The extreme heat and humidity helped form thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Brief downpours and considerable lightning were common.
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 RLX wrote it up.
The extreme heat and humidity helped form thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Brief downpours and considerable lightning were common. The rapid cooling helped produce some local severe wind gusts.
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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 22, 2:20 PM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
320 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL REMAIN OVERHEAD THROUGH TONIGHT. THE HIGH
WILL THEN BUILD SOUTHWEST INTO NEXT WEEK...ALLOWING A WEAK FRONT TO
BRING COOLER AND DRIER AIR TO THE REGION ON MONDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
CONVECTION IS FORMING ON MOST OF OUR FLANKS...AND THINKING THE
MAJORITY OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL FORM IN SOUTHEAST
OHIO...SOUTHERN COAL FIELDS...AND WV MOUNTAINS. THIS IS DUE TO A
COMBINATION OF A VORT MAX JUST TO OUR WEST AND 700MB DEFORMATION
FORMING OVER THE WV MOUNTAINS. FLOW IS WEEK ACROSS THE REGION SO
THESE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING. ACCORDINGLY...THE FOCUS WILL BE
ON RAINFALL DUE TO THE VERY JUICY ATMOSPHERE WE ARE IN. LIGHTNING
AND LOCALIZED GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN THIS AFTERNOON AND
INTO THIS EVENING.
FOR TONIGHT...SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL CONTINUE MAINLY OVER THE WV
MOUNTAINS. EXPECTING MORE FOG DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT...LEADING INTO
CONTINUED HAZY CONDITIONS TOMORROW. CLOUDS WILL BE INCREASING
TOMORROW AS A WEAK FRONT TO OUR NORTH MOVES CLOSER TO OUR AREA.
THINKING THE CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT OUR MAX TEMPS TOMORROW...TO
RIGHT AROUND 90 FOR MANY AREAS. THEREFORE...THE SOUPY CONDITIONS
WILL PERSIST. HAVE CHANCE POPS IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION FOR
TOMORROW.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...WE ARE STILL ON
TARGET TO GET INTO NORTHWEST FLOW SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THIS WEATHER PATTERN.
WITH PRECIP WATER IN EXCESS OF 1.5 TO NEAR 2 INCHES...ANY STORM THAT
MOVES ACROSS THE REGION WILL BE CAPABLE OF HEAVY RAINFALL.
HEAT WILL CONTINUE ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY. SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE
EVENING HOURS. THIS WILL ONCE AGAIN ENHANCE THE CHANCE FOR HEAVY
RAIN. HOWEVER...DO NOT ANTICIPATE A WIDESPREAD RAIN EVENT.
PATTERN FINALLY CHANGES MONDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST.
COOLER TEMPERATURES AND DRIER AIR WILL FILTER IN BEHIND THE FRONTAL
PASSAGE. THIS WILL GIVE A BRIEF BREAK FROM THE SWELTERING HEAT OF
THE PREVIOUS WEEK.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
HIGH PRESSURE MOVES BACK ACROSS THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD.
RELATIVELY DRY CONDITIONS WILL BE LIKELY. TEMPERATURES WILL
GRADUALLY INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. ABOVE AVERAGE HEAT WILL BE
LIKELY POSSIBLE. HAVE OPTED TO GO WITH HPC FOR THIS FORECAST WITH
ONLY MINOR TWEAKS.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON. KEPT
CRW...PKB...CKB...WITH MVFR VSBYS DUE LINGERING HAZE. THESE
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. DID NOT INCLUDE
TSRA IN ANY TAFS DUE TO COMPLEXITY OF FORECAST. HOWEVER TSTORMS ARE
STARTING TO POP UP...MOSTLY IN SOUTHEAST OH AND SOUTH OF OUR CWA.
PUT CBS IN ALL TAFS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ISOLATED CONVECTION.
FOR TONIGHT...EXPECTING MORE FOG DEVELOPMENT. HAVE HTS AND PKB IN
MVFR BY 5Z. THE REST OF THE TERMINALS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO IFR
VSBYS BY 8Z. HOPEFULLY THE TERMINALS WILL ALL COME UP TO VFR AROUND
12Z TOMORROW AND BE FREE OF THE HAZE.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: FOG TIMING AND DENSITY MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM
FORECAST.
EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
UTC 1HRLY 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05
EDT 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M
HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H M M M H H
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H M M M
AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...
NO WIDESPREAD IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED ATTM.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
WVZ005>011-014.
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR WVZ013-015>020-
024>034-039-040.
OH...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR OHZ066-
067-075-076-083>087.
KY...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
KYZ101>103-105.
VA...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR VAZ003-004.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JB/JEE
NEAR TERM...JEE
SHORT TERM...JB
LONG TERM...JB
AVIATION...JEEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 1223 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 VAZ003-004-WVZ013-015>020-024>034-039-040-231630- DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-LINCOLN-KANAWHA-ROANE-WIRT-CALHOUN-RITCHIE- DODDRIDGE-MINGO-LOGAN-BOONE-CLAY-BRAXTON-GILMER-LEWIS-HARRISON- TAYLOR-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-UPSHUR-BARBOUR- 1223 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WARM TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH HIGH HUMIDITY MAY ONCE AGAIN CREATE HEAT INDICES OVER 100 BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...NECESSITATING THE NEED FOR HEAT ADVISORIES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. WVZ035>038-046-047-231630- RALEIGH-FAYETTE-NICHOLAS-WEBSTER-POCAHONTAS-RANDOLPH- 1223 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-014-231630- GREENUP-CARTER-BOYD-LAWRENCE-PERRY-MORGAN-ATHENS-WASHINGTON-JACKSON- VINTON-MEIGS-GALLIA-WAYNE-CABELL-MASON-WOOD-PLEASANTS-TYLER-PUTNAM- 1223 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...SOUTHEAST OHIO AND MUCH OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WARM TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH HIGH HUMIDITY MAY ONCE AGAIN CREATE HEAT INDICES OVER 100 BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...NECESSITATING THE NEED FOR HEAT ADVISORIES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 329 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 WVZ038-046-047-222000- POCAHONTAS WV-RANDOLPH WV-WEBSTER WV- 329 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL WEBSTER... SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH AND WEST CENTRAL POCAHONTAS COUNTIES... AT 326 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES EAST OF WEBSTER SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR SLATY FORK AROUND 340 PM...BERGOO AROUND 350 PM AND WANETA AROUND 400 PM. PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY. LAT...LON 3858 8031 3848 8006 3831 8018 3838 8040 09
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
341 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM TSTM WND GST COALTON 39.11N 82.61W
07/22/2011 E40 MPH JACKSON OH PUBLIC
ALSO PEA SIZE HAIL
&&
EVENT NUMBER RLX1100795
JSHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
352 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
VAZ003-004-222015-
BUCHANAN VA-DICKENSON VA-
352 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BUCHANAN AND NORTHEASTERN
DICKENSON COUNTIES...
AT 347 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF GRUNDY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR VANSANT AROUND 415 PM.
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 3709 8218 3725 8229 3750 8201 3746 8199
3746 8198 3739 8193 3737 8193 3735 8192
3733 8188 3719 8178
09SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
405 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
WVZ008-016-017-222030-
JACKSON WV-ROANE WV-WIRT WV-
405 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL JACKSON...
NORTHWESTERN ROANE AND WIRT COUNTIES...
AT 404 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES NORTHEAST
OF RIPLEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR PEEWEE AROUND 430 PM.
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 3897 8123 3894 8127 3892 8128 3890 8126
3878 8157 3893 8170 3914 8141 3914 8140
3914 8139
09SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
411 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
VAZ004-222045-
BUCHANAN VA-
411 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN BUCHANAN COUNTY...
AT 409 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF GRUNDY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE
WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL
STREAMS.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR OAKWOOD AROUND 420 PM.
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 3704 8205 3720 8217 3735 8191 3719 8179
3717 8186 3714 8188 3713 8192 3712 8200
3706 8201
09SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
427 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
WVZ008-016-017-222100-
JACKSON WV-ROANE WV-WIRT WV-
427 PM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL JACKSON...
NORTHWESTERN ROANE AND WESTERN WIRT COUNTIES...
AT 426 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES NORTHEAST
OF RIPLEY...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR LEROY AROUND 445 PM AND PEEWEE AROUND 500 PM.
THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATE...I-77 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
148 AND 156 IN WEST VIRGINIA.
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 3887 8130 3878 8160 3896 8171 3903 8160
3903 8158 3907 8152 3913 8143
09The Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:27 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down around the Carter Caves State Park.
Seven trees were blown over along Brush Creek Road. The tops of other trees were snapped off in the Argillite vicinity.
Large branches were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, July 2011
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: 322798, 322796, 322799.