A stalled frontal boundary settled across the region on May 11th, providing enough differential heating and lift for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop. Some of these storms produced isolated wind damage, especially across portions of Southside Virginia.
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 stalled frontal boundary settled across the region on May 11th, providing enough differential heating and lift for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop. Some of these storms produced isolated wind damage, especially across portions of Southside Virginia.
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 11, 3:28 PM EST, 2 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
428 PM EDT Thu May 11 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
A stalled frontal boundary across the Mid-Atlantic region will
provide the focus for periods of showers and thunderstorms.
The unsettled weather pattern will persist through early
Saturday. A return to a drier weather pattern is expected for
the latter half of the weekend and into next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 400 PM EDT Thursday...
Stationary frontal boundary bisects the Virginias from NW-SE,
over the top of a pre-existing subtropical ridge of high
pressure over the deep south. This pattern is favorable for
severe weather, featuring an organized thunderstorm threat which
will entertain the entire spectrum of thunderstorm
hazards...wind, hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding.
The flooding threat has been highlighted in the hydro section
of this AFD, so will not address that here other than just to
say the pattern favors upstream development of thunderstorms
with potential for repeat heavy rainfall over the same areas.
Wherever this boundary, whether from the synoptic front or
outflow boundary, becomes fixated this evening will be the area
folks will need to start moving to higher ground.
As for the wind, hail, tornadic threat. Will be tracking
clusters of showers/thunderstorms developing over KY/WV which
may evolve into a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) as it tracks
across the forecast area this evening.
Considerations for this evening...
1. Pre-existing surface front extends from Elkins WV to Cape
Hatteras NC. The airmass north of this boundary was stable and
cool with a layer of low level stratus associated with a
northeast surface wind. For areas just north and east of
Lynchburg to Richmond and into the DC area will remain cloudy
and cool this airmass poised to make inroads into our CWA during
during the overnight. To the southwest of the frontal boundary
(most of our CWA) there is quite a bit of cloudiness associated
with cu fanning out underneath a capping inversion, but this
inversion is forecast to weaken per approach of meso-scale vort
center from the Ohio Valley this evening with CAPE values
recovering to about 1500 J/KG. Hires models continue to initiate
thunderstorm development within the vicinity of the frontal
boundary, with a tendency to drop southeast of high 460 with
time. These storm cells will be developing in a high sheared
environment with potential to evolve into supercells as they
make right turn toward even higher CAPE over eastern NC.
2. Surface front extends northwest into northern Kentucky and
then farther west into an area of low pressure in the central
CONUS. Thunderstorms over Missouri last night cast a Mesoscale
Vortex (MVC) that is moving east across southern Indiana. It is
this feature that is being watched closely by SPC for the
catalyst of an organized area of thunderstorms (MCS) to evolve
over the lower Ohio Valley and then move downstream into the
Virginias this evening. This MCS will likely be feeding off of
an environment of moderate buoyancy, SBCAPE of 1500-2000 j/kg.
Wind profiles over KY and into southern WV and western VA are
largely unidirectional with straight line hodographs as
confirmed by the 18Z RNK special UA sounding. This will favor
organized clusters of thunderstorms which may evolve into an MCS
capable of producing damaging winds and large hail. This MCS
would likely trend more southeast with time impacting NC in
addition to WV/VA.
Passage of the MVC/MCS tonight will favor a southward push of
the actual surface front...winds becoming northeast and placing
most, if not all, the CWA onto the cool side of the front by
daybreak Friday. Temperatures will trend down in addition to the
development of low level stratus which will likely persist
through Friday with little diurnal rise anticipated for Friday.
An additional wave of low pressure is forecast to ripple east
along the front Friday, so any lull in the rain late tonight and
early Friday will fill back in for Friday afternoon and evening.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 400 PM EDT Thursday...
Friday night into Saturday, the center of an upper low is progged to
head eastward through the Gulf Coast states. It's associated upper
level trough will traverse our region during this same course of
time. Along this same axis will be a secondary area low low pressure
close to the surface. It will be this feature, and its associated
precipitation, that will cross our region Friday night into early
Saturday. The main low and the weaker system crossing our area are
expected to merge and deepen off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula
by Saturday afternoon. By that time, increasing northwest flow will
be over our region, with the bulk of the precipitation shunted east
of the area. Only some lingering isolated upslope rain showers are
expected across parts of southeast West Virginia Saturday evening.
Precipitation amounts during the Friday night time period will average
0.60 to 0.80 inches across the area. A few more hundredths are
expected on Saturday as the system exits. A flood watch for the
Friday night and early Saturday time period is in effect. This watch
highlights the concern that runoff from heavier, short term showers
on Friday, will still be collecting in streams and creeks while the
period of overnight rainfall is occurring.
By Sunday, surface high pressure will be moving into the area all
while a tight pressure gradient helps to maintain gusty winds across
our area. A disturbance within the northwest flow, combined with the
strong upslope component, may bring a return of isolated showers to
parts of southeast West Virginia Sunday into Sunday evening.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 400 PM EDT Thursday...
Early next week the synoptic flow is expected to transition back to
one that resembles what we have been experiencing the past several
days. Low pressure across New England will make a progression into
far southeast Canada. An upper level ridge will develop across the
Central Plains, and make transition eastward. The result will be
transition again to northwest flow across the area, with a
baroclinic zone setting up over the region, along with impulses
heading southeast along this boundary into the area.
The big difference will be the duration of this pattern. Unlike the
most recent, the overall flow in the pattern will become more
progressive with the ridge shifting eastward faster, overhead by
Wednesday night. This will result in low level flow becoming
southwest by Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.
Precipitation will be limited to isolated showers across the
mountains Tuesday and Tuesday night. By Wednesday and Thursday,
afternoon and early evening isolated to scattered showers and storms
are expected. These will be mainly confined to the mountains and be
the product of both orographical lift and differential heating.
Temperatures during this portion of the forecast will start around
normal on Monday, and trend milder to readings about ten degrees
above normal by Wednesday and Thursday.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 1145 AM EDT Thursday...
Poor flying conditions anticipated across the region per frontal
boundary which bisects the Virginias. Variable amounts of low
clouds and deep convection will be found across the forecast
area this afternoon and evening with a return of low stratus and
fog tonight.
Active frontal boundary will promote clusters of showers and
thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening with the potential
for an organized MCS to evolve over the Ohio Valley this
afternoon and move southeast across the Virginias this evening.
Passage of this MCS will cause the actual surface front to move
south with cooler more stable air moving into the area tonight
exposing the forecast area to a cool northeast wind and a layer
of IFR to potentially LIFR layer of stratus.
Winds will generally be light today, but will be erratic and
gusty near any thunderstorm with potential for a 25-40 kt gust
front to evolve from the MCS. Direction would be from WNW-ESE.
Extended Aviation Discussion...
A NW-SE oriented frontal boundary will remain situated over or
near the region through Saturday. This will lead to poor flight
conditions with several frequent periods of sub-VFR conditions
due to stratus, fog, and periodic episodes of showers and
thunderstorms.
Drier conditions should return to the area Saturday night
Sunday into the first half of next week with largely VFR
conditions at that time.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
As of 400 PM EDT Thursday...
Flash Flood Watch in Effect through this evening for parts of
Southwest and West Central Virginia, along with Southeast West
Virginia...
Flood Watch in Effect Friday Morning through Saturday Morning
for areas near and west of the Blue Ridge from Lynchburg to
Wilkesboro...
Flood watches have been posted to address the high potential
for excessive runoff from forecast heavy rain. The Flash Flood
threat is for this evening for thunderstorm induced heavy
rainfall. Hires models are focusing the convection along pre-
existing stationary frontal boundary which bisects the
Virginias. FFG values are relatively low for the area. Thus,
training thunderstorms with higher rain rates will result in
flooding.
A general flood watch is in effect from early Friday into early
Saturday for periods of rain which may be heavy at times, but
no necessarily accompanied by thunderstorms.
Blending WPC and various models together for a combined 2-day
total QPF yields about 1.25 inches in the southeast part of the
CWA (VA/NC) to around 2.75 inches in the northwest part of the
CWA (WV). The areas that are expected to see the heaviest
rainfall, which have also been impacted in previous events, will
be areas west of the Blue Ridge and mainly south of I-64, as
the Greenbrier Valley overall has seen the least rainfall in the
past couple of events. MMEFS is showing potential for moderate
flooding at several points along the James River basin and
continues to show such on the Greenbrier River at Alderson. This
matches fairly well with the Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall
areas depicted by WPC.
For this evening Flash Flood Guidance values suggest rainfall in
excess of 1.5 inches or more in an hour will generate Flash
Flooding, this number primarily reflecting the moist antecedent
conditions across our mountain counties. For the Piedmont, it
would take amounts greater than 2.5 inches in an hour to pose a
Flash Flood concern.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Flood Watch from 2 AM EDT Friday through Saturday morning for
VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043.
Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for VAZ007-010-011-
018>020-023-024.
NC...Flood Watch from 2 AM EDT Friday through Saturday morning for
NCZ001>003-018-019.
WV...Flood Watch from 2 AM EDT Friday through Saturday morning for
WVZ042>044-507-508.
Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Friday for WVZ042>044-507-508.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PM
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...DS
LONG TERM...DS
AVIATION...PM
HYDROLOGY...PMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 640 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 VAZ007-010-011-018>020-023-024-WVZ042>044-507-508-121100- Tazewell-Bland-Giles-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge- Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 640 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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. Flash Flood Watch. Flood Watch. In addition, there is a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms across the region today with large hail and damaging wind gusts being the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation may be needed for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, as well as for flooding or flash flooding this afternoon through Saturday morning. NCZ001>003-018-019-VAZ009-012>017-022-032>035-043-121100- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Smyth-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Roanoke-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford- Amherst-Henry- 640 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... 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. Flood Watch. In addition, there is a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms across the region today with large hail and damaging wind gusts being the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation may be needed for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, as well as for flooding or flash flooding this afternoon through Saturday morning. NCZ004>006-020-VAZ044>047-058-059-121100- Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Yadkin-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox- Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 640 AM EDT Thu May 11 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia and south central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather this afternoon and tonight is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are later today through early Saturday. The heaviest rain is expected to occur Friday night into Saturday. With saturated ground across the region as a result of repeated recent heavy rainfall, areal and river flooding, will once again become a concern. A Flood Watch is already in effect for areas immediately to the west of this region. This region could be included in a Flood Watch as well with later forecast packages. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation is possible for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, as well as for flooding or flash flooding this afternoon through Saturday morning. RAB
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
526 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
VAZ007-010-011-WVZ042-112215-
Tazewell-Giles-Bland-Mercer-
526 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL
GILES...NORTHEASTERN TAZEWELL...NORTHERN BLAND AND MERCER COUNTIES...
At 520 PM EDT, clusters of strong thunderstorms with heavy rain were
located over Montcalm, and near Tiptop, moving southeast at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with these storms along with
very heavy rainfall. A quick inch of rain could fall especially from
Princeton to Burkes Garden, southeast to Rocky Gap and Rich Creek
through 615 PM.
Locations impacted include...
Bluefield...
Princeton...
Athens...
Matoaka...
and Rocky Gap.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3724 8151 3726 8150 3725 8148 3727 8145
3727 8142 3731 8140 3732 8137 3742 8131
3742 8130 3741 8129 3742 8128 3746 8131
3748 8128 3739 8079 3717 8094 3710 8138
3722 8154
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 301DEG 28KT 3737 8128
JHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
638 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
NCZ004-005-VAZ032-033-043-112345-
Stokes-Rockingham-Henry-Franklin-Patrick-
638 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN STOKES...NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM...HENRY...SOUTHWESTERN
FRANKLIN AND EASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE...
At 637 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Sanville,
moving southeast at 25 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm, along with heavy downpours and frequent lightning.
Locations impacted include...
Eden...
Martinsville...
Mayodan...
Stuart...
and Stoneville.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3636 8016 3683 8034 3690 8008 3658 7970
3654 7971 3654 7966 3652 7963
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 327DEG 22KT 3674 8014
LocontoSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 649 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 VAZ022-023-033-034-112345- Botetourt-Franklin-Roanoke-Bedford- 649 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN ROANOKE...SOUTHWESTERN BOTETOURT...SOUTHWESTERN BEDFORD AND NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES AND THE NORTHEASTERN CITY OF ROANOKE... At 647 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Nace, moving southeast at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... The far northeastern city of Roanoke... Vinton... Bedford... Troutville... and Stewartsville. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. If you are on or near Smith Mountain Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. LAT...LON 3744 8002 3753 7984 3724 7940 3704 7967 TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 315DEG 17KT 3742 7985 Loconto
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 715 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 NCZ004-VAZ032-120015- Stokes-Patrick- 715 PM EDT THU MAY 11 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT STOKES AND SOUTHEASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES... At 714 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Stuart, moving south at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Walnut Cove... Stuart... Danbury... Francisco... and Sandy Ridge. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3670 8040 3672 8018 3631 8007 3628 8041 TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 354DEG 15KT 3664 8028 Loconto
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:21 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds brought down a power line along Staples Avenue in the town of Stuart.
Microburst winds from a strong thunderstorm downed dozens trees in a swath from east of Ridgeway southeast to near the state border. In an intermittent damage path that spanned roughly 4 miles and at times as wide as two miles, numerous trees were downed, several of which temporarily closed roadways that included Cox Road, Morgan Ford Road, and Meeks Road. Minor roof damage was also reported from one house in the area.
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree on Horace Lane.
Thunderstorm winds brought down a tree on Ayers Orchard Road.
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, 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: 700400, 700401, 700402, 700403.