Showers and thunderstorm developed in advance of an approaching cold front. Atmospheric conditions were prime for some of these storms to develop damaging wind gusts.
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.
Showers and thunderstorm developed in advance of an approaching cold front. Atmospheric conditions were prime for some of these storms to develop damaging wind gusts.
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 Sep 11, 1:28 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 228 PM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Strong high pressure will remain over the area today resulting in warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels through Thursday. A backdoor cold front is expected to sweep south through the region Thursday night into Friday, with an even stronger cold front moving through on Saturday. These fronts will bring a better chance for showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon into Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 225 PM Wednesday... Isolated showers and storms have developed across the southern Blue Ridge, and still expect additional widely scattered storms to form along a weak low level convergence boundary in the mountains, with lift enhanced later in the afternoon by a weak shortwave moving on the northern periphery of the upper ridge in place. The 12Z HREF has performed well with the evolution of precipitation through 18Z and was generally followed for the reminder of the near term forecast, with showers/storms fading slowly during the mid to late evening hours. Despite warm temperatures aloft and dry air, tremendous CAPES and robust DCAPE values suggest a few storms may bring some localized damaging winds through early evening. A light southwest flow east of the Blue Ridge may push up dew point values a degree or so warmer compared to last night, so lows tonight should be a degree or so warmer compared to Wed. morning values, which is in line with most of the forecast guidance. Typical valley fog/stratus is also expected. For Thursday, still anticipate isolated to perhaps widely scattered showers and storms, due to differential heating/instability, but with a deeper northwest flow expected and the absence of any notable upper level support, coverage will be less than today. 1000-850mb thicknesses will only be slightly less compared to Wednesday, but with a weak downsloping flow and a dry ground in place, went a couple of degrees above most of the guidance for Thursday, with 90+ temps expected for most areas east of the Blue Ridge and heat index values around 100 from the NC Piedmont to the Central VA Piedmont. This will be noted in the HWO. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 305 AM EDT Wednesday... Upper level ridging remains in place across the mid-Atlantic on Thursday, supporting at least one more day of strong heating that will push afternoon highs well into the 90s east of the Blue Ridge, and the mid 80s to around 90 across much of the mountains. Downslope flow with light northwest winds will keep a lid on convection through early afternoon, however expect a few showers/storms to develop by mid-afternoon as a weak disturbance passes across the region, with widely scattered storms passing southeast across the Piedmont through evening. Given the strong heating, can't rule out a few storms becoming severe, capable of locally damaging winds and hail. A shallow cold front will sink southward from New England Thursday night, expected to enter our area with high pressure building in behind to gradually wedge against the eastern face of the Appalachians on Friday morning. The temperature forecast for Friday is challenging, given the cooler air building in with the front will be shallow initially, allowing for some sunshine, and deepen as the day progresses with increasing clouds. Forecasting upper 70s to low 80s for much of the area, however this could be 3-4 degrees off in either direction depending on location. Cool stable air building in with this cold front will also limit thunderstorm activity to mainly the Highlands of North Carolina, and areas west of Interstate 77, while occasional rain can be expected elsewhere more influenced by cool high pressure. The high pressure wedge will remain in place Friday night into late Saturday morning, before retreating to the northeast during the afternoon. As such, winds will shift increasingly south- southwesterly, allowing warmer air to creep back into the mid- Atlantic ahead of another cold front approaching from the northwest. The stronger heating and deeper moisture ahead of the front will allow for scattered, hit-and-miss showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening, mainly in the more unstable air across the mountains. Residual effects of the departing high pressure wedge should limit showers and storms further east. Convection will fizzle during late evening with the loss of daytime heating, however models suggest that the front will stall somewhere across or just north of our area, providing the focus for additional spotty convection on Sunday. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 1245 PM EDT Tuesday... Upper ridging across the mid-Atlantic will limit the southward push of the cold front Sunday, keeping the front stalled somewhere over Kentucky and Virginia, before the boundary retreats back to the north Monday. There will be a low probability of rain in the region Monday and Tuesday, but lacking any other forcing, will keep coverage of showers and thunderstorms limited. Upper ridging will also support temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal Sunday through Tuesday. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 130 PM EDT Wednesday... An upper level disturbance moving through the northern periphery of a strong upper level ridge in our region, will help spark widely scattered afternoon/early evening thunderstorms with short-lived sub-VFR conditions under the storms. The coverage of these storms should limited, so only included VCSH at most TAF sites. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail outside of the storms through this evening. Likely to see a repeat performance tonight under high pressure with any evening convection fading to patchy/areas of fog/stratus overnight. Again appears that the mountain valley locations will drop into LIFR/IFR late with the lower conditions likely at KLWB. The stratus/fog will lift around or shortly after 13Z (9 AM EDT) on Thursday allowing VFR conditions to return for the rest of the morning. .Extended Aviation Discussion... Strong heating Thursday afternoon may again lead to isolated storm development Thursday afternoon when brief periods of sub- VFR could occur within isolated storms. By Friday into Saturday, a series of mainly backdoor cool fronts are expected to impact the area - turning winds back into the northeast and east, and also increasing the threat for cool wedging of upslope clouds maximized across the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, but also increasing the threat for showers/thunderstorms as a cooler airmass collides with retreating warmer air and pushes up over the mountains. MVFR to IFR conditions are expected across much of the terminal forecast area Friday into Saturday as the cool moist wedge becomes established - especially if developing rain helps to reinforce the wedge. Weak high pressure settles in on Sunday behind the passing cold front making for improving conditions. However appears given slow exodus of this boundary that may still see some sub-VFR potential in early low clouds and then isolated afternoon convection. Forecast confidence in terminal forecast through the extended period is moderate. && .CLIMATE... Record high temperatures for Wednesday(9/11) and Thursday(9/12). Wednesday 09/11/2019 Site MaxT Year KBLF 94 1925 KDAN 98 1983 KLYH 98 1897 KROA 98 1933 KRNK 93 1983 Thursday 09/12/2019 Site MaxT Year KBLF 90 1925 KDAN 101 1983 KLYH 96 1895 KROA 96 1933 KRNK 94 1983 && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...PH NEAR TERM...PH SHORT TERM...AMS/RR LONG TERM...AMS/RR AVIATION...PH CLIMATE...JH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 411 AM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019 NCZ001>004-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032-WVZ042>044-507-508- 120815- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth- Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig- Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Mercer- Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 411 AM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms containing locally damaging winds and large hail will be possible this afternoon into early this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ005-006-VAZ033>035-043>047-058-059-120815- Rockingham-Caswell-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania- Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 411 AM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms containing locally damaging winds and large hail will be possible this afternoon into early this evening. In addition, heat index values may reach around 100 degrees this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
318 PM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019
VAZ020-024-112000-
Bath-Rockbridge-
318 PM EDT Wed Sep 11 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN BATH AND
NORTHERN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTIES OF VIRGINIA...
Until 400 PM EDT.
At 317 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Nimrod Hall,
moving east at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington...
Millboro...
Rockbridge Baths...
Nimrod Hall...
and Brownsburg.
This includes The following Location VMI.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3793 7928 3775 7939 3785 7962 3786 7961
3787 7963 3787 7967 3791 7977 3799 7972
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 288DEG 23KT 3793 7968
PWThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:23 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew a couple of large trees and a couple of large limbs down. Nearby lawn furniture and a table were overturned. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew several trees down. Some of these trees blocked a portion of Lee Highway. Damage values are estimated.
In a small area south of New Canton, thunderstorm winds blew trees and tree limbs down. There were considerable limbs blown down along Old Highway 15 between Morgan's Hill Road and Jones Town Road. A total of six trees were blown down at a residence on Lake Tahoe Lane, and one tree fell along Ole Selph Lane. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees, and power lines were brought down along Thrush Drive and Rocky Ford Road. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew down two trees. The first tree fell on Rolling Hills Road, and the second tree fell on Rolling Hills Road, both in the Pamplin area. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down on School Street in Alta Vista. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew one tree down in the Chatham area. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew numerous large tree limbs down in and around the town of Cody, north to near Long Island. Damage values are estimated.
A lightning strike set a field on fire on Climax Road in the Chatham area.
Thunderstorm winds blew several trees and numerous large tree limbs down in and around the community of Callands. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees in a broad area east of Stanleytown. Near Figsboro, four large trees were uprooted and several others had tops broken off. Along Teakwood Lane, multiple trees were blown down. Along Barrow Mill Road, multiple trees were blown down. Along Terry's Mountain Road, one tree was blown down. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew a large tree down along Appalachian Drive. Damage values are estimated.
Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down along Fayette Street. Damage values are estimated.
Lightning struck a man. He subsequently was transported to a hospital. No additional details are available.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, September 2019
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: 857159, 857149, 857161, 857150, 857151, 857152, 857154, 857153, 857162, 857155, 857156, 857157, 857158, 857165.