A moist and unstable air mass ahead of a cold front helped with the formation of thunderstorms. Some of the storms had torrential rains which caused flash flooding over portions of the Southwest Virginia mountains and piedmont during the afternoon and evening of August 5th.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
A moist and unstable air mass ahead of a cold front helped with the formation of thunderstorms. Some of the storms had torrential rains which caused flash flooding over portions of the Southwest Virginia mountains and piedmont during the afternoon and evening of August 5th.
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 Aug 5, 3:11 PM EST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 411 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM THE NEW ENGLAND ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TO THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE MID ATLANTIC REGION TONIGHT AND THURSDAY AND WILL BE APPROACHING THE COAST BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION BEHIND THE FRONT AND WILL BE CENTERED OVER WEST VIRGINIA FRIDAY MORNING. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... A SERIES OF SHORT WAVES ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WILL CROSS THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING. THE AIRMASS OVER THE COUNTY WARNING AREA IS UNSTABLE AND VERY MOIST SO THE THREAT OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE FRONT GOES THROUGH ON THURSDAY. MUCH OF THE GUIDANCE HAS THE SURFACE AND 850 MB COLD FRONT EAST OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA BY 18Z THURSDAY. SOME OF DRIER AIR EVEN STARTS WORKING IN TO THE NORTHWEST COUNTY WARNING AREA THURSDAY MORNING. PATCHY FOG HAS BEEN ADDED EARLY THURSDAY BUT UNTIL THEN OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL BE MILD. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... ON THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT THE UPPER LEVEL TROF AXIS MOVES JUST OFF THE EAST COAST. AT THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT AND WILL BE CENTERED OVER WEST VIRGINIA AT 12Z FRIDAY. MODELS ARE SHOWING SLIGHTLY COOLER 850 MB TEMPERATURES...IN THE +12 TO +14 RANGE...SO OVERNIGHT LOWS ON THURSDAY NIGHT WILL BE BACK DOWN IN THE 50S FOR MUCH OF THE AREA WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF AN MCS TYPE SYSTEM TRACKING SOUTHEAST DOWN THE WARM FRONT. EVEN IF WHATEVER SYSTEM DEVELOPS OR TRACKS THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY FRIDAY NIGHT WEAKENS AS IT APPROACHES...THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH WARM AIR ADVECTION AND LIFT OVER THE WARM FRONT ON SATURDAY FOR A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS 500 MB HEIGHTS RISE...THE SURFACE WARM FRONT MOVES WELL EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. HAVE SLIGHTLY INCREASED HIGHS TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY BASED ON THE LATEST MAV GUIDANCE. MOST ENSEMBLE DATA AS WELL AS THE CANADIAN AND GEFS HAVE TEMPERATURES AROUND +20 ON SUNDAY. THE UPPER RIDGE BEGINS TO FLATTEN BY TUESDAY. AS THE RIDGE WEAKENS AND HIGH PRESSURE MOVES EAST...RETURN FLOW AROUND THE HIGH BEGINS TO BRING BACK MOISTURE AND LIFT. THE CHANCE OF DIURNAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASES EACH DAY THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... LATEST VIS SAT IMAGERY SHOWS MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ACROSS THE RNK CWA. CONVECTIVE CLOUDS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SW VA AND ESPECIALLY NC. EXPECT CONVECTION TO FIRE AND BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD BETWEEN 17 AND 19Z AS CONVECTIVE TEMPS ARE REACHED AND AS THE MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE OVER E KY MOVES E AND PROVIDES FORCING FOR ASCENT. MAINLY VFR/MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTN IN MOST SPOTS BUT CONVECTION WILL PRODUCE REDUCED VSBYS AND CIGS. CONVECTION WILL LIKELY PERSIST FOR AWHILE TONIGHT WITH THE FRONT LAGGING TO THE NW THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING AND SHORT WAVE TROUGH AXIS REMAINING NEAR THE SPINE F THE APPALACHIANS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. CONVECTION MAY ARRIVE IN SEVERAL WAVES UNTIL UPPER TROF SLIPS E OF THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT. SOME MVFR FOG EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT TOWARD DAYBREAK IN PREFERRED LOCATIONS BUT PROXIMITY TO FRONT AND FAIRLY DECENT CLOUD COVER SHOULD LIMIT ITS MAGNITUDE. ANOTHER ROUND OF AFTERNOON CONVECTION CAN BE EXPECTED E OF THE MTNS TOWARD THE END OF THIS TAF PERIOD ON THURS AFTN. LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD FROM THURSDAY INTO SUNDAY... COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE REGION THRU LATE IN THE WEEK SUPPORTING CONVECTION...ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS. FRONT SHOULD EVENTUALLY RETREAT NORTH DURING THE WEEKEND WITH REGION REMAINING IN A WARM AND MOIST AIRMASS SUPPORTING SCT...MAINLY AFTERNOON/EVE CONVECTION. REDUCED VSBYS AND CIGS EXPECTED IN LATE NIGHT/MORNING FOG IN PREFERRED RIVER AND VALLEY LOCATIONS. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...NONE. NC...NONE. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...AMS NEAR TERM...AMS/JJ SHORT TERM...AMS LONG TERM...AMS AVIATION...JH/JB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 444 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ009>018-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-WVZ044- 062045- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL- FLOYD-CRAIG-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD- AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX- CHARLOTTE-MONROE- 444 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009 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...TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND REPORTS TO OUR OFFICE. VAZ007-019-020-WVZ042-043-045-062045- TAZEWELL-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MERCER-SUMMERS-GREENBRIER- 444 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
458 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 PM HAIL 4 SSW MOUNTAIN LAKE 37.30N 80.58W
08/05/2009 M0.75 INCH GILES VA BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
WHPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
506 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SSW NORTH WILKESBORO 36.13N 81.16W
08/05/2009 WILKES NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 16/18
0418 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 WNW WILKESBORO 36.17N 81.26W
08/05/2009 WILKES NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ON FISH DAM CREEK RD
0425 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W NORTH WILKESBORO 36.18N 81.22W
08/05/2009 WILKES NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ON PADS RD
0423 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 W NORTH WILKESBORO 36.18N 81.23W
08/05/2009 WILKES NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ON GREEN ACRES RD
0428 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WNW NORTH WILKESBORO 36.18N 81.19W
08/05/2009 WILKES NC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN ON SUNCREST ORCHARD RD
&&
JJACKSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
517 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 PM TSTM WND GST 2 SE DOBSON 36.37N 80.70W
08/05/2009 E60 MPH SURRY NC NWS EMPLOYEE
LIMBS DOWN.
&&
WHPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
521 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0424 PM HAIL 4 SSW MOUNTAIN LAKE 37.30N 80.58W
08/05/2009 M0.75 INCH GILES VA BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
WHPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
521 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009
VAZ014-018-022-052215-
CRAIG VA-MONTGOMERY VA-ROANOKE VA-
521 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CRAIG...MONTGOMERY AND ROANOKE
COUNTIES...
AT 519 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF
BLACKSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN
WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND
QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING FROM THIS STORM. DO NOT STAY IN THE OPEN OR
SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN
A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR ELLISTON AROUND 530 PM...BRADSHAW AROUND 545
PM...GLENVAR AROUND 600 PM AND CATAWBA AROUND 615 PM.
LAT...LON 3744 8004 3742 8008 3740 8003 3721 7998
3716 8022 3736 8028 3746 8005
EXPERIMENTAL
DSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
536 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 S BENT MOUNTAIN 37.10N 80.12W
08/05/2009 FLOYD VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE REPORTED DOWN AT MILE MARKER 140 ON THE BLUE RIDGE
PARKWAY.
&&
CHENARDThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
7 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Redstone Branch flooded its banks, and brought over half a foot of water across the intersection of Sugar Street and Redstone Road.
Mill Creek flooded a portion of Catawba Road.
Heavy rains in a short period of time caused street flooding along Payne Avenue, closing the road.
Heavy rains created street flooding along the intersection of Fairground Road, and Fincastle Turnpike.
Full Mill Branch flooded its banks along Dial Rock Road.
Strawberry Creek flood a portion of Strawberry Road, causing the road to be closed.
Jacobs Creek came out of its banks, flooding a portion of Red House Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2009
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: 194949, 194951, 194952, 194953, 194954, 194955, 194957.