A fairly isolated thunderstorm dropped 2 to 3 inches of rain in less than three hours near the Wilkes-Surry County line and a flash flood report from the area was received.
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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 fairly isolated thunderstorm dropped 2 to 3 inches of rain in less than three hours near the Wilkes-Surry County line and a flash flood report from the area was received.
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, 1:23 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 223 PM EDT Sun May 20 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A southerly flow will continue to push warm and humid air into our region today and tonight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and become more numerous for Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 220 PM EDT Saturday... Southerly flow continues to bring warm, moist and unstable air into the region. Diurnally driven thunderstorms will continue to spring up this afternoon into the evening before shutting down after sunset. Storms will develop mainly in the mountains but will have a generally easterly motion which should carry them out to the lower lying areas. Latest short range guidance suggests that any lingering storms should begin dissipating around midnight. The main threat from any of these showers and storms again will be any heavy downpours or potential training, leading to water issues with our already very saturated ground. Humid conditions will likely lead to patchy fog again tonight, which could become fairly dense in areas that receive rain today. Conditions on Monday look to be much like Sunday, continuing with the warm and humid pattern due to tropical ridging still firmly in place. A front will be approaching the area from the Ohio Valley and will trigger a more widespread convective event. SPC day 2 outlook currently has the region outlooked for general thunder with a marginal risk just to the west. That being said, again the main threat would be hydrological, but with modest instabilities, can not rule out that a cell or two could become strong to severe. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 200 PM EDT Sunday... A blocking ridge centered over Bermuda stretches westward to cover portions of the southeast and Mid Atlantic states Monday night and Tuesday. This ridge is expected to sink south by Wednesday, losing its influence on the region. A weak front should move across the area Tuesday night into Wednesday. Over the Gulf states north into the Tennessee Valley, a weak upper level trough will continue to draw Gulf and Atlantic moisture northward into the area Wednesday. Similar to last week, tropical moisture interacting with a frontal boundary will bring numerous slow moving showers with heavy downpours Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. Since the ground will remain wet and creeks, streams and rivers are elevated, there is a chance for renewed flooding by the middle of the week. Unlike last week, the threat for heavy rain will only be a day or two rather than a whole week, as the front is forecast to move into the Carolinas Wednesday night. Temperature will continue to run warmer than normal until the front moves south of the area Wednesday night. Highs Tuesday will range from the mid to upper 70s across the mountains to the lower 80s east. Wednesday's temperatures will be a degree or two warmer than Tuesday. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 215 PM EDT Sunday... Following a frontal passage Wednesday night, high pressure will wedge south on Thursday. This wedge of high pressure should keep most of the area dry through Friday night. With a cool easterly wind, near uniform temperatures are expected Thursday with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. An upper level ridge over the southeast states will expand northward on Friday. This ridge will bring warmer temperatures into the region for the weekend. The chance for thunderstorms return to the area on Saturday as a cold front approaches the region. The better chance for widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday and Monday as the front slowly crosses the area. && .AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 140 PM EDT Sunday... VFR conditions to start the period as weak high pressure builds into the region. This afternoon into the evening, diurnally driven, isolated showers and possibly a rumble of thunder will be possible, mainly near and along the Blue Ridge but will move east into the lower elevations. Based on persistence, fog will be possible again overnight and could be especially dense in areas that receive rain today. Guidance suggests that while LWB will not likely see rain, fog will be particularly heavy at this TAF location. Fog should dissipate shortly after sunrise. Toward the end of the TAF period, guidance suggests MVFR ceilings will begin to drift over DAN ahead of convective activity developing to the south of the region. Winds are expected to be light and mainly from the south and west during the forecast period. Medium confidence in ceilings and visibilities. .Extended Aviation Discussion... Another weak cold front will bring increasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms again on Monday afternoon. Scattered MVFR showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday night into Tuesday with another round likely Wednesday. Conditions are expected to improve later in the week. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...JR NEAR TERM...JR SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...AL/RCS AVIATION...JR/KK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 218 PM EDT Sun May 20 2018 NCZ003>006-019-020-VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-211830- Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Wilkes-Yadkin-Roanoke-Botetourt- Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania- Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 218 PM EDT Sun May 20 2018 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...This afternoon 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-VAZ007-009>020-WVZ042>044-507-508-211830- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski- Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Mercer- Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 218 PM EDT Sun May 20 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
133 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0938 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SSW BEDFORD CITY 37.29N 79.56W
05/19/2018 BEDFORD VA PUBLIC
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TREES. SOME UPROOTED. OTHERS SNAPPED
OFF, COVERING A QUARTER MILE SWATH.
&&
11Special Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 259 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018 NCZ004-005-VAZ032-043-201945- Stokes-Rockingham-Henry-Patrick- 259 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN STOKES...NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM...SOUTHWESTERN HENRY AND SOUTHEASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES... Until 345 PM EDT At 257 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms extending from near Critz to near Spencer. Movement was southeast at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph, very heavy rainfall, and possibly small hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Stoneville... Sandy Ridge... Spencer... Penns Store... and Critz. Heavy rainfall may cause excessive ponding of water on roads and flooding of poor drainage areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3647 8012 3642 7984 3660 7995 3665 8018 TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 330DEG 7KT 3661 8012 3658 8002 MBS
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
302 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018
NCZ019-202000-
Wilkes-
302 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN WILKES COUNTY...
Until 400 PM EDT
At 301 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Maple Springs,
moving south at 5 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph, very heavy rainfall, and possibly small
hail are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Boomer...
Wilkesboro Reservoir...
Elkville...
Maple Springs...
and Buck.
Heavy rainfall may cause excessive ponding of water on roads and
flooding of poor drainage areas. Do not drive your vehicle through
flooded roadways.
LAT...LON 3604 8138 3604 8140 3605 8139 3607 8141
3608 8143 3607 8144 3609 8146 3619 8146
3623 8128 3603 8115 3603 8117 3604 8120
3603 8127 3600 8132
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 346DEG 6KT 3616 8136
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
341 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018
NCZ003-019-202030-
Surry-Wilkes-
341 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN SURRY AND
NORTHEASTERN WILKES COUNTIES...
Until 430 PM EDT
At 340 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms from Roaring Gap
to near Mountain Park. Movement was south at 10 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph, very heavy rainfall, and possibly small
hail are possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Elkin...
Mountain Park...
Traphill...
Benham...
and State Road.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring, and may cause localized
flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
LAT...LON 3625 8081 3626 8085 3628 8106 3640 8105
3638 8103 3637 8098 3639 8098 3641 8096
3642 8096 3644 8097 3641 8078 3625 8080
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 012DEG 8KT 3639 8097 3637 8088
MBSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA 347 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018 NCZ004-005-VAZ032-043-202030- Stokes-Rockingham-Henry-Patrick- 347 PM EDT SUN MAY 20 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN STOKES...NORTHWESTERN ROCKINGHAM...SOUTHWESTERN HENRY AND SOUTHEASTERN PATRICK COUNTIES... Until 430 PM EDT At 346 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Penns Store, moving south at 5 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph, very heavy rainfall, and possibly small hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Stoneville... Sandy Ridge... Spencer... Penns Store... and Prestonville. Heavy rainfall may cause excessive ponding of water on roads and flooding of poor drainage areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3658 8015 3662 8000 3645 7988 3642 8013 TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 347DEG 6KT 3656 8007 MBS
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a partial road washout on Zephyr Mountain Park Road. Ambrose Creek and other smaller unnamed creeks were reported to be out of their banks and flowing over local roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, May 2018
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: 759379.