Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Charleston, WV

April 25, 1989Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 25, 11:25 PM EDTHail 0.75Kanawha, 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1989-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1524 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 00:00Z on 1989-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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/PARKE
Local 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/PARKE
Local 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/RJC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 25, 10:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWebster4 hr
Apr 25, 10:35 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph4 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXUpshur5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Gilmer, Lewis5 hr
Apr 26, 1:20 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWebster6 hr
Apr 26, 1:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph6 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.