Thunderstorms were scattered across the mountains of southwest Virginia from mid-afternoon into the evening. With a very moist air mass in place some of the storms produced pockets of heavy rainfall and some flash flooding.
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.
Thunderstorms were scattered across the mountains of southwest Virginia from mid-afternoon into the evening. With a very moist air mass in place some of the storms produced pockets of heavy rainfall and some flash flooding. A slow-moving cell just south of Grayson Highlands State Park produced rainfall of 3 to 4 inches in about two-hours or close to the 100-year annual recurrence interval (0.01 annual exceedance probability). Rainfall was more in the 2 to 3 inch range in several hours over western Craig County.
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 20, 12:58 PM EST, 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 158 PM EDT Sat May 20 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Unsettled weather is anticipated through early Monday as an upper level trough of low pressure over the central U.S. moves east, erroding the warm subtropical ridge over the eastern United States. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1050 AM EDT Saturday... Backdoor surface front has advanced southwest of Charlottesville and south to Norfolk this morning as seen in the wind shift to the northeast and the progression of lower clouds and pressure rises over the Delmarva peninsula on the MSAS analysis. Have raised maximum temperatures ahead of the front based on current trends in the observations and the latest gridded LAMP guidance. SPC SREF as well as the HI-RES nmm and arw put the most likely location of thunderstorm development mainly southwest of a Bluefield to Martinsville line this afternoon with areal coverage of thunderstorms increasing during the late afternoon across the mountains. This front will be converging with the warm southwesterly flow aloft which will persist per the subtropical ridge just off the southeast Atlantic coast holding its ground. Net result will be an area of convergence along the front which will provide the focus for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Attm it appears the axis of greatest instability will bisect the CWA from northwest to southeast just ahead of the front and right through the center of the CWA vicinity of an LWB-ROA-DAN sort of corridor during the peak heating part of today. As such, expect the greatest CAPE to pool within this region providing the fuel for strong to potentially severe storms. Similar to yesterday, the main severe threat would be from wind (40-60 mph sort of max gusts), in addition to some hail. Another concern would be potential for isolated flash flooding per orientation of the front which would support backbuilding along the boundary. On the average, anticipating between 0.50 to 1.00 inch of rain, but the potential will exist for locally higher amounts, with some of the hires models suggesting isolated cores of 2 to 3 inches associated with storms which track over the same area. Temperatures today will once again head for the 80s, but with more cloud cover around, these numbers will be a few degrees lower than Friday. Areas northeast of Lynchburg will also begin to encounter a cooler northeast wind as the surface front enters the forecast area from the northeast, the cool advection negating some of the daytime insolation. For tonight, the surface front will continue to make inroads to the CWA, and is expected to push cooler air into all areas by daybreak Sunday. Showers will continue along the frontal boundary which will favor the southern and western sections of the CWA with time. Overrunning of this airmass by southwest wind flow aloft will maintain mid-level instability, so not eager to pull pops completely, even after midnight. Temperatures tonight will retreat into the upper 50s-lower 60s...the coolest readings northeast of the Roanoke valley into northern VA. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 400 AM EDT Saturday... It continues to be unsettled for Sunday and into the first half of Monday. 00z global model guidance continues to display reasonably good agreement on the idea that the mid-level subtropical ridge axis builds eastward, being replaced by increasing southwest flow aloft. A surface cold front trailing from the eastern Ohio Valley southward to the western Alleghanies then south-southwest into the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning is apt to make slow eastward progress. With a continued feed of moisture ahead of the front from the western Atlantic and the eastern Gulf, there may be multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through the Sunday late morning into Monday afternoon timeframe. Abundant cloud cover appears likely to limit potential for stronger storms through this period. Flow aloft is sufficiently strong enough to keep individual showers and storms moving along. However given we have had several periods of showers and thunderstorms in recent days, rainfall from this frontal system projected to total 1 to 1.75" based heavily on latest WPC QPF (locally higher in thunderstorms) opens the door for potential localized flooding. Rainfall appears to be the steadiest/heaviest during the Sunday evening into Monday morning timeframe. Will continue to mention this period as one to bear close watch for at least minor hydro issues in the HWO. Front slips far enough southward Monday evening into the central Carolinas that an weak high pressure builds into the northern two- thirds of the CWA. Cooler 850 mb temperatures to around +7 to +10C and at least some radiational cooling makes Monday evening the coolest of the period. Didn't include in the grids but potential for patchy fog if radiational cooling is strong enough and winds light enough as well. Into Tuesday, dominant feature in mid-levels is a sprawling trough over the northern tier of states. Unfortunately what this means for us is that with spokes of energy rotating around the trough and interacting with remnant baroclinic zone over the Gulf states, another shot of wet weather emanating from the Deep South appears to be in the cards for later into Tuesday. Compared to climatology, high temperatures trend near to slightly below normal through Tuesday, coolest earlier in the period. Lows on the other hand trend near to slightly above normal given several periods of cloudiness, coolest Monday evening. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 400 AM EDT Saturday... Cold front crosses through on Wednesday leading in a colder air mass over the area for Wednesday and Thursday. ECMWF shows the potential for some gusty winds behind Wednesday's front. Expecting showers and thunderstorms along each of the front with the potential for heavy rain. Overall troffing and periods of rain will result in below normal temperatures for much of the week. Have trended toward cooler daytime temperatures for Monday through Friday. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 155 PM EDT Saturday... Scattered thunderstorms were develop in the central Appalachians. Expect heavy rain and gusty winds with any of the stronger storms. A backdoor cold front will push southwest across the region after sunset. They front was close to KFVX at 18Z and models have it reaching KBLF and KBCB after midnight. MVFR clouds are expected to fill in behind the front late tonight. Medium confidence how low the ceilings will be. Bufkit suggested IFR ceilings are possible. Amount of cloud cover and location of the front will impact where there will be thunder and heavier rainfall. Low level convergence increases Sunday morning. Showers will become widspread across the region with little improvement in ceilings. Extended Aviation Discussion... Wet weather will continue Sunday night and Monday with an opportunity for showers and thunderstorms and MVFR ceilings and visibilitys, especially along and ahead of a cold frontal passage Monday. Improvement is expected behind Monday's front with dry weather returning Monday night into Tuesday. Another front may then bring the next round of showers and subsequent MVFR by Wednesday. Drier weather with VFR conditions is expected behind the front. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...AMS/PM SHORT TERM...AL LONG TERM...AL AVIATION...AMS/PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 439 AM EDT Sat May 20 2017 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-210845- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge- Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell- Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 439 AM EDT Sat May 20 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop again today, mainly in the afternoon. A few may become strong, producing gusty winds and hail. In addition, heavy rainfall from slower moving thunderstorms may produce localized flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. A slow moving cold front will bring showers and embedded thunderstorms Sunday afternoon into Monday. Additional rainfall from the front may trigger localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1048 AM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0131 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NNE HODGES 37.15N 79.17W
05/19/2017 CAMPBELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE FELL ON A CAR AT INTERSECTION OF EAST FERRY ROAD AND
MARYSVILLE ROAD
0144 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSW MIKE 37.19N 78.93W
05/19/2017 CAMPBELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON RED HOUSE ROAD
0431 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 WSW ELMO 36.64N 79.20W
05/19/2017 PITTSYLVANIA VA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE FELL ON A POWERLINE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.
&&
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1257 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
VAZ009-015-201730-
Grayson-Smyth-
1257 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
SOUTHEASTERN SMYTH AND CENTRAL GRAYSON COUNTIES...
At 1257 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Troutdale,
moving northeast at 10 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Sugar Grove...
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area...
Troutdale...
Volney...
and Rugby.
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 3690 8133 3677 8126 3676 8123 3667 8116
3658 8145 3673 8157
TIME...MOT...LOC 1657Z 239DEG 10KT 3670 8145
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
106 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
WVZ507-508-201800-
Western Greenbrier-Eastern Greenbrier-
106 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN GREENBRIER COUNTY...
At 106 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Leonard, moving
east at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Renick...
Neola...
Falling Spring...
Trout...
and Rorer.
LAT...LON 3817 8036 3811 8036 3804 8026 3804 8016
3806 8011 3806 7996 3804 7997 3803 7997
3800 8000 3790 8013 3801 8048 3818 8042
TIME...MOT...LOC 1706Z 286DEG 13KT 3808 8037
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
109 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
VAZ018-022-023-201815-
Botetourt-Craig-Roanoke-
109 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
NORTHERN ROANOKE...CENTRAL CRAIG AND SOUTHWESTERN BOTETOURT
COUNTIES...
At 109 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Abbott, moving
east at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Troutville...
New Castle...
Catawba...
and Abbott.
LAT...LON 3747 7974 3742 7976 3741 7979 3741 7980
3740 7981 3738 7979 3738 7978 3735 7979
3732 7984 3731 7985 3737 8025 3754 8023
TIME...MOT...LOC 1709Z 285DEG 13KT 3743 8017
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
141 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
VAZ012-201845-
Wythe-
141 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WYTHE COUNTY...
At 141 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Speedwell,
moving northeast at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Wytheville...
Rural Retreat...
Max Meadows...
Patterson...
and Speedwell.
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 3704 8104 3707 8092 3703 8089 3688 8074
3685 8083 3681 8103 3679 8108 3677 8109
3677 8116 3676 8122 3677 8126 3688 8132
TIME...MOT...LOC 1741Z 240DEG 16KT 3683 8123
MBSThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:25 UTC.
1 flash flood, 1 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Briar Run was reported out of its banks and flooded portions of Brian Run Lane and Peace Haven Lane. Wilson Creek flooded a portion of Route 817.
A mudslide was reported along Route 58 in the Simmonsville area and Sinking Creek was out of its banks but not closing any roads in the county.
A COOP observer reported 2.39 inches of rain in Glasgow most of which fell between 445 PM and 600 PM EST. The 24-hour total ending at 0800 EST on the 21st was 2.53 inches which was the 10th wettest day in May on record (since 1967).
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: 700954, 700966, 700972.