Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 119, NWS Charleston, WV

September 14, 1990Pleasants County, Tyler County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 14, 1990, 7:59 PM EDT for Pleasants County, Tyler County, West Virginia. It was in force for 61 min. 2 reports 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
Sep 14, 1990, 7:59 PM EDT (23:59 UTC)
Expired
Sep 14, 1990, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

Counties Pleasants County, WV, Tyler 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
Sep 14, 8:15 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Pleasants, WV
Sep 14, 8:30 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Tyler, 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 136 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 1990-09-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 148 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 1990-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 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
148 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
568 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 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 150000
SVRCRW
WVC073-085-095-103-105-107-035-150100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
759 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S...
 
IN NORTHWEST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...PLEASANTS COUNTY...RITCHIE COUNTY...TYLER COUNTY...WETZEL COUNTY
   ...WIRT COUNTY...WOOD COUNTY
 
IN WEST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...JACKSON COUNTY
 
AT 755 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LONG LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE...EXTENDING ALONG THE OHIO RIVER JUST
WEST OF A LINE FROM RAVENSWOOD TO PARKERSBURG TO NEW MARTINSVILLE.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED VERY STRONG WINDS DURING THE
PAST HOUR.  THEY WILL MOVE INTO THE PARKERSBURG AREA BY 815 PM.
MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST AT 40 MPH.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
 
END/ARKELL

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, Sep 14, 5:50 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-150000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
550 PM EDT FRI SEP 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING INTO THE TRI STATE...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT HAS BEEN
APPROACHING THE TRI STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. AT 550 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED THIS LINE OF
STORMS WAS LOCATED FROM JUST EAST OF COLUMBUS OHIO SOUTHWEST THROUGH
PIKE AND ADAMS COUNTIES OF OHIO TO JUST WEST OF LEXINGTON KENTUCKY.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM HAD JUST MOVED INTO NORTHWEST ADAMS COUNTY.
THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THIS SYSTEM EARLIER PRODUCED A TORNADO IN CLINTO COUNTY OHIO AND DAMAGING
WINDS IN SEVERAL COUNTIES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS OR SEE
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IN A STURDY
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR ROOM. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEME^NTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/JMH
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 6:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-150000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
600 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

AT 530 PM A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED ACROSS OHIO
FROM NEAR CLEVELAND SOUTHWEST THROUGH COLUMBUS TO EAST OF CINCINNATI
INTO KENTUCKY BETWEEN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON. THIS LINE OF STORMS
HAS PRODUCED SEVERE WEATHER IN PORTIONS OF OHIO AND INDIANA.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT AROUND 40 MILES
AN HOUR AND THIS CONTINUED SPEED WOULD PUT THIS LINE OF STORMS NEAR
A HUNTINGTON..PARKERSBURG..WHEELING LINE BETWEEN 730 AND 800 PM. IT
COULD REACH A WILLIAMSON..CHARLESTON..MORGANTOWN LINE BETWEEN 830
AND 900 PM.

THESE STORMS ARE LIKELY TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OF AROUND ONE INCH IN AN HOUR...
HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE AREA. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IS LIKELY WITH THE HEAVIER RAINS ALONG WITH A
PERIOD OF VERY POOR VISIBILITY.

SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE
CAUTION AND BE ALERT FOR  BRIEF VERY POOR VISIBILITIES AND
STANDING WATER ON ROADWAYS AS THE STORMS RACE EASTWAR`D.

END/PCZ
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 6:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-150000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
645 PM EDT FRI SEP 1990

AT 645 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FROM JACKSON COUNTY OHIO SOUTHWEST THROUGH SCIOTO
AND ADAMS COUNTIES THEN INTO LEWINS AND FLEMING COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN WESTERN SCIOTO COUNTY AND
IN SOUTHERN ADAMS COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 25
MILES AN HOUR.

THE MAIN DANGER FROM THESE STORMS IS DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOS. HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY AND SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE IN THESE STORMS. IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING
SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR ROOM. LISTEN TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/JMH
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 7:31 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-150200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
728 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

       ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR WESTERN
          AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...

A COLD FRONT BARRELING TOWARD WEST VIRGINIA THIS EVENING WILL GIVE
US SOME STRONG THUNDERSTORMS BEFORE IT GIVES US A TASTE OF FALL
OVER THE WEEKEND.

AT 720 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADARS SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
...SOME SEVERE...EXTENDING FROM NORTHEAST OHIO TO JUST WEST OF
PARKERSBURG...POINT PLEASANT...AND HUNTINGTON.  TWO TORNADOS WERE
REPORTED DURING THE PAST HOUR AND A HALF IN CENTRAL OHIO.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER INTO THE HUNTINGTON
...POINT PLEASANT...AND PARKERSBURG AREAS BY 800 PM. THE GREATEST
DANGER WITH THESE STORMS IS STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.  HOWEVER...
TORNADOS ARE POSSIBLE.  STORM MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD...THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH
MORGANTOWN...CHARLESTON... AND WILLIAMSON BY 900 PM.

BE PREPARED TO MOVE INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS IF A STORM APPROACHES.
LISTEN FOR LATER WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

AGAIN...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR IMOST OF
WESTERN AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

END/REA
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 7:38 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-150100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
740 PM EDT FRI SEP 14 1990

AT 740 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FROM GALLIA COUNTY OHIO SOUTHWEST THROUGH SCIOTO AND
LAWRENCE COUNTIES THEN INTO GREENUP AND CARTER COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY
OHIO AND IN NORTHWEST GREENUP COUNTY KENTUCKY. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE MAIN DANGER FROM THESE STORMS IS DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOS. HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY AND SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE IN THESE STORMS. IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEsATHER APPROACHING
SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR ROOM. LISTEN TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/JMH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 7:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood61 min
Sep 14, 7:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXWetzel61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.