Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2026
Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA
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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
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</html>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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</html>Local storm report, Jul 18, 2:59 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, Jul 18, 3:08 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 11:29 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Grayson | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 11:43 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Carroll | 32 min |
| Jul 18, 12:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Carroll | 32 min |
| Jul 18, 12:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington | 29 min |
| Jul 18, 12:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Carroll | 32 min |
| Jul 18, 12:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 28 min |
| Jul 18, 12:51 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Tazewell | 24 min |
| Jul 18, 12:56 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Bath | 19 min |
| Jul 18, 1:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 20 min |
| Jul 18, 1:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 40 min |
| Jul 18, 1:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Franklin | 20 min |
| Jul 18, 1:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington | 29 min |
| Jul 18, 1:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Wythe | 27 min |
| Jul 18, 1:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Charlotte | 22 min |
| Jul 18, 2:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Alleghany, City of Covington | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 2:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Alleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Covington | 39 min |
| Jul 18, 2:44 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Montgomery | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 2:45 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 30 min |
| Jul 18, 2:53 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Halifax | 22 min |
| Jul 18, 3:06 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Montgomery, City of Radford | 24 min |
| Jul 18, 3:15 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | City of Buena Vista | 30 min |
| Jul 18, 3:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Salem | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 3:31 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Montgomery | 119 min |
| Jul 18, 3:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Roanoke and 1 more | 54 min |
| Jul 18, 3:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Amherst | 28 min |
| Jul 18, 3:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Amherst, Bedford | 53 min |
| Jul 18, 4:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Patrick | 26 min |
| Jul 18, 4:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Buckingham | 35 min |
| Jul 18, 4:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 5:06 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Charlotte | 24 min |
| Jul 18, 5:12 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Halifax | 33 min |
| Jul 18, 5:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Halifax | 25 min |
| Jul 18, 5:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Charlotte, Halifax | 62 min |
| Jul 18, 5:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Halifax | 33 min |
| Jul 18, 12:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Alleghany | 37 min |
| Jul 18, 2:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Surry | 31 min |
| Jul 18, 2:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Stokes, Surry, Yadkin | 62 min |
| Jul 18, 3:03 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Watauga | 27 min |
| Jul 18, 3:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Wilkes | 65 min |
| Jul 18, 3:27 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Watauga | 2 hr |
| Jul 18, 3:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin | 66 min |
| Jul 18, 4:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Yadkin | 26 min |
| Jul 18, 4:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Stokes, Surry | 62 min |
| Jul 18, 4:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RNK | Yadkin | 19 min |
| Jul 18, 5:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Rockingham | 25 min |
| Jul 18, 12:49 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Summers | 26 min |
| Jul 18, 1:38 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Monroe | 22 min |
| Jul 18, 7:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RNK | Greenbrier | 30 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.