Alert archive / West Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 211, NWS Charleston, WV

June 27, 1998Ritchie County, Wirt County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 27, 1998, 8:47 PM EDT for Ritchie County, Wirt County, West Virginia. It was in force for 33 min. 2 reports 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
Jun 27, 1998, 8:47 PM EDT (00:47 UTC)
Expired
Jun 27, 1998, 9:20 PM EDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

Counties Ritchie County, WV, Wirt County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:48 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
Jun 27, 8:55 PM EDTThunderstorm WindCairo, WVTrees knocked down power lines.
Jun 27, 8:55 PM EDTThunderstorm WindElizabeth, WVTrees were down along Route 5.

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 27, 4:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 225 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 1998-06-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2378 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 1998-06-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 109 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
2378 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1345 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
11.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCRW 280047 RRA
SVRCRW
WVC085-105-280120-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
847 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  RITCHIE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA.
  WIRT COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA.

* UNTIL 920 PM EDT.

* AT 848 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES NORTH OF ELIZABETH OR 5 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF PETROLEUM MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
   NEWARK               AROUND 852 PM EDT.
   PETROLEUM            AROUND 850 PM EDT.
   ELIZABETH            AROUND 855 PM EDT.
   CISCO                AROUND 855 PM EDT.
   CAIRO                AROUND 855 PM EDT.
   ELLENBORO            AROUND 900 PM EDT.
   MOUNTAIN             AROUND 900 PM EDT.
   PENNSBORO            AROUND 900 PM EDT.
   HARRISVILLE          AROUND 900 PM EDT.


<<CALL TO ACTION>>DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY.  GO
INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

PLEASE REPORT ANY HAIL OR STRONG WINDS BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT
877-633-6772|.

.END/PCZ

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, Jun 27, 6:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
WVZ009>011-019-020-030>032-040-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>085-280030-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
620 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA UNTIL
   10 PM...

VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR IS IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION.
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTH WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS. THE STORMS WERE
DROPPING SOUTHEAST AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH TYLER AND PLEASANT
COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA...AND PERHAPS EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
OHIO...BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM.

SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND
VERY HEAVY RAIN. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS SITUATION VERY CLOSELY AND WILL ISSUE WARNINGS IF THEY
MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENT STRENGTH.

IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER...FLASH FLOODING IS
ALSO A POSSIBILITY...ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED HEAVY
RAIN LAST NIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR MOST OF THIS AREA UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

.END/ZINN
Special weather statement, Jun 27, 6:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
WVZ009>011-019-020-030>032-040-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>085-280030-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
620 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA UNTIL
   10 PM...

VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR IS IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION.
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTH WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS. THE STORMS WERE
DROPPING SOUTHEAST AND ARE EXPECTED TO REACH TYLER AND PLEASANT
COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA...AND PERHAPS EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
OHIO...BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM.

SOME OF THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND
VERY HEAVY RAIN. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS SITUATION VERY CLOSELY AND WILL ISSUE WARNINGS IF THEY
MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENT STRENGTH.

IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER...FLASH FLOODING IS
ALSO A POSSIBILITY...ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED HEAVY
RAIN LAST NIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR MOST OF THIS AREA UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

.END/ZINN
Local storm report, Jun 27, 8:02 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
0802 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

THE FOLLOWING REPORTS ARE UNOFFICIAL AND MAY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED
FROM UNTRAINED SOURCES

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

0801 PM    NEW LEXINGTON             OH   WIND DAMAGE
06/27/98   PERRY                          TREES DOWN.
                                          EVENT OCCURRED BETWEEN
                                          0746 PM  AND  0801 PM
Local storm report, Jun 27, 8:04 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
IN NEW LEXINGTON             OH, BETWEEN  7:46 PM AND  8:01 PM,
THE WIND WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO DOWN TREES.
b
Local storm report, Jun 27, 8:35 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
835 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

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

0830 PM    MARIETTA                  OH   WIND DAMAGE
06/27/98   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN.
Local storm report, Jun 27, 8:35 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
835 PM EDT SAT JUN 27 1998

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

0830 PM    MARIETTA                  OH   WIND DAMAGE
06/27/98   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 27, 8:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPleasants, Wood35 min
Jun 27, 8:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXTyler34 min
Jun 27, 8:55 PM EDTTornado WarningRLXTyler35 min
Jun 27, 9:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCalhoun, Gilmer48 min
Jun 27, 9:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Roane48 min
Jun 27, 9:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXDoddridge50 min
Jun 27, 9:17 PM EDTTornado WarningRLXDoddridge18 min
Jun 27, 9:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXHarrison, Lewis50 min
Jun 27, 9:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton50 min
Jun 27, 9:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay36 min
Jun 27, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXNicholas, Webster48 min
Jun 27, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXUpshur48 min
Jun 27, 9:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Taylor32 min
Jun 27, 9:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXPocahontas, Randolph33 min
Jun 27, 11:30 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXTyler3 hr
Jun 28, 12:57 AM EDTTornado WarningRLXWirt33 min
Jun 28, 1:07 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Ritchie3 hr
Jun 28, 1:13 AM EDTTornado WarningRLXRoane32 min
Jun 28, 2:24 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXWood31 min
Jun 28, 2:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Ritchie, Tyler4 hr
Jun 28, 2:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants4 hr
Jun 28, 3:17 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood4 hr
Jun 28, 3:41 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWirt3 hr
Jun 28, 4:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun3 hr
Jun 28, 4:25 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXClay, Roane35 min
Jun 28, 4:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXHarrison, Lewis2 hr
Jun 28, 4:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXGilmer2 hr
Jun 28, 4:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBraxton35 min
Jun 28, 4:39 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXNicholas, Webster41 min
Jun 28, 6:14 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson5 hr
Jun 28, 6:21 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Kanawha, Roane5 hr
Jun 28, 6:43 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Tyler5 hr
Jun 28, 6:43 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants5 hr
Jun 28, 6:50 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood4 hr
Jun 28, 6:50 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood4 hr
Jun 28, 7:55 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXNicholas3 hr
Jun 28, 7:55 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXNicholas3 hr
Jun 28, 8:28 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWirt3 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWood5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Roane, Wirt5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Kanawha5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Tyler5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Tyler5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXClay, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt5 hr
Jun 28, 11:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Wood5 hr
Jun 28, 5:14 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Wood5 hr
Jun 28, 5:14 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Kanawha5 hr
Jun 28, 6:57 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXRoane3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.