An upper level storm system crossed the region during peak heating. The passage of this system aided in the lift needed for thunderstorm development within an already very moist and unstable atmosphere.
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.
An upper level storm system crossed the region during peak heating. The passage of this system aided in the lift needed for thunderstorm development within an already very moist and unstable atmosphere. The environment spawned scattered severe thunderstorms which produced damaging winds. In addition, storms were at times slow-moving, with winds up to 700 mb averaging around 10 knots from the southwest. Surface-based CAPEs across central Virginia varied from 1,500 to over 2,000 J/Kg during late afternoon, while precipitable water values varied from 1.2 inches across the Mountain Empire to 1.6 inches across the Southside area of Virginia. The high instability and abundant atmospheric moisture combined to produce storms with high rainfall rates, at times observed to be up to 5 inches per hour.
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 Jul 23, 1:05 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 205 PM EDT Sun Jul 23 2023 .SYNOPSIS... An upper disturbance passes across this afternoon and evening. Low pressure moves along a front across the eastern Carolinas Monday. High pressure builds in Tuesday and remains across the Carolinas through the end of the week, with temperatures warming to above normal be the dry day of the week under high pressure. Temperatures will warm through the course of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 146 PM EDT Sunday... A few strong storms possible this afternoon/evening along with heavy rain... Storms already firing up but for now just producing heavy and lightning, maybe some gusty winds, with DCAPEs above 800 J/kg along/east of the mountains. MLCAPEs of 500-1000 J/kg should increase to 1000-1500 this afternoon, with best instability over the NC foothills/piedmont. Locally damaging winds, maybe hail up to nickel size possible in the stronger storms but isolated. Fortunately pwats are in the 1.0 to 1.3 inch range with 1hr rainfall rates of 1.5 to 2.0"/hr observed. This should limit flooding but any repeat storms could cause localized flooding issues through this evening. Shortwave over KY helping enhance divergence aloft with some weak low level upslope convergence as well. Overall not a great setup for numerous storms, so mainly looking at scattered coverage through the evening and most of this moving east of the mountains by late afternoon. Frontal boundary draped over the southeast NC to Florida panhandle tonight with a low pressure wave moving across it may keep shower or storm chances going into the morning Monday in the piedmont. Further west, skies clear enough that fog may become an issue Monday morning barring any leftover clouds from the exiting wave. Monday should be drier but vicinity of the front and another wave aloft may be sufficient for more shower/storm scattered coverage Monday afternoon but most models favor better coverage north and east of our forecast area. So for now, have 30 pops from the Alleghany Highlands of VA southeast to the central VA piedmont, with isolated coverage as far southwest as the New River Valley into the NC piedmont. With moist airmass, low temps will be slightly milder tonight in the mid to upper 60s east to upper 50s to around 60 west. Monday should be seasonably warm with 80s for most except some 70s in the higher elevations. Forecast confidence is moderate to high on most elements except storm coverage. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 120 PM EDT Sunday... An upper level trough will pivot over the region Monday night. This trough exits the region Tuesday with heights building on Wednesday. Rain chances through the period are very low with low and mid level ridging centered over the region. Temperatures will run warmer than normal with 80s across the mountains and low to mid 90s east. Dew points in the 60s are not outrageous for this time of year, but with light winds, temperatures will feel a few degrees warmer than what they actual are. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 130 PM EDT Sunday... Heights continue to increase and so will the temperatures Thursday and Friday. Temperatures across the mountains will range from the mid and upper 80s to low and mid 90s east of the Blue Ridge. Rain chances remain low but could see a late day storm pop-up only to fade in the evening. Some models are keeping the ridge strong over the region into next weekend. If this is the case, an approaching front may not move south of I-64. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 123 PM EDT Sunday... Have mainly VFR through this evening. Scattered storms will be hit/miss this afternoon/evening but best chance will be along/east of ROA/BCB. For now am just going VCTS and amend as necessary. Any storms fade this evening, though DAN could expect to have convection around right through midnight. Overnight the moisture in the low levels and scattering out of clouds will lead to fog at least across the mountains and possibly foothills, so have MVFR to IFR at times, with the lowest at LWB. Fog/low clouds scatter out around 13-14z with VFR thereafter. More storms possible but mainly northeast of a line from HSP-LYH Monday after 18z. High confidence on ceilings/vsbys and wind through 00z, then average on cigs/vsbys overnight. Low to moderate confidence on storms. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... More afternoon and evening thunderstorms with possible MVFR ceiling and visibility Monday. Mainly VFR outside of morning fog Tue-Fri. Warmer with just isolated afternoon/evening convection mainly in the mountains. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP NEAR TERM...WP SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...AMS/WP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1259 PM EDT Sun Jul 23 2023 VAZ013-014-018>020-022>024-034-035-045>047-241700- Pulaski-Montgomery-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt- Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- 1259 PM EDT Sun Jul 23 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon through late this evening will have the potential to produce heavy rain. This may lead to localized flooding. .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>006-018>020-VAZ015>017-032-033-043-044-058-059-241700- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Patrick-Franklin-Henry-Pittsylvania- Halifax-Charlotte- 1259 PM EDT Sun Jul 23 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon through late this evening will have the potential to produce heavy rain. This may lead to localized flooding. In addition, an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible with damaging winds the main threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ007-009>012-WVZ042>044-507-508-241700- Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 1259 PM EDT Sun Jul 23 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
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</html>The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:28 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree was blow down by thunderstorm winds near Stuart.
Multiples trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Multiple large limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds near the Dixon Family Homeplace. In addition, numerous trees were downed by thunderstorm winds across the southern half of the county.
One tree and a powerline were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Powerlines and a few trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Powerlines were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
The intersection of Jamison Avenue and 9th Street is flooded and impassible by several inches of flowing water caused by 3 to 4 inches of rainfall, with rates as high as 6 inches per hour. No damage was reported at the intersection, and the road was reopened to traffic after the flooding receded. MRMS FLASH CREST Unit Streamflow was estimated to be between 600 and 800 cfs per mile^2, while FLASH 1-hour ARIs indicated that rainfall amounts were as high as a 100-year event in spots around the City of Roanoke during this event.
One tree and a few powerlines were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Shafer’s Crossing between 24th Street and Boulevard Street is flooded and impassible due to 2 to 3 inches of rainfall within a 90-minute period, with rainfall rates ranging from 4 to 5 inches per hour per MRMS estimates. CREST Unit Streamflow was estimated to be between 400 and 600 cfs per mile^2 for this event. No damage was reported to the road, and it was reopened to traffic after the flooding receded.
A few trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Glade Creek was observed out of its banks and flowing across Walnut Avenue at least 6 inches deep due to between 3 and locally 5 inches of rainfall within a 2-hour period falling in the basin. Rainfall rates were observed to be as high as 5 inches per hour at times. No damage was reported to the road, and it was reopened to traffic after the flooding receded.
Multiple trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds on Hardy Road near Beagle Club Road.
One tree and a couple of powerlines were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
Multiple roads around the Community of Stewartsville had standing water on them, making them impassible until the flooding receded. No damage was reported to the roadways, and they were open to traffic after the flooding receded.
Five trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Crocketts Cove Road.
One large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds and this resulted in three power poles being damaged.
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the eastern part of Giles County.
A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVAVINTO1) measured a 2-hour rainfall amount of 3.02 inches. This amount is around a 50-year rainfall event per NOAA Atlas 14 point precipitation frequency estimates.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 2023
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1116636, 1116637, 1116930, 1116645, 1116646, 1116639, 1116929, 1116934, 1116648, 1128828, 1116647, 1128834, 1116649, 1116650, 1128849, 1116651, 1116654, 1128843, 1116657, 1116660, 1116938, 1128854.