Heavy Rain, Wood
- When
- August 17, 6:30 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Wood County, 1.47 mi NNW of Lubeck
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 39.251, -81.636
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Heavy Rain in West Virginia, August 17, 2017
In the moist and unstable air ahead of a cold front, showers and thunderstorms developed across the middle Ohio River Valley on the afternoon of the 17th. The storms were not overly strong, however they did contain brief downpours.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
In the moist and unstable air ahead of a cold front, showers and thunderstorms developed across the middle Ohio River Valley on the afternoon of the 17th. The storms were not overly strong, however they did contain brief downpours. While no flooding occurred, a young girl was playing in a ditch flowing with runoff following one of the downpours. Other children in the area said the girl slipped in the swiftly running water and became stuck inside a culvert running under the road. First responders were unable to rescue her in time.
Nearby, the The Parkersburg Airport automated weather system received 0.16 inches of rain, there was a personal weather station closer to the incident that received 0.72 as the storm passed.
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 17, 4:42 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 4:42 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 542 PM EDT Thu Aug 17 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Cold front tonight into Friday. High pressure builds for dry weather through Tuesday. Another cold front by mid week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 10 PM THIS EVENING/... As of 540 PM Thursday... Line of thunderstorms is moving into western portions of the area faster than models indicated. Have updated the forcast for early this evening to reflect this faster timing. As of 225 PM Thursday... QLCS across Eastern Ohio associated with a prefrontal trough will push into the Ohio Valley later this evening. Well out ahead of this line we are currently seeing isolated to scattered showers and storms across our area. Despite moist and unstable low level profiles, drier air in the mid level has kept these cells in check, and the severe threat with these cells is extremely low, however they do contain brief downpours. Any severe storm threat will be associated with the main convective line later this evening, but this threat is still quite low, with our Northern Ohio Counties most at risk. Here, 0-6km bulk shear will be strongest at about 30 to 35 knots and although instability will drops off by the time it arrives later this evening, there may still be enough there to produce borderline severe storms. Also, with the high PWATs, torrential rainfall will be possible into the overnight hours. The actual cold front will not pass the area until later tomorrow afternoon and some weak showers and storms are possible. Behind the front drier air moves in with high pressure. && .SHORT TERM /10 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 300 PM Thursday... A cold front will continue its track east of the mountains Friday night. Some chances for showers or isolated storms could remain shortly behind the front so kept Chance Pop across WV except likely over elevations higher than 3000 feet. The cold front will be located far southwest of the area allowing for dry conditions Saturday through and Monday. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 300 PM Thursday... High pressure continues Monday through Wednesday night producing widespread clear and dry weather. However, moisture will increase Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the next approaching cold front. The cold front brings better chances for showers and thunderstorms as it crosses Wednesday into Thursday. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 540 PM Thursday... Bands of showers and thunderstorms will move across the region overnight into Friday. A cold front will then push through on Friday, with precipitation ending behind the front. Brief IFR will be possible with the showers and thunderstorms, and along the cold front. Conditions will become VFR behind the cold front on Friday. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of showers and thunderstorms could vary. Some fog can not be ruled out in the mountain valleys overnight. 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 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 EDT 1HRLY 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H L L HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M L BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H L L EKN CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H M M L L PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M M M M L L CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H L L AFTER 00Z SATURDAY... Dense river valley fog possible each morning. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...ARJ/MPK NEAR TERM...RPY/MPK SHORT TERM...ARJ LONG TERM...ARJ AVIATION...MPK
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 3:10 AM EST, 15 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 410 AM EDT Thu Aug 17 2017 KYZ101>103-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-180815- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton- Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH- 410 AM EDT Thu Aug 17 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Kentucky and southeast Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Several rounds of showers and storms are expected today and tonight. Pockets of heavy rainfall are possible, and could lead to isolated water issues. The strongest storms may also contain gusty outflow winds capable of bringing down weak trees. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. 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. KYZ105-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>034-039-040-515>526-180815- 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-Upshur-Barbour-Northwest Raleigh- Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette- Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster- Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas- Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 410 AM EDT Thu Aug 17 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia and much of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Several rounds of showers and storms are expected today and tonight. Pockets of heavy rainfall are possible, and could lead to isolated water issues. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. 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.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:18 PM EST, 5 hours 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
218 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
WVZ020-029-030-171845-
Doddridge-Lewis-Gilmer-
218 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL DODDRIDGE...
NORTHEASTERN GILMER AND NORTHWESTERN LEWIS COUNTIES...
At 218 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Glenville,
moving northeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Glenville, Sand Fork, Alum Bridge, Baldwin, Coxs Mills, Linn, Stouts
Mills, Sand Run, Leopold and Troy.
This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 83 and 91.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3919 8069 3893 8048 3890 8060 3890 8062
3889 8067 3888 8069 3885 8083 3900 8095
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 233DEG 23KT 3899 8082
09Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:18 PM EST, 4 hours 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
318 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
OHZ076-WVZ010-011-171945-
Washington-Pleasants-Tyler-
318 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON...
NORTHERN PLEASANTS AND WEST CENTRAL TYLER COUNTIES...
At 318 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Belmont, or
near St. Marys, moving east at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
St. Marys, Belmont, Newport, Matamoras, Friendly, Arvilla, Point
Lookout, New Matamoras and Willow Island.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3940 8097 3935 8133 3945 8141 3958 8116
3958 8108
TIME...MOT...LOC 1918Z 248DEG 24KT 3943 8128
09Special weather statement, Aug 17, 4:22 PM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
522 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
OHZ066-067-172200-
Morgan-Perry-
522 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT PERRY AND NORTHWESTERN
MORGAN COUNTIES...
At 520 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Baltimore to near Hide-A-Way Hills.
Movement was east northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts to 40 mph are possible with these storms.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
Locations impacted include...
New Lexington, Somerset, Perry State Forest, Crooksville and Junction
City.
LAT...LON 3991 8217 3982 8217 3982 8208 3977 8208
3977 8199 3971 8197 3960 8237 3961 8238
3974 8236 3974 8241 3983 8240 3984 8247
3991 8221
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 261DEG 40KT 3979 8261 3959 8249
30Special weather statement, Aug 17, 5:21 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
621 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
OHZ067-172230-
Morgan-
621 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MORGAN COUNTY...
At 621 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles west of
Caldwell, moving east at 45 mph.
Wind gusts 40 to 45 are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bristol and Hackney.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3976 8165 3975 8164 3967 8164 3966 8159
3962 8159 3961 8180 3976 8180
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 261DEG 39KT 3972 8168
30Special weather statement, Aug 17, 6:13 PM EST, 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
713 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
OHZ075-076-085-WVZ009-010-017-019-180000-
Washington-Athens-Meigs-Ritchie-Wirt-Wood-Pleasants-
713 PM EDT THU AUG 17 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MEIGS...
SOUTHERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN ATHENS...SOUTHWESTERN PLEASANTS...
WEST CENTRAL RITCHIE...NORTH CENTRAL WIRT AND WOOD COUNTIES...
At 712 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from 9 miles northwest of Vienna to near
Washington to Tuppers Plains. Movement was east at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
Locations impacted include...
Parkersburg, Marietta, Belpre, Coolville, Vienna, Williamstown,
Belmont, Washington, Mineralwells, Tuppers Plains, Lubeck, Boaz,
Newport, North Hills, Little Hocking, Schultz, Fleming, Davisville,
Willow Island and Belleville.
LAT...LON 3944 8121 3931 8124 3910 8130 3913 8189
3926 8175 3941 8173
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 275DEG 28KT 3939 8169 3927 8171 3915 8186
30The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rain, Wood | 2017-08-17 | 11 | Female | In Water | Direct |
What these are
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heat in Nevada, August 17 to 21, 2017
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 17, 2017
- Tornado in Michigan, August 17, 2017
- Damaging Winds in New York, August 17, 2017
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Puerto Rico, August 17, 2017
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, August 17, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, August 17, 2017
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in North Carolina, August 17, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, August 17, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, August 17 to 18, 2017
- Damaging Winds in Texas, August 17, 2017
- Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 17, 2017
More
Every storm in West Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 2017
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: 708190.