The synoptic pattern remained little changed from the previous day with deep moisture in place. Several bands of very heavy rainfall pushed north from the Carolinas in the late afternoon and evening as weak area of low pressure over the southeast lifted slowly northward.
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.
The synoptic pattern remained little changed from the previous day with deep moisture in place. Several bands of very heavy rainfall pushed north from the Carolinas in the late afternoon and evening as weak area of low pressure over the southeast lifted slowly northward. The slow-moving storms were highly efficient rainfall producers that affected number of areas in southside Virginia, most notably the Martinsville and Danville areas. Rainfall totals were generally 2 to 4 inches occurring over a several hour period with isolated higher amounts.
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 18, 3:58 AM EST, 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
458 AM EDT Fri May 18 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A frontal boundary extends from Tennessee eastward to coastal
Virginia. Several waves of low pressure will ride north along the
front. Warm and humid conditions will continue into the weekend with
widespread and numerous showers and thunderstorms today becoming
more scattered over the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 355 AM EDT Friday...
Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through this evening.
The heavy rain threat continues with deep southerly flow of
moisture, quasi-stationary front and wet antecedent conditions.
The frontal boundary will linger over the region today with a
gradual drift to the north as weak impulses of shortwave energy
aloft move up form the south in deep, moist tropical flow.
This morning the frontal boundary combined with a weak shortwave is
focusing low level convergences and instability mainly in the south
and east. With pockets of light rain, drizzle and fog in the west.
Later today an upper low will travel into our forecast area. This
create favorable QG ascent, along with the persistent southerly
upslope flow induced by the Bermuda High. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms with rain heavy at times are expected this afternoon
into tonight. Rainfall will continue to be very efficient and it
will not take long for slow moving cells to produce excessive
rainfall. The FFG is quite low in several places and widespread
heavy rain fall Thursday night. High temperatures this afternoon
will range from the mid 60s in the northwest mountains to the mid
70s in the piedmont. Rain chances will decrease tonight mainly in
the west. Cloudy skies will persist with lingering showers along and
east of the Blue Ridge. Low temperatures tonight will vary from the
upper 50s in the mountains to the mid 60s in the piedmont.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
As of 415 AM EDT Friday...
Wet weather is expected to continue through the weekend and into
early next week. A broad upper trough infiltrated with deep
tropical moisture will remain over the area through the weekend.
The frontal boundary that has been lingering across central
WV/VA will drift back to the north over the weekend. While this
will take the better dynamics and focus for heavy rainfall and
thunderstorms further north, it will leave a tropical laden air
mass firmly in place across the region. All of the various
models indicate potential for scattered to numerous showers and
thunderstorms each day. The activity will be largely diurnally
driven with no organized convection likely given the lack of
dynamics and upper ridging from the south central U.S. Locally
heavy rainfall will remain possible with a very low end severe
threat mainly confined to wet downbursts.
As we move into Monday, activity will likely tend to become a
bit more numerous again as a weak frontal boundary approaches
from the north and then again stalls near the I-64 corridor.
Simultaneously, there is evidence of another tropical type
disturbance spreading north from the southeast states which
could also enhance rainfall.
Warm and humid conditions will continue through the period with
above normal temperatures, especially minimum temperatures will
be some 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 430 AM EDT Friday...
Monday night into Tuesday, a surface low is expected to have
reached KY/OH/WV with the stationary front over PA sinking south
as a backdoor cold front. The cold front associated with the
surface low is progged to stall and take on warm front
characteristics from roughly Missouri into Kansas. While there
initially will be a decrease in coverage of precipitation
across the region Monday night, most of this decline will be due
to loss of heating. Western sections of the area, closer to the
approaching low, will be the most likely to continue to see
some isolated to scattered showers, and few storms, through the
night. On Tuesday, coverage is expected to increase again with
the return of daytime heating, and increased dynamics as the
system draws closer.
Tuesday night night into Wednesday, look for the low to wash out,
but the back door cold front will continue to inch south through,
then south of the area, stalling over GA/SC by Thursday morning, and
remaining there into Friday. Behind the front, high pressure will
build into our region. The result for our region will be another
decrease in coverage Tuesday night with the loss of heating. On
Wednesday, scattered showers will be confined to primarily the
southern third of the area. Wednesday night into Thursday, limited,
if any, precipitation is forecast for the area with the push of high
pressure into the area.
Temperatures during this portion of the forecast will average about
ten degrees above normal on Monday, and trend cooler each day. By
Thursday, temperatures will average around five degrees above
normal.
&&
.AVIATION /09Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 148 AM EDT Friday...
Poor flight conditions will continue at TAF sites this period
with low clouds and convection. Lingering frontal boundary
combined with impulses of short wave energy in a tropical
airmass will generate showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain.
Adjusted timing of features with latest mesoscale models, and
will amend as necessary with a preference to leave lower
conditions prevailing when more activity is expected to move in.
Light rain and drizzle expected early this morning with MVFR and
IFR cigs to remain in place. Another wave of convective
precipitation is expected to push in from the southeast toward
daybreak and continue to affect TAF sites through the latter
portion of the valid period as the frontal boundary starts to
push back to the north.
Medium confidence in ceilings, visibilities and winds
during the taf period.
.Extended Aviation Discussion...
The pseudo-tropical low and the lingering frontal boundary will
begin to drift north of the CWA later Friday and especially
into the weekend. This should bring about a slight decrease in
rain coverage with activity trending more scattered and diurnal
in nature as we go into the weekend and high pressure ridging
is noted across the southeast states. However, still feel that
chances for showers/thunderstorms and associated aviation issues
will be greater than normal for this time of the year, at least
through Saturday with periods of sub-VFR possible. Fog and low
clouds will be common during the late night and early morning
hours as well. After more isolated storms on Sunday, appears
another weak cold front may bring increasing coverage of showers
and thunderstorms again on Monday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
As of 458 AM EDT Friday...
A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the entire CWA
through this evening.
The main concern through this evening will be for localized
flash flooding, as well as flooding on small creeks, streams,
and smaller rivers as a result of heavy tropical rain showers
and thunderstorms expected across the area.
Rainfall amounts Thursday evening into Thursday night averaged
from one to 4 inches. Some of the worst flooding occurred in central
Monroe county in West Virginia, Roanoke, Bedford and Franklin
counties in Virginia.
With the wet antecedent conditions and a tropical airmass,
scattered showers and thunderstorms with heavy rains can
produced flooding.
WPC has placed much of our forecast area under a light to moderate risk
of excessive rainfall today. The highest rain totals will be
along and east of the Blue Ridge.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for VAZ007-009>020-
022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059.
NC...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for NCZ001>006-018>020.
WV...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for WVZ042>044-507-508.
&&
SYNOPSIS...KK/PM
NEAR TERM...KK
SHORT TERM...RAB
LONG TERM...DS/RAB
AVIATION...KK/MBS
HYDROLOGY...KK/RABHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 415 AM EDT Fri May 18 2018 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-190815- 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- 415 AM EDT Fri May 18 2018 ...FLASH 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. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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
1108 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1027 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 S RUSTBURG 37.22N 79.09W
05/17/2018 CAMPBELL VA BROADCAST MEDIA
WATER REPORTED COVERING PORTIONS OF RT 501 BETWEEN
RUSTBURG AND GLADYS.
&&
MBSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1201 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1141 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 NE UNION 37.62N 80.47W
05/17/2018 MONROE WV BROADCAST MEDIA
SECOND CREEK ROAD IS FLOODED AND CLOSED.
&&
MBSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
159 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
NCZ006-VAZ058-180700-
Caswell-Halifax-
159 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT
EASTERN CASWELL AND SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...
Until 300 AM EDT
At 159 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Hightowers,
moving northeast at 10 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Prospect Hill...
Turbeville...
Milton...
Cluster Springs...
and Leasburg.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3627 7936 3654 7924 3654 7922 3666 7919
3673 7916 3661 7885 3654 7890 3654 7914
3624 7916 3624 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 0559Z 211DEG 9KT 3631 7924
RABPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
242 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 AM FLOOD 1 W RAINES CORNER 37.52N 80.63W
05/18/2018 MONROE WV BROADCAST MEDIA
WEST VIRGINIA HIGHWAY 122 WASHED OUT AND CLOSED ABOUT 1
1/2 MILES WEST OF U.S. 219 IN THE RAINES CORNER AREA.
1245 AM FLOOD 3 SW UNION 37.55N 80.58W
05/18/2018 MONROE WV 911 CALL CENTER
U.S. 219 CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING FROM INDIAN CREEK BETWEEN
ROCK CAMP AND UNION. ROAD FLOODED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND
COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE THE PAVEMENT HAS BEEN WASHED OUT.
&&
RABSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
405 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
NCZ003>006-020-VAZ032-043-044-058-059-180900-
Stokes-Surry-Rockingham-Yadkin-Caswell-Henry-Halifax-Patrick-
Pittsylvania-Charlotte-
405 AM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AFFECT
EASTERN SURRY...STOKES...ROCKINGHAM...CASWELL...EAST CENTRAL
YADKIN...SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE...SOUTHERN PITTSYLVANIA...HALIFAX...
HENRY AND PATRICK COUNTIES...Including THE CITY OF DANVILLE AND THE
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE...
Until 500 AM EDT
At 400 AM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from just southeast of Pilot Mountain to King
to Reidsville. Movement was northwest at 30 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Danville...
Eden...
Reidsville...
Martinsville...
and Mount Airy.
This includes The following Locations The Martinsville Speedway,
Martinsville Airport, and Danville Airport.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3658 8062 3659 8062 3682 8007 3679 8003
3682 8000 3679 7976 3682 7970 3683 7854
3670 7865 3666 7862 3669 7865 3668 7870
3654 7873 3654 7914 3634 7915 3625 7985
3626 8045 3617 8046
TIME...MOT...LOC 0803Z 225DEG 25KT 3632 8049 3651 7922
RABThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:02 UTC.
10 flash flood, 3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The Danville Airport ASOS measured 3.96 inches of rain for the 24-hour period ending at midnight on May 18. This was a daily rainfall record for May 18 and the 2nd highest daily May rainfall at this station. Records at Danville date back to 1916.
The COOP observer at Martinsville (MARV2) recorded 3.85 inches for the 24 hour period ending 700 AM EST on the 19th. This is the highest daily May rainfall at this long-term station, with data back to 1931. The previous record was 3.17 inches set in 2017.
The COOP observer at South Boston (SOBV2) recorded 3.47 inches of rain for the 24-hour period ending at 700 AM May 19. This was the 3rd highest daily May rainfall at this location. Records date from 1980 at this site.
Part of Epworth Road near Cana was washed away by the heavy rainfall.
Numerous roads were flooded across the City of Martinsville and several homes were flooded. The roof of a department store partially collapsed due to the weight of water. A local state of emergency was declared by the City Council in the aftermath due to the massive cleanup required. Local sources stated that 4 to 5 inches of rain fell in approximately one hour.
Several roads in Danville City were closed due to flooding including all lanes of Riverside Drive and Arnett Boulevard. Several mudslides covered roads as well. Parker Road near a trailer park was flooded and several mobile home isolated by flood waters.
Severe flooding with numerous reports affected parts of Henry County, especially south and west of Martinsville. A car was pulled out of flood waters on Highway 220 south of Martinsville.
There were numerous reports of flooded roadways from Pittsylvania County, mainly east of Danville where the heaviest rain occurred. Radar estimated up to 3 inches fell near the Halifax border. Flowing water was reported across Falls Creek Road in Ringgold and the intersection of Highway 29 and Fall Creek Road near Blair was also flooded. Water was also reported over the intersection of Reeves Mill Road and East Hightower near Kentuck.
Water was reported flowing over Spruce Street.
Several roads were flooded in Halifax County where a swath of 2 to 3.5 inches of rain fell in several hours. Flowing water was reported across Howard Anderson Road in the 6000 block. and also over the intersection of Philpott Road and Sandy Beach Road.
Nester School Bridge Road was flooded by a nearby creek.
Difficult Creek was was out of its banks and flooding a portion of TN Snow Road/Route 739.
A woman was rescued by EMS from her submerged car in flood waters at the intersection of Birch Elmo and Lewis Ferrell Roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, 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: 749839, 749840, 749841, 749203, 749855, 749857, 750059, 749858, 750037, 749859, 759661, 750039, 750038.