A few isolated storms developed in the afternoon and evening within a very moisture and unstable atmosphere. One storm became severe and produced localized wind damage.
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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 few isolated storms developed in the afternoon and evening within a very moisture and unstable atmosphere. One storm became severe and produced localized wind damage.
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 25, 1:07 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 207 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Overall weak high pressure remains in place at the surface this week while upper disturbances pass by from time to time helping fuel a few storms in the afternoon and evening. The heat build through the weekend, with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees by Friday in the piedmont. The second half of the weekend has the potential for more storm coverage with a front in the Mid Atlantic region. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 132 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: A few strong storms possible this afternoon east of the Blue Ridge. Patchy dense fog possible late tonight in the mountain valleys. Low level convergence showing up along the Blue Ridge into the Alleghanys early this afternoon leading to some storms popping up. Flow is generally west-east to steer the storms in this direction at 15-20 mph, so not too concerned with flooding. However, MLCAPEs have risen above 1000 J/kg and DCAPEs closing on a 1000 J/kg by 3pm in the piedmont may lead to an isolated strong/severe storm with damaging wind the main threat. The bigger threat for stronger storms lies closer to northern VA/MD with better upper support. Models and trends favors storms fading by 10pm this evening. Skies should clear overnight and allow fog to form in river valleys, and portions of the piedmont where it rains. Wednesday appears drier as we are between upper shortwaves. However, flow from the southwest and differential heating to allow for an isolated storm popping up along the higher terrain of southwest VA into NC but very low chance if any. Temperatures will continue to moderate though lows tonight still closer to typical late July numbers in the 60s. Wednesday, with more sunshine looking at highs from the lower 90s east to mid 80s to near 90 west. For now dewpoints to stay somewhat lower so heat indices will not be much of a factor yet, but still if you are outdoors tomorrow take plenty of breaks and drink water. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 140 PM EDT Tuesday... Key Messages: 1) Heat builds with Friday potentially seeing heat advisories over 105 in the piedmont. 2) Cannot rule out strong storms Thursday or Friday Models advertise a shortwave moving from the Ohio Valley into the mid Atlantic Thursday afternoon. Surface features a weak high pressure over the southern Appalachians and lee trough over the VA piedmont. Storms should fire up around noon-1pm Thursday across the WV mountains getting to the piedmont by mid afternoon. Since timing of the shortwave will be critical to strength of storms an afternoon arrival combined with plenty of low level heat to add to the instability will lead to pulse and potential multicell clusters with damaging wind the main threat. Right now, limited on coverage with the better chance northeast of Roanoke/Lynchburg. Storms may be slower to fade as models linger the upper trough/shortwave overhead into Friday morning, but overall appears convection wanes by midnight. Friday, with another potential upper wave overhead, however, with heights increasing, storms will be isolated to widely scattered mainly along and east of the Blue Ridge. Overall most folks will have no rain this period, but those that do could get quite a bit, which is typical of summer. The bigger story, will be heat building from the southwest. This will be the hottest we have seen it this summer, as much of the summer has been at or cooler than normal. With ridge building Friday, high temps could reach the mid 90s in the piedmont and Roanoke while the mountains hit the upper 80s to lower 90s. To escape the heat, will have to head to places like Beech Mountain and Mt Rogers, where it will be closer to 80. Visit https://www.weather.gov/rnk/outdoorsheat to learn about heat safety. Modified dewpoints somewhat, but with southwest to west flow dewpoints should be under 70 for most, but a few locations in the afternoon appear to rise above 70, especially if the wind stays more southwest. This is going to bring heat indices above 100 for the cities/towns of the piedmont and Roanoke area. Lows at night will be elevated Thu night-Fri night in the lower to mid 70s east to mid to upper 60s west, as we start heading toward the Dog Days of Summer. Forecast confidence is average on storm coverage and severity and above average on sky cover, temperatures and wind. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 1230 PM EDT Tuesday... Triple digit heat index values will impact much of the region Saturday afternoon... The pattern of surface high pressure over the region and zonal flow aloft, will continue across the area on Saturday. However, approaching from the north will be a cold front. This front is expected to cross the region on Sunday and be south of the region on Monday with a resultant northwest flow pattern aloft over our region. For our forecast, this will mean another hot day across the region on Saturday with heat index values topping 100 degrees in areas mainly along and east of the crest of the Blue Ridge for a few hours during the afternoon hours. The valleys of Craig County, VA and the eastern valleys of Montgomery County, VA, may also see heat index values touching 100 degrees. With diurnal heating, the the approach of a cold front, isolated to scattered showers and storms are expected, primarily across western and northern parts of the area. Saturday night into Sunday, showers and storms will be on the increase with the approach and passage of the cold front. The combination of more precipitation, cloud cover, and chance of air mass, will provide for slightly cooler conditions as compared to Saturday, but with temperatures above normal for this time of year. Sunday night, lingering showers and storms will be common through at least this evening hours, if not also into the early morning hours of Sunday. On Monday, the front will be south of the region with a drier airmass across the region. Limited, if any, precipitation is expected. However, temperatures will still be slightly above normal for this time of year, but the lower humidity levels will provide for heat index values comparable to the actual air temperature. For Tuesday, guidance varies on our weather situation. Some solutions offer a near repeat of Tuesday with limited precipitation and above normal temperatures. Others offer a solution that shifts the center of high pressure east of our region, thus allow for better return flow of moisture into the area and less of a capping inversion overhead. This scenario would offer the start of increasing chance of diurnal showers and storms. Our forecast will lean towards this latter solutions with slightly higher probabilities of precipitation on Tuesday as compared to Monday. Confidence in the above weather scenario is moderate to high Saturday through Monday and drops to low to moderate for Tuesday. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 110 PM EDT Tuesday... Widely scattered storms along/north/east of a ROA-LYH line this afternoon. However, will only have VCTS at ROA/LYH with nothing elsewhere. VFR with sct to at times broken ceilings of 4-6kft. Any storms should fade by mid evening with fog possible overnight mainly LWB/BCB. Potential fog at LYH/ROA if it rains this afternoon/evening. Any fog lifts by 13z Wednesday with VFR. Above average confidence for ceiling and wind. Average confidence for storms location today and fog/vsby tonight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Mainly VFR outside of morning fog Wed-Fri. Warmer temperatures expected with just isolated MVFR afternoon/evening convection mainly in the mountains. The probability of showers and thunderstorms and associated MVFR conditions increases on Saturday with the approach of a cold front. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP NEAR TERM...WP SHORT TERM...WP LONG TERM...DS AVIATION...AMS/WP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1017 AM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023 NCZ001>003-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-032-WVZ042>044-507-508-261430- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland- Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig- Alleghany VA-Bath-Patrick-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- Western Greenbrier- 1017 AM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023 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. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ004>006-VAZ022>024-033>035-043>047-058-059-261430- Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Franklin- Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham- Halifax-Charlotte- 1017 AM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia and west central Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Heat index values of 100 to 105 are possible Thursday through Saturday, with Friday looking like the hottest day. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
144 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
VAZ043-251815-
Henry VA-
144 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
central Henry County and the City of Martinsville through 215 PM
EDT...
At 144 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Stanleytown, or over Bassett, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Martinsville...
Bassett...
Stanleytown...
Villa Heights...
Collinsville...
Figsboro...
and Oak Level.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in
ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and
minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3675 8000 3679 7998 3678 7976 3664 7984
TIME...MOT...LOC 1744Z 288DEG 13KT 3675 7994
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
205 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
NCZ003-VAZ016-032-251830-
Surry NC-Patrick VA-Carroll VA-
205 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
northern Surry, southeastern Carroll and southwestern Patrick
Counties through 230 PM EDT...
At 205 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lambsburg, or near Bottom, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Airy...
Flat Rock...
Bottom...
Cana...
Pine Ridge...
Toast...
and Lambsburg.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3649 8093 3650 8093 3654 8092 3656 8090
3656 8084 3660 8087 3663 8085 3669 8039
3634 8054
TIME...MOT...LOC 1805Z 289DEG 21KT 3656 8080
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
208 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
VAZ022-023-034-251845-
Botetourt VA-Roanoke VA-Bedford VA-
208 PM EDT Tue Jul 25 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of
northeastern Roanoke, west central Bedford and southeastern Botetourt
Counties and the northeastern City of Roanoke through 245 PM EDT...
At 207 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Blue Ridge, or over Troutville, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Roanoke...
Bedford...
Troutville...
Stewartsville...
Montvale...
Fincastle...
and Hollins.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3733 7997 3750 7989 3743 7947 3718 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 289DEG 20KT 3740 7985
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KKThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:18 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew down powerlines and a power pole on Yeatts Road.
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1113701.