NWS flags Friday and Saturday storm risk for Henry County

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg is flagging a weekend storm risk for Henry County and Martinsville.

In its 4:23 a.m. Hazardous Weather Outlook on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, NWS included Henry County and nearby Southside Virginia communities in an outlook area where an increased risk of severe storms exists Friday and Saturday. The outlook says the main concerns are damaging winds and localized flash flooding from heavy rainfall.

The outlook does not list widespread hazardous weather for Thursday, and spotter activation is not expected at this time. That means this is a planning-level public-safety notice, not a confirmed storm report or a current warning for a specific neighborhood.

• Timing to watch: Friday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 15.
• Primary concerns: Damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding where heavy rainfall repeats over the same area.
• Practical prep: Secure loose outdoor items, keep phones charged, check drainage-prone roads before travel and monitor NWS alerts if storms develop.

Readers should use official NWS alerts, local emergency-management notices and road-condition updates for any later watches, warnings or road closures.

Source: Reporting based on the National Weather Service Blacksburg Hazardous Weather Outlook issued at 4:23 a.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, checked Aug. 13, 2026. Original editorial SVG; it does not depict a specific storm-damage scene.