High Wind — Roanoke, Virginia

2025-01-29 · Roanoke, Virginia

Event narrative

A 59 mph wind gust was measured at the Roanoke Airport. Over 1,000 customers in Roanoke County and City had lost power by the morning of January 29th.

Wider weather episode

A strong surface low pressure system moved through the Great Lakes region, with a tight pressure gradient existing between it and a surface high departing off the eastern United States coast. This pressure gradient led to strong, gusty winds over the area, especially across the higher elevations. During the day of January 29, a west-northwesterly low level jet also moved eastward into the Piedmont, and contributed to more strengthening of the winds. Wind gusts of 60 mph and greater resulted in a few hundred power outages in the Roanoke Valley and Mountain Empire Region of Virginia.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1231276. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.