815-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-
Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Wythe-Grayson-Carroll-
203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A Marginal Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon
and evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated
damaging wind gusts.

A Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall is also forecast for today as
repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to
an
approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash flooding
risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms train
over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of producing
rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.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, May 27, 4:49 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 27, 5:01 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
501 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0344 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Eden              36.51N 79.76W
05/27/2026                   Rockingham         NC   911 Call Center

            Tree down near the intersection of Park Road
            and Tolbert Street.

&&

as
Local storm report, May 27, 5:02 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
502 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0356 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WNW Mayfield          36.53N 79.60W
05/27/2026                   Rockingham         NC   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Perkinson Road near the NC/VA
            state line.

&&

as
Special weather statement, May 27, 5:04 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
504 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

VAZ032-043-272130-
Henry VA-Patrick VA-
504 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHWESTERN HENRY AND SOUTHEASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM
EDT...

At 504 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Stuart, moving east 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.

Locations impacted include...
Stuart...
Spencer...
Patrick Springs...
Penns Store...
Critz...
and Horse Pasture.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
south central, southwestern and west central Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3656 8032 3669 8027 3666 8000 3657 7998
      3654 8004 3654 8016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 279DEG 23KT 3662 8024

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

DS
Special weather statement, May 27, 5:10 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
510 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

WVZ043-507-508-272130-
Western Greenbrier WV-Summers WV-Eastern Greenbrier WV-
510 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHWESTERN GREENBRIER AND NORTHEASTERN SUMMERS COUNTIES THROUGH 530
PM EDT...

At 510 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Elton, or near Sandstone, moving east at 35 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...
Alderson...
Sandstone...
Lawn...
Elton...
and Glenray.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
southwestern and west central Virginia...and southeastern West
Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3787 8061 3775 8057 3772 8064 3773 8066
      3771 8066 3770 8070 3777 8088 3786 8084
      3787 8081
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 279DEG 31KT 3780 8079

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

DS
Special weather statement, May 27, 5:15 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
515 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

VAZ013-014-017-272130-
Pulaski VA-Floyd VA-Montgomery VA-
515 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
EAST CENTRAL PULASKI...NORTHWESTERN FLOYD AND SOUTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY
COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF RADFORD THROUGH 530 PM EDT...

At 515 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Childress, or near Radford, moving east at 35 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...
Christiansburg...
Radford...
Pilot...
Claytor Dam...
Graysontown...
Childress...
and Claytor Lake State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.

If on or near Claytor Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
south central, southwestern and west central Virginia...and
southeastern West Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3704 8063 3713 8060 3715 8029 3704 8028
      3696 8036
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 279DEG 31KT 3708 8049

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

DS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 8:27 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKCharlotte109 min
May 27, 1:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick28 min
May 27, 1:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin15 min
May 27, 1:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin14 min
May 27, 2:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin16 min
May 27, 2:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin14 min
May 27, 2:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania15 min
May 27, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania14 min
May 27, 3:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania14 min
May 27, 3:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax14 min
May 27, 3:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Martinsville22 min
May 27, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry, Pittsylvania47 min
May 27, 3:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania15 min
May 27, 3:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax14 min
May 27, 3:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax12 min
May 27, 3:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania11 min
May 27, 4:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville15 min
May 27, 4:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCity of Danville51 min
May 27, 4:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania52 min
May 27, 4:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick11 min
May 27, 5:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick26 min
May 27, 5:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Radford15 min
May 27, 5:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany53 min
May 27, 5:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham43 min
May 27, 5:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Buckingham49 min
May 27, 6:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, City of Covington38 min
May 27, 6:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell93 min
May 27, 6:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge and 2 more59 min
May 27, 6:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd34 min
May 27, 7:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, City of Lynchburg62 min
May 27, 7:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland, Tazewell55 min
May 27, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte68 min
May 27, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCaldwell22 min
May 27, 3:10 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKWatauga, Wilkes3 hr
May 27, 3:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes9 min
May 27, 3:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlexander12 min
May 27, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKWilkes, Yadkin30 min
May 27, 5:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham36 min
May 27, 6:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCaswell58 min
May 27, 3:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier10 min
May 27, 4:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier28 min
May 27, 5:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSummers20 min
May 27, 5:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSummers24 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.