S. 25 per hour) as the upper low drifted very slowly eastward from the lower Mississippi Valley toward the southeast.
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.
Several waves of low pressure moved across the area as an upper level low closed off over the southeastern U.S. The rainfall persisted from late on the 21st through early on the 25th with mainly moderate rates (0.10 to 0.25 per hour) as the upper low drifted very slowly eastward from the lower Mississippi Valley toward the southeast. Storm total rainfall amounts were generally 2 to 4 inches across the Greenbrier, New and Bluestone river basins, with lower amounts further north.
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 Apr 24, 6:40 AM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
740 AM EDT Mon Apr 24 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
Wet weather will persist into Tuesday, as a slow moving area of
Low Pressure moves from the southern Appalachians to along the
South Carolina coast by Tuesday morning.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 400 AM EDT Monday...
No change to Near Term Forecast. Rain...Heavy at times pretty
much sums it up.
Upper low over the southern Appalachians has ground to a halt,
showing only little movement the last 12 hours and is forecast
to move very little today per being cut-off from the mean upper
level flow. Overall projection is for this feature to drift ever
so slowly to the South Carolina coast by daybreak Tuesday. This
will maintain a deep southeast to easterly fetch of moisture
into our forecast area resulting in a persistent rain with
periods of heavy rain. As such will maintain the Flood Watch for
most of our forecast area along and east of the VA/WV border
and into NC.
As the rainfall continues to add up, expect streams to respond
with small stream flood warnings morphing into larger scale
river flood warnings. River Forecast Centers will be doing a lot
of number crunching this morning, so watch for revised river
forecasts and warning headlines.
Rainfall today is expected to be the heaviest along and east of
the Blue Ridge where the southeast upslope wind component will
add orographic lift. Additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is
likely (in some cases on top of the 2 to 4 inches that has
already occured). Heaviest rain thus far has been along and just
west of I-77 from Tazewell and Marion VA, south into Sparta and
Wilkesboro NC. Focus today is expected to shift farther
northeast into the headwaters of the Dan and Roanoke River
basins.
Temperatures today and tonight will change very little, cool
northeast to easterly low level wind persisting until the low
drifts off the coast Tuesday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 400 AM EDT Monday...
We'll have one more day of cloudy and rainy/showery conditions on
Tuesday. However, trend will be toward above-normal, more springlike
temperatures looking ahead into the midweek period.
Slow-moving, vertically-stacked cyclone should be roughly centered
over the coastal NC/SC border based on general consensus reflected
in 21z SREF mean/00z global model progs. Little significant change
noted in the projected evolution of the cyclone, that being
deamplificaton and gradual northeastward progress. Moisture plume on
the eastern periphery of the cyclone, associated with PWAT values of
up to 1.3" will continue to be drawn back westward, supporting a
continued period of rain particularly for the central Virginia
Piedmont and into the Southside of Virginia. Weak/nebulous forcing
elsewhere across the CWA supports periods of light showers mainly
during the first half of the day. As upper level low approaches the
Chesapeake Bay and deeper moisture plume is shunted
eastward/northeastward later in the day, PoPs then begin a taper to
slight chance/lower Chance range areawide. An additional tenth to
two-tenths of an inch of rain are possible in central Virginia
associated with the most persistent rain band tapering to a few
hundreths from the Blue Ridge foothills west. Thus a continued wet
outlook but the steadiest and heaviest rains will have since ended.
Aside from southeast West Virginia into western Smyth and Tazewell
Counties in Virginia where at least some partial clearing is
anticipated toward afternoon, for many it will continue to be
another relatively dreary day with highs only in the 60s. Greater
clearing anticipated on Tuesday evening with some radiational
cooling under clearing skies in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
Trend toward warmer temperatures remains on track starting Wednesday
with building 500 mb heights and mostly sunny skies. Our 850 mb
temperatures steadily rise Wednesday into Wednesday night to values
around +14 to +16C. Much milder temperatures well into the 70s to
low 80s anticipated for Wednesday, with lows Wednesday evening into
the low 50s to around 60. These are some 10 to 15 degrees milder
than 1980-2010 climatological normals.
For Thursday, focus shifts to large-scale troughing evolving across
the central Plains states and the ejection of a deamplifying mid-
level trough embedded in deep south-southwest flow, its associated
surface cold front expected to move from the Ohio Valley to the
foothills of the western Appalachians Thursday. I'm hesitant to
introduce slight to low Chance PoPs any earlier than Thursday
afternoon given the amplified southerly mid-level flow that may act
to slow the cold front down than currently depicted in most model
guidance, and we also are capped to any convection out ahead of
this. Generally expect mostly sunny skies through much of the day,
albeit with increasing cloudiness later in the day toward Thursday
evening. Even warmer conditions anticipated on Thursday; aside from
the higher elevations, many areas stand a good shot at reaching the
low to mid 80s particularly east where clouds will be slower to
advance. These are a couple degrees cooler than MEX MOS guidance
which would argue for some upper 80s values in the Piedmont and
Southside.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 300 PM EDT Sunday...
500MB heights rise Friday over the southeast United States but with
an overall deepening upper trough over the central United States. A
deep closed low develops over the Rockies by the end of the week
which will keep much of the east downstream in broad southwest flow.
At the surface a low pressure system tracks into the Great Lakes.
The front with this system stalls in the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
brushing our far western counties Thursday night and early Friday.
Thereafter, differences become apparent between the 00z GFS and
ECMWF on how far north and east a warm front associated with the
next developing Plains system extends. Generally maintained
continuity with prior forecast for the upcoming weekend until these
details can be better agreed upon. In any event, temperatures
appear to remain above normal.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 739 AM EDT Monday...
Continued poor flying conditions through the TAF period mainly
due to low ceilings predominantly into the IFR to MVFR range.
Significant improvement in ceilings not anticipated until
later Tuesday morning. Periods of rain, heavy at times with
MVFR visibilities, will continue to spiral north- northeast.
Coverage and intensity of rain should begin to diminish to a VFR
visibility by tonight. Winds northeast 4-8 kts. By tonight,
strong northeasterly low- level jet combined with inversion from
persistent wedge will lead to low-level wind shear at most
terminals overnight.
Extended Aviation Discussion...
Look for gradual improvement from west to east with better
flying wx for by midweek, though another front may bring
scattered MVFR showers/storms toward late Thursday in the
mountains. Drier weather will return for Friday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
As of 300 PM EDT Sunday...
No changes to the flood watch, with still some model differences
in placement of highest rainfall threat. High-res models and
analogs along with pattern recognition favor the southern Blue
Ridge from Roanoke to Boone, east to the piedmont of VA/NC as
those areas which appear to be in line to receive 2-3" through
early Tuesday. This amount of rain combined with the 1 to 2+
inches that has already fallen since Friday should lead to hydro
issues on rivers, as well as smaller creeks and streams.
Looking at the analogs this pattern favors April 5th, 1993, and
March 27th, 1993 which produced some minor to moderate flooding
along portions of the Dan and Roanoke River mainly downstream of
Danville and Altavista. Still will have to see how this sets up
as we had been dry prior to this event.
WPC has kept the moderate risk of FFG exceeded over the
southern Blue Ridge. As mentioned in the near term, deep
convection seems limited, thereby will have to rely on upslope
component to enhance rainfall rates, so isolate flash flooding
is possible, but more longer term >6hr flooding is more likely.
Saturated ground may also result in downed trees and rock or
mud slides.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Flood Watch through this evening for VAZ007-009>018-022>024-
032>035-043>046-058-059.
NC...Flood Watch through this evening for NCZ001>006-018>020.
WV...Flood Watch through this evening for WVZ042.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PM
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...AL
LONG TERM...AMS
AVIATION...AL/PM
HYDROLOGY...KK/MBS/WPHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 541 AM EDT Mon Apr 24 2017 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>018-022>024-032>035-043>046-058-059- WVZ042-250945- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Halifax- Charlotte-Mercer- 541 AM EDT Mon Apr 24 2017 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... 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. 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...Tuesday through Sunday. Flooding may continue along some of the main stem rivers Tuesday and Wednesday, otherwise no hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ019-020-047-WVZ043-044-507-508-250945- Alleghany VA-Bath-Buckingham-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 541 AM EDT Mon Apr 24 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central 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...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
447 AM EDT MON APR 24 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 AM FLOOD 2 NW FRIES 36.73N 80.99W
04/24/2017 GRAYSON VA 911 CALL CENTER
GRAYSON COUNTY 911 REPORTS EAGLE BOTOM ROAD IN FRIES
CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
&&
LOCONTOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
456 AM EDT MON APR 24 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 AM FLOOD 3 SSW MOUNT AIRY 36.47N 80.64W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS A PORTION OF SCOTT BUNKER ROAD
IN MOUNT AIRY IS UNDERWATER.
&&
LOCONTOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
459 AM EDT MON APR 24 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 AM FLOOD 1 SW ELKIN 36.25N 80.86W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS THE INTERSECTION OF MEMORIAL
PARK DRIVE AND JAMES STREET IS UNDER WATER AND CLOSED.
&&
LOCONTOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
507 AM EDT MON APR 24 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0442 AM FLOOD 5 WNW PILOT MOUNTAIN 36.41N 80.56W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS THAT RADAR ROAD NEAR
INTERSECTION OF ARARAT ROAD NEAR ARARAT IS COMPLETELY
UNDERWATER AND WILL BE CLOSED.
&&
LOCONTOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
509 AM EDT MON APR 24 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM FLOOD 1 W RICHLANDS 37.10N 81.82W
04/23/2017 TAZEWELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
WATER FLOODING A BASEMENT CAUSED AN OIL TANK AND A HOT
WATER HEATER TO OVERTURN.
0545 PM FLOOD 2 W RICHLANDS 37.09N 81.84W
04/23/2017 TAZEWELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
RTE 67 IS UNDERWATER IN RAVEN
0545 PM FLOOD 2 W RICHLANDS 37.09N 81.84W
04/23/2017 TAZEWELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
HOME WITH WATER UP TO THE BASEMENT ALONG RTE 67 IN RAVEN
0642 PM FLOOD 1 NW ROCKY GAP 37.24N 81.11W
04/23/2017 BLAND VA PUBLIC
WOLF CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS ALONG EAGLES ROAD.
0730 PM FLOOD 4 E MARION 36.84N 81.42W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA PUBLIC
MIDDLE FORK OF HOLSTON RIVER NEAR INTERSECTION OF VA 622
AND US 11 LEE HIGHWAY...APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF
EXIT 50 ON INTERSTATE 81.
0730 PM FLOOD 4 NNW MARION 36.89N 81.53W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING REPORTED ON HUNGRY MOTHER DRIVE IN HUNGRY MOTHER
STATE PARK.
0730 PM FLOOD 3 NW MARION 36.87N 81.53W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING ON OLD LAKE ROAD. DRIVER WAS STRANDED IN
VEHICLE.
0735 PM FLOOD 4 NW MARION 36.87N 81.56W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING REPORTED ON WALKERS CREEK ROAD.
0735 PM FLOOD 4 NNW HUNGRY MOTHER STA 36.94N 81.55W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
NORTH FORK HOLSTON IN SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINIA IS OUT OF ITS
BANKS.
0735 PM FLOOD 2 ENE ATKINS 36.88N 81.39W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
MIDDLE FORK HOLSTON RIVER IN SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINIA IS OUT
OF ITS BANKS.
0735 PM FLOOD 1 SSW MARION 36.82N 81.50W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA 911 CALL CENTER
STALEY CREEK IN SMYTH COUNTY OUT OF ITS BANKS.
0835 PM FLOOD 5 ESE BOONVILLE 36.22N 80.63W
04/23/2017 YADKIN NC 911 CALL CENTER
WATER COVERING NEBO ROAD IN BOONEVILLE.
0840 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 ENE CHILHOWIE 36.82N 81.61W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
FOX VALLEY ROAD FLOODED AND CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER,
RELAYED BY SMYTH COUNTY OFFICIALS.
0840 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 ENE CHILHOWIE 36.83N 81.62W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
PORTER VALLEY ROAD FLOODED AND CLOSED.
0840 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 N CHILHOWIE 36.86N 81.68W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
CARLOCK ROAD IN CHILHOWIE IS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
0840 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 NW MARION 36.86N 81.53W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
SMYTH COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORT OLD LAKE ROAD IN MARION IS
CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
0840 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 SW MARION 36.80N 81.54W
04/23/2017 SMYTH VA COUNTY OFFICIAL
SCRATCH GRAVEL ROAD FLOODED.
0953 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 E RICHLANDS 37.09N 81.76W
04/23/2017 TAZEWELL VA 911 CALL CENTER
DEPUTY REPORTS THAT WATER IS COMPLETELY COVERING OLD
KENTUCKY TURNPIKE IN CEDAR BLUFF.
1026 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW LYNCHBURG 37.41N 79.17W
04/23/2017 M1.53 INCH CITY OF LYNCHBURG VA BROADCAST MEDIA
MEASUREMENT STARTED ON FRIDAY.
0315 AM FLOOD 2 SSW WINDY GAP 36.09N 81.00W
04/24/2017 WILKES NC 911 CALL CENTER
COUNTY 911 CALL CENTER REPORTS THAT 3 INCHES OF WATER
COVERED THE 9500 BLOCK OF STATESVILLE ROAD NEAR HUNTING
CREEK NEAR NORTH WILKESBORO.
0336 AM FLOOD 5 W RONDA 36.22N 81.02W
04/24/2017 WILKES NC 911 CALL CENTER
WILKES COUNTY 911 CENTER REPORTED THAT A BRIDGE IS UNDER
WATER AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARBOR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
ROAD AND COTTON MILL ROAD AT THE ROARING RIVER.
0349 AM FLOOD 4 SE WILBAR 36.23N 81.26W
04/24/2017 WILKES NC 911 CALL CENTER
WILKES COUNTY 911 CENTER REPORTS THAT A BRIDGE IS UNDER
WATER AT INTERSECTION OF TUMBLING SHOALS ROAD AND NORTH
OLD NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 16.
0442 AM FLOOD 2 NW FRIES 36.73N 80.99W
04/24/2017 GRAYSON VA 911 CALL CENTER
GRAYSON COUNTY 911 REPORTS EAGLE BOTOM ROAD IN FRIES
CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
0442 AM FLOOD 1 SW ELKIN 36.25N 80.86W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS THE INTERSECTION OF MEMORIAL
PARK DRIVE AND JAMES STREET IS UNDER WATER AND CLOSED.
0442 AM FLOOD 5 WNW PILOT MOUNTAIN 36.41N 80.56W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS THAT RADAR ROAD NEAR
INTERSECTION OF ARARAT ROAD NEAR ARARAT IS COMPLETELY
UNDERWATER AND WILL BE CLOSED.
0442 AM FLOOD 3 SSW MOUNT AIRY 36.47N 80.64W
04/24/2017 SURRY NC 911 CALL CENTER
SURRY COUNTY 911 REPORTS A PORTION OF SCOTT BUNKER ROAD
IN MOUNT AIRY IS UNDERWATER.
&&
LOCONTOThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bluestone River at Spanishburg (SPNW2) crested at 12.30 feet around 12 PM EST, just above Minor Flood Stage (12 feet) and caused a portion of Route 19 to be flooded. Further downtream, the Bluestone River at Pipestem (PIPW2) also crested above Minor Flood Stage (10 ft.) at 10.82 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, April 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: 687099.