A squall line along and ahead of a cold front moved across Southwest Virginia during the evening of February 11th. Some of the showers and storms along this line produced damaging winds which downed trees and power lines.
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 squall line along and ahead of a cold front moved across Southwest Virginia during the evening of February 11th. Some of the showers and storms along this line produced damaging winds which downed trees and power lines.
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 Feb 11, 6:26 PM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
626 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
AN DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK FROM THE OHIO VALLEY
INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES BY TONIGHT. THIS WILL SWEEP A STRONG AND
FAST MOVING COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION THIS EVENING.
STRONG WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT...AND THE WINDY CONDITIONS
WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THE FRONT INTO THURSDAY EVENING...AND THEN
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST FOR LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO FRIDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
SENT A QUICK UPDATE FOR SVR TSRA WATCH FOR MUCH OF THE AREA
ALONG/WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE UNTIL 03Z.
PRIMARY THREATS FOR THE NEAR TERM ARE STRONG GRADIENT WINDS WITH
DEEPENING LOW MOVING INTO THE GREAT LAKES TONIGHT...AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WITH A SQUALL LINE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL KY THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL ALSO BRING DAMMING WIND THREATS TO THE
AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG/WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE THIS EVENING. THE
8H JET IS PROGGED TO BE OVERHEAD BY MIDNIGHT...EXCEEDING 65 KNOTS.
CLEARING TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE SQUALL LINE AND CLOUDINESS OVER
THE NEW RIVER VALLEY AND POINTS EAST SHOULD HELP DESTABILIZE THE
AIRMASS SOMEWHAT. SHOULD SEE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVING
UP THE BLUE RIDGE INTO LATE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE LINE OF
CONVECTION MAKING INROADS TOWARD THE WRN CWA 7 PM.
THE STRAIGHT LINE WIND THREAT WITH THE CONVECTION STILL COVERED
UNDER A HIGH WIND WARNING...WITH SPECIAL WX STATEMENTS AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS TO HIGHLIGHT THE MORE POTENT CONVECTIVE
ELEMENTS. THIS FAST MOVING FRONT WILL MOVE EAST OF THE FORECAST
AREA BY 06Z. STRONG WINDS WILL MIX DOWN UNDER THE ELEVATED
INVERSION...WITH SOUNDINGS DEPICTING MOMENTUM TRANSFER SPEEDS OF
UP TO 65 KNOTS. WILL KEEP THE HIGH WIND WARNINGS/ADVISORIES IN THE
CURRENT LOCATIONS.
FOLLOWING CLOSE TO THE LOCAL WRF MODEL...SHOWS HIGHEST POPS OVER
THE SRN AND WRN CWA...WITH LESS IN THE FOOTHILLS EAST OF THE
ROANOKE AREA. STILL THREAT EXISTS THAT MOST LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF
THE VA PIEDMONT WILL BE SEE SOME MEASURABLE PRECIP. SHOWERS/TSRA
WILL WORK EAST BY 06Z...WITH SOME LIMITED UPSLOPE ON THE BACKSIDE
OF THE SYSTEM PUSHING INTO THE SE WV MTNS. LITTLE OR NO SNOW
EXPECTED AS COLDER AIR IS DELAYED AND GROUND IS WARM.
TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL STAY MILD OUT EAST AND INTO THE BLUE
RIDGE AS HIGH WINDS KEEP THINGS MIXED. LOOKING FOR LOWS CLOSE TO
MAV IN THE SE WV TO VA HIGHLANDS AREA WITH AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE
MOS ELSEWHERE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
50-60KT LOW LEVEL JET WILL KEEP STRONG WINDS GUSTING DURING THE DAY
THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. IMAGINE A WIND ADVISORY MAY NEED TO
BE CONTINUED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT IN SOME AREAS AFTER THE WARNING
EXPIRES. PRECIPITATION CHANCES ARE VERY LIMITED THURSDAY MORNING
WITH LACK OF MOISTURE AND A STRONG WESTERLY FLOW. IF ANY
PRECIPITATION DOES FALL THURSDAY MORNING...IT WILL BE LIGHT AND ON
WESTERN SLOPES OF THE GREENBRIER VALLEY. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO REMAIN
ABOVE FREEZING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIGHER ELEVATIONS THROUGH THE
MORNING. ANY SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE LIMITED TO A DUSTING ON THESE
HIGHER RIDGES.
HIGH PRESSURE AND MODERATING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED ON FRIDAY.
FRIDAY NIGHT...AN OCCLUDED LOW WILL BE TRACKING FROM THE MID WEST TO
THE OHIO VALLEY. A SECONDARY SURFACE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER
THE SOUTHEASTERN US BY SUNRISE SATURDAY. THIS SECONDARY LOW WILL
BRING LOWERING CLOUDS AND RAIN TO THE AREA EARLY SATURDAY MORNING TO
AREAS ALONG THE VA/NC BORDER. TEMPS MAY BE COLD ENOUGH EARLY SAT
MORNING FOR RAIN TO BE MIXED WITH SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN
PORTIONS OF THE CWA. RAIN SHIELD MOVES NORTH AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE
AREA LATE SATURDAY MORNING. AS THE SECONDARY LOW TRACKS OFF THE
COAST...RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE. HOWEVER...UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM
SLOW TO MOVE EAST AND LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE MAY LINGER INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
QUASI ZONAL FLOW WITH DISTURBANCES BEING EJECTED FROM THE FOUR
CORNERS REGION...WILL PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRECIP
THROUGH THE LONG TERM. THE ECMWF/GFS HAVE COME INTO BETTER
AGREEMENT...BUT STILL DISAGREE WITH HOW COLD THE AIRMASS WILL BE
WHEN THESE DISTURBANCES APPROACH. WITH NO BIG PATTERN CHANGES
OCCURRING IN THE UPPER FLOW...THINK THAT THE OP GFS MAY BE TOO
COLD AS IT WAS YESTERDAY. THE MOST INTERESTING STORM APPROACHES
DURING THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...AS A SYSTEM APPROACHES THE COAST
WITH MORE AMPLITUDE IN THE UPPER FLOW. PLENTY OF TIME TO WATCH
THIS SYSTEM EVOLVE...WOULD EXPECT A TRACK FARTHER NORTH AND WEST
OF CURRENT SOLUTIONS...AS THESE SYSTEM USUALLY HAVE A SOUTH BIAS
THIS FAR OUT. THAT MAY SET UP STRONGER WEDGING..AND WOULD SUGGEST
MORE OF A RAIN/FREEZING RAIN EVENT OPPOSED TO SNOW. BOUNDARY
LAYER/GROUND WILL STILL BE FAIRLY WARM SO THIS COULD LIMIT THE
EVENT FURTHER.
&&
.AVIATION /23Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
BAND OF LOW TOPPED CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT MAKING ITS
WAY ACROSS THE FAR WEST ATTM AND SHOULD MOVE EAST TO AROUND THE
BLUE RIDGE IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE LOW LEVEL JET AHEAD OF THE
APPROACHING COLD FRONT IS QUITE STRONG...AND WITH HEATING STRONGER
WINDS SHOULD MIX TO THE SFC. THIS MAY RESULT IN GUSTS TO MORE THAN
40 KTS AT KBLF/KLWB THRU 03Z...THEN EAST TO ROA IF THE LINE HOLDS
TOGETHER.
THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE BLF/LWB AREA AROUND 01Z...AND
WITH A FAST FLOW...CLEAR DAN/LYH BY 04Z-05Z. A LINE OF
SHOWERS/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE TAF SITES
ALONG/WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE WITH THE FRONT. THUNDER CHANCES WILL
REMAIN LOW ENOUGH TO NOT INCLUDE IN TAFS ATTM...EXCEPT ADDING CB
TO THE CLOUD GROUP. THE MAIN THREAT WITH CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE
FRONT IS WIND GUSTS TO 40-50KT GUSTS AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL.
WILL THEN SEE STRONG SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS TO BETTER THAN 40
KTS BEHIND THE FRONT AND LASTING OVERNIGHT. THERE COULD BE SOME
LULLS THE WINDS OUT IN THE PIEDMONT NEAR DAN TOWARD 12Z THU...BUT
OVERALL...THIS TAF PERIOD WILL BE DEFINED BY THE HIGH WINDS.
STRONG WESTERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT
THURSDAY...AND POSSIBLY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO
50 KNOTS WILL BE COMMON. OF THE AIRPORTS...ROA WILL LIKELY SEE THE
STRONGEST SFC WINDS DURING THE DAY THURSDAY INTO THU EVENING.
HIGH PRES BUILDS IN FOR FRIDAY RESULTING IN DIMINISHING WINDS AND
VFR CONDITIONS.
ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL BRING A RETURN OF RAINY WEATHER TO THE AREA
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THIS WILL LIKELY BRING MVFR
CONDITIONS...POSSIBLY IFR CONDITIONS.
COLDER HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION BEGINNING
SUNDAY...BRINGING A CHC FOR MVFR CONDITIONS AND SHOWERS TO THE
WESTERN SLOPES INCLUDING BLF AND LWB.
&&
.CLIMATE...
RECORD HIGHS FOR FEBRUARY 11
ROA...80...1932
LYH...82...1932
DAN...70...1999 BROKEN 71 DEGREES SO FAR
RNK...67...1959
BLF...69...1965
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT FOR VAZ007-
009>020-022>024-032>035.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING FOR VAZ043>047-058-059.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY FOR VAZ043>047-058-059.
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT FOR
NCZ001>003-018-019.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING FOR NCZ003>006-019-020.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY FOR NCZ004>006-020.
WV...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT FOR
WVZ042>045.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JJ/WP
NEAR TERM...JJ/WP
SHORT TERM...JS
LONG TERM...KM
AVIATION...JH/JJ/WP
CLIMATE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-WVZ042>045-122300- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI- MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MERCER- SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. VAZ022>024-032>035-122300- ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...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. HIGH WIND WARNING. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY. WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...ANY FIRES WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. NCZ003-019-122300- SURRY-WILKES- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST THURSDAY NIGHT... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...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. HIGH WIND WARNING. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. FIRE WEATHER WATCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY. WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...ANY FIRES WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. VAZ043-122300- HENRY- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FIRE WEATHER WATCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY. WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...ANY FIRES WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. NCZ004-020-122300- STOKES-YADKIN- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...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. WIND ADVISORY. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FIRE WEATHER WATCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY. WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...ANY FIRES WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. NCZ005-006-VAZ044>047-058-059-122300- ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FIRE WEATHER WATCH. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ENHANCED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY. WITH THE STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...ANY FIRES WOULD SPREAD RAPIDLY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:37 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Twenty to thirty trees were downed between Chilhowie and Broadford.
One tree was downed in Tazewell.
Two trees were blown down in Wytheville.
One tree in Bastian was knocked over.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree on a house.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree into a house on Darden Drive in Pearisburg.
Trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
A tree was blown down on Roaring Run Road.
Numerous trees were blown down in Goshen.
Trees and power lines were blown down in Lexington.
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, February 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: 155365, 155366, 155367, 155369, 155370, 155371, 155387, 155374, 155383, 155376, 155377, 155389.