Heavy downpours over the City of Martinsville and surrounding portions of Henry County dropped 2 to 4+ inches of rain over a period of hours during the early morning of May 22nd and caused some flash flooding. 17 inches both located in the City of Martinsville.
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The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
Heavy downpours over the City of Martinsville and surrounding portions of Henry County dropped 2 to 4+ inches of rain over a period of hours during the early morning of May 22nd and caused some flash flooding. 24-hour rainfall reports included Jones Creek IFLOWS (JOEV2) 4.73 inches and Martinsville COOP (MARV2) 3.17 inches both located in the City of Martinsville.
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 21, 5:46 AM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 646 AM EDT Sun May 21 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Cool easterly wind flow today with frontal boundaries located to our south and west. Warm moist southerly flow will overrun the frontal boundaries resulting in widespread cloud cover in addition to areas of showers and potential for thunderstorms. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 500 AM EDT Sunday... Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the southwest part of the CWA (Grayson VA into NC High Country). Surface backdoor front has pushed through the forecast area and is now hung up over the NC mountains and into far Southwest VA. This boundary will be the focus for persistent lift and generation of rain with embedded heavier showers and Thunderstorms. HiRes models indicate anywhere from 2-3 inches of rain for the NC mountains, today and tonight inclusive. Across the remainder of the CWA, cool stable easterly winds will persist today significantly dampening the diurnal rise of temperature. Abundant cloud cover in addition to occasional rain and or drizzle can be expected. Models suggest lowest threat for rain will be this morning with a gradual increasing threat later in the day and for tonight as the surface boundary lifts back north as a warm front. Rainfall amounts of a half inch to an inch on the average are being forecast, with the exception of the southwestern part of the CWA (Grayson Highlands to Boone NC) where amounts are expected to average between 2 to 3 inches. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 500 AM EDT Sunday... Mid-tropospheric pattern across much of the CONUS east of the Rockies will be dominated by an anomalous upper-level low centered over the upper Midwest/northern Great Lakes region. The upper low digs southward into the northern/central Plains by midweek. Shortwave troughs/vort maxima embedded in the circulation will rotate around it into the southern Plains, picking up moisture from the Gulf and ejecting into the Carolinas and southern Virginia area. Thus, sensible weather conditions through midweek will be heavily influenced by the position of the surface cold front/remnant baroclinic zone. Overall it is an unsettled period. 00z global guidance and 21z SREF mean MSLP fields are hazy in details as far as how far south the frontal zone makes it. Those details are pretty critical to pin down, as aforementioned vort energy interacts with the remnant baroclinic zone and may induce at least one low pressure area riding along it. This is reflected in the GFS and ECMWF, but with disagreement on timing. They do point to, in a broader sense, at some point on Tuesday as a potential period when one such low may lead to period of wetter conditions, particularly for the southern third of counties. Something to keep in mind as well is the potential for Gulf Coast convection to shut off deeper northward return of moisture, which may significantly reduce projected rainfall north of the southern Blue Ridge Tuesday. Should see a reduction in PoPs from west to east through the day on Monday, though still a limited risk for thunderstorms into the afternoon ahead of the front. As the front clears, an extension of a ridge may build into the northwestern tier of counties and allow for greater radiational cooling Monday evening. May see potential radiation fog as well in that general area, conditional on winds becoming light and variable. Highs Monday into the mid-70s east of the Blue Ridge and into the Piedmont to upper 60s/near 70 west of the Blue Ridge into southeast WV. Tuesday appears to be the wettest day in the period with a weak wave low expected to progress across the Carolinas. PoPs are highest (lower-end Likely range) particularly for counties along and south of Rt 460. In addition, potential for at least breezy northeasterlies as the wave passes by, along with limited prospect for thunder. Better thunder chances mainly southeast of our forecast area. Lower chance-ish PoPs for most of the central, northern and western tier of the forecast area. Expect cloudy and wet conditions with highs probably only making it to the mid 60s to low 70s. As the wave passes Tuesday evening, I would think a break in showers would be likely. However kept PoPs in the Chance range due to timing uncertainties associated with the next wave. Lows Tuesday night mainly in the 50s, to near 60 closest to the NC Piedmont. Generally showed an increase in PoPs/shower chances on Wednesday into the afternoon, as the upper low swings a more potent shortwave trough into the lower Mississippi Valley. As mentioned, it's possible showers may begin as early as during the overnight hours Tuesday. If so, then PoPs probably would need to be raised for the Wednesday morning period. Forcing is quite strong with the trough, and could envision potential for stronger storms if greater instability can be realized than presently reflected in model guidance. Highs only in the upper 60s to mid 70s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 500 AM EDT Sunday... The upper trof pushes through the Appalachians and central mid Atlantic region by the end of the week. This will swing another cold front through the region and bring more thunderstorms to the forecast for midweek. As the closed low moves over with a cold pool aloft to steepen lapse rates, there looks to be a good chance for thunderstorms with some graupel/small hail on Thursday, before the upper low slowly departs and we get into some upper ridging and improving conditions heading into the weekend. Temperatures will be running slightly below normal through the end of the week. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 700 AM EDT Sunday... Widespread MVFR to IFR (especially near the mountains) can be expected through the 24 hour valid TAF. Forecast confidence medium to high. Stalled front over the southern Appalachians will result in abundant cloud cover today and tonight in addition to areas of showers and thunderstorms. Easterly winds will also result in low cigs near the mountains associated with drizzle and fog. Extended Aviation Discussion... Surface front will cross the Appalachians Monday with conditions improving to VFR behind the front for Monday night into Tuesday. Another front may then bring the next round of showers and subsequent MVFR by Wednesday. && .HYDROLOGY... As of 630 AM EDT Sunday... Excessive rain threat exists from Grayson County VA into the mountains of North Carolina today and tonight. Warm moist southerly flow aloft will interact with a stalled surface front resulting in areas of rain and potential for thunderstorms. HiRes models indicate anywhere from 2-3 inches of rain for the NC mountains, today and tonight inclusive. If amounts exceed 2 inches in an hour, or 3 inches in 3 hours, flash flooding is possible. Small creeks and streams will respond first, followed by sudden rises along the larger rivers. The Weather Prediction Center has placed much of our western CWA within a Slight Risk of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance. 1 HR FFG for our western CWA ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 inches in an hour or 2.5 inches in 3 hours. There is at least 50 percent confidence these values will be exceeded for the mountains of North Carolina where a Flash Flood Watch has been posted. ATTM forecast guidance does not have any of our main stem rivers going into flood. However, there is about a 30 to 70 percent chance for the Dan River to reach action stage with this rain event which is about 3/4 bank full... the result of about 1.25 to 1.50 basin average rainfall. Some of the rivers in NW NC, such as the headwaters of the Yadkin or the Watauga River, may experience rises closer to bank full pending the current QPF forecast of 2.0 inches basin average rainfall. Headwater guidance (amount of rain it would take to cause flooding) for these rivers is 2.5 inches in 6 hours, 3.0 inches in 12 hours, or 3.8 inches in 24 hours. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ015. NC...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for NCZ001-002-018-019. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...PM SHORT TERM...AL LONG TERM...MBS AVIATION...PM HYDROLOGY...PM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 440 AM EDT Sun May 21 2017 NCZ003>006-020-VAZ007-009>014-016>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058- 059-WVZ042>044-507-508-220845- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles- Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-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- 440 AM EDT Sun May 21 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. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001-002-018-019-VAZ015-220845- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Wilkes-Grayson- 440 AM EDT Sun May 21 2017 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina and southwest 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:58 UTC.
1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The 24-hour rainfall of 3.17 inches ending at 0800 EST at the Martinsville COOP (MARV2) was the highest for any day in the month of May, with records dating back to 1930. The old record was 2.63 inches on May 30, 1940.
Persistent heavy rains caused flooding along Jones Creek which flooded portions of Liberty Street within the City of Martinsville. This appeared to be beyond typical urban runoff issues as a natural stream flooded.
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: 703166, 700987.