Multiple thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening of the May 27th across central and southwest Virginia as a strong upper level disturbance passed across the lower Mid-Atlantic along a stationary front draped across the region. The storms developed in a moderately unstable environment, with surface temperatures observed in the low to mid 80s during the afternoon, while dewpoints…
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The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
Multiple thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening of the May 27th across central and southwest Virginia as a strong upper level disturbance passed across the lower Mid-Atlantic along a stationary front draped across the region. The storms developed in a moderately unstable environment, with surface temperatures observed in the low to mid 80s during the afternoon, while dewpoints were observed in the upper 60s to low 70s. This helped to drive MLCAPE values into the 1,500 to 2,000 J/kg range, with relatively steep low-level lapse rates. Area wind profilers also indicated westerly winds within the low levels of the atmosphere, with 30-35 kt of deep-layer shear supporting damaging wind gusts in the stronger thunderstorm activity.
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 27, 12:54 PM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 154 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Severe thunderstorm watch #247 in effect until 9PM for WV/VA primarily east of I-77, all the way to the coast. && .KEY MESSAGES... KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a flash flood risk today. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe storms possible this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across the forecast area with the main threat between 2PM-9PM. Strong to severe gusts capable of producing wind damage should be the primary hazard, but isolated hail may also occur. 30-40 kt of mid-level westerly flow will promote relatively fast moving storm cells this afternoon and evening. Upper short wave trough over the Ohio Valley along with east-west oriented front across the northern Mid-Atlantic will serve as a focus for organized storm development. In addition, expecting isolated to scattered storms to develop along the Blue Ridge... all activity moving east as we progress through the late afternoon and evening. Moderate instability (MLCAPE 1500 J/kg) is being forecast across the northern part of our CWA coupled with 30-40 kt of westerly deep-layer shear. This should support a mix of multicells and marginal supercell structures is anticipated along/south of the front, with scattered damaging winds the main severe risk. Some hail could also occur with the strongest cores. KEY MESSAGE 2: There is a flash flood risk today. Rain has been plentiful the last seven days. With precipitable water (PWAT) values AOA 1.50 any deep convection will be rain efficient promoting rain rates of 2-4". Organized storms will have the best chance to produce excessive rainfall, so be on the lookout for localized flash flooding. Given the relatively fast storm cell movement, expecting somewhat lower residence time of the heavy rain cores, so unless we have training cells, rainfall totals should generally be held under an inch. That said, high rain rates can still quickly translate into rapid runoff and localized flooding. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Thunderstorms are already beginning to form in southwest Virginia, but as the afternoon continues, they will become more organized and widespread. All TAF sites have the potential to experience a strong thunderstorm today. Thunderstorms will quiet down and taper off sometime before midnight for most of the area. Strong wind gusts can occur with little notice in the vicinity of thunderstorms. Additionally, some of these showers and storms could have high rain rates, temporarily reducing vsby from the relatively clear conditions we are seeing right now. Cigs will lower in the presence of any showers or storms, potentially dropping conditions into MVFR/IFR. Once the precipitation clears up tonight, cigs will lift again, leaving most of the area VFR or high end MVFR through Thursday morning. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... By Thursday, the stalled front pushes south of the area, with high pressure from the north moving in. While shower/storms may still be possible, they will be isolated and primarily limited to our southern locations, such as DAN. This will allow for mostly VFR flight conditions to return to the remainder of the terminals. VFR will be expected to continue, though fog remains possible during the overnight hours. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...PM AVIATION...RCS/VFJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 VAZ011-013-014-017>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-WVZ042>044- 507-281815- Giles-Pulaski-Montgomery-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke- Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry- Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer- Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier- 203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 247 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central 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. A Slight Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon and evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated damaging wind gusts. A Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall is also forecast for today as repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to an approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash flooding risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms train over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of producing rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area. WVZ508-281815- Western Greenbrier- 203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 247 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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. A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall is forecast for today as repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to an approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash flooding risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms train over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of producing rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour. A Slight Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon and evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area. NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009-010-012-015-016-281815- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Wythe-Grayson-Carroll- 203 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A Marginal Risk of severe weather will be possible this afternoon and evening. Afternoon storms will be capable of producing isolated damaging wind gusts. A Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall is also forecast for today as repeated rounds of rain, some heavy at times, will continue due to an approaching cold front. After recent heavy rains, the flash flooding risk is more of a concern, especially where showers/storms train over the same areas. Storms will have the capability of producing rainfall rates of 3-4" per hour. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are requested to report hail of any size, as well as any damage caused by thunderstorm winds in their area.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
554 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
NCZ005-006-VAZ043-044-272230-
Rockingham NC-Caswell NC-Henry VA-Pittsylvania VA-
554 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
NORTHEASTERN ROCKINGHAM...NORTHWESTERN CASWELL...SOUTHWESTERN
PITTSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM EDT...
At 554 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Eden, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Eden...
Reidsville...
Wentworth...
Bethel...
Mayfield...
Ridgeway...
and Quick.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
south central, southwestern and west central Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3649 7993 3662 7986 3661 7969 3660 7962
3656 7951 3653 7948 3643 7936 3630 7957
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 282DEG 27KT 3652 7978
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
EBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
556 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
VAZ035-046-047-272245-
Buckingham VA-Amherst VA-Appomattox VA-
556 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT
NORTHERN APPOMATTOX...CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM AND EASTERN AMHERST COUNTIES
THROUGH 645 PM EDT...
At 556 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Wingina to near New Glasgow to near
Falconerville. Movement was east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Buckingham...
Amherst...
Dillwyn...
Forks Of Buffalo...
Bent Creek...
Clifford...
and Madison Heights.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central, south central and west central Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3757 7830 3750 7841 3743 7861 3742 7886
3743 7914 3772 7924 3773 7907 3771 7906
3770 7899 3755 7890 3753 7884 3756 7881
3763 7882 3764 7872 3770 7869 3768 7865
3771 7865
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 283DEG 17KT 3767 7872 3760 7889 3757 7915
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
EBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
557 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0539 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 E Rocky Mount 37.01N 79.84W
05/27/2026 Franklin VA 911 Call Center
Thunderstorm winds blew down a large oak
tree near the intersection of Muse Field
Road and Ledbetter Road.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
607 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
VAZ018-019-023-024-272245-
Botetourt VA-Craig VA-Rockbridge VA-Alleghany VA-
607 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHEASTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHEASTERN
CRAIG COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA...SOUTHWESTERN ROCKBRIDGE AND
BOTETOURT COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND THE CITY OF COVINGTON
THROUGH 645 PM EDT...
At 607 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Covington, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Covington...
Buchanan...
Eagle Rock...
Jordan Mines...
Oriskany...
Collierstown...
and Iron Gate.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central, south central, southwestern and west central Virginia...and
southeastern West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3765 8016 3782 8001 3777 7955 3758 7956
3746 7984
TIME...MOT...LOC 2207Z 284DEG 29KT 3772 8003
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
EBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
608 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ESE Ronceverte 37.75N 80.46W
05/27/2026 Greenbrier WV 911 Call Center
A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm
winds onto an unoccupied vehicle along Mike
Stuart Road.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
626 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
VAZ013-014-017-032-033-272300-
Franklin VA-Pulaski VA-Patrick VA-Floyd VA-Montgomery VA-
626 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT
SOUTHEASTERN PULASKI...FLOYD...SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN...NORTHEASTERN
PATRICK AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EDT...
At 626 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pilot, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Floyd...
Indian Valley...
Pilot...
Copper Hill...
Ferrum...
Terrys Fork...
and Endicott.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
south central, southwestern and west central Virginia...and
southeastern West Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3695 8067 3710 8041 3709 7991 3692 7992
3677 8018
TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 276DEG 33KT 3701 8033
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
EBThe Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 148 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:28 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along South Constitution Highway.
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in Eagle Rock near Ball Park Road. Four homes experienced some structural damage from fallen trees, and one vehicle was entirely crushed.
One large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds in the town of Buchanan.
Numerous trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds in the area around New Wright Shop Road and Riverview Road. Several powerlines were brought down by fallen trees, and one home suffered significant structural damage. An estimated 3500 customers lost power in the area.
One to one and three quarters inch diameter hail was observed along Izaak Walton Road.
One large tree was blown down onto a power line along Mt. Athos Road, causing the power line to break.
One large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Stonewall Road.
One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Toddsbury Road blocking all lanes of traffic.
A power line was blown down by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of Police Tower Road and Richmond Highway.
One large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds along Walton Drive.
One large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of Morning Star Road and South Fork Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, May 2026
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: 1331968, 1331975, 1331977, 1331984, 1331983, 1331980, 1331979, 1331981, 1331988, 1331986, 1331987.