A cold front produced isolated severe thunderstorms over northern West Virginia.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.
A cold front produced isolated severe thunderstorms over northern West Virginia.
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 May 16, 2:01 PM EST, 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 301 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THIS EVENING BRINGING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRIER AND COOLER AIR INTO THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY BEGINNING LATER TONIGHT. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF AND ALONG FRONT WITH POTENTIAL FOR SOME STORMS TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS EARLY THIS EVENING. PRECIPITATION WILL QUICKLY END BEHIND FRONT LATER TONIGHT AS SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE 40S BY DAWN. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... SURFACE HIGH WILL DRIFT EAST ALONG THE OHIO VALLEY SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. MUCH COOLER AND DRIER AIR WILL HOLD ACROSS THE REGION. WENT CLOSE TO GFS MOS TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 50S NORTH TO LOWER 60S SOUTH SUNDAY. LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES WILL ALLOW FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING SUNDAY NIGHT. WILL INCLUDE MENTION OF AREAS OF FROST IN WORDING FOR ZONES WITH LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S. TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN A FEW DEGREES BELOW NORMAL FOR MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... RIDGING WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION THROUGH MIDWEEK. GFS DOES HINT AT SOME FLATTENING OF THE RIDGE FOR MIDWEEK...BUT WILL KEEP CONDITIONS DRY WITH SOME INCREASE IN CLOUDS. THE NEXT BEST CHANCE AT PRECIP LOOKS TO BE NEXT WEEKEND AS LOW PRESSURE IS PROGGED TO AFFECT THE AREA. SEASONAL TEMPERATURES WILL PREVAIL FOR TUE/WED...WARMING TO ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SCT SHWRS/TSTMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN OHIO/WESTERN PA IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FRONT WHICH IS CROSSING CENTRAL OHIO. ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THE FRONTAL APPROACH...WITH THE PERIOD OF GREATEST ACTIVITY ALONG A ZZV/FKL LINE FROM 18-20Z...20-22Z HLG/PIT/DUJ...AND 22-01Z MGW/LBE. EXPECT PREVAILING MVFR CONDITIONS ALONG THE FRONT...WITH AREAS OF IFR IN THE HEAVIER SHWRS/TSTMS. WILL INCLUDE SOME HIGHER GUSTS WITH THE STRONGER TSTMS LATE THIS AFTN. SFC WINDS WILL GUST TO 20 TO 25 MPH OUT OF THE SW AHEAD OF FRONT SHIFTING TO WEST-NORTHWEST BEHIND THE BOUNDARY. SFC FRONT WILL STREAK TO THE EAST TONIGHT...WITH CONDITIONS RETURNING TO VFR BY LATE THIS EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW THE RIDGE FLATTENING TOWARD MIDWEEK...WITH THE GFS HINTING AT SOME POTENTIAL FOR SHWRS TUE NIGHT/WED. WILL KEEP CONDITIONS DRY AND VFR WITH PERHAPS SOME INCREASE IN MID DECK CLOUDS FOR MIDWEEK. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1220 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-171630- GARRETT-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON- JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-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- 1220 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 204 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 PAZ007>009-015-016-161900- CLARION PA-FOREST PA-JEFFERSON PA-MERCER PA-VENANGO PA- 204 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...JEFFERSON...VENANGO...FOREST...CLARION AND MERCER... AT 202 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN FOREST COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... WEST HICKORY... VAN... TIONESTA... SUGARCREEK... SENECA... POLK... OIL CREEK STATE PARK... OIL CITY... KENNERDELL... FRYBURG... KELLETTVILLE... BALLTOWN... KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... $$ A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 213 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 PAZ021-029-030-161915- ALLEGHENY-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PITTSBURGH METRO AREA...WASHINGTON... CANONSBURG...DONORA...CALIFORNIA...CHARLEROI...MONONGAHELA... MCMURRAY...GREENSBURG...NEW KENSINGTON...JEANNETTE...LATROBE... MONESSEN 213 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH ACROSS WASHINGTON COUNTY AND THE PITTSBURGH METRO AREA. EXPECT RAINFALL OF UP TO ONE HALF INCH...WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH...AND PERHAPS SOME PEA SIZED HAIL.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 214 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 PAZ008-161915- VENANGO PA- 214 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...VENANGO... AT 212 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER OIL CREEK STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... SUGARCREEK... SENECA... POLK... OIL CREEK STATE PARK... OIL CITY... BE ALERT FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 239 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 PAZ008-009-161930- FOREST PA-VENANGO PA- 239 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... MORE THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... FOREST... AT 237 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF VENANGO COUNTY AND INTO FOREST COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MPH. BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH...DIME SIZE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... $$ A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 306 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 PAZ008-009-015-016-022-162000- ARMSTRONG PA-CLARION PA-FOREST PA-JEFFERSON PA-VENANGO PA- 306 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... ARMSTRONG...JEFFERSON...VENANGO...FOREST AND CLARION... AT 303 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF VAN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY DANGEROUS LIGHTNING... SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... VAN... SENECA... OIL CITY... KNOX... CLARION... FRYBURG... LIMESTONE... TIONESTA... WEST HICKORY... SUMMERVILLE... COOK FOREST STATE PARK... KELLETTVILLE... KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 313 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 WVZ012-021>023-162015- MARION WV-MONONGALIA WV-PRESTON WV-WETZEL WV- 313 PM EDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... MARION...WETZEL...PRESTON AND MONONGALIA... AT 311 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 6 MILES SOUTH OF GRANGEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS THAT MAY CAUSE PONDING ON ROAD SURFACES. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... WILEYVILLE... SMITHFIELD... PINE GROVE... JACKSONBURG... FOLSOM... KNOB FORK... CURTISVILLE... GRANGEVILLE... EARNSHAW... HUNDRED... METZ... MANNINGTON... KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... $$ A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. &&
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:41 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported damage to out buildings near Fairmont.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, May 2009
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: 163165.