Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 91, NWS Charleston, WV

July 11, 1990Jackson County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 11, 1990, 7:03 PM EDT for Jackson County, West Virginia. It was in force for 42 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
Jul 11, 1990, 7:03 PM EDT (23:03 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 1990, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Jackson 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 11, 7:15 PM EDTHail 1.75Jackson, 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 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 88 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 726 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 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
726 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-89 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 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 112307
SVRCRW
WVC035-112345-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
703 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  745 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN WEST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTY
 
AT 655 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
NEAR RAVENSWOOD IN WESTERN JACKSON COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST
AT 20 MPH.
 
 
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 AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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 11, 3:53 PM EDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
WVZ003-KYZ006-OHZ009-112300

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV CORRECTION
345 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST KENTUCKY AND
SOUTHCENTRAL OHIO UNTIL 10 PM EDT...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHCENTRAL OHIO TONIGHT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA TONIGHT...

AT 345 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING INTO THE TRI STATE. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN
NORTHWEST PIKE COUNTY AND CENTRAL MEIGS COUNTY IN OHIO. THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...STRONG WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. IF THREATENING WEATHER IS
APPROACHING SEEK SHELTER INDOORS PREFERABLY IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL
RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENT AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
S
HARRISON
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 4:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
WVZ005-008-009-010-MDZ008-009-112130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
440 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND PORTIONS OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND
EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT
ALLEGANY COUNTY OF WESTERN MARYLAND...

WEATHER RADAR AT 430 PM EDT INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHNTING SCATTERED ACROSS
THE AREA. A STRONG STORM WAS MOVING ACROSS UPSHUR COUNTY INTO
RANDOLPH COUNTY. ANOTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING
ACROSS HARDY COUNTY OF WEST VIRGINIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVED
ACROSS TUCKER COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA AROUND 330 PM. TWO TREES WERE
UPROOTED NEAR PARSONS. A LARGE TREE LIMB FELL ACROSS POWER LINES IN
PARSONS. HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED AT VOLGA IN BARBOUR COUNTY HAS A
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED 1.38 INCHES IN 15 MINUTES.

GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS COULD
ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE AIR ACROSS NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND IS QUITE
MOIST AND UNSTABLE. THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE IN THIS
TYPE OF ATOMSPHERE.

KEEP A WATCH ON THE SKY AND IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK A
SAFE SHELTER.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GILKERSON

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 4:50 PM EDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-112300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
500 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER INTO WOOD COUNTY
WEST VIRGINIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR MOST
OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...THE NAT
EVERYWHERE IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS...THE GREATEST THREAT OF
EXCESSIVELY HEAVY RAIN...AND SEVERE WEATHER...THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT IS IN THE POPULATED CHARLESTON WV AND HUNTINGTON WV AREAS.
NUMERICAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS OVER TWO INCHES
THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.  THE NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL CENTER
PREDICTS 24 HOUR RAINFALLS IN EXCESS OF THREE INCHES OVER LARGE AREAS.
THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER PREDICTS A THREAT OF LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS FOR EVERY AREA OF THE CENTRAL
APPALACHIANS.  THE CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE MULTIPLE THREATS
WILL BE FULLY IN PLACE TODAY...THURSDAY...AND INTO FRIDAY.

THE GROUND IS DRY IN MOST AREAS...AND ABLE TO ABSORB QUITE A BIT OF
RAIN...SO FAR.  THE FORESTS ARE GREEN AND THURSTY...AND THEY WILL DO
THEIR PART IN RAPIDLY ABSORBING MOISTURE.  FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING
PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT DEVELOP UNTIL RAINFALLS EXCEED 2 1/2 INCHES IN THREE
HOURS OR 4 TO 5 INCHES IN 24 HOURS IN MOST AREAS.  HOWEVER...A LONG
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN WOULD SATURATE BOTH SOIL AND VEGITATION AND INCUR
THE THREAT OF FLOODING.  THIS LONG PERIOD OF RAIN SEEMS LIKELY.

LISTEN FOR FURTHER FORECASTS...STATEMENTS...WATCHES...OR WARNINGS
DEALING WITH THE THREAT OF BOTH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN.

END/PARKE
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 5:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-VA015-016-112300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
505 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER INTO WOOD COUNTY
WEST VIRGINIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR MOST
OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 10 PM...

AT 455 PM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD WOOD COUNTY...IN WEST VIRGINIA.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING...HAIL...AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AS THEY CONTINUE
EASTWARD...BETWEEN RAVENSWOOD AND PARKERSBURG.
THE STORMS WERE OCCURRING ALONG A VERY SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT...ORIENTED
ACROSS CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA. AS THE STORMS MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD ALONG
THE FRONT...SOME AREAS COULD SEE REPEAT CELLS MOVING ACROSS THE SAME
GENERAL AREA. THIS WILL ADD TO THE FLOODING POTENTIAL AS TIME PASSES.

FURTHER TO THE WEST...NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE FORMING
ACROSS SOUTHERN OHIO AND NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...AND MOVING TOWARD THE
MOUNTAIN STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

LISTEN FOR FURTHER FORECASTS...STATEMENTS...WATCHES...OR WARNINGS
DEALING WITH THE THREAT OF BOTH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN.

END/JK
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 5:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
WVZ005-008-009-010-MDZ008-009-112240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
540 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR THE
NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND PORTIONS OF THE POTOMAC
HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT
ALLEGANY COUNTY OF WESTERN MARYLAND...

WEATHER RADAR AT 540 PM EDT INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH
HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHNTING SCATTERED ACROSS
THE AREA. A STRONG STORM WAS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN DODDRIDGE AND
NORTHERN GILMER COUNTY MOVING TOWARD HARRISON AND LEWIS COUNTIES OF
WEST VIRGINIA. ANOTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY NORTHEAST INTO GRANT COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALSO EXTENDED FROM ROCKINGHAM COUNTY NORTH
THROUGH SHENANDOAH INTO FREDERICK COUNTY OF VIRGINIA.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS COULD
ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE AIR ACROSS NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND IS QUITE
MOIST AND UNSTABLE. THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE IN THIS
TYPE OF ATOMSPHERE.

KEEP A WATCH ON THE SKY AND IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK A
SAFE SHELTER.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR +POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GILKERSON

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 6:16 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
WVZ003-KYZ006-OHZ009-120000

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
610 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

AT 610 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A WIDESPREAD AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL OHIO AND
NORTHEAST KENTUCKY. THUNDERSTORM INTENSITIES HAVE DROPPED SOMEWHAT
IN THE LAST HOUR BUT REDEVELOPMENT IS PROBABLE. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS LOCATED IN WESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY NEAR THE OHIO RIVER.
STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT. REMAIN
ALERT TO APPROACHING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.
HEAVY RAIN FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD CAUSE LOCAL SMALL STREAM AND
URQBAN FLOODING. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS AND
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR
LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/JMH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 11:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPleasants, Wood50 min
Jul 11, 2:40 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPreston65 min
Jul 11, 3:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXTucker54 min
Jul 11, 3:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXGrant45 min
Jul 11, 5:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Wirt, Wood59 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.