Tornado and Flash Flood in West Virginia, August 9, 1998

An area of strong to thunderstorms, producing abundant rainfall, formed near the Allegheny highlands of Grant county during the evening. Initially, thunderstorms moving over the same areas of northern Grant Co produced very heavy rainfall. Doppler radar estimated that more than 2 inches of rain fell in 2 hours. Spotters and law enforcement across the county reported between 0.95 and 4 1/2 inches of rain with the storm. One individual cell developed over Petersburg, producing a variety of weather. Local law enforcement noted minor street and basement flooding beginning around 1720EST. The storm, which became severe, blew down several six-inch diameter tree limbs and one power pole. A spotter just southwest of Petersburg on federal highway 220/West Virginia highway 2 reported 1/2 inch diameter hail which was "enough to scoop up". The hail also stripped leaves off corn stalks, but did not damage the ears.The same spotter reported a funnel cloud near the Pansy/Bethel Church area shortly before 1800EST. A tornado apparently developed shortly after, remaining on the ground for 1/2 mile. The twister (F0) was 33 feet wide, and moved generally from southeast to northwest. The tornado snapped, twisted, and/or uprooted 10 sycamore trees between 10 and 30 inches in diameter. Two locust trees were stripped, a roadside produce stand's roof was damaged, and the railing on a front porch of a home was ripped off and twisted into a ball.