High Wind in West Virginia, January 30, 2008

Name: High Wind in West Virginia, January 30, 2008
Start: 2008-01-30T01:00
End: 2008-01-30T09:00
Location: West Virginia

January 30, 2008 · NWS PBZ · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A large area of low pressure over the Great Lakes pushed a strong cold front across the region during the morning of January 30th. The strong pressure gradient along and behind the front produced wind gusts near 60 MPH in many locations across western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and Garrett county Maryland.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $350,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 PBZ wrote it up.

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 Jan 29, 9:14 PM EST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 29, 9:14 PM EST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
914 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2008

.SYNOPSIS...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THE UPPER OHIO
VALLEY LATE TONIGHT...BRINGING RAIN SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A
THUNDERSTORM EARLY TONIGHT. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY COLDER
TEMPERATURES AND SNOW SHOWERS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING ALONG WITH WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN
BUILD IN QUICKLY WEDNESDAY TO END TO THE SNOW SHOWERS. A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL BRING A
WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...

AREA OF LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES ACROSS SRN 3RD OF CWA WITH ADDITIONAL
RAIN MOVING INTO ENTIRE CWA THIS EVENING AND WILL EXPAND ACROSS
CWA AHEAD OF COLD FRONT NOW ACROSS EASTERN INDIANA AS OF 02Z.
STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG FRONT AND SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE
RISES BEHIND IT SHOULD ALLOW 50 KNOT WINDS TO MAKE IT TO THE
SURFACE LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

UPDATE FEATURED THE ADDITION OF A COUPLE HOURS ON THE FRONT END OF
THE WIND WARNING FOR ZONES SURROUNDING ZZV FOR POTENTIAL WIND
GUSTS NR LINE OF ADVNG CONVECTION.

FOLLOWING THE FRONT...SHARPLY COLDER AIR WL QUICKLY CHANGE PCPN
TO SNOW WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. MUCH DRYER AIR QUICKLY
WORKS IN WEDNESDAY WITH SURFACE HIGH TO END SNOW SHOWERS WITH
WINDS DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES SHOULD ONLY
RECOVER A COUPLE DEGREES IF THAT ON WEDNESDAY FROM MORNING LOWS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL KEEP QUIET WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY. THURSDAY NIGHT MOISTURE WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF
DEVELOPING SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE WESTERN OH VALLEY FOR FRIDAY.
EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO BE COLD ENOUGH AT THE START FOR MIXED FROZEN
OR FREEZING PRECIPITATION LATER THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY
WITH WARM AIR PUSHING NORTH BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MODEL THICKNESS
AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A COMPLEX EVENT ESPECIALLY NORTH OF
PITTSBURGH AND EASTERN RIDGES WHERE SIGNIFICANT ICE COULD OCCUR.
AS SYSTEM WRAPS UP LATER FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND TRANSITIONS TO THE
COAST COLD AIR WILL WORK BACK INTO CWA TURNING LEFTOVER
PRECIPITATION ON BACKSIDE OF LOW TO SNOW FOR FRIDAY NIGHT. TOO
EARLY AND MUCH UNCERTAINTY FOR ANY HEADLINES AT THIS POINT.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
SURFACE HIGH OVER THE APPALACHIANS WILL SLIDE OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST
ON SUNDAY. MAINLY DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND THROUGH
EARLY MONDAY. NEXT SYSTEM OVER THE PLAINS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AND
BEGIN TO SPREAD PRECIPITATION INTO THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY LATE MONDAY
AND TUESDAY. WARM AIR AHEAD OF SYSTEM WILL PUSH TEMPERATURES TO
ABOVE NORMAL READINGS EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION /02Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
LLWS ALL TERMINALS UNTIL FROPA. GENERALLY MVFR/SCT IFR CIGS
OVERNIGHT IN RAIN. A QUICK CHANGE OVER TO SNOW WITH FROPA. FROPA
AT KZZV 06Z, KPIT 09Z AND KDUJ/KMGW 10Z.

GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS PRE-FROPA WITH AN ABRUPT SHIFT TO GUSTY WEST
AS FRONT PASSES. WEST WINDS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL GUST TO
AROUND 50 KT BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.

SURFACE HIGH WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION LATE WEDNESDAY AND SHOULD
PROVIDE VFR WEATHER WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE FORM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL
BRING MIXED PRECIPITATION AND MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS FOR THURSDAY NIGHT
AND FRIDAY.

VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD RETURN FOR THE WEEKEND UNDER SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ001.
OH...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR OHZ039-048-057-
     058-068.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR OHZ040-
     041-049-050-059-069.
PA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR
     PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032.
WV...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR
     WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 29, 9:20 PM EST, 3 hours 40 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
920 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2008

OHZ039-048-057-058-068-310230-
TUSCARAWAS-COSHOCTON-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-NOBLE-
920 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2008

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA TONIGHT.

THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AS
WELL. WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING. WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

MDZ001-OHZ040-041-049-050-059-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032-
WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-310230-
GARRETT-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-BELMONT-MONROE-
MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-
ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-GREENE-FAYETTE-
HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER-
920 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2008

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST
CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA TONIGHT.

THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AS
WELL. WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING. WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Preston

When: January 30, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Preston forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind, Hancock

When: January 30, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.522, -80.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ohio

When: January 30, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Ohio forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.097, -80.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Marshall

When: January 30, 1:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.861, -80.663 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wetzel

When: January 30, 2:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Wetzel forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.605, -80.639 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Marion

When: January 30, 2:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.510, -80.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Monongalia

When: January 30, 3:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where: Monongalia forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, January 2008

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: 77650, 77651, 77652, 77653, 77655, 77656, 77654.