Alert archive / West Virginia / Special Weather Statements in 2020

Special Weather Statement, NWS Charleston, WV

March 3, 2020Randolph County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this special weather statement at Mar 3, 2020, 5:01 PM EST for Randolph County, West Virginia. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 3, 2020, 5:01 PM EST (22:01 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 2020, 5:30 PM EST
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV

County Randolph County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 178 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:01 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 204 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 2020-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2020-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1273 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
119 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Mar 3, 1:43 PM EST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 1:43 PM EST, 3 hours 18 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
143 PM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
A disturbance along with frontal passage will bring more rain
today and possible storms. Drier tonight. Weak disturbance
Wednesday. Cold front crosses Thursday night. Colder Friday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 1230 PM Tuesday...

Cold frontal boundary across central Ohio at 1730Z and gradually
starting to shift eastward. Showers and isolated thunderstorms
have started to develop in association with this front, with the
expectation that thunderstorm development will become more
numerous as it progresses farther east. Still looking at the
small possibility of a few storms becoming strong to severe.
Instability is rather weak/marginal at this point, but strong
westerly shear could create a wind damage threat, particularly
east of the Ohio River as the front/storms progress eastward.

Convection will diminish across the CWA after 00-03Z as the
frontal boundary progresses to the east of the higher terrain,
with a gradual clearing of sky cover overnight, although a weak
disturbance moving across the north may provide for a few light
showers late. Temperatures overnight will fall into the mid to
upper 30s.

After a chilly start on Wednesday, area will warm up nicely,
above normal for this time of year. Another weak disturbance is
expected to move across the area on Wednesday, possibly
providing a few light showers across northern zones, but
overall, main effect an increase in clouds.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 140 PM Tuesday...

A weak northern stream wave exits east Wednesday evening with mainly
dry conditions expected through Thursday as a southern stream wave
skirts by the forecast area to the south. A northern stream upper
low crosses the Lower Great Lakes Thursday evening dragging a cold
front across our forecast area during the overnight and into early
Friday bring a quick round of light rain for most and snow across
the highest mountain ridges with liquid totals of around a tenth of
an inch through daybreak.

The bigger story with this system for us will strong cyclogenesis
off the Atlantic Seaboard as the aforementioned southern stream wave
interacts with the northern stream low. Model guidance has trended
this feature further and further offshore, but should still see
enough northwesterly/northern flow between the back side of the low
and building high pressure over the central US for a decent, albeit
brief, moisture feed to set up off Lake Michigan and Erie. A bulk of
this will fall during the day Friday and with surface temperatures
across much of the Lowlands topping out near 40, coupled with strong
early March Sun angles would not expect any significant snow
accumulations during the daylight hours despite some potential for
more squally type showers given some surface based instability. In
the mountains, temperatures will only rise into the upper 20s/lower
30s, and upslope enhancement should be enough to allow for at least
some accumulating snow during the daylight hours.

High pressure begins to slide east Friday night with weakening
moisture transport, but could see enough overlap of continuing snow
showers and cooling surfaces across the lower elevations to allow
for some minor accumulations on grassy/elevated surfaces Friday
evening.

Still probably a little too early to talk specific snow
accumulations given run differences in exactly how far the Atlantic
low ends up offshore potentially lessening the strength and duration
of moist upslope. Based on current track may eventually need some
low end highlights for snow in the mountains, but at this point
confidence is too low to include in the HWO.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 140 PM Tuesday...

Any lingering upslope snow showers dissipate through the
morning hours Saturday with dry and clear conditions expected
through the weekend with high pressure centered over the
Carolinas. Should see a decent ridge/valley split in morning
lows across our western half Saturday and entire forecast area
Sunday with clear skies and light winds with lows mainly in the
mid to upper 20s across the Lowlands and teens in the mountains.
Will see nice a warming trend Sunday into Monday with daytime
highs reaching the lower 60s.

Model spread begins to widen considerably regarding eventual
eastward shift of the surface high and approach of the next upper
level disturbance. Loose EPS/GEFS consensus holds off on
precipitation until late Monday night/early Tuesday morning leaving
a bulk of Monday dry and mild.
&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 1230 PM Tuesday...

Brief break in the precipitation at the moment, however, a cold
front, across central Ohio, is starting to generate convection,
which will move eastward through 00Z. Expect brief IFR
conditions, and strong gusty winds in vicinity of any storms
that develop. Frontal boundary will be to the east of the
mountains by 03Z, with gradually improving conditions to VFR.
Expect gusty westerly winds to continue through at least 07Z,
when they will become light most locations, but will become
gusty again towards the end of the TAF period, with gusts in the
teens to 20 kt range.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of convection may vary from
forecast. Timing of return to VFR overnight may vary from
forecast.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

UTC 1HRLY       18   19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05
EST 1HRLY       13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   00
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    M    M    L    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  L    H    H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  L    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY...
Local IFR possible in periods of rain and low stratus confined
to the mountains for early Wednesday morning. IFR possible in
upslope snow Friday into Friday night.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...None.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JP/SL
NEAR TERM...SL
SHORT TERM...JP
LONG TERM...JP
AVIATION...SL
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 3, 5:11 AM EST, 11 hours 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston WV
511 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-
013>020-024>026-029-033-034-041015-
Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-
Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Dickenson-Buchanan-Wayne-
Cabell-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha-
Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Gilmer-
McDowell-Wyoming-
511 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast
Ohio, southwest Virginia, and portions of central West Virginia,
northern West Virginia, southern West Virginia and western West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Pre-frontal showers will persist over the area today along with
frontal passage showers and storms this evening. Thunderstorms may
create heavier showers with the potential to cause flash flooding
especially in areas that are already saturated.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

WVZ027-028-030>032-039-040-515>526-041015-
Clay-Braxton-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-Upshur-Barbour-Northwest Raleigh-
Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette-
Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster-
Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas-
Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph-
511 AM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central West
Virginia, northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia and
southeast West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

There is a marginal risk for severe storms today. Pre-frontal
showers will persist over the area today along with frontal passage
showers and storms this evening. Thunderstorms may create heavier
showers with the potential to cause flash flooding especially in
areas that are already saturated.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 3, 3:21 PM EST, 1 hour 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
321 PM EST TUE MAR 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0308 PM     HAIL             3 ESE MIDDLEBOURNE      39.48N  80.85W
03/03/2020  M0.50 INCH       TYLER              WV   COCORAHS

&&

EVENT NUMBER RLX2000717

JP
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 3:35 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 PM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

WVZ016-018-027>029-521-032115-
Calhoun-Clay-Roane-Northwest Webster-Gilmer-Braxton-
335 PM EST Tue Mar 3 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN...SOUTHERN
GILMER...BRAXTON...SOUTHEASTERN ROANE...NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER AND
NORTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES...

At 335 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was located near Big Otter, or
12 miles north of Clay, moving east at 45 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Sutton, Gassaway, Big Otter, Wallback, Flatwoods, Nebo, Frametown,
Strange Creek, Wilsie, Servia, Rosedale, Exchange, Little Birch,
Heaters, Nicut, Chloe, Centralia, Falls Mills and Orma.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 79 between mile markers 30 and 32, and between mile
markers 34 and 73.
 Route 19 between mile markers 64 and 68.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3852 8053 3854 8076 3856 8078 3854 8082
      3857 8120 3874 8118 3880 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 268DEG 39KT 3864 8111

14
Local storm report, Mar 3, 3:47 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
347 PM EST TUE MAR 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0347 PM     HAIL             2 WNW HEATERS           38.77N  80.68W
03/03/2020  E0.50 INCH       BRAXTON            WV   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER RLX2000718

SL
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 4:23 PM EST, 38 minutes before
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Local storm report, Mar 3, 4:39 PM EST, 22 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 3, 5:01 PM EST, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 3, 3:01 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRoane29 min
Mar 3, 3:19 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton26 min
Mar 3, 3:35 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton40 min
Mar 3, 4:23 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBraxton, Webster52 min
Mar 3, 5:25 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWebster50 min
Mar 3, 1:43 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson32 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in West Virginia, 2020Every special weather statement in 2020

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.