Blizzard and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, October 29 to 31, 2012

A rare consolidation of a strong mid and upper level trough in the polar jet with a tropical hurricane named Sandy resulted in a historical snow storm for the month of October.

Periods of rain fell for 2 days from the 27th into the 28th, as a cold front moved east. In response to the colder air associated with the polar jet and the strengthening mid level trough, light rain changed to the first snowflakes around 0000E to 0200E on Monday the 29th. This snow was only across the high terrain of southwest Virginia northward into the mountainous counties of central West Virginia. For example, the first flakes around Beckley were around 0100E. However, little accumulation was seen through the morning hours on the 29th. Heading north, the rain took longer to change to wet snow, especially in the river valleys around Elkins and Buckhannon. The first snow flakes in Elkins were observed around 1300E on the 29th. Heading west, the rain continued well through the evening hours. The rain did not change to wet snow until late on the 29th into the early morning hours of the 30th for the western foothills. This included areas around Williamson, Logan, Madison, Charleston, Clay, Sutton, and Philippi.

The main event for the mountain counties began around midday on Monday. The brunt of the storm occurred overnight Monday night through the day on Tuesday the 30th. Blizzard conditions were observed during this time frame from the Ghent and Beckley vicinity on north toward Elkins. Yet, drifting snow was limited mostly to the highest exposed locations.

The parent low pressure center moved northwest from southern New Jersey on the evening of the 29th, across northern Delaware, and into south central Pennsylvania by dawn on the 30th. By evening on the 30th, the weakening low pressure was in western Pennsylvania north of Pittsburgh. Wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph were common in the mountainous counties. A gust to 57 mph was measured on the mountaintop at Snowshoe during the morning of the 30th.

The snow decreased in intensity overnight Tuesday night, but some lighter snow mixed with drizzle and freezing drizzle, lingered during the morning hours of Wednesday the 31st.

Snow accumulations were highly dependent on elevation. One to 3 feet of snow accumulated from Raleigh County on north, through Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Upshur, Randolph, and western Pocahontas Counties. The maximum snow depth in the city of Elkins reached 15 inches before settling. The snow depth at the Raleigh County 911 Center reached 18 inches.

The high terrain of Nicholas, Webster, Upshur, Randolph, and western Pocahontas Counties had snow accumulations near 40 inches. For example, the deepest average snow accumulation at the cooperative observer site in Kumbrabow State Forest was 38 inches. On the mountains overlooking Richwood, a 36 inch snow depth was measured. Department of Highway crews estimated at least 3 feet of snow on Point Mountain in Webster County. Snow depths were even greater off the still warm autumn ground. Unofficial measurements of 40 to 50 inches were reported from surfaces such as picnic tables, vehicles, and wooden decks. For example, a 46 inch measurement was taken from a deck in Nettie of Nicholas County.

These snow accumulations surpassed previous known October snow storms. Back on the 20th of October in 1961, snow accumulations were 1 to 2 feet over the central mountains around Summersville and Richwood. In 1979, 2 to 8 inches of snow accumulated on the 9th and 10th.

Lesser amounts of snow, and still highly elevation dependent, were seen in other counties during this episode. Snow accumulations of 2 to 10 inches were common from Wyoming, McDowell, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Lincoln, Wayne, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Braxton, and Barbour Counties. For example, at the National Weather Service office, south of Charleston, the snow depth reached 9 inches. Meanwhile, downtown Charleston had only 1 to 2 inches of slushy snow on the ground. In Barbour County, some measurements of 12 to 14 inches occurred across high ground in the eastern and southern portions of the county. Accumulations were mostly 2 inches or less toward the Harrison County line in Barbour County.

While snow occurred on Tuesday morning the 30th for counties further west, their snow averages were lower. This included the cities of Huntington, Parkersburg, and Clarksburg.

Beginning early on the 30th, the weight of the wet snow brought down, or bent, trees and large branches onto power lines. One resident in Randolph County said, the snapping and popping sounds we heard so much, it was unreal. Tress continued to fall even after the storm was over. A state forest official said no one species of tree was favored. Trees along sloping right of ways and roads were more susceptible to fall, compared to those located deep within the full forest canopy. In a few areas, citizens reported large oak trees toppled. Many of the oaks had withering brown leaves still clinging to their branches. In the aftermath of the storm, a few selected spots, such as along Routes 82 and 20 near Cowen, were described as looking like a war zone. The woody debris left along the sides of roads, and still hanging in the trees, was viewed by state officials as being a major debris removal issue.

Widespread and prolonged electric outages were the main public impact from this storm. In this portion of West Virginia over 200,000 customers lost electricity. Many of the hardest hit counties in the central mountains had 80 percent or more of their county population without power. It took a full 2 weeks before the last residents had electricity restored. For example, electricity was restored to the facilities in the Kumbrabow State Forest on Tuesday the 13th of November. Many residents lost frozen food they had stored away for the upcoming winter. The slushy snow did not keep roads impassible very long. However, since power lines frequently run adjacent to the roads, the downed power lines and trees did block many roads and strand several vehicles. State chain saw crews and power companies were used to removed the debris and fallen lines. One crew chief with the state highway department in Randolph County said, as we cut our way through, many residents were out helping clear the roads. Since low clouds lingered after the heavy snow, power companies and relief efforts could not immediately use helicopters or aircraft to survey the damage or to deliver supplies.

Trees also fell onto homes. In Webster County, a mobile home on Proctor Run Road was destroyed when a tree crushed the middle of its roof and walls.

Snow loading also brought down structures or caused sagging roofs to leak. Larger flat roofs were especially vulnerable. The convenience stores in Craigsville and Summersville, plus a grocery store in Craigsville all had roof collapses. The manager of the grocery store thought the whole building would have to be rebuilt. Minor damage occurred to an apartment complex in Summersville and 72 residents were evacuated in the middle of the night. As the storm was winding down the Summersville mayor said, we'll be making progress, but then more trees will fall and structures will collapse and then more power is lost. Many mobile homes, including double wides, saw their roofs collapsed or damaged from snow loading. A roof to an auto body shop in Hacker Valley collapsed. Canopies over a few gas stations also were damaged or collapsed. Many car ports and porches were also damaged. State preliminary damage assessments counted around 50 homes with either major damage or were destroyed. The majority of those homes were located in Nicholas and Webster Counties. Mobile homes were more susceptible to damage than single family dwellings.

One death was directly attributed to the storm. Near Philippi of Barbour County, a 60 year old male was clearing debris and trees at his deer farm. A tree fell and killed him. A 71 year old woman was found buried in snow over her gravel driveway along Sugar Creek in Webster County. However, the state medical examiner ruled her death was not storm related.

There were also 3 indirect deaths in the aftermath of the storm. One 62 year old man went into cardiac arrest while shoveling snow in Belington. Emergency medical services were unable to revive him. A 51 year old man from Arlington of Upshur County died from carbon monoxide asphyxiation. He had a generator working inside his garage. He went to refuel the generator and was overcome by the odorless and colorless poisonous gas. Another fatality occurred from carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a gasoline powered generator. The victim was an 86 year old man from Barbour County.

As the storm began, a state of emergency was declared by Governor Tomblin. A federal emergency declaration was also declared during the onset of the storm. This allowed for direct federal assistance, such as shipments of water, food, and large generators. On the order of 30 to 35 shelters were set up to house residents without power and heat. Yet, the peak occupancy was only around 225 residents. A maximum of around 600 members of the WV National Guard were used to check on the wellness of the citizens, deliver supplies, and assist in the storm clean-up. Eventually, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for several counties. For more details on this proclamation see FEMA DR 4093.

With the mountain snow pack containing 2 to 6 inches of water, flooding was a concern during the recovery. However, mild temperatures during the afternoons combined with freezing temperatures at night, to melt the snow gradually at first. Warmer temperatures during the second week of November melted most of the remaining snow pack. Strong rises occurred on the headwater rivers. Fortunately, there was no flooding. Yet, after a hot summer, the ground water was recharged. Heading into the winter months, this episode left the ground and top soil moist.