Extreme Cold and Cold in West Virginia, February 14 to 16, 2015

Name: Extreme Cold and Cold in West Virginia, February 14 to 16, 2015
Start: 2015-02-14T13:00
End: 2015-02-16T06:00
Location: West Virginia

February 14 to 16, 2015 · NWS RLX · 43 events in 34 counties and zones

Another arctic front swept through during the afternoon of the 14th. Temperatures dropped from the upper 20s and 30s into the teens in a few hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 31 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 43

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.

Another arctic front swept through during the afternoon of the 14th. Temperatures dropped from the upper 20s and 30s into the teens in a few hours. In the wake of the front, wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph were common well into the night. Some power outages occurred.

A burst of snow occurred along the front. Accumulations were mostly 2 inches or less. However, the snow showers were a bit more persistent across the central mountain counties on south into the Wyoming and McDowell Counties of the southern coal fields. Here accumulations of 3 to 4 inches were common. A few spots in the central mountains, around Richwood and Snowshoe had 6 inches of snow accumulation in 12 to 18 hours.

By dawn on the 15th, temperatures dropped into the single digits in the lowlands with a few readings just below zero in the north central counties. In the mountain counties, the coldest temperature around dawn on the 15th was 15 below zero at Snowshoe. Bartow observed minus 7.

Early on the 15th, wind chill readings of minus 10 to minus 15 were common, but dropped into the minus 20 to minus 30 range over the mountain counties. Despite sunshine on the 15th, temperatures over the central mountains remained on either side of zero degrees, based on elevation. The clear sky and light winds during the evening of the 15th allowed temperatures to drop below zero in many valley locations over some northern counties. Before clouds started to increase during the predawn of the 16th, Elkins dropped to 12 below zero, Frost was minus 5, Clarksburg airport was minus 4, Rock Cave was minus 3 and West Union was 2 below zero.

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 Feb 14, 11:19 AM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 14, 11:19 AM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 14, 11:03 AM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

WVZ031-032-035-036-040-151615-
HARRISON-TAYLOR-RALEIGH-FAYETTE-BARBOUR-
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY...
...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST
SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.
   WIND CHILL WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

   WIND CHILL WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

WVZ037>039-046-047-151615-
NICHOLAS-WEBSTER-UPSHUR-POCAHONTAS-RANDOLPH-
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EST SUNDAY...
...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST
SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA AND
NORTHERN 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.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.
   WIND CHILL WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

   WIND CHILL WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

WVZ027-028-030-034-151615-
CLAY-BRAXTON-LEWIS-WYOMING-
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST
SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.
   WIND CHILL ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

   WIND CHILL ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

KYZ101>103-105-OHZ075-083>087-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>010-013>019-024>026-
029-033-151615-
GREENUP-CARTER-BOYD-LAWRENCE KY-ATHENS-JACKSON OH-VINTON-MEIGS-
GALLIA-LAWRENCE OH-DICKENSON-BUCHANAN-WAYNE-CABELL-MASON-JACKSON WV-
WOOD-PLEASANTS-LINCOLN-PUTNAM-KANAWHA-ROANE-WIRT-CALHOUN-RITCHIE-
MINGO-LOGAN-BOONE-GILMER-MCDOWELL-
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST
SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY...SOUTHEAST OHIO...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA 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.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   WIND CHILL ADVISORY.

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT. SHOULD STRONGER WIND GUSTS BECOME MORE LIKELY...A WIND
ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

   WIND CHILL ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OHZ066-067-076-WVZ011-020-151615-
PERRY-MORGAN-WASHINGTON-TYLER-DODDRIDGE-
1103 AM EST SAT FEB 14 2015

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST
SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHERN
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.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   WIND CHILL WARNING.

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT. SHOULD STRONGER WIND GUSTS BECOME MORE LIKELY...A WIND
ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

   WIND CHILL WARNING.

.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

28 cold/wind chill, 9 winter weather, 6 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Fayette

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Winter Weather, McDowell

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: McDowell forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.379, -81.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Nicholas

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Winter Weather, Pocahontas

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Raleigh

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Winter Weather, Randolph

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Weather, Upshur

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Upshur forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.898, -80.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Webster

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Winter Weather, Wyoming

When: February 14, 1:00 PM EST to February 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.610, -81.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Randolph

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Webster

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pocahontas

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Nicholas

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Nicholas forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Fayette

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Raleigh

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Raleigh forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Cold/Wind Chill, Barbour

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Barbour forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.133, -80.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Boone

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.023, -81.711 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Braxton

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Braxton forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.700, -80.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cabell

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Cabell forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.420, -82.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Calhoun

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.845, -81.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Clay

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.463, -81.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Doddridge

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Doddridge forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.269, -80.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Gilmer

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Gilmer forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.924, -80.857 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Harrison

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.284, -80.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Jackson

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.835, -81.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kanawha

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Kanawha forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 38.337, -81.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Lewis

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Lewis forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.996, -80.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Lincoln

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.175, -82.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Logan

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 37.832, -81.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mason

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Mason forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.770, -82.026 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, McDowell

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: McDowell forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 37.379, -81.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mingo

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Mingo forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 37.726, -82.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pleasants

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Pleasants forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.371, -81.161 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Putnam

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.509, -81.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ritchie

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Ritchie forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.178, -81.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Roane

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Roane forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.714, -81.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Taylor

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.336, -80.046 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Tyler

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Tyler forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.465, -80.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wayne

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.146, -82.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wirt

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wirt forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.022, -81.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wood

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wood forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.211, -81.515 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wyoming

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 15, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 37.610, -81.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Upshur

When: February 14, 10:00 PM EST to February 16, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Upshur forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.898, -80.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.
Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, February 2015

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 552078, 552079, 552080, 552081, 552082, 552083, 552084, 552085, 552086, 552087, 552088, 552089, 552090, 552091, 552092, 552093, 552094, 552095, 552096, 552097, 552098, 552099, 552100, 552101, 552102, 552103, 552104, 552105, 552106, 552107, 552108, 552109, 552110, 552111, 552112, 552113, 552114, 552115, 552116, 552117, and more.