Hail and Damaging Wind in West Virginia, August 1, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in West Virginia, August 1, 2012
Start: 2012-08-01T15:00
End: 2012-08-01T17:15
Location: West Virginia

August 1, 2012 · NWS RLX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

An old cold frontal boundary interacted with a warm unstable environment. As a result, convection developed during the afternoon.

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: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 RLX wrote it up.

An old cold frontal boundary interacted with a warm unstable environment. As a result, convection developed during the afternoon. Outflow boundaries created new storms to the south and east of the previous convection. The slow movement of the storms caused some local downpours, but no significant flash flooding occurred.

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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 1, 12:58 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 12:58 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
158 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
WEAK COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH TODAY. DRIER AND MORE STABLE AIR
TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY INCREASES
FRIDAY INTO SUNDAY. COLD FRONT SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
ALTHOUGH A BIT HARD TO FIND IN OBSERVATIONS THE EXACT LOCATION IN
THE OBS...THINKING WEAK COLD FRONT APPROACHING OHIO RIVER...WITH
CONVECTION STARTING TO KICK OFF ACROSS WV. DID NOT MAKE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO POPS FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST...SEEING FAIR AGREEMENT IN
HI-RES MODELS THAT ISOLATED STORMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS
THE LOWLANDS...WITH A BIT HIGHER CHANCES OVER THE MOUNTAINS AS AN
ELEVATED HEAT SOURCE. NOT MUCH MID TO UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE STILL
AROUND...SO THINK MOST CELLS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME SUSTAINING
THEMSELVES. HOWEVER...WITH THAT SAID CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW STRONGER
STORMS LIKE YESTERDAY...WITH FLASH FLOODING A THREAT IF MULTIPLE
STORMS TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREA...OR ONE PERSISTENT STORM BECOMES
ROOTED TO AN OROGRAPHIC FEATURE. 3 HOUR FFG GUIDANCE IS AROUND 1
INCH FOR SOME OF OUR NORTHWESTERN ZONES...WITH 2 INCHES FOR MUCH OF
THE WV LOWLANDS...SO IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH TO GET WATER CONCERNS
GOING. THOUGHT ABOUT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH...BUT WITH ONLY ISOLATED
CONVECTION EXPECTED ISSUES SHOULD BE VERY LOCALIZED.

AS THE FRONT MOVES OFF TO THE EAST...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN MOVING
IN BRINGING DRY WEATHER THROUGH THURSDAY. AS MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS
DISCUSSION...MODELS STRUGGLING WITH LOWS TONIGHT AND HAVE A 5-10
DEGREE SPREAD IN MOS OUTPUT. STAYED CLOSE TO PREVIOUS
FORECAST...RIGHT BETWEEN MOS NUMBERS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLIDE EAST OF THE AREA BY FRIDAY.
STRENGTHENING BERMUDA HIGH WILL BRING WARMER AND MORE HUMID AIR
NORTH INTO OUR AREA FRIDAY. LOOKS TO BE ENOUGH MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITY FOR HEATING TO POP A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AFTERNOON
INTO FRIDAY NIGHT...MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH AND MOUNTAINS. STORMS WILL
BE MOSTLY DIURNALLY DEPENDENT...WITH LACK OF UPPER DISTURBANCES IN
WEAK WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT...SO MOST OF THE STORMS FRIDAY WILL BE OF
THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING VARIETY.

OUTSIDE THE CONVECTION...ENOUGH SUNSHINE EXPECTED TO LIFT TEMPS BACK
INTO THE 90S LOW LANDS FRIDAY AFTERNOON...AND LEAVE FOR A WARM AND
MUGGY FRIDAY NIGHT.

FOR SATURDAY...MODELS SIMILAR IN AN UPPER DISTURBANCE CROSSING THE
AREA FROM WEST TO EAST. WHILE NO FOCUSING MECHANISM UNDER THIS
DISTURBANCE IS EVIDENT IN THE MODELS...THEY DO DEPICT A BROAD SWATH
OF DEEPER MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY. POPS RAISED INTO THE HIGHER
CHANCE RANGE...ESPECIALLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
OTHERWISE...WHILE MAX TEMPS WILL BE SUPPRESSED SOMEWHAT BY THE
INCREASED CLOUDS AND CONVECTION...IN THE 80S...IT WILL STILL BE VERY
WARM AND HUMID.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
NOT MUCH CHANGE. MODELS ARE IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT
SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE REGION ON LATER ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT...WITH AN ATTENDING COLD FRONT. LOOKS LIKE AN ORGANIZED BAND
OF CONVECTION WILL PRECEDE THE FRONT ON SUNDAY...WITH CONVECTION
CONTINUING SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE FRONT PASSES MONDAY. CONVECTION
THEN TAPERS OFF BEHIND THE FRONT MONDAY FROM WEST TO EAST. HIGH
PRESSURE WITH DRIER AND SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR WILL MOVE IN BY TUESDAY
AND CONTINUE WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
A WEAK COLD FRONT...CURRENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE OHIO RIVER...WILL
CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...WITH ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONT. BEST COVERAGE
OF THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...SO WENT WITH VCTS. WILL
HAVE TO MONITOR FOR ANY CELLS APPROACHING LOWLAND SITES...AND WILL
AMEND IF NECESSARY. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS INTO TONIGHT...WITH
POSSIBLE DROPS INTO MVFR IN AND AROUND SHOWERS AND STORMS. PATCHY
DENSE FOG IS POSSIBLE AGAIN LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MORE LIKELY IN
THE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND ANYWHERE THAT GETS A GOOD SHOWER THIS
EVENING.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: TIMING OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD VARY.
TIMING AND DENSITY OF FOG COULD VARY.

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    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 18Z THURSDAY...
IFR POSSIBLE IN DENSE FOG IN THE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS THURSDAY MORNING.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...NONE.
OH...NONE.
KY...NONE.
VA...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JMV/MZ
NEAR TERM...MZ
SHORT TERM...JMV
LONG TERM...KTB/JMV
AVIATION...MZ

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 1, 12:52 PM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
152 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

KYZ102-103-105-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>040-046-047-021800-
CARTER-BOYD-LAWRENCE KY-DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-WAYNE-CABELL-MASON-
JACKSON WV-WOOD-PLEASANTS-TYLER-LINCOLN-PUTNAM-KANAWHA-ROANE-WIRT-
CALHOUN-RITCHIE-DODDRIDGE-MINGO-LOGAN-BOONE-CLAY-BRAXTON-GILMER-
LEWIS-HARRISON-TAYLOR-MCDOWELL-WYOMING-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-NICHOLAS-
WEBSTER-UPSHUR-BARBOUR-POCAHONTAS-RANDOLPH-
152 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND MUCH OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED INTO THIS EVENING.
DUE TO THE EXPECTED ISOLATED NATURE OF THE CONVECTION...A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH WAS NOT ISSUED...BUT HIGHLY LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING
DUE TO PERSISTENT STORMS...OR MULTIPLE STORMS MOVING OVER THE SAME
AREA IS POSSIBLE...AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

KYZ101-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-021800-
GREENUP-PERRY-MORGAN-ATHENS-WASHINGTON-JACKSON OH-VINTON-MEIGS-
GALLIA-LAWRENCE OH-
152 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST KENTUCKY AND
SOUTHEAST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 1:15 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
215 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

WVZ009-017-011915-
WIRT WV-WOOD WV-
215 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL WOOD AND WIRT
COUNTIES...

AT 212 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 9 MILES
EAST OF FORKED RUN STATE PARK TO 3 MILES WEST OF ELIZABETH TO 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ELIZABETH...MOVING VERY SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST.

VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATE...I-77 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
157 AND 165 IN WEST VIRGINIA.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3906 8127 3904 8124 3905 8121 3903 8116
      3894 8127 3892 8128 3890 8136 3894 8146
      3900 8154 3901 8153 3905 8163 3914 8158

28

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 1:34 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
234 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

OHZ085-WVZ008-011900-
JACKSON WV-MEIGS OH-
234 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN MEIGS AND NORTHERN
JACKSON COUNTIES...

AT 231 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF FORKED RUN STATE PARK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE SMALL HAIL. 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 PORTLAND AROUND 240 PM...RAVENSWOOD AROUND
245 PM AND SANDYVILLE AROUND 255 PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATE...I-77 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
147 AND 156 IN WEST VIRGINIA.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS...
HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3911 8174 3909 8174 3901 8153 3897 8154
      3897 8155 3896 8155 3888 8158 3903 8198
      3918 8188

14

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 2:29 PM EST, 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
329 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

KYZ105-WVZ005-024-025-012030-
LAWRENCE KY-LOGAN WV-MINGO WV-WAYNE WV-
329 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN LOGAN...
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE...SOUTHERN WAYNE AND WESTERN MINGO COUNTIES...

AT 320 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHEAST
OF INEZ...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE SMALL HAIL.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR KERMIT AROUND 350 PM...WILSONDALE AROUND 355
PM...BREEDEN AROUND 410 PM...LENORE AROUND 420 PM AND DINGESS AROUND
430 PM.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS...
HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3810 8253 3801 8223 3795 8228 3798 8215
      3793 8198 3762 8219 3768 8231 3775 8233
      3781 8240 3790 8245 3790 8248 3795 8252
      3795 8256 3790 8260 3795 8266

14

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 2:48 PM EST, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
348 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

WVZ025-026-034-012045-
BOONE WV-LOGAN WV-WYOMING WV-
348 PM EDT WED AUG 1 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LOGAN...NORTHWESTERN WYOMING AND
SOUTHERN BOONE COUNTIES...

AT 342 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTHWEST
OF LOGAN...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR MOUNT GAY...AND MITCHELL HEIGHTS AROUND 355
PM...WEST LOGAN...AND LOGAN AROUND 400 PM...LOGAN AROUND 405 PM...
SWITZER...AND CHAUNCEY AROUND 410 PM...SARAH ANN AROUND 415 PM AND
JEFFREY AROUND 430 PM.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS...
HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3766 8181 3766 8183 3767 8184 3768 8186
      3774 8209 3775 8211 3803 8194 3803 8192
      3794 8158 3763 8173

14

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Logan

When: August 1, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Logan County, Logan
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.850, -82.000

Hail, Kanawha

When: August 1, 4:45 PM EST
Where: Kanawha County, Cedar Grove
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.220, -81.430

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When: August 1, 5:15 PM EST
Where: Kanawha County, 0.59 mi NNW of Clendenin
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 38.488, -81.355

Trees were blown down along Elk River Road.

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

Every storm in West Virginia in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, August 2012

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: 400526, 400525, 400527.