Damaging Wind in West Virginia, May 18, 1997

Name: Damaging Wind in West Virginia, May 18, 1997
Start: 1997-05-18T18:50
End: 1997-05-18T18:55
Location: West Virginia

May 18, 1997 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:48 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brooke

When: May 18, 6:50 PM EST to 6:55 PM EST
Where: Brooke County, 2 mi S of Weirton
Measured: 105 kt (121 mph)
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 40.370, -80.580

Thunderstorm microburst winds, estimated between 100 and 120 mph, caused extensive damage near Weirton. The greatest damage occurred at a slag plant near the Fort Steubenville Bridge. Two buildings were substantially damaged. A two story metal building was blown in on one side and collapsed. The other, a block building, had the roof blown off and several windows were blown out. Sections of two large conveyor belts were destroyed. Two automobiles were damaged by flying debris. Damage also occurred at a nearby sewage treatment plant. A two story block building had a crack along the second row of blocks on the second floor. A roof from a small metal building was blown off. Trees were damaged.Also during the storm, six barges along the Ohio River broke loose from their moorings just upstream of the damaged buildings. Some of the barges reportedly hit the bridge and the bridge was closed for several hours.

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

Every storm in West Virginia in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, May 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: 5614900.