A strong closed upper level low pressure moved across the Ohio valley, producing a variety of extreme weather across southwest Virginia. In advance of this system,|strong southeast winds produced wind damage across the higher elevations.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 strong closed upper level low pressure moved across the Ohio valley, producing a variety of extreme weather across southwest Virginia. In advance of this system,|strong southeast winds produced wind damage across the higher elevations. These southeast winds also provided strong upslope lifting along the Blue Ridge. This helped produce heavy rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches and areas of flash flooding. Enough heating occurred ahead of the cold front on the 16th to trigger severe thunderstorms along and east of the Blue Ridge, resulting in widespread thunderstorm wind damage and two tornadoes. Behind the storms, strong northwest winds knocked down many trees given the very wet soil conditions.
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 15, 2:51 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
351 PM EDT FRI APR 15 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE AREA LATE TONIGHT AND THEN
MOVE THROUGH DURING THE DAY SATURDAY. AFTER A BRIEF COOL DOWN
SUNDAY...WARMER WEATHER RETURNS ON MONDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
VERY POTENT STORM SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE MIDWEST WITH DEEP
SOUTHERLY FLOW SURGING MOISTURE NWD ACROSS THE GULF COAST INTO THE
SOUTHEAST THIS AFTN. CU HAS BEEN SLOWLY INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA
UNDER SE WINDS...WITH CIRRUS ADVANCING IN FROM THE SW.
THE PREVIOUS FORECAST HAD A GOOD HANDLE...AND THE 12Z MODEL RUNS
WERE STILL SOMEWHAT SIMILAR IN TAKING THE STORM FROM THE MIDWEST
INTO THE GREAT LAKES.
THIS AFTN...RADAR SHOWED SUPERCELLS ACROSS MS/AL...WIH MCS FROM NRN
AL INTO SRN KY. MODELS ACTUALLY START DEVELOPING SHOWERS ACROSS THE
SRN BLUE RIDGE LATE THIS AFTN THEN WORK IT NWD THIS EVENING WHILE
MAIN AREA OF LIFT/PRECIP ARRIVE OVERNIGHT FROM THE WEST. WILL
MAINTAIN HIGHEST POPS IN THE SRN CWA THIS EVENING THEN QUICKLY
SPREAD LIKELY TO CATEORICAL ACROSS THE RES OF THE CWA BY 12Z SAT.
MAIN CONCERN WILL BE WITH SE FLOW ENHANCEMENT ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE
AND ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS. STRONG SE WINDS WILL GIVE A RAIN SHADOW
EFFECT TO PORTIONS OF SW VA INTO SE WV...BUT DYNAMICS LOOK STRONG
ENOUGH LATER FOR THIS SHADOW TO BECOME RAIN FILLED...AS FLOW TURNS
MORE SOUTHERLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HAVE INCREASED QPF IN THE SRN
BLUE RIDGE BASED ON UPSLOPE ENHANCEMENT. CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH
HAS THIS COVERED.
AS FOR THE WINDS...THE MAIN WINDOW OF STRONGEST WINDS OCCURS THIS
EVENING INTO EARLY OVERNIGHT WITH THE FLOW TURNING MORE SOUTH BY
DAWN ALLEVIATING THE MTN WAVE EFFECT IN THE CLINCH/HOLSTON VALLEY
AND ADJACENT MTNS. NO CHANGES TO THE WIND WARNINGS/ADVISORIES.
SATURDAY...WILL BE MONITORING TWO ISSUES...THE ONGOING HEAVY
RAIN/FLOOD THREAT AND SEVERE/DAMAING WINDS/ISOLATED TORNADIC THREAT.
THE AREA WILL BE MAINLY CLOUDY SO IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER CASE OF LOW
CAPE/HIGH SHEAR. IF ANY SUN BREAKS OUT WHICH I THINK WILL OCCUR IN
THE NC PIEDMONT IN THE AFTN...AND EVEN IF NO SUN BREAKS OUT...THE
WIND SHEAR/ENERGY WITH THIS JET IS SUCH THAT DAMAGING WINDS COULD
OCCUR ALONG WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES. SPC HAS THE MODERATE RISK FOR
SVR JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE DANVILLE/SOUTH BOSTON. FOLKS WHO LIVE FROM
MARTINSVILLE EAST TO SOUTH BOSTON SOUTH INTO THE NC PIEDMONT WILL
NEED TO BE ALERT FROM LATE SAT MORNING INTO THE AFTN FOR SVR WX.
THIS IS ALREADY MENTIONED IN THE HWO. THE REST OF THE CWA COULD SEE
ENOUGH CONVECTION AND WITH THE STRONG WINDS...ISOLATED WIND DAMAGE
COULD OCCUR SAT MORNING.
MODELS...ESPECIALLY THE GFS/CMC BRING THE DRY SLOT IN THE SOUTH
RATHER FAST. LEANED TOWARD A BLEND OF THE ECMWF/NAM/GFS. PRECIP
SHOULD START TO WANE IN THE SW CWA SAT AFTN.
WENT WITH A MET/MAV MOS BLEND FOR LOWS TONIGHT. PRECIP/CLOUD COVER
SHOULD ONLY ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL BACK INTO THE 50S...EXCEPT UPPER 40S
IN THE NORTH.
TEMPS SATURDAY WILL BE RELATED ON TO HOW QUICK THE RAIN LEAVES/ANY
SUN. KEPT THE TEMPS CLOSER TO THE MAV MOS...WITH UPPER 60S/LOWER 70S
IN THE PIEDMONT TO AROUND 60 MTNS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MOVES OUT OF THE REGION TOMORROW
EVENING...ALTHOUGH A FEW STRONG STORMS MAY STILL BE POSSIBLE EAST OF
DANVILLE AND LEXINGTON THROUGH 9 PM. WEST NORTHWESTERLY WINDS TAKE
OVER AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES OUT OF THE AREA...KEEPING
LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY GOING WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE THROUGH EARLY
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
HIGH PRESSURE SLIDES QUICKLY EASTWARD ON SUNDAY FROM THE LOWER
PLAINS INTO THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES. AS THE HIGH PUSHES EAST OF
THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...OUR WINDS WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY SOUTHWESTERLY...WHICH WILL BRING AN END TO ANY RESIDUAL
SHOWERS ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. CLEARING SKIES
DURING THE AFTERNOON WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO REBOUND OVER THOSE
OBSERVED ON SATURDAY...WITH SUNDAY AFTERNOON HIGHS RANGING FROM THE
LOW 60S IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA...TO THE LOW 70S IN THE NORTH
CAROLINA PIEDMONT.
MONDAY WILL PROVIDE OUR REGION ANOTHER DAY TO DRY OUT FROM SATURDAYS
HEAVY RAINS...ALTHOUGH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE PASSING TO THE
NORTH OF OUR AREA WILL TRIGGER A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS OUR AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND SPEEDS FROM
THE SOUTH WILL ALSO GRADUALLY INCREASE DURING THE AFTERNOON AS THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
ATLANTIC...AND A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE PLAINS. THE
INCREASED SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL ALLOW FOR WARMER HIGH TEMPERATURES ON
MONDAY...WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE MID 60S IN SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA...TO THE MID TO UPPER 70S IN THE NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT.
SPOTTY SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE DURING LATE EVENING MONDAY AND
THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF TUESDAY AS A WARM FRONT MOVES INTO THE
OHIO RIVER VALLEY.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT TUESDAY
STARTS OFF WITH A WARM FRONT STRETCHING UP THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY
THROUGH WEST VIRGINIA. HOWEVER...MODEL DISAGREE SOMEWHAT AS TO THE
EXACT PLACEMENT OF THE WARM FRONT...WITH THE GFS MODEL INDICATING
THAT THE FRONT WILL BE NORTH OF OUR REGION...WHILE THE ECMWF MODEL
DRAPES THE FRONT ACROSS THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS. BELIEVE THE WARM
FRONT WILL BE A LITTLE NORTH OF OUR REGION...BUT STILL CLOSE ENOUGH
TO PROVIDE FOCUS FOR SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 81 DURING TUESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AS THE
BOUNDARY CONTINUES NORTHWARD TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE AGAIN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AS A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CROSSES THE GREAT LAKES...
DRAGGING A COLD FRONT IN ITS WAKE. AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES...
THE COMBINATION OF AFTERNOON SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S
TO LOWER 80S...AND A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE...WILL SET US UP
ONCE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. THESE
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF STRONG WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES. THE COLD FRONT MOVES VERY CLOSE TO OUR REGION EARLY
THURSDAY MORNING...AND BECOMES STATIONARY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE
LOCATION OF THE BOUNDARY WILL BE IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN EYE AS WE
APPROACH CLOSER IN TIME...AS THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY WILL BE
WHERE THE BEST CHANCES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MAY BE FOUND
ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. THE BOUNDARY LIFTS NORTHWARD
AGAIN LATE FRIDAY EVENING AS A WARM FRONT...IN ADVANCE OF ANOTHER
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES ON SATURDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
DRIER AIR UNDER A RETREATING HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO KEEP
VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS AFTN. ONLY EXCEPTION WILL BE ALONG
THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE AND INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN TO THE
WEST...WHERE MVFR CIGS ARE DEVELOPING WITH AN INCREASING EAST TO
SERLY FLOW.
A POTENT STORM SYSTEM WILL BE APPROACHING THE REGION FROM THE
WEST TONIGHT...WITH A SIGNIFICANT SOUTHEAST LOW LEVEL JET
DEVELOPING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY NIGHT. THE STRONGEST
WINDS WITH THE JET ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH THE SURFACE...EXCEPT
IN ELEVATIONS ABOVE 3000 FEET...AND IN DOWNSLOPE AREAS OF SW VA
AND SRN WV...WHICH WOULD BE THE NW SIDES OF THE HIGHER RIDGES.
THIS WILL LIKELY BRING SOME STRONG WINDS GUSTS INTO THE BLUEFIELD
AIRPORT. THINK THE STRONGEST GUSTS WILL BE CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT. REST
OF THE AIRPORTS WILL HAVE LLWS DEVELOP....AND I HAVE ADDED IT INTO
ALL OF THE OTHER AIRPORTS. IN ADDITION...MVFR CIGS WITH UPSLOPE
RAIN WILL ALSO DEVELOP ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT.
BLACKSBURG...ROANOKE AND LYNCHBURG WILL SEE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN
LATE TONIGHT INTO SAT MORNING.
ADDED CB TO ROA/LYH/DAN AS MAIN THREAT OF ANY THUNDER STAYS SOUTH
OF OUR CWA...BUT CANNOT RULE OUT SOME THUNDERSTORMS WORKING INTO
THE NC/VA PIEDMONT. THERE WILL A POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES...MOST
LIKELY IN THE PIEDMONT OUT TOWARD DAN. CONFIDENCE NOT HIGH ENOUGHT
TO THROW IN IFR CIGS AS HEAVIER RAINS TEND TO KEEP CIGS HIGHER
EXCEPT ALONG THE RIDGES. BLF/ROA/BCB HAVE BEST SHOT OF IFR IF AT
ALL. ONCE THE HEAVIER RAINS CLEAR SAT AFTN...CIGS SHOULD DROP
SOME.
VFR RETURNS SUNDAY AND CONTINUES INTO TUESDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE
ACROSS THE REGION BEHIND THE FRONT. ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY MAY
IMPACT THE AREA LATE TUESDAY BRINGING POTENTIAL MVFR CONDITIONS
TO THE MOUNTAINS BY LATE IN THE DAY.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
WILL HAVE TO WATCH FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF
THE BLUE RIDGE WEST INTO THE MTNS OF SE WV. THINK THE SRN BLUE
RIDGE FROM BOONE/BLOWING ROCK NORTH INTO FLOYD COUNT VA COULD SEE
AROUND 2+ INCHES IN LESS THAN 12 HRS...WITH BURSTS OF HEAVIER
RAINS WITH CONVECTION SAT MORNING. 1-3HR FFG RANGES FROM AS LOW AS
2/3RDS OF AN INCH IN THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS TO AROUND 2 INCHES IN
THE GALAX AREA. GROUND IS STILL WET AND SEEMS THAT IT WILL NOT
TAKE MUCH TO GET STREAMS RUNNING HIGH AGAIN WITH POTENTIAL FOR
ROCK OR MUDSLIDES IN STEEP TERRAIN.
BEYOND THE FLASH FLOODING...MAIN STEM RIVERS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE
MONITORED FOR RISES SAT AFTN INTO MONDAY. SREF MODELS SHOWING
POTENTIAL MINOR TO MODERATE FLOODING ALONG THE JAMES AND
GREENBRIER RIVERS.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EDT SATURDAY FOR VAZ011>020.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON FOR VAZ010>020-022>024-032>035.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL NOON EDT SATURDAY FOR VAZ007-009-010.
NC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EDT SATURDAY FOR NCZ001-002-018.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON FOR NCZ001>003-018>020.
WV...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EDT SATURDAY FOR WVZ043>045.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON FOR WVZ042>045.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL NOON EDT SATURDAY FOR WVZ042.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JJ/WP
NEAR TERM...WP
SHORT TERM...NF
LONG TERM...NF
AVIATION...JJ/WP
HYDROLOGY...WPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ012>020-161400- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL- FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT SATURDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. NCZ003-019-020-VAZ022>024-032>035-161400- SURRY-WILKES-YADKIN-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN- BEDFORD-AMHERST- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VAZ011-WVZ043>045-161400- GILES-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT SATURDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COULD BRING DAMAGING WINDS SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VAZ007-009-161400- TAZEWELL-SMYTH- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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 MAY BE NEEDED. NCZ004>006-VAZ043>047-058-059-161400- STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX- BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON SATURDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH POTENTIAL WATER PROBLEMS. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH DAMAGING WINDS. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. VAZ010-WVZ042-161400- BLAND-MERCER- 957 AM EDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT SATURDAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND 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. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:57 UTC.
21 flash flood, 16 thunderstorm wind, 4 high wind, 2 hail, 2 tornado, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down a couple of trees just east of Bland.
The mesonet station at Tazewell Middle School measured wind gusts up to 59 MPH. These winds were strong enough to blown down several trees throughout the county. A deck was also blown into Route 460 near Bluefield.
Strong winds blew done several trees near Town Springs Road, and one tree on Apple Valley Road.
Heavy rains caused Coal Creek to flood Coal Creek Road.
Heavy rains caused a mudslide on Highway 52 near Fancy Gap.
Heavy rains caused Big Reed Island Creek to flood Creekside Drive.
Several trees blown down across the county.
A couple of trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Strong winds combined with saturated soil to topple a tree in Wytheville. this tree fell on a mobile home killing one women and severely injuring another.
Up to 200 reports of trees down and 25 power lines across the county. Strong winds behind the squall line combined with very wet soil conditions led to the falling trees.
Heavy rains flooded portions of the southwest part of Roanoke. The intersection of Franklin Road and Colonial Avenue flooded, as well as the intersection of Franklin and Brandon Avenue. A few houses were also flooded.
Flooding occurred in the Tanglewood and Cave Spring portions of Roanoke County. Dozens of cars were flooded in Tanglewood's mall's parking lot. Other areas of flooded roadways occurred along Electric Road, Ogden Road and Circle Brook Drive in the Tanglewood area. Merriman Road and Starlight Road flooded in Cave Spring. A large section of Cave Spring High School was also flooded along with numerous homes.
Heavy rains caused numerous roads to be flooded across the county. This includes Route 8 between Floyd and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Greater than 6 inches of water was flowing across Keisters Branch Road.
Back Creek Flooded along Bent Mountain Road and Cotton Hill Road. Other areas around Bent Mountain also flooded.
Heavy rains caused flooding of low lying areas including public and private roads. Some businesses and homes were also flooded.
Dry Run caused flooding of Muddy Run Road and Dry Run Road.
Heavy rains caused flooding just northwest of Rocky Mount. Grassy Hill Road was flooded by the Blackwater River with water and debris running across the road. Coles Creek Road was also flooded.
Heavy rains caused some flooding in the Wirtz area. Deep water was covering an underpass on Virgil H Goode Highway and another underpass on Wirtz Road.
Thunderstorm winds blew trees blown down across the county.
Numerous road closures due to flooding in the Buchanan area. State Routes 640, 643, 644 and 645 were all closed.
Flooding was occurring alon Buffalo Springs Turnpike.
Heavy rains caused flooding in the Ferrum area. Water was out of a ditch and flooding the intersection of Franklin Street and Turners Creek Road. Story Creek was also flooding the intersection of Franklin Street and Old Ferrum Road.
Portions of Stewartsville Road from block 24 to 12300 was flooded. Also flooding was reported along Saunders Road.
Several trees blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Several trees down along Dickerson Mill Road.
Quarter size hail fell on Interstate 81 between mile marker 195 and 196. This storm then produced golf ball size hail in Fairfield.
Heavy rains caused Chestnut Creek to flood Creekview Drive.
The tornado touched down along South River Road a little less than a half mile south of the intersection with Highway 56. There was minor damage to a garage, house and barn along South River Road. Several cedar trees were also snapped off at this location. The tornado continued northeast with intermittent damage to trees and the siding of some homes. The tornado crossed Route 56 and lifted near the Augusta County border. Along South River Road in Vesuvius a large cedar tree was uprooted and fell on a metal carport. Winds were estimated to be up to 85 MPH with this tornado.
Thunderstorm wind gust of 68 MPH measured in Raphine.
Two trees were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.
Strong thunderstorm winds blew down 3 to 4 large trees and several smaller trees in the area.
Widespread reports of flash flooding across the county. One family had to be evacuated along Muddy Lane. One basement was also flooded with significant damage. there was also a water rescue on Furrs Mill Road which was flooded by the Maury River. As many as 33 roads were closed through the county at one point due to flooding.
A tree was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.
Goose Creek was flooding Wilkerson Mill Road with water and debris in the roadway.
One tree was blown down off of Fort Avenue and another off of Forest Brook Road.
Heavy rains caused several creeks to flood over roadways. Franklin Creek flooded the Lexington Turnpike, Stonehouse Creek flooded Fancy Hill Road, Maple Run Creek flooded Flat Woods Road, Maple Run Creek flooded Maple Run Road and Woodson Road was flooded by the Piney River.
Numerous trees down and shingles blown off of houses near Brookneal.
The tornado with winds estimated up to 120 MPH entered Halifax County around 250 PM from Person County North Carolina. It entered as an EF2 and continued producing EF1 to EF2 damage all the way to Stuanton River State Park at the confluence of the Dan and Lower Roanoke Rivers. Four mobile homes were destroyed along its path in Virginia and one received major damage. Three stick built homes had major damage. Four other homes had minor damage with another four seeing minor impacts. There were also numerous outbuildings and sheds that were destroyed. Numerous trees were also destroyed, with an estimated 60 to 100 acres of trees destroyed within the Staunton River State Park. Winds were estimated to be up to 120 MPH with this tornado.
Two trees blown down by strong winds.
A tree was blown down by strong winds on Plywood Trail.
Heavy rains caused a creek to flood Collins Ferry Road.
Three trees and power lines were blown down on Bill Tuck Highway.
A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Route 24.
Power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds in Arvonia.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Wythe | 2011-04-16 | 31 | Female | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2011Warnings in Virginia, April 2011
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: 300362, 300361, 300363, 301052, 301053, 301055, 300428, 300429, 304519, 305090, 302732, 302736, 301103, 301129, 302740, 303092, 303093, 301115, 300430, 301125, 300433, 303090, 303105, 301108, 303084, 300434, 300683, 300431, 301051, 301029, 300432, 300694, 301039, 303102, 300693, 303085, 300687, 303108, 300691, 301028, and more.