Tornado and Hail in Virginia, May 26, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
252 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A series of disturbances will pass across the lower Mid-Atlantic
through Monday, triggering rounds of shower and thunderstorm
activity ahead of an approaching cold front. The front will
pass across the central Appalachians Monday evening, ushering in
drier and slightly cooler weather for much of the coming week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Sunday...

Key Messages:

1. A line of showers and thunderstorms will arrive from the
west this afternoon and evening. Severe Thunderstorm Watch
317 has been issued for the western half of the forecast area.

2. Another line of showers and thunderstorms may arrive early
in the morning on Memorial Day, though timing and intensity are
less certain.

3. Finally, isolated thunderstorms may be possible Monday
afternoon and evening, but confidence is low.

An impressive line of severe thunderstorms was moving rapidly
through the OH and TN Valleys, and will continue to push east at
around 40-50 mph through this evening. Numerous reports of 60+
mph wind gusts have already occurred with this MCS, and there is
a near continuous line of storms from Green Bay to Cincinnati
to Knoxville at this time. The system may weaken slightly as it
encounters the Blue Ridge, and west of here is where the Severe
Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 9 PM. To the east,
still expect storms to move through between 7 to 10 pm. There
is a chance the Watch may be expanded downstream to include the
Piedmont.

Current temperatures were in the 70s and 80s, with dew points
in the upper 50s to upper 60s. This has yielded MLCAPEs in the
1500-2500 J/kg range, with DCAPEs maxed out in our northern NC
counties around 1100 J/kg. Wind shear in the lower levels is
about 30 kts between the surface to 3km, and bulk shear is
around 45 kts. Thankfully there is little directional shear, so
this does not look like a big tornado day, but spin ups along
the front edge of the MCS may turn into brief tornadoes. The
main concern here will be damaging winds, heavy downpours
leading to localized flooding, and intense lightning.

With it being Memorial Day weekend, plenty of people are
outside, and we urge you to pay attention to this rapidly
evolving weather scenario today and tomorrow. Remember to head
indoors and stay away from water when lightning is near, and
have multiple ways to get warnings.

By 10 pm, the severe threat will temporarily diminish as the
line passes out of our area to the east, bringing a brief lull
in the organized activity, with only residual showers to contend
with. However, decent agreement exists in the rapid update
weather forecast models that another line of storms will
approach from the west during the predawn hours Monday/Memorial
Day and shift east, sweeping east-southeast by mid morning.

Finally, there is a chance for some redevelopment of
thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening Monday, but believe
the morning convection may impact and degrade this, so
confidence in that is low.

Expect early morning lows to start Memorial Day to range from
the low to mid 60s, and highs to reach the mid 70s to low 80s
for the mountains, and the mid to upper 80s for the Piedmont.

Overall confidence in the near term is moderate.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
... As of 215 PM EDT Sunday...

Key Messages:

1: Low chance of lingering storms in the wake of a front Monday
night

2: Quiet, breezy, and cool Tuesday onward

A front will have mostly made its way through our CWA and into
central VA by Monday night. A few lingering post-frontal showers
and storms could continue to crop up, but the main line with
most of the severe potential will have occurred earlier in the
day. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will all have more or less
similar weather conditions. Surface high pressure will gradually
move down from the western Great Lakes and over the Mid-
Atlantic, will suppress precip chances. In the mean time we will
be in the western half of a mid- level trough, wherein a few
weak embedded shortwaves may pass through. This would only serve
to amplify cloud cover in the mountains and perhaps spawn an
isolated shower or two.

Temps will cool into the 60s for the mountains and mid to upper
70s for the Piedmont. Fairly cool for late May/early June.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
... As of 230 PM EDT Sunday...

Key Messages:

1: Low confidence in timing of next frontal system over the
weekend

Surface high pressure will remain in control of weather and
suppress precip through Saturday. This will keep things cool
with light breezes and scattered clouds. The next front could be
expected at earliest on Sunday morning. That solution is a bit
of an outlier amongst long range models. Most don't have the
next front impacting the Mid-Atlantic until late Sunday or into
Monday. Also unclear what the potential impacts with this front
would be, though given the fact that it is early June, a frontal
passage generally includes thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION /16Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Sunday...

VFR conditions continue until a line of SHRA/TSRA arrives
this afternoon and evening. This line is expected to move
rapidly from west to east, and some storms especially along and
west of the Blue Ridge are likely to become severe, producing
damaging wind gusts, though large hail and an isolated tornado
cannot be ruled out also. Downpours and low ceilings will
accompany the storms, but are expected to remain temporary,
improving as the convection passes.

Ceilings improve to VFR for a few hours until another line
approaches in the pre-dawn hours. Expect this line to dive SSE
or dissipate as the morning goes on, with a return to VFR
tomorrow. Severe chances look much lower with this line.

SW/S winds turn more westerly tomorrow and become gusty. Also
expect erratic gusts in any thunderstorms.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

There may be a few storms in the afternoon and evening Monday
along an approaching front. However morning thunderstorms may
squash this chance, so for now expecting mainly VFR.

A front will cross through the area late Monday into early
Tuesday, turning winds to the northwest and eventually bringing
drier air to much of the area. A low chance for showers and
thunderstorms will be possible across WV Tuesday and Wednesday,
otherwise VFR. VFR everywhere Thursday.

Patchy fog with periods of MVFR/LIFR will be possible in the
mornings near mountain and river valleys.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...None.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...NF/SH
NEAR TERM...SH/NF
SHORT TERM...RAB
LONG TERM...RAB
AVIATION...SH

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
204 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

NCZ001>003-018>020-VAZ007-009>013-015-016-WVZ042>044-507-508-271815-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-
Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Grayson-Carroll-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
204 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 317 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms Monday morning and
again Monday afternoon. The main hazard with any thunderstorms would
be large hail and damaging wind gusts. Locally heavy rainfall will
also be possible once again which could result in localized flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

NCZ004>006-VAZ014-017>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-271815-
Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Montgomery-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-
Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
204 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia and
west central Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms this
afternoon and tonight. The main hazard with any thunderstorms would
be damaging winds gusts and large hail. Locally heavy rainfall is
also possible which could result in localized flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms Monday morning and
again Monday afternoon. The main hazard with any thunderstorms would
be large hail and damaging wind gusts. Locally heavy rainfall will
also be possible once again which could result in localized flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
417 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

NCZ001-018-019-262045-
Ashe NC-Wilkes NC-Watauga NC-
417 PM EDT Sun May 26 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
NORTHWESTERN WILKES...CENTRAL WATAUGA AND ASHE COUNTIES THROUGH 445
PM EDT...

At 417 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Reese, or near Sugar Grove, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Jefferson...
West Jefferson...
Lansing...
Glendale Springs...
Ashland...
Wilbar...
and Sugar Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
northwestern North Carolina...and southwestern Virginia.

&&

LAT...LON 3636 8180 3634 8177 3634 8173 3633 8171
      3634 8171 3638 8173 3639 8173 3640 8174
      3641 8174 3643 8172 3646 8171 3657 8138
      3626 8129 3623 8190 3626 8189 3630 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 259DEG 36KT 3632 8181

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

BMG