West Virginia, 1998

Heavy Snow in West Virginia, February 6, 1998

February 6, 1998 · NWS RNK · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Heavy snow developed during the morning hours on the 6th and continued into the afternoon hours. Snowfall amounts were mainly from 3 to 6 inches in Mercer, Monroe, and Summers Counties and from 6 to 10 inches in Greenbrier County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
$1.7 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 RNK wrote it up.

Heavy snow developed during the morning hours on the 6th and continued into the afternoon hours. Snowfall amounts were mainly from 3 to 6 inches in Mercer, Monroe, and Summers Counties and from 6 to 10 inches in Greenbrier County. The weight of the snow from this storm broke of tree limbs that resulted in some power outages, especially in Greenbrier County. The weight of the snow combined with recent rains and the weight of snow from the record breaking snow storm at the end of January collapsed roofs of two churches and toppled steeples at two other churches. In addition, roofs of several out buildings, homes, barns, and businesses collapsed under the weight of the snow. Numerous carports collapsed, damaging some vehicles. Several buildings, including homes and apartments had to be evacuated due to the potential for the roofs to collapse. Some roofs collapsed until the middle of February.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Greenbrier

When
February 6, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Greenbrier forecast zone
Property damage
$400,000

Heavy Snow, Mercer

When
February 6, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Property damage
$900,000
Coordinates
37.406, -81.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Monroe

When
February 6, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Monroe forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
37.560, -80.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Summers

When
February 6, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Summers forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
37.656, -80.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in West Virginia in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, February 1998

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5635197, 5635198, 5635199, 5635200.