Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 71, NWS Charleston, WV

July 5, 1990Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 1990, 9:42 PM EDT for Kanawha County, Putnam County, West Virginia. It was in force for 63 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
Jul 5, 1990, 9:42 PM EDT (01:42 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 1990, 10:45 PM EDT
In force
63 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
Jul 5, 9:55 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Putnam, WV
Jul 5, 10:00 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Kanawha, 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, 1.7 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 1990-07-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1611 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 1990-07-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 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
1611 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1117 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCRW 060143
SVRCRW
WVC039-079-060245-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
942 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...KANAWHA COUNTY...PUTNAM COUNTY
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON HAS DETECTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM OVER PUTNAM COUNTY...NEAR WINFIELD. THE STORM WAS MOVING
TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 25 MPH AND WILL EFFECT THE COMMUNITIES OF
POCA...DUNBAR...CROSSLANES...AND CHARLESTON BY 10 PM.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AW`AY FROM WINDOWS.
 
JK

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 5, 5:22 PM EDT, 4 hours 20 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-052230-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
520 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #597 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND THE NORTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA..THE GREENBRIER VALLEY..
AND FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

AT 515 PM MOST OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING ACROSS
THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

HOWEVER..STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ONCE AGAIN ACROSS
CENTRAL AND EASTERN OHIO..SPECIFICALLY FROM ZANESVILLE TO CHILLICOTHE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY APPROACH WEST VIRGINIA.

END/ORCHANIAN
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
WVZ005-009-010-011-MDZ008-009-VAZ011-012-052200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
605 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PRESTON..HARRISON..MARION..
MONONGALIA AND TAYLOR COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA WAS CANCELLED AT
530PM EDT AND EXPIRED AT 6PM EDT FOR GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES
OF WESTERN MARYLAND...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM EDT FOR
THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND FOR
THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEYS OF VIRGINIA...

AT 600 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND VERY HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA EXTENDING EAST AND SOUTHEAST ACROSS
NORTHERN VIRGINIA. OTHER AREAS OF SHOWERS AND VERY HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL
OHIO. MOVEMENT WAS EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

SINCE THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND THE THREAT OF SEVERE
WEATHER HAS MOVED SOUTHEAST OF THE WESTERN SLOPES OF WEST VIRGINIA
AND WESTERN MARYLAND..THE WATCH WAS CANCELLED OR ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

WHILE THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS DIMINISHED FOR THE
WESTERN SLOPES OF WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND..SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN AND
EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA..WESTERN MARYLAND AND NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA
THROUGH TONIGHT.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF
HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPS AND FLOODING IS OBSERVED MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND/OR FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCASTS FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/FERRELL
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:10 PM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
WVZ005-009-010-011-MDZ008-009-VAZ011-012-060000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
609 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...PLEASE DISREGARD LAST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

END/FERRELL
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:27 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
KYZ006-OHZ009-WVZ003-052000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
625 PM EDT THU JUL 05 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1100PM FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN OHIO
WESTERN WEST VIRGINA...AND EASTERN KENTUCKY...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT OVER SOUTHERN OHIO...WESTERN WEST
WEST VIRGINIA AND EASTERN KENTUCKY. AT 620 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A FRONTAL LINE STRETCHING SOUTHWEST ACROSS
SOUTHCENTRAL OHIO.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 TO 40
MILES AN HOUR.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS EVENING AND EARLY
TONIGHT AS THE FRONT PUSHES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR
TELEVISION STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS ON THIS SITUATION OR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
>
END/PLYBON
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 8:01 PM EDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-060145-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
755 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 11 PM...

AT 745 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED
A CLUSTER OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST OHIO...FROM
NORTH OF JACKSON TO SOUTH OF ATHENS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH AND WILL
IMPACT COUNTIES ALONG THE WESTERN BORDER OF WEST VIRGINIA...BETWEEN
HUNTINGTON AND PARKERSBURG...BETWEEN 8 AND 830 PM. JACKSON AND MASON
COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA WERE DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF THE
APPROACHING STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE DECREASING IN INTENSITY AT 745 PM...BUT ARE STILL
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...STRONG
WINDS AND HAIL.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY APPROACH WEST VIRGINIA. RESIDENTS OF JACKSON
AND MASON COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA SHOULD BE READY FOR POSSIBLE
DETERIORATING WEATHER...AND SHOULD LISTEN FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/JK
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 9:31 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-060315-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
920 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF WEST VIRGINIA
HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HOWEVER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM FOR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE...

AT 920 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED
A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...ACROSS
SOUTHERN PARTS OF OHIO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND WIDELY SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED ACROSS PORTIONS OF MASON AND PUTNAM
COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE FORMING AHEAD OF A
COLD FRONT...MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH
AND WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL BETWEEN POINT PLEASANT AND
CHARLESTON UNTIL LATER TONIGHT. THE COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE
REGION AFTER MIDNIGHFT.

THE STORMS WERE DECREASING IN INTENSITY AT 920 PM...BUT ARE STILL
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND STRONG
WINDS.

END/JK

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.