Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 155, NWS Charleston, WV

August 17, 1997Putnam County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 17, 1997, 8:37 PM EDT for Putnam County, West Virginia. It was in force for 53 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 1997, 8:37 PM EDT (00:37 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 1997, 9:30 PM EDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Putnam County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:40 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 193 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 1997-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1870 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 1997-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 159 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1870 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
517 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
159 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
213 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.6
Supercell composite
7.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCRW 180037 RRA
SVRCRW
WVC079-180130-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
837 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  930 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN WEST CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...PUTNAM COUNTY
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN WAYNE COUNTY WILL MOVE INTO PUTNAM COUNTY. THESE
STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS.
 
<< CALL TO ACTION >> IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER
IN A STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN
...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

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

Local storm report, Aug 17, 4:36 PM EDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
438 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0115 PM    POMEROY                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MEIGS                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED FROM
                                          CHESTER...TO POMEROY AND
                                          RUTLAND. TREES DOWNED ON
                                          RTE 7 EAST IN MEIGS
                                          GOUNTY.

0310 PM    PROCTORVILLE              OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   LAWRENCE                       MANY DOWNED TREES...NUMBER
                                          DOWNED REPORTED IN THE
                                          HUNDREDS BY HAM RADIO
                                          SPOTTER...ALONG STATE
                                          ROUTE 775 NORTH OF
                                          PROCTORVILLE.

0330 PM    GREEN BOTTOM              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CABELL                         SEVERAL TREES AND BRANCHES
                                          DOWNED

0400 PM                              KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BOYD                           SEVERAL TREES DOWNED 12
                                          MILES EAST OF
                                          GRAYSON...JUST OVER THE
                                          BOYD COUNTY LINE
Local storm report, Aug 17, 4:38 PM EDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
438 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0115 PM    POMEROY                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MEIGS                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED FROM
                                          CHESTER...TO POMEROY AND
                                          RUTLAND. TREES DOWNED ON
                                          RTE 7 EAST IN MEIGS
                                          GOUNTY.

0310 PM    PROCTORVILLE              OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   LAWRENCE                       MANY DOWNED TREES...NUMBER
                                          DOWNED REPORTED IN THE
                                          HUNDREDS BY HAM RADIO
                                          SPOTTER...ALONG STATE
                                          ROUTE 775 NORTH OF
                                          PROCTORVILLE.

0330 PM    GREEN BOTTOM              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CABELL                         SEVERAL TREES AND BRANCHES
                                          DOWNED

0400 PM                              KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BOYD                           SEVERAL TREES DOWNED 12
                                          MILES EAST OF
                                          GRAYSON...JUST OVER THE
                                          BOYD COUNTY LINE
Local storm report, Aug 17, 5:18 PM EDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
520 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0220 PM    GRAYSON                   KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CARTER                         MULTIPLE TREES REPORTED
                                          DOWNED IN COUNTY

0345 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MASON                          WIDESPREAD TREES DOWNED IN
                                          SOUTHERN MASON COUNTY.

0400 PM    BUFFALO                   WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   PUTNAM                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED

0445 PM    ASHLAND                   KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BOYD                           A FEW TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWNED

0446 PM    POINT PLEASANT            WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MASON                          SEVERAL TREES DOWNED

0448 PM    PROCTORVILLE              OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   LAWRENCE                       LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN IN
                                          PROCTORVILLE

0450 PM    SUTTON                    WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BRAXTON                        SEVERAL TREES DOWNED

0450 PM    HUNTINGTON                WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CABELL                         LARGE BRANCHES AND 1 TREE
                                          DOWN NEAR MARSHALL
                                          UNIVERSITY
Local storm report, Aug 17, 5:20 PM EDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
520 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0220 PM    GRAYSON                   KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CARTER                         MULTIPLE TREES REPORTED
                                          DOWNED IN COUNTY

0345 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MASON                          WIDESPREAD TREES DOWNED IN
                                          SOUTHERN MASON COUNTY.

0400 PM    BUFFALO                   WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   PUTNAM                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED

0445 PM    ASHLAND                   KY   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BOYD                           A FEW TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWNED

0446 PM    POINT PLEASANT            WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   MASON                          SEVERAL TREES DOWNED

0448 PM    PROCTORVILLE              OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   LAWRENCE                       LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN IN
                                          PROCTORVILLE

0450 PM    SUTTON                    WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   BRAXTON                        SEVERAL TREES DOWNED

0450 PM    HUNTINGTON                WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CABELL                         LARGE BRANCHES AND 1 TREE
                                          DOWN NEAR MARSHALL
                                          UNIVERSITY
Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
718 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0100 PM    JACKSON                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        LARGE TREE LIMBS AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWNED IN COUNTY

0115 PM    WILKESVILLE               OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   VINTON                         TREES DOWNED ON RT 124
                                          NEAR WILKESVILLE AND ALONG
                                          COUTNY RTE 6 IN SOUTHWEST
                                          PORTION OF COUNTY

0200 PM    PARKERSBURG               WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WOOD                           TREES DOWNED ALONG ROUTE
                                          95 AND I-77. SWATH OF
                                          TREES DOWNED ON HOPE HILL
                                          RD. 1 ALUMINUM GARDEN SHED
                                          DESTROYED, RESULTING
                                          DEBRIS DAMAGED 10 CARS

0215 PM    BELPRE                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WASHINGTON                     SEVERAL ROOFS BLOWN OFF
                                          HOUSES...SEVERAL UP TO 3
                                          FOOT DIAMETER TREES DOWNED

0240 PM    GALLIPOLIS                OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   GALLIA                         MULTIPLE TREES DOWNED
                                          ALONG SEVERAL ROADS
                                          OUTSIDE OF GALLIPOLIS

0245 PM    MURRAYSVILLE              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        SEVERAL TREES REPORTED
                                          DOWNED

0445 PM    CLAY                      WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CLAY                           REPORT OF SOME TREES
                                          DOWNED IN THE NORTHERN AND
                                          CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE
                                          COUNTY.  SOME FALLEN TREES
                                          LANDED ON CARS.

0520 PM    ECHO                      WV   .75 INCH HAIL
08/17/97   WAYNE                          DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTER

0525 PM    SANDYVILLE                WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        FEW TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED

0530 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WEBSTER                        1 TREE DOWN NEAR BRAXTON
                                          COUNTY LINE, 1 TREE DOWN
                                          IN WEBSTER SPRINGS

0555 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WEBSTER                        SEVERAL TREES DOWNED ALONG
                                          RTE 20 NEAR HOLLY RIVER
                                          STATE PARK

0600 PM    PAX                       WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   FAYETTE                        NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED IN
                                          PAX AND MOUNT HOPE AREAS.
                                          1 TREE LANDED ON HOUSE IN
                                          MOUNT HOPE

0600 PM    CLEAR CREEK               WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   RALEIGH                        1 TREE DOWN...SOME TREE
                                          LIMBS AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED
Local storm report, Aug 17, 7:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
718 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0100 PM    JACKSON                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        LARGE TREE LIMBS AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWNED IN COUNTY

0115 PM    WILKESVILLE               OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   VINTON                         TREES DOWNED ON RT 124
                                          NEAR WILKESVILLE AND ALONG
                                          COUTNY RTE 6 IN SOUTHWEST
                                          PORTION OF COUNTY

0200 PM    PARKERSBURG               WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WOOD                           TREES DOWNED ALONG ROUTE
                                          95 AND I-77. SWATH OF
                                          TREES DOWNED ON HOPE HILL
                                          RD. 1 ALUMINUM GARDEN SHED
                                          DESTROYED, RESULTING
                                          DEBRIS DAMAGED 10 CARS

0215 PM    BELPRE                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WASHINGTON                     SEVERAL ROOFS BLOWN OFF
                                          HOUSES...SEVERAL UP TO 3
                                          FOOT DIAMETER TREES DOWNED

0240 PM    GALLIPOLIS                OH   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   GALLIA                         MULTIPLE TREES DOWNED
                                          ALONG SEVERAL ROADS
                                          OUTSIDE OF GALLIPOLIS

0245 PM    MURRAYSVILLE              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        SEVERAL TREES REPORTED
                                          DOWNED

0445 PM    CLAY                      WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   CLAY                           REPORT OF SOME TREES
                                          DOWNED IN THE NORTHERN AND
                                          CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE
                                          COUNTY.  SOME FALLEN TREES
                                          LANDED ON CARS.

0520 PM    ECHO                      WV   .75 INCH HAIL
08/17/97   WAYNE                          DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTER

0525 PM    SANDYVILLE                WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   JACKSON                        FEW TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED

0530 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WEBSTER                        1 TREE DOWN NEAR BRAXTON
                                          COUNTY LINE, 1 TREE DOWN
                                          IN WEBSTER SPRINGS

0555 PM                              WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   WEBSTER                        SEVERAL TREES DOWNED ALONG
                                          RTE 20 NEAR HOLLY RIVER
                                          STATE PARK

0600 PM    PAX                       WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   FAYETTE                        NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED IN
                                          PAX AND MOUNT HOPE AREAS.
                                          1 TREE LANDED ON HOUSE IN
                                          MOUNT HOPE

0600 PM    CLEAR CREEK               WV   WIND DAMAGE
08/17/97   RALEIGH                        1 TREE DOWN...SOME TREE
                                          LIMBS AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 8:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXWayne53 min
Aug 17, 8:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXWayne49 min
Aug 17, 8:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Lincoln54 min
Aug 17, 11:18 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXTyler3 hr
Aug 17, 11:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXTyler3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.