Weather! Saturday severe weather update

UPDATE 9:00pm: The tornado watch has expired. There are still some severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in effect for far eastern Virginia and North Carolina, including the Eastern Shore and Outer Banks. Richmond can sleep easy tonight. Unfortunately, there has been one fatality reported in Virginia: emergency management in Waynesboro reports one person died as […]

April 16, 2011; 1:55 PM • by Weather Dan

UPDATE 9:00pm: The tornado watch has expired. There are still some severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in effect for far eastern Virginia and North Carolina, including the Eastern Shore and Outer Banks. Richmond can sleep easy tonight. Unfortunately, there has been one fatality reported in Virginia: emergency management in Waynesboro reports one person died as a result of flash flooding.

UPDATE 7:00pm: All tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings have expired across the Richmond metro, and the line of storms is existing Henrico and the Tri-Cities area now. The tornado watch remains in effect until 9:00pm. The strongest thunderstorms are now crossing the Hampton Roads area and southeastern Virginia. The tornado threat continues for this area; if you have loved ones in the region, send them a text or give them a phone call to make sure they are paying attention to local media.

UPDATE 5:00pm: Tornado warning south of Richmond has been expanded. The city will be spared, but areas to the south and east are under the gun. If you’ve got storm photos, I’d love to see and share them. You can send them to me at dan@rvanews.com.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
456 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
NORTHWESTERN CHARLES CITY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
SOUTHEASTERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHEASTERN DINWIDDIE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
SOUTHEASTERN HENRICO COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
SOUTHWESTERN NEW KENT COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF HOPEWELL IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF PETERSBURG IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 452 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MATOACA…OR 5 MILES WEST OF PETERSBURG…
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR…
HOPEWELL AND PRINCE GEORGE AROUND 505 PM EDT.
JORDANS POINT AROUND 510 PM EDT.
ADKINS STORE AROUND 520 PM EDT.
ROXBURY…BOTTOMS BRIDGE AND PROVIDENCE FORGE AROUND 525 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE BIRCHETT
ESTATE…JORDAN POINT COUNTRY CLUB…MEADOWVILLE…WAYSIDE…
BARNETTS…GLENDALE…ELKO…MOUNTCASTLE…ORAPAX FARMS AND NEW KENT
AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE… OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER…CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN WAKEFIELD.

&&

LAT…LON 3754 7726 3754 7724 3756 7722 3744 7692
3707 7744 3722 7756
TIME…MOT…LOC 2056Z 221DEG 46KT 3722 7744

$$

ALBRIGHT

UPDATE 4:40pm: A pair of tornado warnings have been issued as well.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
436 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL CHARLES CITY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
VIRGINIA…
SOUTHEASTERN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
DINWIDDIE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
SOUTHEASTERN HENRICO COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHWESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF HOPEWELL IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF PETERSBURG IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 431 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR DEWITT…OR NEAR MCKENNEY…AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR…
SUTHERLAND AROUND 445 PM EDT.
MATOACA AROUND 450 PM EDT.
ETTRICK…COLONIAL HEIGHTS…PETERSBURG AND FORT LEE AROUND 455 PM
EDT.
HOPEWELL AND PRINCE GEORGE AROUND 500 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE PETERSBURG
AIRPORT…BURGESS…ADDISON…RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE…NEW BOHEMIA…
PETERSBURG NATIONAL BATTLLEFIELD…BIRCHETT ESTATE AND JORDAN POINT
COUNTRY CLUB.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE… OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT…LON 3746 7730 3724 7717 3696 7767 3710 7780
TIME…MOT…LOC 2036Z 233DEG 45KT 3709 7765

$$

ALBRIGHT

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
432 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
NORTHEASTERN FLUVANNA COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHWESTERN GOOCHLAND COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHWESTERN LOUISA COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 431 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR KENTS STORE…OR 6 MILES EAST OF PALMYRA…
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR…
LOUISA AROUND 440 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE BYRD MILL…
TREVILIANS…LOUISA AIRPORT…GREEN SPRINGS AND VAWTER CORNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE… OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT…LON 3816 7810 3814 7806 3814 7801 3812 7797
3812 7789 3810 7783 3809 7782 3776 7812
3785 7829
TIME…MOT…LOC 2032Z 209DEG 57KT 3790 7814

$$

BHURLEY

UPDATE 4:29PM: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for the metro area. It’s the northernmost red polygon in the radar image below.

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
423 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
SOUTHEASTERN AMELIA COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTH CENTRAL BRUNSWICK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
DINWIDDIE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
SOUTH CENTRAL HANOVER COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CENTRAL HENRICO COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
NORTHEASTERN NOTTOWAY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
WESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF HOPEWELL IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF PETERSBURG IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA…
CITY OF RICHMOND IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 515 PM EDT

* AT 418 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL…AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SCOTTS FORK TO
LAWRENCEVILLE…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR…
MOSELEY AND MCKENNEY AROUND 430 PM EDT.
DEWITT AROUND 435 PM EDT.
SUTHERLAND…DINWIDDIE AND BON AIR AROUND 440 PM EDT.
LAKESIDE…LAUREL…MATOACA AND ETTRICK AROUND 445 PM EDT.
PETERSBURG…EAST HIGHLAND PARK AND COLONIAL HEIGHTS AROUND 450 PM
EDT.
PRINCE GEORGE AND HOPEWELL AROUND 455 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE
WINTERPOCK…WALKERS…ROCKY RUN…FORD…MIDLOTHIAN…FIVE FORKS…
CHURCH ROAD…CENTER STAR…BUTTERWORTH AND BEACH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…DEADLY LIGHTNING…AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

INTENSE SQUALL LINES CAN OCCASIONALLY PRODUCE BRIEF TORNADOES IN
ADDITION TO WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE. ALTHOUGH NOT
IMMEDIATELY LIKELY…FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. THIS STORM HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

&&

LAT…LON 3771 7742 3732 7727 3723 7722 3678 7789
3727 7795
TIME…MOT…LOC 2023Z 228DEG 62KT 3734 7782 3684 7782
WIND…HAIL 70MPH 1.00IN

$$

ALBRIGHT

UPDATE 4:04PM: An incredibly intense tornado is passing through downtown Raleigh as I write this. Prepare yourselves – the devastation and damage will be significant.

The tornado threat for our area continues. Areas of heavy rain with embedded thunder are passing through the western parts of the metro area currently. A pair of tornado warnings are currently in effect for storms to the southwest of the city for Lunenburg, Nottoway, Amelia, Brunswick and Dinwiddie Counties. These storms are moving to the northeast incredibly fast – at or above 60 miles per hour. Additional warnings will continue to be issued as long as these storms continue to remain intense and move off to the northeast.

Please, PLEASE heed these warnings as they are issued. Take cover and remain there until you receive the all-clear. This is an incredibly serious situation with a strong possibility for both property damage and physical injury or loss of life.

UPDATE 2:30PM: The Storm Prediction Center has issued an updated discussion (called a Mesoscale Discussion) about the severe weather threat that exists across Virginia and the Carolinas.

The discussion highlights the continued tornado threat this afternoon – as clouds clear out ahead of the main line of storms the possibility still exists for supercells to develop in advance of the line of thunderstorms that is crossing the region from west to east. Storms within the line have the possibility for damaging wind gusts and embedded tornadoes, as well as large hail and lightning.

FULL STORY: For areas especially south and east of Richmond, into southeastern Virginia, and eastern portions of North Carolina and South Carolina, this has the potential to be one of the most memorable severe weather days in quite a while. Seventeen people have died so far as a result of severe weather from Oklahoma to Alabama. Let’s hope nobody else loses their life today.

First off, the Storm Prediction Center has posted a tornado watch for southern and southeastern Virginia, and the eastern half of both North and South Carolina until 9:00pm. This watch includes Henrico County, the City of Richmond, and Chesterfield County.

This watch is classified as a PDS watch – PDS being short for Particularly Dangerous Situation. PDS watches are rarely issued along the east coast, and are used to indicate situations where the possibility for strong, long-tracked tornadoes may exist. Additionally, this watch highlights the risk for
severe wind damage with gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour and the possibility for severe hail, including hail greater than 2” in diameter.

The Storm Prediction Center also issues a daily outlook for the threat of thunderstorms and severe weather.

Their outlook for today (issued at 12:30 this afternoon) includes the Richmond area in a moderate risk for this afternoon, and eastern North Carolina and South Carolina in a high risk for severe weather. This is a rare – and significant – severe weather situation this afternoon. Stay tuned to local media for alerts and if you have a NOAA weather radio, today is the day to use it!

Make sure that you have a severe weather plan in place. Think now about where you would go in the event that severe weather strikes your location this afternoon. Make sure you’ve got an interior, window-free room, like a closet or bathroom, or basement that you can evacuate to if necessary.

UPDATE 1:40pm: As I’m writing this, a second tornado watch has been issued to cover the remainder of Virginia east of Roanoke.

This tornado watch is also in effect until 9:00pm and includes Goochland and Hanover counties and points north and west, including Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, and the Washington, DC Metro area.

This is a rare event. The line of thunderstorms that represents the end of today’s severe weather is crossing the Blue Ridge now and will be quickly advancing towards Richmond and Hampton Roads. The biggest threat for any tornadoes will be in any supercell thunderstorms that pop up ahead of the front – these will have the most favorable conditions for developing the strong updrafts needed for tornadic development. Regardless, we’re not completely out of any sort of threat until this line of storms off to the west passes.

Several tornado warnings have been issued in this line along the I-81 corridor already, and this line will continue moving east over the next several hours. The best chance for passage looks to be somewhere around 4-5pm. If you’ve got to be outside, do it now. I’ll continue posting updates as necessary.

April 16, 2011 1:55 PM 1