Special Weather Statement for Franklin; Bedford; Pittsylvania
Official alert fields
What you need to know
- Applies to
- Bedford, Franklin, Pittsylvania
- Effective
- Ended
- Official severity
- Moderate
- Official urgency
- Expected
- Official certainty
- Observed
What is happening
At 542 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Western Smith Mountain Lake, or near Penhook, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include......
What the bulletin says to do
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage. Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid hydroplaning. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. If on or near Smith Mountain Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Full official description
Bulletin details
At 542 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Western Smith Mountain Lake, or near Penhook, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Penhook... Smith Mountain Lake State Park... Western Smith Mountain Lake... Union Hall... North Shore... Southern Smith Mountain Lake... and Ajax.
Lifecycle record
Official revisions
- Alert
Special Weather Statement issued August 9 at 5:43PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Official revision
Source and limitations
Publisher: Weather Alert Watch. Primary source: NWS Blacksburg VA. This page reorganizes official fields and does not add a forecast or expand the affected area.
- CAP status
- Actual
- Message type
- Alert
- Last collected