Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 84, NWS Charleston, WV

July 9, 1990Randolph County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 9, 1990, 9:34 PM EDT for Randolph County, West Virginia. It was in force for 56 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 9, 1990, 9:34 PM EDT (01:34 UTC)
Expired
Jul 9, 1990, 10:30 PM EDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Randolph 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 183 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 00:00Z on 1990-07-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1656 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 00:00Z on 1990-07-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 66 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
1656 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-40 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
688 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
106 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KEKN 100134
SVREKN
WVC083-100230-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
934 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY
 
AT 933 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHERN
RANDOLPH COUNTY OF WEST VIRGINIA BETWEEN MILL CREEK AND PICKENS MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR.
 
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 SHO>ULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
 
NNNN

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 9, 5:58 PM EDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before
WVZ005-009-010-011-MDZ008-009-102300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
5:50 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

A BAND OF SHOWERS AND HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN DRIFTING SOUTH
ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE AFTERNOON. SOME OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING STRONG DAMAGING WIND, AND HAIL
OF THREE-QUARTERS INCH OR LARGER.

THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THIS BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING SOUTH
ACROSS THE PENNSYLVANIA/WEST VIRIGNIA BORDER INTO NORTHERN
MONONGALIA, NORTHERN PRESTON COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA, AND INTO
NORTHERN GARRETT AND NORTHERN ALLEGANY COUNTIES IN MARYLAND AT 5:50
PM EDT.

PERSONS LIVING IN MONONGALIA AND PRESTON COUNTIES IN NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA, AND IN GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES IN WESTERN MARYLAND
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT UNTIL 7 PM EDT FOR THREATENING WEATHER, AN
LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS.

UPON THE FIRST INDICAITONS OF AN APPROCHING THUNDERSTORM, YOU SHOULD
SEEK SHELTER IN A WELL BUILT, WELL CONSTRUCTED BUILDING.

REMEMBER...ALL LIGHTNING IS LIFE THREATENING. TAKE PRECAUTIONS
IMMEDIATELY.

END/HILL/FERRELL
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 6:11 PM EDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-100000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
615 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 606 IS IN EFFECT FOR
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDING THE NORTHERN
PANHANDLE UNTIL 900 PM...

AT 600 PM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED INTO EXTREME NORTHERN
WEST VIRGINIA. THE STORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR PARKERSBURG TO JUST
SOUTHEAST OF MOUNDSVILLE. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN SOUTHERN
MARSHALL COUNTY AND NORTHWESTERN WETZEL COUNTY. THE STORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 25 MPH.

THESE STROMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...
FREQUENT AND INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN.

PERSONS IN NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER AND FLASH FLOODING AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. REMEMBER LIGHTNING KILLS MORE PEOPLE
ON THE AVERAGE EACH YEAR THAN HURRICANES OR TORNADOES.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA
FOR THE REST OF THIS EVENING.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATIONS OR TO THE NEAREST
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS ISSUED
BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR FLASH FLOODING CALL YOUR NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE INFORMATION
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

DGH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 8:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
WVZ006-100100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
805 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

AT 800 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED A
THUNDERSTORM ALONG THE MINGO...LOGAN COUNTY BORDER 5 MILES WEST OF
LOGAN. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EAST 25 MILES AN HOUR.

BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING MAY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM AS IT MOVES THROUGH LOGAN COUNTY
BETWEEN NOW AND 90}0 PM.

IF YOU ARE IN LOGAN COUNTY YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE INDOOR SHELTER IF THIS
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES AND REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL IT HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

END/PLATE
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 8:56 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-100000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
850 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 606 IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME
NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE...WILL EXPIRE AT
900 PM...

AT 845 PM THE WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN OHIO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE INDICATED ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...BETWEEN
PARKERSBURG AND MORGANTOWN...WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
HUNTINGTON AND CHARLESTON.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING IN A VERY HUMID AIRMASS AHEAD OF A
WEAK COLD FRONT...SAGGING SLOWLY SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. THE
STORMS WERE BEGINNING TO DECREASE IN INTENSITY...BUT ARE STILL CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ALONG WITH
FREQUENT AND INTENSE LIGHTNING.
EARLIER...A THUNDERSTORM GUST FRONT MOVED THROUGH PARKERSBURG AT
545...WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 55 MPH. AT 645...NICKEL SIZED HAIL WAS
REPORTED NEAR BRANDONVILLE...IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. BETWEEN 730 AND
8 PM...TREES WERE DOWNED BY STRONG WINDS NEAR LUMBERPORT...IN NORTHERN
HARRISON COUNTY OF WEST VIRGINIA.

REMEMBER LIGHTNING KILLS MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR THAN HURRICANES OR
TORNADOES.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA
OVERNIGHT...BUT STORM SEVERITY SHOULD DECREASE WITHOUT DAYTIME HEATING.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP ON TUESDAY...AS THE FRONTAL
SYSTEM DRAWS CLOSER.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATIONS OR
TO THE NEAREST NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR FLASH FLOODING CALL YOUR NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE INFORMATION
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JK
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 9:14 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-100000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND STATE WEATHER STORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV...CORRECTION
850 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 606 IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME
NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE...WILL EXPIRE AT
900 PM...

AT 845 PM THE WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN OHIO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE INDICATED ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...BETWEEN
PARKERSBURG AND MORGANTOWN...WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
HUNTINGTON AND CHARLESTON.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING IN A VERY HUMID AIRMASS AHEAD OF A
WEAK COLD FRONT...SAGGING SLOWLY SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. THE
STORMS WERE BEGINNING TO DECREASE IN INTENSITY...BUT ARE STILL CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ALONG WITH
FREQUENT AND INTENSE LIGHTNING.
EARLIER...A THUNDERSTORM GUST FRONT MOVED THROUGH PARKERSBURG AT
545...WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 55 MPH. AT 645...NICKEL SIZED HAIL WAS
REPORTED NEAR BRANDONVILLE...IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. BETWEEN 730 AND
8 PM...TREES WERE DOWNED BY STRONG WINDS NEAR LUMBERPORT...IN NORTHERN
HARRISON COUNTY OF WEST VIRGINIA.

REMEMBER LIGHTNING KILLS MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR THAN HURRICANES OR
TORNADOES.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA
OVERNIGHT...BUT STORM SEVERITY SHOULD DECREASE WITHOUT DAYTIME HEATING.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP ON TUESDAY...AS THE FRONTAL
SYSTEM DRAWS CLOSER.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATIONS OR
TO THE NEAREST NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR FLASH FLOODING CALL YOUR NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE INFORMATION
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

...CORRECTION TO ADD STATE WEATHER STORY...

JK
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 9:15 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
WVZ006-100200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
915 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

AT 910 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED A
THUNDERSTORM IN NORTHWESTERN WYOMING COUNTY 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MULLENS. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR.

BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING MAY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM AS IT MOVES THROUGH NORTHERN AND
EASTERN WYOMING COUNTY...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF MULLENS...BETWEEN NOW AND
1000 PM.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE INDOOR SHELTER
AND REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL IT THE STORM HAS PASSED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
END/PLATE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 9, 10:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXHardy65 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.