Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2026

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

July 18, 2026City of Galax, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at Jul 18, 2026, 3:08 PM EDT for City of Galax, Virginia. It was in force for 37 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
Jul 18, 2026, 3:08 PM EDT (19:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2026, 3:45 PM EDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Hail
0.25 in
Wind
40

County City of Galax, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:12 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 nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 117 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1706 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 43 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1706 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1297 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Jul 18, 2:15 PM EDT, 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Strong to severe showers and thunderstorms this afternoon/evening shifts southeast Sunday, with additional chances for showers and storms through Wednesday. 2) Temperatures will be seasonable for late mid-late July, and cooldown after next frontal passage late week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 2:15 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
215 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 496 in effect for along/east of the
Blue Ridge until 9pm today.

Aviation Updated. Good chance for showers and storms into
midweek.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Strong to severe showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon/evening shifts southeast Sunday,  with additional
chances for showers and storms through Wednesday.

2) Temperatures will be seasonable for late mid-late July, and
cooldown after next frontal passage late week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Strong to severe showers and thunderstorms into
this evening with additional chances for daily thunderstorms
through mid week.

Best severe parameters are in the Piedmont with SBCAPEs of 3000
to 4000 J/kg, and DCAPEs exceeding 1000 J/kg.

Main concern will be from wet microbursts as best shear is
further north. Storms in the mountains could get strong, but
radar trends show many cells competing with each other and this
will tend to keep instability limited. However, training of
cells in the mountains could cause flooding concerns. We've been
dry the last 3+ days for most of the area, so flooding would be
very localized.

5h trough axis will be over us tonight, and should drive the
front further south Sunday. Seems severe and flooding threat
would be limited to our NC counties if that tomorrow.
Showers/storms will could be scattered/numerous with the front
overnight tonight, the lower clouds may hinder instability
Sunday along/north of the front.

As the upper trough position amplifies and the fronts work
southeast through early-mid next week, heavy convective rain
chances will overspread much of the area thanks to a slow wavy
frontal progression.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Temperatures will be seasonable for late mid-late July, and
cooldown after next frontal passage late week.

Pattern with 2 fronts and troughiness will lead to temperatures
running at/close to normal early in the period but still on the
humid side, then after the frontal passage midweek, should see
temperatures slightly below normal.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Storms will be hit/miss today but enough coverage to have VCTS
tempo thunder at times this afternoon per latest radar trends.
Severe threat looks best east of a line from HSP-MTV.

Showers will still be possible as another wave approaches
tonight but for now not as confident in having precip in past
00-02z. Best chance would be across WV tonight.

Lower cigs are likely as the front stretches across the area
late tonight. Anticipate some cigs in the 3 hundred to 3kft
range and at times fog could be an issue.

Should scatter out to VFR by the end of the taf period except
MVFR at BLF.

OUTLOOK SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
Daily convection will bring MVFR or briefly lower conditions
each day through Wednesday. Mountain valley fog/low stratus will
also be possible each morning. A westerly wind with speeds
between 6 and 12 kts will continue Sunday, with occasional gusts
as high as 25 kts for the mountains behind a frontal passage.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...SH/WP
AVIATION...SH/WP
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 2:32 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
232 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NCZ004>006-VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-191845-
Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-
Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-
Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
232 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 496 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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

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

There is a Marginal Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Sunday afternoon
and evening. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts.

There is a Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall Monday.

.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>003-018>020-VAZ015>017-191845-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-
232 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts, though locally
heavy rain is also possible.

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

There is a Marginal Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Sunday afternoon
and evening. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts.

There is a Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall Monday.

.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.

VAZ007-009>014-018>020-WVZ042>044-507-508-191845-
Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Craig-
Alleghany VA-Bath-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-
Western Greenbrier-
232 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening, and a Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall. The main threat
will be damaging wind gusts, though locally heavy rain is also
possible.

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

There is a Marginal Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Sunday afternoon
and evening. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts, though
locally heavy rain is also possible.

There is a Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall Monday.

.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 18, 2:45 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 18, 2:53 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 18, 2:59 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 18, 3:03 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 18, 3:06 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 18, 3:08 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
Jul 18, 11:29 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson31 min
Jul 18, 11:43 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll32 min
Jul 18, 12:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll32 min
Jul 18, 12:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington29 min
Jul 18, 12:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll32 min
Jul 18, 12:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte28 min
Jul 18, 12:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell24 min
Jul 18, 12:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBath19 min
Jul 18, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte20 min
Jul 18, 1:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte40 min
Jul 18, 1:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin20 min
Jul 18, 1:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington29 min
Jul 18, 1:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe27 min
Jul 18, 1:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte22 min
Jul 18, 2:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, City of Covington31 min
Jul 18, 2:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Covington39 min
Jul 18, 2:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery31 min
Jul 18, 2:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte30 min
Jul 18, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax22 min
Jul 18, 3:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, City of Radford24 min
Jul 18, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Buena Vista30 min
Jul 18, 3:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, Roanoke, City of Salem31 min
Jul 18, 3:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKMontgomery119 min
Jul 18, 3:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Botetourt, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Roanoke and 1 more54 min
Jul 18, 3:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst28 min
Jul 18, 3:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Bedford53 min
Jul 18, 4:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick26 min
Jul 18, 4:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham35 min
Jul 18, 4:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte31 min
Jul 18, 5:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte24 min
Jul 18, 5:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax33 min
Jul 18, 5:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax25 min
Jul 18, 5:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax62 min
Jul 18, 5:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax33 min
Jul 18, 12:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany37 min
Jul 18, 2:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry31 min
Jul 18, 2:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes, Surry, Yadkin62 min
Jul 18, 3:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWatauga27 min
Jul 18, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKWilkes65 min
Jul 18, 3:27 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKWatauga2 hr
Jul 18, 3:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSurry, Wilkes, Yadkin66 min
Jul 18, 4:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKYadkin26 min
Jul 18, 4:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes, Surry62 min
Jul 18, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKYadkin19 min
Jul 18, 5:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham25 min
Jul 18, 12:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSummers26 min
Jul 18, 1:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMonroe22 min
Jul 18, 7:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier30 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2026Every special weather statement 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.