Rainfall was moderate to heavy across much of south central and southwest Virginia from May 23-25. Storm total rain amounts ranged widely, from 1 to 6+ inches.
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.
Rainfall was moderate to heavy across much of south central and southwest Virginia from May 23-25. Storm total rain amounts ranged widely, from 1 to 6+ inches. Rainfall rates were not particularly high through most of the event but the continuous nature of the rains eventually led to flooding. All of the river flooding was in the minor category and several non-forecast points also rose above flood stage including Dunlap Creek (DLPV2) in Alleghany County, VA, Craig Creek Route 614 (CCIV2) in Craig County, Johns Creek at New Castle (JCRV2), Cowpasture River near Clifton Forge (COWV2), Kerrs Creek near Lexington IFLOWS (KCKV2) and the New River at Allisonia (ALSV2). Despite the fact that the gaged locations indicated mainly minor flooding, several county emergency officials reported many instances of substantially worse flooding. The most significant reports came out of Pulaski, Wythe, Grayson, and Carroll counties in VA.
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 23, 5:56 AM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 656 AM EDT Tue May 23 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A weak stalled front over northern North Carolina will remain in place today as ripples of low pressure slide northeast along the boundary resulting in added rainfall into tonight. Yet another area of low pressure will arrive midweek with added showers likely for Wednesday and Thursday. Weak high pressure will follow this system for Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 245 AM EDT Tuesday... Convection along the NC/VA border and points south continues to evolve slowly north into the developing wedge north of the residual front that remains across the far southern counties attm. This in advance of main shortwave energy that will round through the southeast states within strong southwest flow aloft this morning before exiting with a final surface wave passing offshore this evening. Increasing low level easterly flow along with a surge in PWATS to over an inch south/east beneath a 6-8 hour window of good upper diffluence, supports widespread showers/rain through much of the day as overrunning of the boundary persists. However exactly where the axis of heaviest rainfall sets up still iffy given potential for more convection to the south and overall lighter rates per more stratiform rainfall over our region. This supported by the latest HRRR that has multiple rounds of steadier rainfall while keeping heavier totals to the south and west. Latest flash flood guidance has become much lower over the far south given rounds of heavier showers in the past few days and where higher QPF totals appear likely into this evening. Thus have opted to hoist a flood watch across the VA/NC border counties into tonight given ongoing deeper convection and likely lingering light/moderate rainfall later on. Just how far north some of the elevated/embedded convection gets key to heavier amounts elsewhere espcly east so something to watch. Otherwise trend of ramping pops up to likelys up to Highway 460 on track through daybreak, followed by likely to categorical coverage for rain at times through the day all sections. Will be much cooler within the developing wedge with potential for temps to stay in the 50s in spots today, with only low/mid 60s at best most locations. Expect rainfall to linger espcly eastern half this evening before seeing drying aloft kick in behind the departing wave overnight. This should allow pops to trend back to chance or lower through the night as the region slips in between this exiting system and the next upstream closed low that will be approaching by morning. Will remain cool with lows overall in the 50s as the wedge remains. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM EDT Tuesday... Any reprieve in rainfall will be short as a strong upper low across the Midwest teams with associated surface low pressure to drive another axis of deep moisture ahead of a cold front into the area Wednesday. Appears enough of a remnant wedge will linger ahead of this feature to limit instability and convective development, but good isentropic lift and dynamic support will make for increasing rainfall and some possibly some embedded thunder from lift over the stable layer. Also, there may be a very narrow window just ahead of the front, espcly far southern sections where the wedge has weakened that may allow for just enough surface based instability to support deeper convection in a highly sheared environment. Other issue will be with another round of heavy rainfall that this time looks to occur mainly over western sections with higher rainfall rates possible within elevated convection. This combined with rainfall from today could prime things up even more that another watch may be needed. Thus will address in the HWO for possible flooding into Wednesday evening behind the first event today. Bands of showers rotating around the upper system may linger into Wednesday evening before some semblance of a dry slot aloft arrives overnight. This along with loss of heating and best lift passing to the north/east should allow for decreasing pops overnight. However may not be until late before coverage wanes given wrap around potential far west and diffluence elsewhere ahead of the cold pool that will still be west of the mountains through daybreak Thursday. Should be a little milder Wednesday given strong warm advection aloft and a gradual breakdown of the wedge which supports highs mostly in the 60s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 330 AM EDT Tuesday... Active and very unsettled weather to continue through the period. A deep 552dm upper low will be overhead early Thursday, rotating northeast to off the Mid-Atlantic coast line by Friday morning. With the upper low over the area Thursday, expect scattered to numerous convection with steep lapse rates and ample low-level moisture in place. After an active day Thursday, convection will diminish fairly quickly after sunset Thursday evening as the upper low lifts off to the northeast. Friday, will bring a brief break from the active weather as the area is briefly sandwiched between the departing upper low and yet another upper low digging southeast from the Northern Plains. Can't completely rule out a few afternoon showers/thunderstorms across the western mountains, but in general pops are below 15% for much of the CWA during the daytime hours Friday. Saturday, a baroclinic zone develops across the area as the upper low to the northwest very slowly sags southward into the Midwest. This pattern brings about a concern for more heavy rainfall from convection as well as a greater severe threat than we are seeing with the near term/short term convection. The first round of convection will arrive into the region Friday night, then redevelop along the baroclinic zone during the day Saturday. Another round is likely Sunday as the upper low shifts slowly eastward. Both days there appears to be at least some threat for severe with strong instability along the baroclinic zone. SIG SVR values are in the 20,000 to 25,000 range on several models both Sat and Sun afternoon. Temperatures will be warmer and closer to or even slightly above normal during the extended periods with highs 70s west to lower 80s east and lows in the 50s west to the 60s east. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 645 AM EDT Tuesday... Will see a gradual deterioration in flying conditions from south to north this morning as bands of light to moderate rain shift north. However appears the majority of the heavier rainfall will stay in the KDAN/KLYH corridor this morning. This will result in sub-VFR along/east of the Blue Ridge with ocnl IFR/LIFR cigs and periodic MVFR to IFR vsbys mainly around KDAN. A bit more uncertainty exists from KBCB westward where cigs will be slower to lower within the wedge with perhaps KBLF-KLWB staying VFR until late morning. Expecting all to fall below VFR this afternoon with widespread IFR possible as moisture deepens and another round of rain slides northeast. Steadier rain should taper off this evening leaving IFR/MVFR cigs and vsbys in fog espcly after midnight. Another low pressure system will arrive Wednesday with additional showers and storms likely espcly in the afternoon. Sub-VFR conditions should again accompany this area of rainfall with better chances of thunderstorms across southern and perhaps eastern sections Wednesday afternoon/evening. Extended Aviation Discussion... Rainfall should become a bit more showery by Thursday with sub-VFR mainly associated with the showers while periods of afternoon VFR possible outside of the convection. Friday will be drier with a better chance of VFR ceilings and visibilities. Another front reaches the area for Saturday with more showers and thunderstorms including sub- VFR conditions. && .HYDROLOGY... As of 405 AM EDT Tuesday... 1 to 2 inches of rain with locally up to 3 inches can be expected especially across southern and eastern sections today into tonight. FFG along parts of the southern Blue Ridge remains in the 1.5 to 2.5 inch range with the ground nearly saturated in spots from heavy rainfall over the past couple of days. This additional rainfall through tonight combined with locally heavier rainfall rates due to showers and storms could result in possible flooding of streams and creeks. Thus a flood watch has been issued for counties along and south of the VA/NC border excluding the NC mountains into tonight. Flooding along the lower reaches of the Dan River could also occur tonight into late week pending the amount of rainfall today and subsequent runoff. More rainfall is expected Wednesday and Thursday, which could lead to additional small stream and river flooding. Models continue to favor areas along/west of the Blue Ridge, possibly resulting in another 1 to 3 inches of rain which could pose more widespread flooding issues in the wake of heavier rainfall from today. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ016-032-043-044-058. NC...Flood Watch through late tonight for NCZ003>006-019-020. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...JH NEAR TERM...JH SHORT TERM...JH LONG TERM...RAB AVIATION...AMS/JH/WP HYDROLOGY...AMS/JH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 341 AM EDT Tue May 23 2017 VAZ007-009>014-018>020-022>024-WVZ042>044-507-508-240745- Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Craig- Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 341 AM EDT Tue May 23 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Heavy rainfall may occur ahead of a strong cold front Wednesday into Wednesday night with localized flooding possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ015-017-033>035-045>047-059-240745- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Grayson-Floyd-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst- Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Charlotte- 341 AM EDT Tue May 23 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Periods of heavy rain may be enough to cause localized flooding today into this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Another round of heavy rainfall may occur ahead of a strong cold front Wednesday into Wednesday night with localized flooding possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ016-032-043-044-058-240745- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Carroll-Patrick-Henry- Pittsylvania-Halifax- 341 AM EDT Tue May 23 2017 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia 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. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Periods of heavy rain may result in potential flooding Wednesday into Wednesday night. In addition, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible ahead of a cold front on Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:44 UTC.
10 flood, 3 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Dan River at South Boston (SBNV2) was above Minor flood stage (19 feet) for several days and crested at 23.15 feet on the evening of May 26th.
The COOP observer at Big Island (BGIV2) measured 3.27 inches for 24-hours ending at 07:00 EST. This is the highest 1-day rainfall in the month of May at this site, the old record was 2.80 inches set May 30, 1971. Records date back to 1960 at this site.
The COOP observer at Glasgow 1 SE measured 3.60 inches for the 24-hour period ending at 07:00 EST. This was the 2nd highest May daily rainfall at this site since records began there in 1967. The highest May daily total was 4.12 inches on May 28, 1973.
The heavy rains caused the collapse of a roof at a Rocky Mount small manufacturing business. Authorities say the roof collapse was caused by the weight of water from rain that accumulated on the roof. In addition to the roof, the lobby of the business was considered a total loss. The CoCoRaHS site at Rocky Mount 3.1 SE received 2.78 in 24-hours ending 7:00 AM EDT. Several other rain gauges in the area also had over 2 inches.
Much of eastern Wythe County saw flooding, from about Ivanhoe and Highway 94 east to the Pulaski County line. The worst flooding was in the Fort Chiswell area and around exit 86 on southbound I-81 which was closed for nearly three hours due to flooding.
Water was observed flowing over Anthony Drive (Route 692) from flooded Spencer Creek. Photos appeared to show water well over six inches deep. A nearby rain gauge, Sanville IFLOWS (SAVV2), showed that rainfall rates increased sharply around 18:00 EST with 0.63 inches falling in 15 minutes. This followed an abrupt one inch of rain in the previous 24-hours which left soils wet.
Doe Run flooded over a low water crossing on Ashpone Road (Route 707) closing the road.
In Grayson County at least eight roads were closed and up to six roads were damaged by flood waters. Winding Road near Fries was badly damaged. Several campgrounds along the New River were flooded although the New River near Galax (GAXV2) remained below flood stage, cresting at 6.21 feet (Action Stage - 7 ft.) early on the 25th. Damage estimates per VA DOT.
Numerous roads were flooded across the county. Peak Creek was reported out of its banks and the IFLOWS gage on Peak Creek (PCRV2) crested at 8.9 feet (Minor Flood Stage - 8 ft) on the evening of the 24th. Several parking lots were flooded in the town of Pulaski. The New River at Allisonia (ALSV2) crested at 8.79 feet (Minor Flood Stage - 8 ft.) early on the 25th. A road along the New River was flooded.
Persistent heavy rainfall in portions of the County caused flooding of several creeks including Stephens Creek. Rescue squads were called out to a home where a man, a woman and a small dog were trapped inside the structure along Ivanhoe Road with water from Big Brush Creek rising. The flood level was approximately a foot inside the home. After several attempts a woman and the dog were removed from the home, but the man chose to remain.
Craig Creek at Route 614 (CCIV2) rose above minor flood stage of 8 feet and crested at 8.70 feet. Route 614 (Hawkins Road) bridge was closed due to the flooding.
The USGS gauge at Dunlap Creek near Covington (DLPV2) crested at 9.40 feet (5250 cfs) early on the 25th, just over the Minor Flood Stage of 9 feet.
The Roanoke (Staunton) River at Randolph (RNDV2) was above flood stage (21 feet) for several days and crested at 25.33 feet on the afternoon of the 26th. Moderate flood stage is 24 feet. This was the highest stage on the river in this area since December, 2015 when it was barely higher at 25.35 feet. Several roads close to the river were closed due to flood waters including Black Walnut Road (Route 600).
The USGS gauge at Brookneal (BROV2) crested at 24.46 feet (28400 cfs) during the evening of the 25th. Minor flood stage is 23 feet. This was the highest level since January 2010 at this location.
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: 703190, 701244, 701321, 701499, 701058, 701524, 701060, 701266, 701262, 701270, 703208, 701295, 703186, 701498.