West Virginia, 1999

Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, July 24, 1999

July 24, 1999 · NWS LWX · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Warm temperatures and muggy conditions combined to develop thunderstorms across Berkeley and Jefferson Counties between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM EDT. The storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, and heavy downpours.

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
$7,000
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 LWX wrote it up.

Warm temperatures and muggy conditions combined to develop thunderstorms across Berkeley and Jefferson Counties between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM EDT. The storms produced winds in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, and heavy downpours. Nickel sized hail fell in Martinsburg and a wind gust of 63 MPH was recorded at the city airport. Dime sized hail was reported between Falling Waters and Marlowe. Trees and power lines were downed, knocking out power to 2,500 customers in Charles Town, Back Creek Valley, and Harpers Ferry. Hundreds of dollars in damage occurred at a Leetown nursery when between 50 and 100 plants were damaged by high wind. 2.3 inches of rain fell in Leetown during a two hour period. The North Queen Street underpass was temporarily flooded by the deluge.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Berkeley

When
July 24, 4:50 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Martinsburg
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.450, -77.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkeley

When
July 24, 4:50 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Martinsburg Arpt
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.400, -77.980

Measured gust at Martinsburg Airport, trees and power lines downed

Hail, Berkeley

When
July 24, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, 1 mi N of Falling Waters
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.570, -77.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When
July 24, 5:10 PM EST
Where
Jefferson County, Leetown
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.350, -77.930

Trees and power lines downed

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

More

Every storm in West Virginia in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, July 1999

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5710594, 5710595, 5710596, 5710597.