Strong Wind in Roanoke, Virginia

The ASOS station at the KROA Roanoke Airport recorded a wind gust of 56 mph.

A cold front moved slowly southward through the Mid-Atlantic, triggering scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates and severe weather. While shear was not very high (<30 knots), the atmosphere was considerably unstable with SBCAPE values of at least 2000 J/kg. Low level lapse rates and mid-level lapse rates were up to 8.5 C/km and 6.5C/km, respectively, in the Piedmont. All these parameters, combined with DCAPE values of 1000-1400 J/kg, resulted in scattered severe thunderstorms bringing numerous trees down the New River Valley and the Piedmont of Virginia. A gradient of negative omega values (upward motion) across southwest Virginia was noted as the storms passed, likely keeping the storms active in spite of crossing over the Appalachians. This storm episode is notable as gusty winds from the storms' outflow resulted in wind damage in areas that did not meet warning criteria. One was strong enough to knock over a tent in Bedford, killing 1 and injuring 22 at an outdoor event.