Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 96, NWS Charleston, WV

August 19, 1990Hampshire County, Hardy County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 19, 1990, 4:14 PM EDT for Hampshire County, Hardy County, West Virginia. It was in force for 61 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 19, 1990, 4:14 PM EDT (20:14 UTC)
Expired
Aug 19, 1990, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

Counties Hampshire County, WV, Hardy 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 118 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-08-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 195 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-08-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 15 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
195 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
853 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
33 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 KEKN 192014 RRA
SVREKN
WVC027-031-192115-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
414 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  515 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...EASTERN HARDY COUNTY
 
RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER THE SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE AND
EASTERN HARDY COUNTY BORDERS OF WEST VIRGINIA NEAR AND NORTH OF
WARDENSVILLE. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR.
 
THIS STORM WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN FREDERICK AND NORTHERN SHENANDOAH
COUNTIES OF VIRGINIA WITHIN THE NEXT HALF HOUR.
 
 
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.  IF FLASH FLOODING DE"VELOPES MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY
IMMEDIATELY. DONT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS ROADWAYS.

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, Aug 19, 2:05 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-192000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
200 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 1990

A FEW SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED IN SOUTHERN OHIO AND
WESTERN VIRGINIA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
25 TO 30 MPH. AT 145PM A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS
MOVING THROUGH EASTERN PUTNAM COUNTY INTO WESTERN KANAWHA. THIS
THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH FREQUENT AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

MOTORISTS ARE CAUTIONED TO SLOW DOWN AND WATCH FOR WATER ON
ROADS THAT MAY CAUSE HYDROPLANNING AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.
PERSONS OUTDOORS ARE URGED TO MOVE INSIDE BEFORE THE STORM
IS OVERHEAD. LIGHTNING HAS BEEN KNOWN TO STRIKE WELL OUT
AHEAD OF THUNDERSTORMS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AND FLASH FLOODING CALL YOUR NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND HAVE THEM RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 2:09 PM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
WVZ002>009-012-192000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY ...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
200 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 1990

A FEW SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED IN SOUTHERN OHIO AND
WEST VIRGINIA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
25 TO 30 MPH. AT 145PM A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS
MOVING THROUGH EASTERN PUTNAM COUNTY INTO WESTERN KANAWHA. THIS
THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH FREQUENT AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

MOTORISTS ARE CAUTIONED TO SLOW DOWN AND WATCH FOR WATER ON
ROADS THAT MAY CAUSE HYDROPLANNING AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.
PERSONS OUTDOORS ARE URGED TO MOVE INSIDE BEFORE THE STORM
IS OVERHEAD. LIGHTNING HAS BEEN KNOWN TO S"TRIKE WELL OUT
AHEAD OF THUNDERSTORMS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AND FLASH FLOODING CALL YOUR NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND HAVE THEM RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 3:15 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
WVZ005-009-192130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
315 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS OF WEST VIRGINIA...

AT 305 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES OF WESTERN
MARYLAND AND OVER MINERAL..HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHERN HARDY COUNTIES OF
WEST VIRGINIA. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS ABOUT 5 MILES EAST AND
SOUTHEAST OF KEYSER WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO
30 MILES AN HOUR.

A WEAK COLD FRONT EXTENDS FROM NEW ENGLAND WESTWARD THROUGH NORTHERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN OHIO. THE ATMOSPHERE SOUTH OF THE FRONT
ALREADY UNSTABLE DUE TO EARLIER SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
WHICH MOVED THROUGH THE AREA OVERNIGHT AND THIS MORNING..HAS BECOME
MORE UNSTABLE DUE TO HOT TEMPERATURES AND THE INFLUX OF ADDITIONAL
MOIST AIR FROM THE SOUTH. THIS UNSTABLE AIR WILL CAUSE THE RAPID
DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON.

PERSONS LIVING IN OR TRAVELING THROUGH WESTERN MARYLAND AND EASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA..SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL
IN AN NEAR THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG SMALL STREAMS OR CREEKS OR IN AREAS SUBJECT TO
RAPID FLOODING..SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON WATER LEVELS IN THEIR
AREA. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING ISSUED..MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER FLOWING ACROSS HIGHWAYS OR
PONDING WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS.

REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER AND/OR FLOODING TO YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

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

FERRELL
Special weather statement, Aug 19, 3:25 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
WVZ006>008-192030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
325 PM EDT SUN AUG 19 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA...

AT 320 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM WESTERN NICHOLAS COUNTY WEST THROUGH
NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY ON WEST TO WAYNE COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 20 MPH AND WILL BE
AFFECTING MINGO..LOGAN..RALEIGH AND WESTERN GREENBRIER COUNTIES BY
345 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.
SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. SOME MINOR FLOODING
MAY ALSO OCCURE IN LOW LYING FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

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

END/CDB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 1:41 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood2 hr
Aug 19, 3:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXFayette61 min
Aug 19, 6:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Wood3 hr
Aug 19, 7:17 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXRitchie, Wirt3 hr
Aug 19, 7:56 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun3 hr

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.