The National Weather Service Friday issued a “Hazardous Weather Outlook” for Floyd and surrounding counties for the weekend with warnings of severe thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds.
The storm that swept through the county Thursday was a precursor of what’s to come, the service office in Blacksburg reports.
The forecast for Friday (direct from NWS):
Patchy showers before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
And the outlook:
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 512 AM EDT Fri May 3 2019 NCZ001>003-018-019-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-WVZ042>044-507-508- 040915- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles- Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA- Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst- Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 512 AM EDT Fri May 3 2019
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia.
.DAY ONE…Today and tonight. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. A few of these could become strong to severe, with quarter to half-dollar sized hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Saturday through Thursday. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected again Saturday and Saturday evening. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong to severe producing quarter to half-dollar sized hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT… Spotter activation will likely be needed, especially west of Interstate 81 this afternoon and evening. Spotter activation will likely be needed across the entire area Saturday afternoon and evening.