Alert archive / Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2026

Special Weather Statement, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 3, 2026Amherst County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this special weather statement at Aug 3, 2026, 5:51 PM EDT for Amherst County, Virginia. It was in force for 24 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: Aug 3, 2026, 5:51 PM EDT (21:51 UTC)
Expired: Aug 3, 2026, 6:15 PM EDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Hail: 0.25 in
Wind: 40

County Amherst County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:53 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

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 41 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

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 Aug 3, 1:43 PM EDT, 4 hours 8 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 8 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 4 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, 2 hours 51 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

CDG

Special weather statement, Aug 3, 3:06 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 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

CDG

Special weather statement, Aug 3, 3:37 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 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

CDG

Special weather statement, Aug 3, 5:51 PM EDT, 0 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

CDG

The 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, 6:40 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge	3 hr
Aug 2, 8:33 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	2 hr
Aug 2, 10:54 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	4 hr
Aug 2, 11:16 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Mercer	5 hr
Aug 2, 11:44 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Summers	6 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Virginia, 2026 Every 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.