Tornado and Hail in West Virginia, April 28, 2002

Name: Tornado and Hail in West Virginia, April 28, 2002
Start: 2002-04-28T14:00
End: 2002-04-28T16:15
Location: West Virginia

April 28, 2002 · NWS PBZ · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $105,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 1:55 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 1:55 PM EST, 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
255 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

AT THIS POINT WILL ALLOW FLOOD WATCH TO EXPIRE FOR PORTIONS SE
OHIO...NRN W VA...AND GARRETT CO MD. AS LONG AS STORMS KEEP MOVING
SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADV FOR POST FRONT WINDS
WHICH SHOULD DIE DOWN WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER NEXT PACKAGE
ISSUANCE.
BEYOND THIS COULD BE SOME SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NORTH FOR
MON. NEXT SYSTEM SLIPS SEWRD OUT OF NW FLOW LATE MON NIGHT AND TUES.
COULD BE SOME SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. REST OF WEEK UNSETTLED
WITH NEXT WV MOVING ALONG THE SRN TIERS AND ANOTHER MORE IMPRSSIVE
ONE FOR THURS.

TEMPS SIMILAR TO MOS.

.PBZ...
MD...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM GARRETT COUNTY.
OH...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS.
PA...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS.
WV...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 1:16 PM EST, 44 minutes before

PAZ016-022-023-030>032-282100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
216 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN PENNSYLVANIA...

  ARMSTRONG       FAYETTE         GREENE          INDIANA
  JEFFERSON       WESTMORELAND

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:23 PM EST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
223 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0200 PM    10 N COSHOCTON            OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   COSHOCTON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0200 PM    4 E ROSEVILLE             OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGUM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0203 PM    10 SE ZANESVILLE          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGOM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0206 PM    BALTIC                    OH   .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0214 PM    NEW PHILADELPHIA          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:30 PM EST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
230 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0200 PM    10 N COSHOCTON            OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   COSHOCTON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0200 PM    4 E ROSEVILLE             OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGUM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0203 PM    10 SE ZANESVILLE          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGOM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0206 PM    BALTIC                    OH   .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0214 PM    NEW PHILADELPHIA          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0223 PM    MERCER                    PA   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02   MERCER

0227 PM    SHARON                    PA   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MERCER                         REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 1:33 PM EST, 27 minutes before

PAZ008-009-014>016-021>023-029>032-290000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
233 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN PENNSYLVANIA...

  ALLEGHENY       ARMSTRONG       BUTLER          CLARION
  FAYETTE         FOREST          GREENE          INDIANA
  JEFFERSON       VENANGO         WASHINGTON      WESTMORELAND

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:38 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
238 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0200 PM    10 N COSHOCTON            OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   COSHOCTON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0200 PM    4 E ROSEVILLE             OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGUM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0203 PM    10 SE ZANESVILLE          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGOM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0206 PM    BALTIC                    OH   .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0214 PM    NEW PHILADELPHIA          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0223 PM    MERCER                    PA   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02   MERCER

0227 PM    SHARON                    PA   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MERCER                         REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0235 PM    NEW COMERSTOWN            OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCAWARAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0236 PM    CALDWELL                  OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   NOBLE                          REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

TDP

Local storm report, Apr 28, 1:46 PM EST, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
246 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0200 PM    10 N COSHOCTON            OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   COSHOCTON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0200 PM    4 E ROSEVILLE             OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGUM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0203 PM    10 SE ZANESVILLE          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MUSKINGOM                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0206 PM    BALTIC                    OH   .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0214 PM    NEW PHILADELPHIA          OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCARAWAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0223 PM    MERCER                    PA   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02   MERCER

0227 PM    SHARON                    PA   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   MERCER                         REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0235 PM    NEW COMERSTOWN            OH   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   TUSCAWARAS                     REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0236 PM    CALDWELL                  OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   NOBLE                          REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0237 PM    3 W TORONTO               OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0244 PM    STUBENVILLE               OH   1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

0245 PM    KILLGORE                  OH   .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CARROL                         REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTERS

TDP

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hancock

When: April 28, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Hancock County, Chester
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.617, -80.550

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and power lines.

Hail, Hancock

When: April 28, 2:00 PM EST
Where: Hancock County, Weirton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.400, -80.583

Tornado, Marshall

When: April 28, 2:15 PM EST to 2:20 PM EST
Where: Marshall County, 1 mi NE of St Joseph
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 39.733, -80.717

An F1 tornado touched down about one-half mile northeast of the town of St. Joseph in southeast Marshall County. It traveled about 1 mile before dissipating. The estimated maximum winds were about 100 MPH with a maximum width of about 150 yards. The tornado destroyed a barn and damaged several others. Shingles were blown from a house. There were numerous trees toppled or snapped. This storm also produced very large hail of up to 2.5 inches as it passed through counties to the west.

Hail, Tucker

When: April 28, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Tucker County, Davis
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.133, -79.467

Hail, Tucker

When: April 28, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Tucker County, Davis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.133, -79.467

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history The tornado archive for West Virginia, 2002 Warnings in West Virginia, April 2002

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: 5287926, 5287927, 5287930, 5287928, 5287929.