A fast-moving line of thunderstorms moved across Kentucky and West Virginia during the late morning and afternoon hours of March 1st, entering western Virginia shortly before noon. Strong heating was observed ahead of the line, with temperatures warming into the 60s and 70s across the central Appalachians, and around 80 degrees in spots across the Piedmont.
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 fast-moving line of thunderstorms moved across Kentucky and West Virginia during the late morning and afternoon hours of March 1st, entering western Virginia shortly before noon. Strong heating was observed ahead of the line, with temperatures warming into the 60s and 70s across the central Appalachians, and around 80 degrees in spots across the Piedmont. This provided the necessary instability for the line of storms to sustain severe levels as it moved across the region, producing long swaths of wind damage.
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 Mar 1, 10:02 AM EST, 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1002 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front extends from the Great Lakes into the Mid- Mississippi Valley. This front will move east today, crossing the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, then across the Appalachians during the late afternoon and evening. The front will be accompanied by strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds. Passage of the front tonight will bring an end to the showers and storms, however it will remain blustery and turn much colder for the later half of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1000 AM EST Wednesday... Updated PoPs to place the arrival of showers and thunderstorms in the west to later this morning. We may see line of convection fall apart a bit as it encounters dry air over the south-central Appalachains. However, strong winds/gusts will still be a threat ahead and with the line as it tracks over the mountains. Arrival time of the storms east of the Blue Ridge will be this afternoon into this evening. We believe the stronger storms for the area will occur south of highway 460. This area did not see much in the way of rain the past 24 hours, therefore heating and instabilities will be greater. As of 500 AM EST Wednesday... Today's focus is centered around sharp upper level trough of low pressure which extends from the Great lakes into the MS Valley. Solid line of thunderstorms was ongoing along the surface front this morning from northern Ohio to central Arkansas. There was also a large area of showers, with embedded thunderstorms well ahead of the squall line moving through the Ohio Valley into western West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Short term models keep the leading clustering of showers/storms mainly north and west of our CWA this morning, with main focus for our sensible weather coming from the squall line associated with the actual cold front which will arrive later in the afternoon, then sweeping across the CWA during the late afternoon and evening. As has been advertised for the last couple of days, front is expected to come through during or just after the peak heating part of the day, with models waffling plus or minus 3 to 6 hours on the actual time of FROPA. Severe threat has remained consistent with primary focus on the high wind shear and potential for damaging thunderstorm winds. Isolated threats still exists for hail and short lived tornadoes. Per the Storm Prediction Center, a pronounced mid-level short wave trough will move northeast across the OH Valley today, then into NY/PA tonight. 500mb flow will increase above 100kt along this corridor with 12hr mid-level height falls expected to increase to near 240m across the northeastern states. Strong forcing for ascent and cloud-layer mean flow on the order of 75kts will prove favorable for damaging winds, with potential for discrete supercells from OH/KY east into WV and far western VA, and a QLCS to follow, this Quasi-Linear Convective System translating the Appalachians during the afternoon and entering the piedmont of VA/NC this evening. At this time it appears damaging winds will be the primary severe threat as frontal convection should maintain linear characteristics with the potential for bowing structures. Given strong cloud-layer flow, storms will be fast moving with little residence time. This should keep rainfall amounts under an inch mitigating potential for excessive rainfall for our CWA. Temperatures today will be well above normal, especially across the piedmont where there will be an opportunity for some sunshine for the first half of the day. Would not be surprised to see locations from Danville south and eastward test 80 degrees this afternoon. Tonight's FROPA will bring falling temperatures and blustery northwest winds. Will likely need a wind advisory for parts of the CWA tonight with some models indicating post frontal wind gusts of 40 kts across the crest of the Blue Ridge. Will refrain from posting this headline attm as not to distract from today's greater convective hazard. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 400 AM EST Wednesday... Strong cold front will be accelerating off the east coast at the beginning of the period with Canadian high pressure building in from the northern Plains as the upper flow transitions to northwest and remains in place through this period of the forecast. With the exception of some potential lingering upslope snow showers across eastern WV, precipitation will end prior to the beginning of this forecast period. Upslope conditions are not particularly favorable either given a west versus northwest flow. Wind speeds will still be an issue Thursday morning and as noted in the near term section, a Wind Advisory will likely be in effect at the beginning of this time period. Winds will diminish through the day, however, as high pressure builds into the area. Temperatures Thursday will be much colder than what we will see today but really not atypical for the first of March. The contrast between 850mb temps around +15C today and surface temps in the 70s vs. 850mb temps around -5C and surface temps in the 40s will be quite noticeable, however, but just near normal. On Friday, a clipper system is expected to track across the OH Valley toward the Mid-Atlantic coast bringing a period of upslope snow showers to the Alleghanys of eastern WV and perhaps some light snow showers or flurries as far south as the I-81 corridor in southwest VA. Western Greenbrier county WV could pick up 1/2 inch of snow with this event. Wind will be the main issue, however, as the clipper passes to the east a Wind Advisory may again need to be considered. The clipper will bring an even more notable surge of cold air to the region resulting in a couple of days of below normal temperatures for a change as we head into Saturday. 850mb temps are progged to drop toward -12C or so by Saturday morning which will bring temperatures down into the teens west to the 20s east. While the frost/freeze program has not yet began in the RNK CWA, nor would even normally be considering such at the beginning of March, the repeated record warmth in February has resulted in premature blooming of plants and trees, which may need to be considered with the well below freezing temperatures expected Friday into Saturday. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 415 AM EST Wednesday... Models continue to differ on timing and intensity of the next system slated to affect the area during the first half of next week. The ECMWF remains faster and weaker than the GFS with the Euro having the front through us Monday night and the GFS not until Tuesday night-Wednesday. The timing and intensity issues center around considerable uncertainty in the North Pacific upper flow. WPC and trends favor the ECMWF, which will result in less threat of showers for our region as main axis of convergence and lift stay further north with the low. Given the flow in the mid levels is more westerly, it appears any showers will diminish east of the mountains. Will see high pressure move offshore Saturday into Sunday with increasing clouds and chance of showers Monday into Tuesday west of the Blue Ridge with lesser threat east. After a cold start to the weekend, temperatures are generally expected to be well above normal through this period as 850mb temps climb back into the low end double-digit levels again. && .AVIATION /15Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 0700 AM EST Wednesday... Very active weather pattern today. Solid line of thunderstorms will accompany the passage of a strong cold front this afternoon. Strong to Severe storms with wind gusts of 35 to 50 kts are possible. Storms will originate from the Ohio Valley this morning, crossing the mountains around mid-day, then translating east of the Blue Ridge this afternoon and to along the Mid-Atlantic Coast tonight. vfr conditions this morning will deteriorate to MVFR cigs by mid-day with Temporary IFR/LIFR associated with passage of a squall line this afternoon. In addition to the squall line, strong southwest winds aloft will result in LLWS this morning. Once the line of deep convection passes, strong northwest winds will develop with non-convective gusts of 25 to 40 kts across the Blue Ridge tonight early Thursday. Dry high pressure with return of VFR is expected Thursday. Medium confidence in cigs throughout the TAF valid period. Lower confidence in vsbys throughout the TAF valid period. Medium to high confidence in wind speed/direction throughout the TAF valid period. Extended Aviation Discussion... Another weak clipper looks to track just north of the region by Friday with possible mountain MVFR due to upslope cloudiness, and possible light precipitation western ridges later Thursday night into Friday. High pressures builds in with VFR expected Friday night through most of the weekend. && .CLIMATE... As of 330 AM EST Monday... Record warm Mins for March 1 Roanoke.....52 in 1918 Lynchburg...57 in 1910 Danville....51 in 2012 Blacksburg..45 in 1997 Bluefield...56 in 1997 Record highs for March 1 Roanoke.....76 in 1972 Lynchburg...78 in 1918 Danville....80 in 1972 Blacksburg..72 in 1976 Bluefield...78 in 1997 && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...PM/RCS SHORT TERM...RAB LONG TERM...RAB/WP AVIATION...PM CLIMATE...AMS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1043 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ032>035-043>047-058-059-021545- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 1043 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 56 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .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. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-021545- 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- 1043 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 56 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Another fast moving front will move through the area Friday morning bringing a period of strong post frontal winds with gusts near 45 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. RCS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1016 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 VAZ007-009-010-WVZ042-011730- Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Mercer- Including the cities of Tazewell, Marion, Bland, Bluefield, and Flat Top 1016 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 ...Gusty Winds Ahead of Cold Front... Southwest winds will gusts to 40 to 50 mph through early this morning ahead of a line of convection tracking across southern southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Tree limbs or branches could be blown down. Travel may be difficult for high profile vehicles. The line of convection is expected to enter this area between 11 AM and noon. The threat for strong winds will continue into early this afternoon. RCS
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:01 UTC.
18 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several large trees and numerous large tree limbs were blown down across Tazewell County.
Several trees were blown down across Bland County by thunderstorm winds.
A 64 MPH gust was observed at the Mesonet site at Mountain Lake. In addition, a covered bridge in the community of Newport experienced damage.
A tree was blown down along Long Avenue. Several large tree limbs were also reported down across portions of Alleghany County.
Dozens of trees were blown down across Bath County by thunderstorm winds.
Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Walkers Creek Road.
Several large trees and numerous large tree limbs were blown down by thunderstorm winds across Montgomery County. One tree was snapped in half, with the top falling onto a home. Roofing shingles were also blown off of several homes. In the town of Christiansburg, a metal shed was blown roughly 100 yards from its original location.
Thunderstorm winds resulted in two large pine trees were snapped off half way up the trunks.
Multiple trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Upper Craigs Creek Road.
About a dozen trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across Rockbridge County and in the city of Buena Vista.
A tree, estimated to be three to five inches in diameter, was blown down across Malus Drive.
Multiple trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across Roanoke County. In addition, a light pole was blown down onto a car near the Valley View Mall. At 12:14 PM EST, a 51 knot wind gust was measured by the ASOS located at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.
Thunderstorm winds caused a roof to blow off of an outbuilding in the community of Troutville.
Thunderstorm winds snapped an 18-inch diameter branch off of a tree.
Multiple trees were blown down across western Appomattox County, including trees along Beckham Road and along Vermillion Road.
Four trees and several power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds across western portions of Campbell County.
At least seven trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds across Buckingham County.
At least four trees and multiple large limbs were blown down across the City of Danville, VA.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, March 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: 679762, 679761, 679760, 679719, 679759, 679707, 679758, 679705, 679711, 679723, 679757, 679704, 679735, 679717, 679713, 679747, 679742, 679744, 679791.