A cold front associated with a strong area of low pressure lifting through the Great Lakes brought rainfall of 2 to 3 inches across parts of northwest North Carolina and produced some minor flooding in and around Boone closing several roads.
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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 cold front associated with a strong area of low pressure lifting through the Great Lakes brought rainfall of 2 to 3 inches across parts of northwest North Carolina and produced some minor flooding in and around Boone closing several roads.
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 May 1, 6:28 AM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 728 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will approach the region from the west this morning before crossing the area later afternoon into early this evening. Weak high pressure follows the front with drier weather for tonight through Wednesday. Another low pressure system will cross the region Thursday into Friday bringing another round of showers and storms. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 250 AM EDT Monday... Main concern continues with convective potential ahead of the upstream cold front that looks to work slowly east into the western mountains this afternoon before exiting the east this evening. Well ahead of the boundary will continue to see upslope driven return flow showers under the veering profile aloft this morning espcly southern Blue Ridge, so keeping in chance to low likely pops central/southwest sections. However much of this coverage looks to remain rather shallow with rainfall on the light side before a lobe of better dynamics arrives later this morning when will start to intro a bit more thunder west. Models have continued to slow down the eastward progression of the main deeper pre-frontal axis of moisture this afternoon with many solutions still west of the I-77 corridor through mid afternoon. This may be too slow but will likely need the better lift with this convective band to break the cap aloft unless more instability is realized given a bit more time for breaks espcly east. Latest Nam showing CAPE values of 1000-1500 J/KG from the Blue Ridge east, while main focus on the strengthening wind fields which may be able to override having only weak instability as depicted by decent guidance layer severe parameters. However the latest ECMWF not as impressive as earlier with less organization given the better dynamics passing to the north and extensive cloud cover to start so something to watch. Otherwise appears the most likely scenario will be for a broken band of shra/tsra over the west early/mid afternoon to gradually intensify crossing the Blue Ridge with embedded storms strengthening before becoming more linear heading east later on. This would again spell more straight line wind potential although some concern given slowness of the main band for fast moving storms ahead of the band to tap into shear where more heating could develop espcly east. This in line with the latest SPC day1 outlook per an Enhanced threat of severe across the region. Therefore slowed down higher pops a little before merging early showers into the western band this afternoon with an axis of categorical pops including a gusty wind mention heading east of the Blue Ridge by mid to late afternoon. High temps tricky given such a warm start under mixing and potential to see the east zoom back through the 70s to near 80, while the mountains linger in the 60s to mid 70s under clouds/showers. Thus upped highs closer to the warmer Met mos for now given slower trends. Much drier and cooler air will begin to swing in behind the front overnight with ensuing strong 850 mb cool advection really ramping up under the passing cold pool aloft to the north late. May still have some ongoing convection eastern third after 00z but expect quick clearing from west to east during the evening with only some residual upslope clouds possible far northwest mountains. After perhaps a brief lull in winds early this evening, increasing westerly jet aloft combined with subsidence likely to boost winds close to advisory levels mountains after midnight. Latest local guidance values suggest just below the threshold for a headline and since iffy during the second period will keep mention in the HWO for now. Otherwise clearing and cooler overnight with only the piedmont likely to see some lag in the cool advection with a range of lows from mid/upper 40s mountains to 55-60 east. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 240 AM EDT Monday... Tuesday into Tuesday night, the closed upper low over the Great Lakes region will head northeast into southeast Canada. While dry weather is expected for our region, a stiff pressure gradient will help to yield gusty winds through this portion of the forecast. Early Tuesday morning, some of the higher elevations will experience gusts approaching 50 mph with a gradual decrease during the course of the day. By Tuesday evening, most of the stronger gusts will have subsided with the higher elevations maintaining 20 to 30 mph. Dry weather is expected again on Wednesday, but anticipate a gradual increase in cloud cover late in the day thanks to an approaching system across the Lower Ohio Valley. After the morning inversion breaks, gusty winds will return to more of the area, but be notably weaker than those expected Tuesday. Wednesday night, an upper level trough is progged to amplify significantly across the Central Plains states and make gradual progress eastward during the course of the day Thursday. Southeast flow across our region is expected to increase during this time period and yield first increasing cloud cover early Tuesday evening. By late Wednesday night, some light rain is expected as the southeast upslope flow and isentropic lift increases. During Thursday, rain will become more widespread across the area with moderate rain common by the afternoon. That this same time, a nose of surface high pressure will be in position across the lee of the Appalachians, yielding plenty of cloud cover and cooler temperatures. By Thursday night, the upper low is progged to be somewhere between roughly Indiana and central Tennessee. A strong cold front in association with this upper low is expected to move quickly across our region along with associated moderate rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures during this portion of the forecast will be within a few degree of normal on Tuesday, but trend cooler with readings on Thursday averaging 5 to 10 degrees below normal. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 300 AM EDT Monday... The upper low will make slow progress from the Ohio/Tennessee Valley region northeast to the eastern Great Lakes where it is expected to stall. Instability associated with the axis of its associated cold pool will keep the area unstable enough aloft for the potential of daily isolated showers across our region. Also, generous cold air advection on the west side of the trough axis will infiltrate our region and keep the area about 10 degrees below normal heading into and through the weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 705 AM EDT Monday... Overall MVFR to low end VFR conditions to prevail this morning with spotty showers becoming more numerous by midday ahead of the cold front to the west. May see periods of IFR cigs as well within more concentrated areas of showers with perhaps locations such as KBLF/KLWB/KBCB breaking into just scattered clouds at times. Timing of the upstream cold front and pre-frontal stronger showers/thunderstorms looks to be even slower now, starting around 17-18z KBLF/KLWB to 19-21z KBCB/KROA and 20-22z KLYH/KDAN which may still be too fast per suite of latest solutions. However still expecting this coverage to exit the mountains after 22z as well as early this evening in the east. Thunder chances are good, but could be limited by low level cloud cover. However enough confidence to include a period of prevailing shra/tsra at all locations this afternoon with potential for MVFR cigs within moderate showers, and possible IFR cigs/vsbys in any storm/heavy downpour. SPC has an enhanced risk of severe storms, so flying conditions will be turbulent and poor in the region until the front clears this evening. Winds will also be strong from the south this morning, then stay gusty behind the front this afternoon/evening. Much stronger winds will also be possible in the vicinity of any thunderstorms and espcly eastern sections later today where may see more of a linear band sweep through. The cold front will move east of KLYH and KDAN by late evening bringing the winds around to the southwest then west. Southeast West Virginia may have brief MVFR upslope clouds into early Tuesday but looking at overall VFR given dry advection. However gusty post frontal westerly winds will return later tonight and persist under VFR conditions into Tuesday. Extended Aviation Discussion... VFR conditions will then continue under high pressure Tuesday night through Wednesday or Wednesday night. A slow moving low pressure system will bring widespread precipitation and sub-VFR conditions to the Mid Atlantic region Thursday and Friday. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS/JH NEAR TERM...JH SHORT TERM...DS LONG TERM...DS/PH AVIATION...AMS/JH/WP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 429 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-020830- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke- Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 429 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is an Enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms containing damaging winds and large hail today. An isolated tornado could also occur. West winds may also gust to 40 or 45 mph tonight behind a passing cold front. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Westerly winds gusting to 45 MPH or stronger will likely persist into Tuesday. Widespread showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday will have the potential to bring heavy rain resulting in some flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed by this afternoon. NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032>035-043>047-058-059-020830- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 429 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 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. There is an Enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms containing primarily damaging winds today. However large hail including a tornado or two will also be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Widespread showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday will have the potential to bring heavy rain resulting in some flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 513 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009-010-012-015-WVZ042-043-508-011500- Ashe-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Wythe-Grayson-Mercer-Summers- Western Greenbrier- Including the cities of West Jefferson, Boone, Tazewell, Marion, Bland, Wytheville, Independence, Whitetop, Troutdale, Volney, Bluefield, Flat Top, Hinton, Hix, Quinwood, Duo, and Rainelle 513 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017 ...Strong Wind Gusts to Persist This Morning... A strong cold front approaches from the west this morning. Ahead of it enhanced low level winds will remain strong across the ridges this morning. A few locations, especially above 4000 feet could see winds gusting up to 45 mph. These winds could down a few tree limbs. Some locations impacted include, Quinwood, West Virginia, Burkes Garden and Mount Rogers, Virginia and Beech Mountain, North Carolina.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Boone COOP site (BOON7) had a 24-hour total of 3.05 inches ending at 0800 EST on May 2nd. This was the 2nd highest daily May rainfall total at this site since records began in 1980. The highest is 4.90 inches set on May 6, 2013.
Several roads were reported closed due to flooding around Boone including the Boone Mall parking lot, Boone Heights Drive at Hidden Shadows Drive, and Bamboo Roads near the Boone Airport and Deerfield Road near the Moose Lodge.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2017
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: 703093, 700600.