High Wind in Virginia, April 3, 2005

Name: High Wind in Virginia, April 3, 2005
Start: 2005-04-03T04:00
End: 2005-04-03T18:00
Location: Virginia

April 3, 2005 · NWS RNK · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

Deep closed upper level low and associated surface low passed directly over southwest Virginia on April 2nd. The surface low deepened significantly as it exited and headed northeast.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Fire, smoke and dust
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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

Deep closed upper level low and associated surface low passed directly over southwest Virginia on April 2nd. The surface low deepened significantly as it exited and headed northeast. Unusualy strong low level winds developed in the deep, cyclonic flow in the storm's wake. The strongest wind gusts topped out in the 50 to 56 kt range for at least a one hour time frame. The winds caused widespread (mostly tree and powerline) damage over the favored high (cross-mountain flow) wind locations. Wet soil conditions likely aggravated the tree damage. There were also a few reports of structural damage (mainly roof and siding damage).

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 3, 2:12 AM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 2:12 AM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
312 AM EDT SUN APR 3 2005

.SHORT TERM (TODAY)...

SFC AND UPPER LOW FILLING UP OVER PA...WITH SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY
WANING ACROSS THE HIGH COUNTRY OF NC AND INTO SW VA. STILL A DECENT
BAND OF SNOW SHOWERS FROM BKW-BCB. 00Z ETA12 DEPICTED S/W TROF
LIFTING THIS OUT BY 12Z. THEREFORE WILL DROP SNOW ADVISORY FROM ZONE
HEADLINES AT ISSUANCE...AND LET THE WSW EXPIRE AT 1030Z/0630EDT. THE
WINDS ARE THE BIG CONCERN THROUGH THE DAY. CLDS HAVE PREVENTED
STRONGEST WINDS ALOFT FROM REACHING THE SFC THIS MORNING...BUT WITH
TROF LIFTING OUT...THINK SOME CLEARING BETWEEN NOW AND 18Z WILL
ALLOW STRONGER WINDS TO COME POURING DOWN INTO THE BLUE RIDGE.
STRONGEST PRESSURE RISES ARE THIS MORNING....THEN LOOKS LIKE WINDS
WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE BY 21Z-00Z. WILL LET THE CURRENT HIGH WIND
WARNING/ADVISORIES RIDE TIL 00Z...AND LET THE DAY SHIFT CUT IT OFF
EARLIER IF NEED BE. OTHERWISE...WE WILL BE GOING QUICKLY BACK FROM
CAA TO WAA BY THIS AFTN. FORECAST HIGHS OFF OF MOS LOOK
REASONABLE...BUT WINDS IN THE WEST MAY LIMIT RISES TOO
MUCH...ESPECIALLY IN SE WV.

&&

.LONG TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...

MAIN UPPER LOW SHIFTS NORTHEAST INTO EASTERN PA OVERNIGHT WITH DRY
AIR RAPIDLY MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE AREA. ANTICIPATE CLEAR SKIES IN
MOST LOCALES OVERNIGHT. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE SE WV WERE SOME
LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND NORTHWEST WINDS STILL MAY PRODUCE
SOME PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES.

AS WE HEAD INTO MID-WEEK..AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE
REGION. THIS SHOULD ALLOW FOR MODERATING TEMPERATURES AND DRY
WEATHER THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY NIGHT.  MAV/MET MOS GUIDANCE RANGES
FROM 0 TO 3 DEGREES FROM EACH OTHER ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY AND
TUESDAY. WILL SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE FOR HIGHS/LOWS.

DAY SHIFT SATURDAY NOTED AN INCREASE IN SPEED WITH OUR NEXT
POTENTIAL WEATHER MAKER. THIS TREND HAS CONTINUED WITH THE LATEST
RUN OF THE OPERATIONAL GFS. CANADIAN AND EUROPEAN SOLUTIONS HAVE NOT
SHOWN THIS QUICKER SOLUTION. AS A COMPROMISE...HAVE GONE WITH A
SLIGHTLY QUICKER ARRIVAL TIME. THIS YIELDED A SMALL INCREASE IN POPS
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH THE INCLUSION OF THUNDER...AND SLIGHTLY
SMALL POPS ON THURSDAY WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL IN THE EAST.

MAIN ASSOCIATED UPPER LOW THEN TRACKS SLOWLY ACROSS THE REGION
THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK. HAVE KEPT A CONTINUATION OF
SMALL CHANCES OF SHOWERS INTO FRIDAY. HEIGHTS LOOK HIGH ENOUGH TO
AVOID THE S-WORK THIS TIME. SOMETHING OF NOTE IS THE GFS 850-500 MB
6.3-.6.8 C/KM LAPSE RATES ALONG THE TRACK OF THE CENTER OF THE UPPER
LOW ACROSS NC. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THUNDER THIS
FAR OUT FOR THIS FEATURE.
&&

.AVIATION...

STRONG LOW PRESSURE OVER ERN PA WILL SLOWLY PULL NE INTO ERN NY BY
THIS EVENING. TAF WISE...THE ONLY CONCERNS WILL BE VERY STRONG
WINDS...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF THE BLUE RIDGE. 50 KNOT
WIND GUSTS ARE LIKELY AT TIMES AT KROA BETWEEN 15Z-19Z. CIGS EARLY
THIS MORNING WILL BE VFR. LOOK FOR THE WINDS TO BEGIN SUBSIDING
TOWARD 00Z TODAY.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR VAZ009>020-022>024-032>035 UNTIL 8 PM
     SUNDAY.
  ...WIND ADVISORY FOR VAZ007 UNTIL 8 PM SUNDAY.
  ...WIND ADVISORY FOR VAZ043>047-058-059 FROM 8 AM SUNDAY TO 8 PM
     SUNDAY.
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR NCZ001>003-018-019 UNTIL 8 PM SUNDAY.
  ...WIND ADVISORY FOR NCZ004>006-020 FROM 8 AM SUNDAY TO 8 PM
     SUNDAY.
WV...WIND ADVISORY FOR WVZ042>045 UNTIL 8 PM SUNDAY.
&&

05/15/05

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 5:23 PM EST, 10 hours 37 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

VAZ007-WVZ042-043-045-031100-
TAZEWELL-MERCER-SUMMERS-GREENBRIER-
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH NOON
SUNDAY. 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV OR AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AFTER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS MAY BE CONTACTED FOR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY
MORNING.

NCZ002-003-019-VAZ010>014-016>020-022>024-032>035-031100-
ALLEGHANY-SURRY-WILKES-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-
CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-
PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHWEST
NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
60 MPH...ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV OR AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AFTER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS MAY BE CONTACTED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DAMAGE FROM HIGH
WINDS.

WVZ044-031100-
MONROE-
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV OR AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AFTER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.

NCZ004>006-020-VAZ043>047-058-059-031100-
STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-YADKIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-
APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
VIRGINIA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTH
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT SUNDAY. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV OR AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV.

NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AFTER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.

NCZ001-018-VAZ009-015-031100-
ASHE-WATAUGA-SMYTH-GRAYSON-
523 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA AND NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING. EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
65 MPH.

A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH NOON
SUNDAY. 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV OR AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AFTER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS MAY BE CONTACTED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DAMAGE FROM HIGH
WINDS AND FOR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Smyth

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Smyth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 36.844, -81.537 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bland

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Bland forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.134, -81.130 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Giles

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Giles forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.314, -80.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wythe

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Wythe forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 36.917, -81.079 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pulaski

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.098, -80.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Montgomery / Radford

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Montgomery / Radford forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grayson

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 36.657, -81.225 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carroll / Galax

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Carroll / Galax forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 36.697, -80.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Floyd

When: April 3, 4:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 36.932, -80.362 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Amherst

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Amherst forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Craig

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Craig forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.481, -80.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Alleghany / Clifton Forge / Covington

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Alleghany / Clifton Forge / Covington forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.791, -80.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bath

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Bath forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 38.059, -79.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Roanoke / Salem / Roanoke

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Roanoke / Salem / Roanoke forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.258, -80.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Botetourt

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Botetourt forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.557, -79.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rockbridge / Buena Vista / Lexington

When: April 3, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Rockbridge / Buena Vista / Lexington forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 37.774, -79.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, April 2005

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5448502, 5448503, 5448504, 5448506, 5448507, 5448508, 5448509, 5448510, 5448511, 5448505, 5448512, 5448513, 5448514, 5448515, 5448516, 5448590.