Photo By Tommy Stafford : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : This severe storm moved across northern and eastern Nelson around 3:30 Thursday afternoon. This is looking north from the parking lot of The Nelson Farmers Market in Nellysford, VA. Click to enlarge.

Nelson County, Virginia
They didn’t last long, but they sure packed a punch! A rapidly moving line of severe thunderstorms marched through the northern most portion of Nelson County Thursday afternoon. Much of Central Virginia was under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of the afternoon.

Photo By John Holman : A closer look at the low hanging storm clouds as they moved across the area near Nellysford Thursday afternoon. Click to enlarge.

As the storms moved east into the Schuyler area, numerous trees and power lines were knocked down from the strong winds. Rescue and electric crews were in the area for hours checking the damage. Some minor wind damage was also reported near Roseland when a separate storm moved through that area. As of late Thursday evening, almost every CVEC customer had their power restored, while many AEP customers in Nelson were still without power.

Photo By Ann Strober : Another view of the storms as they rolled in Thursday afternoon. Click to enlarge.

Most areas received less than an inch of rain in the storms. The most rainfall received was on Afton Mountain with 1.07″ of rain with the next highest amount of .92″ over at Rockfish. Here at NCL in Greenfield we got just under 1/3 of an inch of rain at .29″ Down the road a bit at Devils Backbone Brewing our NCL gauge there had .51″ if rain in the gauge. Travel 3500 feet up to our NCL station at The Wintergreen Nature Foundation and the reading there was .57″ of rain.

Friday will be a much better day with milder temps and much lower humidity levels combined with a nice northerly breeze. By the weekend chances for scattered thunderstorms comes back around with valley temps in the 80’s, mountains in the 70’s.

Enjoy!

Via NWS : A Heat Advisory is in effect from 12 noon Saturday until 10PM for the areas shaded in orange. Click on image for latest details from NWS.

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1002 AM EDT SUN JUL 25 2010

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-
PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-
FREDERICK VA-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-
RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
KING GEORGE-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-MORGAN-BERKELEY-
JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…WASHINGTON…HAGERSTOWN…FREDERICK…
WESTMINSTER…GAITHERSBURG…COLUMBIA…BALTIMORE…ANNAPOLIS…
WALDORF…ST MARYS CITY…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…LEESBURG…CULPEPER…MANASSAS…
MANASSAS PARK…FAIRFAX…ALEXANDRIA…FALLS CHURCH…
FREDERICKSBURG…WARRENTON…MARTINSBURG…CHARLES TOWN
1002 AM EDT SUN JUL 25 2010

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH
THIS EVENING. TODAYS HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER
90S TO AROUND 100 DEGREES. AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES ACROSS THE
METROPOLITAN AREAS WILL REACH AROUND 105 DEGREES…WITH AREAS
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PIEDMONT AS HIGH AS 108 DEGREES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON ELDERLY RELATIVES
AND NEIGHBORS. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNACCOMPANIED IN A
PARKED VEHICLE…EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED.

Via NWS: A Heat Advisory is in effect from 12 noon until 9PM for areas shaded in orange. Click image for latest updated info.

Nelson County, Virginia
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
232 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010

MDZ003-004-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501-502-WVZ051>053-
240100-
/O.CON.KLWX.HT.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-100724T0100Z/
WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-
FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-
RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-
SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…HAGERSTOWN…FREDERICK…STAUNTON…
WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…WASHINGTON…LEESBURG…CULPEPER…WARRENTON…
MARTINSBURG…CHARLES TOWN
232 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE AREA WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY
INCREASINGLY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS. HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS
AFTERNOON WILL RISE INTO THE MID TO UPPER 90S. THE COMBINATION OF
HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 DEGREES.

SIMILAR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED INTO THE WEEKEND. A HEAT
ADVISORY LIKELY WILL NEED TO BE ISSUED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING HOURS ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON ELDERLY RELATIVES
AND NEIGHBORS. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNACCOMPANIED IN A
PARKED VEHICLE – EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED.

The high temperature Thursday afternoon was 99.5° (100°) reached at 6:03 PM in the evening. High temps will be at least that hot on Friday and Saturday with some areas in the low 100's. Click image to enlarge.

Nelson County, Virginia
We’ve pretty much highlighted weather all week here at NCL. It’s hot! It’s also summer, so it’s supposed to be. On Thursday the afternoon high reached 100° at 6:03 PM in the evening. Technically it was 99.5° but that is always rounded up, of course. And again, if you can tell the 1/2 degree degree difference, be sure to let me know! On Friday it was 98° here at NCL.

Saturday will be an equally hot day with the likelihood of even hotter temps. Some areas will see the low 100’s Saturday. A Heat Advisory was is in effect from noon Friday until 9PM, with another one likely to be issue on Saturday.

While there is a chance for a lone thunderstorm or two in the afternoon hours, chances are minimal until the second half of the weekend.

Some minor relief may arrive Sunday with the chance for scattered thunderstorms. Behind that system afternoon highs into early next week will be in the upper 80’s vs the upper 90’s and 100°.

Tommy’s Audio Weather by clicking here.

The areas highlighted in pink are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8PM tonight. Click image for more.

Nelson County, Virginia
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 502
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
130 PM EDT TUE JUL 20 2010

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA
CENTRAL AND WESTERN VIRGINIA
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA

EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 130 PM UNTIL
800 PM EDT.

HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES SOUTH
SOUTHWEST OF BLUEFIELD WEST VIRGINIA TO 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH
SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

County / City Outline Area:

IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

ALBEMARLE GREENE NELSON
ORANGE SPOTSYLVANIA

IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

CULPEPER

IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA

MADISON PAGE RAPPAHANNOCK

IN WESTERN VIRGINIA

AUGUSTA HIGHLAND ROCKINGHAM

IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 INDEPENDENT CITIES

IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

CHARLOTTESVILLE

IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA

CITY OF HARRISONBURG

IN WESTERN VIRGINIA

CITY OF STAUNTON CITY OF WAYNESBORO

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…CHARLOTTESVILLE…CHARLOTTESVILLE…
CULPEPER…GREENFIELD…HARRISONBURG…HARRISONBURG…LURAY…
MADISON…MONTEREY…ORANGE…SPOTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE…
STANARDSVILLE…STAUNTON…STAUNTON…WASHINGTON…
WAYNESBORO AND WAYNESBORO.

The high temp at our NCL-Devils Backbone Weather Station reached 103° at 4:27 PM Tuesday afternoon.

Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia
Yes, it was hot Tuesday. Very hot! But it’s summer, so it’s sort of the thing that happens this time of year. But the 100+ temps aren’t a frequent visitor in the summer season here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. None the less our NCL-Devils Backbone weather station hit 103° at 4:27 PM yesterday afternoon. Technically 102.6° but obviously that .4° is rounded to 103°. I don’t think you could tell the difference!

A graphic from the NCL-DBBC site on Tuesday afternoon showing the climbing temps. Click to enlarge.

Here at our NCL office in Greenfield we hit a much cooler 101° at 4:51 PM Tuesday afternoon. Technically, 100.8° Higher up at our NCL-Wintergreen Nature Foundation on Devils Knob at 3500 feet, they obviously were the cool spot checking in at an 86° high hit at 3:14 PM.

The hot weather will continue again Wednesday with temps nearing or slightly above 100° in many locations.

A heat advisory continues until 11PM Wednesday night for the areas highlighted in Orange. Click on the map for the latest details from the National Weather Service.

A heat advisory continues until late tonight as shown on the map above.

By Thursday temps will moderate a little bit with high expected in the upper 80’s and lower 90’s rather than 100°. The chance for isolated afternoon thunderstorms returns on Thursday with a better chance on Friday and Saturday.

Get all of the details over in Tommy’s Audio Weather by clicking here.

Stay cool!!

Heat & Humidity return this weekend!

Nelson County, Virginia
If you’ve been wishing for cooler weather, don’t be looking for it anytime soon! This last weekend of Spring will be a hot one as we head into the official start of Summer on Monday. Temps will be in the upper 80’s to near 90° as we end the week on Friday, but easily into the lower 90’s Saturday and the mid 90’s by Sunday!

This year's festival has a long list of wineries and entertainment on hand! Perfect weather for the festival. Click on the image for more details.

There’s a minimal chance for an isolated late day thunderstorm on both Saturday and Sunday, but chances are around 20%. Most people will never see rain.

By Monday, that first day of Summer, temps remain in the middle 90’s with high in the low and middle 80’s up in the mountain.

Stay cool!

Photo By Tommy Stafford : Thunderstorms develop to the east of Founders' Vision Overlook as seen from atop Wintergreen Mountain. Scattered thunderstorms are expected through the weekend here in Nelson.

Nelson County, Virginia
Hot and muggy conditions are expected right through the coming weekend with a decent shot at thunderstorms each afternoon. Not everyone will see thunderstorm activity, but where they do build up, some will be very strong.

Temperatures will vary from the mid 80’s to around 90° for afternoon valley highs over the weekend. Milder temperatures move in by next Tuesday.

Listen to the complete forecast over in Tommy’s Audio Weather by clicking here.

Photos By Norm Shafer : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Nelson County Sheriff, David Brooks and Deputy Robbie Brooks, lead Austin Griffin (left) and Christopher Meeks (right) into a Nelson Courtroom during a March 2010 hearing. The two are now officially indicted on Capital Murder charges. Click photo to enlarge.

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Austin Griffin & Christopher Meeks have been officially indicted on the charge of capital murder for the May 6, 2009 killing of retired teacher’s aid, Opal Page. The grand jury heard evidence Tuesday morning and handed down what’s called the true bill or indictment. “Ironically, Meeks was in a Nelson court Monday with his lawyers for an unrelated appearance,” said Nelson County Sheriff, David Brooks. Sheriff Brooks department along with the Virginia State Police investigated the crime scene just north of Greenfield along Route 151. Meeks and Griffin were arrested on May 12th days after the murder. Prosecutors and police say the duo are the men responsible.

“The two have been charged with Statutory Burglary, Capitol Murder, and Robbery,” said Debbie Giles, Administrative Assistant, in the Nelson County Commonwealth Attorney’s office. She confirmed the indictments to NCL by telephone Tuesday afternoon.

“Numerous other hearings are in the works now,” Giles continued. The pair is expected to be back in court within the coming weeks to get a firm trial date set. The pair appeared together most recently back in March of 2010.

More on the history and time line of the Opal Page murder by clicking here

Via The Storm Prediction Center : A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Nelson and much of the area to the north until 9PM. Click to enlarge.

Nelson County, Virginia
! EXPIRED – EXPIRED – EXPIRED !

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 173
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
230 PM EDT FRI MAY 14 2010

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MUCH OF MARYLAND
PARTS OF SOUTHEAST OHIO
MUCH OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
MUCH OF WEST VIRGINIA
COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 230 PM UNTIL 900
PM EDT.

HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80
MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 90
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES WEST
NORTHWEST OF CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA TO 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HARRISBURG PENNSYLVANIA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH
SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 170…WW 171…WW 172…

DISCUSSION…THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN NUMBER AND
INTENSITY ACROSS THE WATCH THRU THE AFTERNOON AS AIR MASS HAS BECOME
MODERATELY UNSTABLE.40-50KT OF SHEAR COUPLED WITH MID LEVEL LAPSE
RATES OF 7C/KM SUPPORT BOTH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. GREATEST
WIND THREAT WILL BE WITH ANY LINE SEGMENT/BOW ECHOES THAT DEVELOP IN
THE STRONG FLOW ALOFT.

AVIATION…A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 26035.