Thunderstorm Wind, Mineral
- When
- August 17, 3:55 PM EST
- Where
- Mineral County, Elk Garden to Keyser
- Property damage
- $12,000
- Coordinates
- 39.380, -79.150
Damaging Winds in West Virginia, August 17, 1997
Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front, one that put an abrupt end to a two-day period of oppressive heat and humidity. Scattered damage was reported across northeast West Virginia during the late afternoon of the 17th.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $22,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front, one that put an abrupt end to a two-day period of oppressive heat and humidity. Scattered damage was reported across northeast West Virginia during the late afternoon of the 17th. Ten trees and large limbs were blocking roads in northern Mineral Co between Elk Garden, Fountain, and Keyser. In Romney, estimated winds of 60 to 65 mph blew down trees and large limbs. Scattered tree damage, including limbs that blocked roads, was reported in eastern Berkeley Co.
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:55 UTC.
Event by event
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hampshire
- When
- August 17, 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Hampshire County, Romney
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 39.350, -78.750
Thunderstorm Wind, Berkeley
- When
- August 17, 4:55 PM EST
- Where
- Berkeley County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Coordinates
- 39.470, -78.020
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flood and Hail in West Virginia, August 17 to 18, 1997
- Lightning Strike in West Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Heat in Missouri, August 17, 1997
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, August 17, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, August 17, 1997
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, August 17, 1997
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, August 17 to 20, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, August 17, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, August 17, 1997
- Lightning Strike in West Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Kentucky, August 17, 1997
More
Every storm in West Virginia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 1997
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5615637, 5615638, 5615639.