2009.08.04
More storminess, showers expected for Wednesday
We got a little taste of thunderstorms on Tuesday when an outflow boundary from more intense and widespread storm action to our west blew into the area, interacting with daytime heating and increasing humidity to trigger a narrow line of storms that moved through the New River and Roanoke valleys and points east. Some severe thunderstorm warnings were issued, and there were scattered reports of wind damage in Franklin and Bedford counties. An approaching cold front on Wednesday will provide a bigger trigger for, perhaps, more widespread shower and storm activity. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in D.C. thinks widespread rain amounts of over half an inch could occur in our area. I would not be terribly surprised to see a severe weather risk area raised over us or at least not far away to our west and south on Wednesday ... check the Storm Prediction Center for the latest on that.
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Storms are starting to fire to the south and west of Roanoke. Look like very slow movers with heavy rain.
Comment by Brandon R. — August 5, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
They popped up in a hurry too. Looks quite ominous in Blacksburg off to the west. Haven't seen lightning yet, but I suspect it's on the way.
Comment by Other John — August 5, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
We got a quick 1/2" of rain as the first storm fired up right over us (Check, Floyd Co.) and another very ominous Tstorm is heading this way. I am watching the lowerings/rain shield develop from the 2nd floor of our house - perfect vantage for the direction these are coming from. Not as nice as the rooftop of your building, Kevin, but you take what you can get
Comment by Julie — August 5, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
The rooftop vantage point here is blocked to the south ... but just happened to have a meeting in an office facing that way and watched the storm rolling up, and mostly, falling apart as it approaches Roanoke. Looks like by far the most widespread and intense action is going on down in North Carolina.
Comment by Kevin Myatt — August 5, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
We got a 0.65" blast in 20 minutes at around 2:30pm here in Wytheville. More light rain falling and much more to our west movin' this way.
Mowing grass again Saturday......in the heat wave due by then.
Comment by Rick — August 5, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
I think those of us in Roanoke are about to see some serious downpours.
Comment by Brandon R. — August 5, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
There's a wicked heavy storm moving through Blacksburg right now. Heavy rains, lightning and thunder.
Comment by jjackson — August 5, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
The storm over Montgomery County now is both severe-warned and flash flood-warned ... that cell and one to the southwest of Roanoke appear to be merging ... yes, heavy rain very likely in the Roanoke Valley within the next hour or so.
I've gotten multiple reports of prolific lightning in the Blacksburg area.
Comment by Kevin Myatt — August 5, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
The storm southwest of Roa. just came thru here; really intense cloud to ground lightning (lost power for just a minute), heavy rain (another .9" in 1/2 hr), and a few gusts over 25 MPH. No hail, though, thank goodness.
Comment by Julie — August 5, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
Crazy lighting in C-burg
Comment by Nate — August 5, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
The Bburg storm was one of the more intense I've been in. It knocked a tree down on 114 near Stu's/Christy's that messed up my commute for a good 15 minutes. Traffic was backed up past Massie's MHP fromm Cburg and past the Arsenal from Radford.
Comment by Other John — August 5, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Here are some severe weather reports turned into the National Weather Service in Blacksburg this evening:
• .88 inch hail, 3 miles southeast of Mountain Lake, Giles County
• .75 inch hail, 4 miles south-southwest of Mountain Lake, Giles County.
• .75 inch hail, 5 miles west-southwest of Sydnorsville, Franklin County
• Flash flood, Chilhowie, Smyth County. Intersection of Sugar Street and Redstone Road flooded with 6 inches of rapidly flowing water. Car stranded. Many roads in and around town impassable.
• Flash flood, 5 miles east-northeast of Blacksburg, Montgomery County. Portions of Catawba Road under 4 to 6 inches of water.
• Wind damage, Blacksburg, Montgomery County. Large tree limbs down on Ellett Road.
• Wind damage, 3 miles south of Bent Mountain, Floyd County. Tree down at mile marker 140 on Blue Ridge Parkway.
Comment by Kevin Myatt — August 5, 2009 @ 10:17 pm