An intensifying area of low pressure brought strong winds to the higher mountain elevations with gusts over 50 mph likely although few observations were available.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
An intensifying area of low pressure brought strong winds to the higher mountain elevations with gusts over 50 mph likely although few observations were available.
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 Nov 27, 6:45 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
645 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
.SYNOPSIS...
A COMPLEX AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OFF THE EAST COAST WILL LIFT
NORTHEAST TONIGHT. NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND THIS SYSTEM
WILL BRING UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND GUSTY WINDS
WHICH WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO
IMPROVE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITH SLOWLY MODERATING
TEMPERATURES AS A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE SPREADS ACROSS THE
REGION FROM THE CENTRAL U.S.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AS OF 505 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
MADE SOME ADJUSTS TO GOING HEADLINES TO REMOVE THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FROM ROANOKE AND POINTS NE GIVEN THE EXODUS OF THE
DEFORMATION -SN FROM EARLIER...WHILE EXTENDING THE REST OF THE
ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT PER CURRENT SNOW BANDS. ALSO EXTENDED THE
WARNING FOR TAZEWELL AND SMYTH UNTIL MIDNIGHT AS WELL TO FIT
BETTER WITH CURRENT WESTERN WARNINGS ALSO. WHERE THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY WAS DROPPED STILL HAVE A WIND ADVISORY GOING NOW
UNTIL MIDNIGHT INCLUDING THE REST OF THE WIND HEADLINES THAT WERE
GOING ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE. BEST COLD ADVECTION AT 85H ALONG WITH
AN INCREASING JET ALOFT SHOULD KEEP NOT ONLY HEAVIER SNOW BANDS
GOING UNDER THE INVERSION ALOFT BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR THAT INVERSION
TO LOWER RESULTING IN STRONGER MIXING RIGHT AFTER SUNSET WITH A
FEW HOURS OF NOCTURNAL TYPE SURGE IN SPEEDS. SHOULD SEE BOTH THE
SNOW AND WINDS SUBSIDE ONCE THIS SPEED MAX PASSES BY MIDNIGHT.
ALSO UPDATING ADDED SNOW TOTALS A BIT OTRW NO ADDED CHANGES.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION AS OF 330 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
STRONG SLIGHTLY NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH WAS CURRENTLY
PROGRESSING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. PRECIPITATION AREA ASSOCIATED
WITH A SHORTWAVE TROUGH HEADING NORTH ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TROUGH
AXIS IS STILL PROGRESSING THROUGH THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF THE
FORECAST AREA. THE PRECIPITATION AREA HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERING MID TO
UPPER 30S AIR AT THE SURFACE THAT HAS HAD ABOUT A 10 DEGREE DEW
POINT DEPRESSION. THE BOUNDARY LAYER HAS BEEN QUICKLY SEEKING OUT
THE WET BULB WITH A QUICK CHANGE FROM RAIN TO SNOW AS IT MOVES
THROUGH THE EASTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA. WE ARE ANTICIPATING
IT TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF THE SAME OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS IT
HEADS NORTHEAST.
IN THE WEST...STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW CONTINUE TO ARRIVE ACROSS THE
WESTERN PART OF THE AREA AND SPREAD EASTWARD THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MODEL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING 850 MB WINDS OF 45 KTS ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. AT LEAST WIND ADVISORY GUSTS
ARE EXPECTED AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...AND BANDS OF UPSLOPE SNOW
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.
MOST OF OUR CURRENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES/WARNINGS AND WIND
ADVISORIES EXPIRE AT 6PM. THE EXCEPTION ARE WINTER STORM WARNINGS
THAT LAST UNTIL MIDNIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH
CAROLINA AND NEIGHBORING GRAYSON COUNTY IN VIRGINIA...AN ALSO
GREENBRIER...SUMMERS AND MERCER COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA THAT LAST
UNTIL 100 AM THURSDAY. WE ARE HOLDING ON TO ALL ADVISORIES AND
WARNINGS AT THIS POINT GIVEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SNOW BANDS ACROSS
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND THE DEFORMATION ZONE PRECIPITATION HAS NOT
YET DEPARTED THE ADVISORY AREA AS OF YET. WE WILL HAVE A BETTER
ASSESSMENT OF WHERE PRECIPITATION IS AND IS NOT CLOSER TO 600 PM IN
REGARDS TO WHERE ANY WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES CAN BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE
OR EXTENDED IN AREA OR TIME. IF ANY WINTER ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS
ARE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...WIND ADVISORIES WOULD LIKELY BE HOISTED
AFTERWARDS TO ADDRESS THE STRONG GUSTS. CURRENTLY...THE WINTER
WEATHER PRODUCTS ARE ADDRESSING THIS REALITY.
THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
AS THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT BEGINS TO SLACKEN. FORECAST 850
MB WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE DECREASED TO ABOUT 25 TO 30 KTS BY
SUNRISE THANKSGIVING DAY.
ON THANKSGIVING DAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA AND
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO TREND WEAKER...AND SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY
TO SUNNY. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE MID TO UPPER 30S
ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS WITH VALUES AROUND 40 TO THE LOWER 40S ACROSS
THE PIEDMONT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 330 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT A BROAD UPPER LEVEL EASTERN
U.S. TROF WEAKENS WITH THE FLOW BECOMING ZONAL BY SATURDAY. AT THE
SURFACE....HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO WEDGE INTO OUR AREA FRIDAY NIGHT
INTO SATURDAY...WITH THE NAM MUCH STRONGER THAN THE
GFS...SREF...AND 00Z ECMWF AND THUS WAS IGNORED.
BY 00Z (7PM EST) FRIDAY...THE 850MB FLOW IS ANTICYCLONIC AND
FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS ERODED...AS A
RESULT ANY LINGERING UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS EARLY THURSDAY WILL
HAVE ENDED WELL BEFORE THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST.
WITH THE CENTER OF THE SFC HIGH TO OUR NORTHWEST AND 850MB WINDS
STILL 10-25 KTS...EXPECT A FAIRLY WIDE SPREAD IN LOW TEMPS BETWEEN
VALLEYS AND RIDGES. THEREFORE...LEANED TOWARD THE WARMER GUIDANCE AT
BLF...AND COOLER GFS MOS GUIDANCE FOR LOWS IN THE VALLEYS.
A DRY COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH ON FRIDAY IN RESPONSE TO A SHORTWAVE
TROF PASSING THROUGH NEW ENGLAND. WITH SLIGHTLY MORE DOWNSLOPING ON
FRIDAY...BUMPED UP HIGH TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES WITH HIGHS
APPROACHING 50 IN THE NC FOOTHILLS/PIEDMONT TO THE VA SOUTHSIDE.
A DRY WEDGE BUILDS OVER OUR AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY KEEPING
A WEAK EASTERLY COMPONENT TO OUR SFC WINDS. THEREFORE WENT COOLER
THAN MOS GUIDANCE ON SATURDAY...KEEPING HIGHS FROM THE UPPER 30S TO
MID 40S.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 250 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
DIFFERENCES IN THE 12Z ECMWF/12Z GFS STILL THIS PERIOD WITH LEANING
TOWARD ECMWF/ENSEMBLE FOR THE FORECAST. WILL BE DEALING WITH ANOTHER
COASTAL SYSTEM ALTHOUGH THE MODELS KEEP THE MOISTURE MOSTLY EAST OF
US SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH A WEAK FRONT TRACKING TOWARD OUR WEST BY
MONDAY. IN BETWEEN A SFC HIGH WEDGES IN AND KEEPS OUR TEMPS COOL. A
POTENTIAL FOR WINTRY PRECIP EXISTS SUNDAY-MONDAY ALTHOUGH WILL BE
SEE CHANCES OF PRECIP LESS THAN 30 PERCENT. THE UPPER TROUGH REMAINS
IN PLACE UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT THEN HIGH PRESSURE SLIDES ACROSS ALONG
WITH 5H SHORTWAVE RIDGING....WHICH LASTS INTO WED NIGHT.
TEMPS SUNDAY-TUESDAY STAY BELOW NORMAL RISING TO CLOSE TO NORMAL BY
WEDNESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 635 PM EST WEDNESDAY...
NW FLOW SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT BLF/LWB EARLY WITH
MVFR CIGS AND IFR VSBYS. FLURRIES WILL MAKE IT TO BCB/ROA WITH
CIGS STAYING LOW END VFR.
WINDS WILL ALSO BE STRONG THIS EVENING WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KNOTS
POSSIBLE IN ROA/BCB WITH 20 KNOTS OUT EAST.
AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON...LOW LVL MOISTURE STARTS TO FADE WITH
SCATTERING OF CLOUDS EAST OF THE MTNS...AND WILL SEE THE SNOW
ENDING IN THE WEST BY MORNING. WINDS ALSO DIMINISH...WITH HIGH
PRESSURE WORKING IN THANKSGIVING CLEARING OUT THE ENTIRE FORECAST
AREA BY 12-15Z.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL STAY IN THE GENERAL AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND
WITH A DRY FRONT MOVING ACROSS FRIDAY. WILL BE WEDGED IN THIS
WEEKEND AND MODELS TRYING TO DEVELOP ANOTHER LOW OFF THE SC/NC
COAST BY MONDAY WHICH WILL SPILL SOME CLOUDS BACK IN TOWARD THE
PIEDMONT ALONG WITH SOME PRECIP POSSIBLE. MAY SEE SOME MVFR CIGS
AT DAN MONDAY.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR
VAZ010>014-016>020.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR VAZ022>024-
032>035.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR VAZ007-009-
015.
NC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ002.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ003-019.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ001-018.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR WVZ044.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY FOR WVZ042-043-
045.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PH
NEAR TERM...DS/JH
SHORT TERM...PH
LONG TERM...WP
AVIATION...DS/WPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 WVZ042-043-045-282230- MERCER-SUMMERS-GREENBRIER- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ001-018-VAZ015-282230- ASHE-WATAUGA-GRAYSON- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST 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. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ007-009-282230- TAZEWELL-SMYTH- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST 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. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ002-VAZ010>014-016>020-WVZ044-282230- ALLEGHANY NC-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-CARROLL-FLOYD- CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MONROE- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... 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. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ003-019-VAZ022>024-032>035-282230- SURRY-WILKES-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD- AMHERST- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... 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...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. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ004>006-020-VAZ043>047-058-059-282230- STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-YADKIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL- APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 523 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
824 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0823 PM SNOW MEADOW CREEK 37.81N 80.92W
11/27/2013 M2.0 INCH SUMMERS WV TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301517
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
841 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM SNOW TAZEWELL 37.12N 81.52W
11/27/2013 E2.0 INCH TAZEWELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301518
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
843 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0842 PM SNOW 1 NNW BOONE 36.22N 81.68W
11/27/2013 E3.0 INCH WATAUGA NC 911 CALL CENTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301519
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
847 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM SNOW VILAS 36.25N 81.77W
11/27/2013 M4.0 INCH WATAUGA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301520
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
850 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0850 PM SNOW VALLE CRUCIS 36.22N 81.78W
11/27/2013 M3.0 INCH WATAUGA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301521
PWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
852 PM EST WED NOV 27 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0851 PM SNOW TODD 36.30N 81.60W
11/27/2013 M1.0 INCH WATAUGA NC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RNK1301522
PWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The strong winds brought down a tree and power line along Willis Gap Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, November 2013
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: 484158.