Roanoke, Virginia – Strong to severe thunderstorms could sweep across central and southwest Virginia Friday afternoon, bringing damaging wind gusts and the risk of large hail from Roanoke to Lynchburg between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
According to the US National Weather Service in Blacksburg, storms will initiate in the mountains before tracking northeast into the foothills. Areas including Christiansburg, Bedford, and Lexington fall under a “Scattered Severe Thunderstorms Possible” zone, while regions west of I-81 face an “Isolated Severe” risk. Damaging winds are the primary concern, though heavy rainfall and large hail are also possible.
The NWS urges residents to remain weather-aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings. Flash flooding is not expected to be widespread, but isolated downpours could create temporary roadway hazards, especially on rural routes and mountain passes. Afternoon and evening commutes may be affected, particularly near Blacksburg and along US-460.
Storm intensity is expected to weaken by late evening as activity moves eastward. While no widespread outages have been reported yet, brief power disruptions remain possible in higher wind zones.
Severe weather watches may be issued as conditions evolve. Stay tuned to local alerts and check back for updates through Friday night.
