Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Charleston, WV

July 20, 1986Clay County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 1986, 7:12 PM EDT for Clay County, West Virginia. It was in force for 48 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 1986, 7:12 PM EDT (23:12 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 1986, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Clay County, WV

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 125 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 12:00Z on 1986-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1650 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 12:00Z on 1986-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 76 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1650 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1031 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
76 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KCRW 202313
SVRCRW
WVC015-210000-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
712 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTY OF

WEST CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...CLAY

AT 710 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING
THROUGH CLAY COUNTY...TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THIS STORM IS PART OF A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT
HAVE PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS
...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND/OR DAMAGING WINDS..
HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES..SEEK REINFORCED SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY. IF POSSIBLE..ASK THE NEARBY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
TO RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON WV.

END/CAPRIOLA

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:35 PM EDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
^CRWSPSHTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
220 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

...STRONG LINE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SOUTHWARD INTO SOUTHERN OHIO...

AT 330 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHERN
JACKSON...PIKE TO JUST NORTH WEST OF ADAMS COUNTIES OHIO. THESE STORMS
WILL CONTINUE SOUTHWARD AND MOVE TO NORTHERN LAWRENCE...SICOTO...ADAMS
COUNTIES BY 430 PM.

THESE ARE VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND MAY ;REQUIRE A WARNING IF THEY
STRENGTHEN FURTHER.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTING AND POSSIBLE
HAIL LIKLEY ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

YOU SHOULD STAY TUNED TO RADIO OR TV FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
HANEY
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:10 PM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
415 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR A LARGE PART OF WEST VIRGINIA THAT
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA..
MINGO..LOGAN..FAYETTE AND GREENBRIER.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THENSE AREAS
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STAY
TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

WALL
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
^CRWSPSEKN

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - ELKINS, WV
440 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

  ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR ALL OF
NORTH CENTRAL AND THE NORTHERN MOUNTAIN COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA AND
GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES OF WESTERN MARYLAND...

WEATHER RADAR AT 435 PM EDT SHOWED A LINE OF INTENSE TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NOBLE COUNTY OHIO NORTHEAST THROUGH
MARSHALL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH NORTHERN GREEN COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA TO LATROBE PENNSYLVANIA. THIS LINE IS MOVING SOUTHEAST
AROUND 20 MPH AND WILL START TO ENTER INTO MONONGALIA..NORTHWEST
HARRISON AND MARION COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA DURING THE NEXT 1 TO 2
HOURS.

THESE STORMS ARE QUITE DANGEROUS AS SOME COULD CONTAIN DAMAGING
THUNDERSTORM WINDS...HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
FLOODING TO LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS COULD RESULT IN THE
HEAVY RAINS. STAY ALERT AND TAKE SHELTER IF THRjEATENFING WEATHER
APPROACHES OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END

GILKERSON
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 5:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND
RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
535 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF WEST
VIRGINIA UNTIL 1000 PM TONIGHT...

THIS WATCH COVERS ALL OF WEST VIRGINIA EXCEPT EXTREME SOUTHERN
COUNTIES...ALONG THE VIRGINIA BORDER. AT 530 PM WEATHER RADAR SHOWED
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE...FROM SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...ACROSS THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES
OF WEST VIRGINIA...ALONG THE OHIO RIVER...AND INTO NORTHEAST KENTUCKY.

THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED QUARTER INCH HAIL AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING STRIKES AT NEW MARTINSVILLE WEST VIRGINIA AROUND 500 PM.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL MOVE THROUGH SUCH CITIES AND TOWNS AS GLENVILLE...
GRANTSVILLE...SPENCER...SUTTON...AND CHARLESTON BETWEEN 530 PM AND
630 PM.

A FEW ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO SEEN OVER SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY
AND SOUTHEAST OHIO...ALSO MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS /IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR/ AND LARGE
DAMAGING HAIL /THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OR MORE IN DIAMETER/.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS WHICH CAN CAUSE VERY
POOR DRIVING VISIBILITIES AS WELL AS PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL ALSO ADD TO THE DANGER OF THESE STORMS.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
IF POSSIBLE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL NEWS STATION
...FOR WARNINGS...STATEMENTS AND UPDATED FORECASTS.

END/CAPRIOLA
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 6:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
600 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR A LARGE PART OF WEST VIRGINIA THAT
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA..
MINGO..LOGAN..FAYETTE..POCAHONTAS..SUMMERS..RALEIGH..WYOMING..
MCDOWELL..MONROE AND MERCER.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STAY
TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

WALL
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 6:09 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
600 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR A LARGE PART OF WEST VIRGINIA THAT
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA..
MINGO..LOGAN..FAYETTE..POCAHONTAS..SUMMERS..RALEIGH..WYOMING..
MCDOWELL..MONROE AND MERCER.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STAY
TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

WALL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 5:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMonongalia, Preston75 min
Jul 20, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Harrison45 min
Jul 20, 5:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Roane54 min
Jul 20, 6:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXTucker80 min
Jul 20, 6:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXUpshur80 min
Jul 20, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRandolph85 min
Jul 20, 6:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXGilmer48 min
Jul 20, 7:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXHampshire, Hardy60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.