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 Southeast West Virginia during the 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 Southeast West Virginia during the 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, 5:55 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 655 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD 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/... ATTM...GETTING AREA WIDE SHRA/TSRA WITH BACKSIDE OF SHORTWAVE NOW OVER FAR SW VA. LATEST GFS/NAM SHOWING AREA OF PRECIP MOVING SLOWLY EAST THROUGH MIDNIGHT...AND HAVE RAISED POPS TO CATEGORICAL OUT EAST WITH GRADUAL DECREASING POPS IN THE WEST UNTIL MIDNIGHT. HAVE RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES WORDED. 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 /00Z THURSDAY 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/WP NEAR TERM...AMS/JJ/WP SHORT TERM...AMS LONG TERM...AMS AVIATION...JH
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
609 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM HAIL 2 S SWANSONVILLE 36.70N 79.58W
08/05/2009 E0.75 INCH PITTSYLVANIA VA PUBLIC
&&
WERTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
610 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 ENE BLACKSBURG 37.26N 80.34W
08/05/2009 MONTGOMERY VA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED THAT PORTIONS OF CATAWBA ROAD ARE UNDER
4-6 INCHES OF WATER.
&&
CHENARDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
616 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009
VAZ018-019-023-052315-
ALLEGHANY VA-BOTETOURT VA-CRAIG VA-
616 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ALLEGHANY...BOTETOURT AND CRAIG
COUNTIES...
AT 615 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF JORDAN MINES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR ORISKANY AROUND 630 PM...COVINGTON CITY
AROUND 645 PM...GALA AROUND 700 PM AND GLEN WILTON AROUND 715 PM.
LAT...LON 3788 7981 3774 7968 3771 7968 3769 7967
3767 7967 3766 7969 3766 7967 3752 8003
3767 8019 3790 7989
EXPERIMENTAL
DSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
623 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM FLASH FLOOD CHILHOWIE 36.80N 81.68W
08/05/2009 SMYTH VA PUBLIC
INTERSECTION OF SUGAR STREET AND REDSTONE ROAD FLOODED
WITH 6 INCHES OR MORE OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER.
&&
WERTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
636 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 PM HAIL 3 SE MOUNTAIN LAKE 37.31N 80.52W
08/05/2009 E0.88 INCH GILES VA PUBLIC
ON MOUNTAIN LAKE ROAD.
&&
WHPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
654 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 PM FLASH FLOOD W TAZEWELL 37.12N 81.53W
08/05/2009 TAZEWELL VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
PAYNE ST FLOODED AND CLOSED
0640 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 WSW TAZEWELL 37.11N 81.53W
08/05/2009 TAZEWELL VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
INTERSECTION OF FAIRGROUND RD AND FINCASTLE TURNPIKE
FLOODED AND CLOSED
0640 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 NE TAZEWELL 37.15N 81.46W
08/05/2009 TAZEWELL VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
FULL MILL BRANCH COMING OUT OF ITS BANKS ALONG DIAL ROCK
RD
&&
JJACKSONThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Grassy Branch came out of its banks, and flooded a couple houses and garages on Grassy Branch Road.
Brush Creek was out of its banks, and flooding three basements in the Green Valley area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in West 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: 194962, 194960.