Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 25, 1989, 10:43 PM EDT for Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia. It was in force for 77 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 25, 1989, 10:43 PM EDT (02:43 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 1989, 12:00 AM EDT
- In force
- 77 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Kanawha County, WV, Putnam County, WV
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 11:25 PM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Kanawha, WV |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 00:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 68 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1524 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1539 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 54 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 196 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 3.8
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
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, Apr 25, 5:40 PM EDT, 5 hours 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND LATE AFTERNOON WEATHER STORY FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND WESTERN SLOPES OF WEST VIRGINIA AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 540 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 11 PM EDT... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING FROM SOUTHEASTERN OHIO INTO WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND AREAS OF LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS. THE STORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST. THE STORMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONT STRETCHING FROM SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA ACROSS CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA TO NORTHWESTERN OHIO AND NORTHERN INDIANA. THE POSITION OF THE FRONT IS NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE MUCH DURING THE EVENING SO SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL THREATEN OUR FORECAST AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE MOUNTAIN STATE WEDNESDAY AND KEEP A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ANOTHER DAY. AT 5 PM TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM THE 70S AND LOWER 80S IN THE SOUTH TO 50S AND LOWER 60S IN THE NORTH WHERE MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION HAS FALLEN DURING THE AFTERNOON. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE 50S TO LOWER 60S. WARM WEATHER WIHLL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S. END/AQD
Special weather statement, Apr 25, 7:58 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 750 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989 A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 1100 PM EDT. A WATCH MEANS THAT A POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SEVERE WEATHER. WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE... BRAXTON...CALHOUN...CLAY...FAYETTE...GILMER...GREENBRIER...JACKSON... KANAWHA...LEWIS...MASON...MERCER...MONROE...NICHOLAS...PENDLETON... POCAHONTAS...PUTNAM...RALEIGH...RANDOLPH...ROANE...SUMMERS...UPSHUR... AND WEBSTER. AT THIS TIME...THUNDERSTORMS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS OHIO...WEST VIRGINIA ...AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SOUTH EASTWARD AT 40 MPH ALONG A BAND THROUGH CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA BOUNDED ON THE SOUTH BY PARKERSBURG WV AND LEWISBURG WV AND ON THE NORTH BY WHEELING WV...CLARKSBURG WV...AND ELKINS WV. MORE INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORMS ARE NEAR COLUMBUS OH AND MOVING TOWARD WEST VIRGINIA. WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDES WIDESPREAD LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN FATILITIES...VERY HEAVY RAINS THAT HAVE LEFT UP TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN A FEW MINUTES...AND EXTREMELY INTENSE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY. DETAILS ARE IN OUR LOCAL STORM REPORT. THE THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE LARGE...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS RACING THROUGH OHIO TOWARD WEST VIRGINIA WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD SEVERE AND DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER THROUGH THE ENTIRE EVENING. LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS HAVING TO DO WITH THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SITUATION. BE AWARE THAT TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS UPON AREAS ALREAY SOAKED BY THUNDERSTORMS WILL...IN SOME AREAS... RESULT IN LOCAL AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. AND BE AWARE THAT LIGHTNING KILLS MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR THAN TORNADOES. FINALLY...DO NOT APPROACH OR DRIVE INTO AREAS COVERED BY WATER. PROTECT YOURSELF BY STAYING INDOORS AND USING JUDGEMENT IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY A THUNDERSTORM. END/PARKE
Special weather statement, Apr 25, 8:13 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
BULLETIN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY, WV 810 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989 AT 807 PM BECKLEY RADAR SHOWED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS OVER SUMMERS COUNTY NEAR HINTON. THE!SE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 45 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO MONROE COUNTY BY 830 THIS EVENING. THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAIN..HAIL..AND GUSTY WINDS AS THEY PASS OVERHEAD. END/CDB
Local storm report, Apr 25, 8:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
900 PM TUE APR 25 1988
SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS DURING EARLY AFTERNOON OF APRIL 25 1989...
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED GUSTY WINDS...HAIL...AND BRIEFLY
HEAVY RAIN AS IT SWEPT THROUGH CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA. HERE IS A
LIST OF OFFICIAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
1240 PM......RITCHIE COUNTY...LARGE LIMBS DOWN FROM THUNDERSTORM.
POWER OUTAGES RESULTED.
230 PM.......GREENBRIER COUNTY...INTENSE STORM WITH GOLFBALL SIZE
HAIL DRIVEN BY A VIOLENT WIND THAT DESTROYED A HOUSE
UNDER CONSTRUCTION...KILLING ONE AND SERIOUSLY INJURING
ANOTHER.
630 PM.......BRAXTON COUNTY...WINDSTORM WITH ONE INCH HAIL IN HEATERS/
FLATWOODS TORE PART OF ROOF OFF ARMORY AND SMASHED WINDOWS
OF A HIGH SCHOOL IN SUTTON.
645 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND VIOLENT WIND
IN WEBSTER SPRINGS SMASHED AUTO WINDOWS AND WINDOWS OF
AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. NUMEROUS TREES ARE DOWN.
830 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...WEBSTER SPRINGS REPORTED FOUR VIOLENT
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST FEW HOURS...ALL WITH DESTRUCTIVE
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MUCH GOLF BALL SIZE. THERE IS
NOW THREE INCHES OF HAIL ON THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE
WHOLE AREA.
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES WITH SEVERAL
REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL INCLUDED BRAXTON...CALHOUN...GILMER...GREENBRIER
...JACKSON...KANAWHA...RITCHIE...ROANE...WEBSTER...WIRT...AND WOOD.
EACH THUNDERSTORM LEFT UP TO 1.50 INCH OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND
MANY AREAS THAT HAVE HAD SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS AhRE REPORTING SMALL
STREAM FLOODING.
END/PARKELocal storm report, Apr 25, 8:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
900 PM TUE APR 25 1988
SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS REPORTED DURING APRIL 25 1989 INCLUDED...
CLUSTERS AND LINES OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED WIDESPREAD LARGE
HAIL...DESTRUCTIVE WINDS...INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN. HERE
IS A LIST OF OFFICIAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
1240 PM......RITCHIE COUNTY...LARGE LIMBS DOWN FROM THUNDERSTORM.
POWER OUTAGES RESULTED.
230 PM.......GREENBRIER COUNTY...INTENSE STORM WITH GOLFBALL SIZE
HAIL DRIVEN BY A VIOLENT WIND THAT DESTROYED A HOUSE
UNDER CONSTRUCTION...KILLING ONE AND SERIOUSLY INJURING
ANOTHER.
630 PM.......BRAXTON COUNTY...WINDSTORM WITH ONE INCH HAIL IN HEATERS/
FLATWOODS TORE PART OF ROOF OFF ARMORY AND SMASHED WINDOWS
OF A HIGH SCHOOL IN SUTTON.
645 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND VIOLENT WIND
IN WEBSTER SPRINGS SMASHED AUTO WINDOWS AND WINDOWS OF
AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. NUMEROUS TREES ARE DOWN.
830 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...WEBSTER SPRINGS REPORTED FOUR VIOLENT
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST FEW HOURS...ALL WITH DESTRUCTIVE
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MUCH GOLF BALL SIZE. THERE IS
NOW THREE INCHES OF HAIL ON THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE
WHOLE AREA.
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES WITH SEVERAL
REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL INCLUDED BRAXTON...CALHOUN...GILMER...GREENBRIER
...JACKSON...KANAWHA...RITCHIE...ROANE...WEBSTER...WIRT...AND WOOD.
EACH THUNDERSTORM LEFT UP TO 1.50 INCH OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND
MANY AREAS THAT HAVE HAD SEVERAL THUnNDERSTORMS ARE REPORTING SMALL
STREAM FLOODING.
END/PARKELocal storm report, Apr 25, 9:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
^CRWLSRBKW
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
940 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989
245PM EDT...GREENBRIER COUNTY...64 YEAR OLD WOMAN STRUCK BY LIGHTING
IN SERIOUS CONDITION. REPORT RECEIVED BY COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.
248PM EDT...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN LEWISBURG BY WDBJ-TV.
558PM EDT...GREENBRIER COUNTY... SHERIFF DEPT. REPORTED 3/4 INCH
HAIL NEAR TROUT...25 MILES NNE OF LEWISBURG.
END/RJCThe office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 10:08 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Webster | 4 hr |
| Apr 25, 10:35 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 4 hr |
| Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Braxton | 5 hr |
| Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Upshur | 5 hr |
| Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Calhoun, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood | 5 hr |
| Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis | 5 hr |
| Apr 26, 1:20 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Webster | 6 hr |
| Apr 26, 1:39 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Pocahontas, Randolph | 6 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.