Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 78, NWS Charleston, WV

July 9, 1997Doddridge County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 9, 1997, 12:17 PM EDT for Doddridge County, West Virginia. It was in force for 28 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 9, 1997, 12:17 PM EDT (16:17 UTC)
Expired
Jul 9, 1997, 12:45 PM EDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Doddridge County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:20 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 9, 12:30 PM EDTThunderstorm WindWest Union, WVTrees were blown down. A church in Blandville sustained roof damage.

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.

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 137 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 12:00Z on 1997-07-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 26 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 12:00Z on 1997-07-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -45 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
26 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-199 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1039 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
19 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 091617 RRA
SVRCRW
WVC017-091645-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1217 PM EDT WED JUL 9 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...DODDRIDGE COUNTY
 
AT 12:12 PM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM JUST TO
THE EAST OF PENNSBORO NEAR TOLL GATE IN RITHCIE COUNTY. THE STORM WAS
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 TO 30 MPH AND WILL AFFECT PEOPLE LIVING NEAR
U.S. ROUTE 50. A FEW TREES WERE REPORTED DOWNED NORTHWEST OF HARRISVILLE
AROUND NOON IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS STORM.
 
<< CALL TO ACTION >> 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 RArINS FLOOD ROADS
QUICKLY SO DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
 
SITES/BATTY

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, 10:07 AM EDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
OHZ075-083-084-091500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
955 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS AND BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST...ACROSS
VINTON COUNTY OF SOUTHERN OHIO.   AT 9:45 AM THE HEAVIEST RAINS WERE
NEAR EAGLE MILLS...RATCLIFFBURG...AND ALLENSVILLE.  THESE STORMS WILL
AFFECT SUCH COMMUNITIES AS MCARTHUR AND ZALESKI...PLUS THE LAKE HOPE
STATE PARK... BETWEEN 10 AND 10:30 AM.  AFTER 11 O'CLOCK...THIS
PARTICULAR BATCH OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS
ATHENS COUNTY.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN
VINTON COUNTY AND JACKSON COUNTIES BETWEEN 10:30 AM AND 11:30 THIS
MORNING.  SO FOLKS AROUND WELLSTON AND THE CITY OF JACKSON SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS
OF 30 TO 40 MPH.  KEEP AN EYE ON THE WESTERN SKY...SKY SHELTER INDOORS
BEFORE A STORM ARRIVES.

END / KTB / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 10:09 AM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
OHZ075-083-084-091500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
955 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS AND BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST...ACROSS
VINTON COUNTY OF SOUTHERN OHIO.   AT 9:45 AM THE HEAVIEST RAINS WERE
NEAR EAGLE MILLS...RATCLIFFBURG...AND ALLENSVILLE.  THESE STORMS WILL
AFFECT SUCH COMMUNITIES AS MCARTHUR AND ZALESKI...PLUS THE LAKE HOPE
STATE PARK... BETWEEN 10 AND 10:30 AM.  AFTER 11 O'CLOCK...THIS
PARTICULAR BATCH OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS
ATHENS COUNTY.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN
VINTON COUNTY AND JACKSON COUNTIES BETWEEN 10:30 AM AND 11:30 THIS
MORNING.  SO FOLKS AROUND WELLSTON AND THE CITY OF JACKSON SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS
OF 30 TO 40 MPH.  KEEP AN EYE ON THE WESTERN SKY...SKY SHELTER INDOORS
BEFORE A STORM ARRIVES.

END / KTB / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 10:12 AM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
OHZ075-083-084-091500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT....CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1012 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS AND BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST...ACROSS
VINTON COUNTY OF SOUTHERN OHIO.   AT 9:45 AM THE HEAVIEST RAINS WERE
NEAR EAGLE MILLS...RATCLIFFBURG...AND ALLENSVILLE.  THESE STORMS WILL
AFFECT SUCH COMMUNITIES AS MCARTHUR AND ZALESKI...PLUS THE LAKE HOPE
STATE PARK... BETWEEN 10 AND 10:30 AM.  BY 10:30 OR 11 OCLOCK...THIS
PARTICULAR BATCH OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS
ATHENS COUNTY.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN
VINTON COUNTY AND JACKSON COUNTIES BETWEEN 10:30 AM AND 11:30 THIS
MORNING.  SO FOLKS AROUND WELLSTON AND THE CITY OF JACKSON SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS
OF 30 TO 40 MPH.  KEEP AN EYE ON THE WESTERN SKY...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS
BEFORE A STORM ARRIVES.

END / KTB / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 10:15 AM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
OHZ075-083-084-091500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT....CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1012 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS AND BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST...ACROSS
VINTON COUNTY OF SOUTHERN OHIO.   AT 9:45 AM THE HEAVIEST RAINS WERE
NEAR EAGLE MILLS...RATCLIFFBURG...AND ALLENSVILLE.  THESE STORMS WILL
AFFECT SUCH COMMUNITIES AS MCARTHUR AND ZALESKI...PLUS THE LAKE HOPE
STATE PARK... BETWEEN 10 AND 10:30 AM.  BY 10:30 OR 11 O'CLOCK...THIS
PARTICULAR BATCH OF THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS
ATHENS COUNTY.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN
VINTON COUNTY AND JACKSON COUNTIES BETWEEN 10:30 AM AND 11:30 THIS
MORNING.  SO FOLKS AROUND WELLSTON AND THE CITY OF JACKSON SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS
OF 30 TO 40 MPH.  KEEP AN EYE ON THE WESTERN SKY...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS
BEFO,RE A STORM ARRIVES.

END / KTB / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 10:48 AM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
WVZ006>011-OHZ076-085>087-KYZ103-091545-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1048 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE
OHIO RIVER COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST OHIO AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
BETWEEN 11 AM AND 12:30 PM.  THIS INCLUDES FOLKS AROUND SUCH
COMMUNITIES AS SISTERSVILLE...MARIETTA...PARKERSBURG...
POMEROY...GALLIPOLIS...HUNTINGTON...ASHLAND...AND IRONTON.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...BUT NOT EVERYONE WILL
SEE A SHOWER.  THE MOST COVERAGE TO THESE SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE
AROUND PARKERSBURG AND MARIETTA.  A DECREASE IN THE SHOWER ACTIVITY
IS LIKELY ACROSS SOUTHEAST OHIO...NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...AND EXTREME
WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AS THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON.

END / KTB
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 11:02 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
WVZ006>011-OHZ076-085>087-KYZ103-091545-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1048 AM EDT WED JUL 9 1997

BRIEF HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE
OHIO RIVER COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST OHIO AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
BETWEEN 11 AM AND 12:30 PM.  THIS INCLUDES FOLKS AROUND SUCH
COMMUNITIES AS SISTERSVILLE...MARIETTA...PARKERSBURG...
POMEROY...GALLIPOLIS...HUNTINGTON...ASHLAND...AND IRONTON.

ANY SHOWER COULD CONTAIN A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...BUT NOT EVERYONE WILL
SEE A SHOWER.  THE MOST COVERAGE TO THESE SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE
AROUND PARKERSBURG AND MARIETTA.  A DECREASE IN THE SHOWER ACTIVITY
IS LIKELY ACROSS SOUTHEAST OHIO...NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...AND EXTREME
WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AS THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON.

END / KTB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 9, 11:56 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRitchie34 min
Jul 9, 5:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Wayne28 min

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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.