Southerly flow pumped lots of moisture into the Central Appalachians on the 4th and 5th. This moisture, combined with an approaching wave of low pressure, caused a prolonged period of showers and thunderstorms resulting in flooding in the central mountains of West Virginia on the 5th.
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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.
Southerly flow pumped lots of moisture into the Central Appalachians on the 4th and 5th. This moisture, combined with an approaching wave of low pressure, caused a prolonged period of showers and thunderstorms resulting in flooding in the central mountains of West Virginia on the 5th. The cooperative observer in Beckley had 2.01 inches of rain on the 5th.
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 Jun 5, 5:38 AM EST, 3 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 638 AM EDT Mon Jun 5 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A low pressure system slowly drags a cold front through Monday night. Upper level low with cooler conditions and showers at times through Thursday. Another system possible next Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 235 AM Monday... Atmosphere has moistened considerably from 24 hours ago, with dew points across much of the region in the lower to mid 60s, except in the 50s across the northern mountain zones. Areas of showers and thunderstorms have developed overnight, mainly across southern zones, due to strengthening llj of 20-25 kts and approaching low pressure wave. Bulk of this activity will affect primarily the southern half of the CWA, with northern zones remaining mostly dry to start the day, until a cold front approaches later this afternoon, with activity tapering off across the south as the day progresses. In addition to the activity across the south today, an upper trough will gradually dig south into the region, driving a cold front through the area later today and tonight. Cold front will enter southeast Ohio zones by 21Z, with convection developing as it does so. Still a bit of uncertainty in how much instability will be realized, particularly if few breaks in the clouds are realized, but overall, as upper trough digs south, shear will increase across the area, with 30-40 kts 0-6km deep layer unidirectional shear developing. Some storms could contain damaging winds, and possibly hail, if able to become tall enough. Bulk of convection will die off later this evening, with cold front progged to be to the south of the CWA by the end of the forecast period. For temperatures, maintained overall theme of warmer temperatures across the north, with cooler temps south where greater shower activity and cloud cover expected to keep temperatures down. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM Monday... An upper level low lingers Tuesday through Thursday. This will provide cooler temperatures and showers at times. As is typical with an upper low, precipitation timing is difficult. Not a whole lot of QPF expected with this. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 310 PM Sunday... Friday looks dry under high pressure. Weak trough passes Friday night. High pressure builds for the rest of the weekend. Another weaker upper level low arrives Monday. Overall, fairly quiet extended period. && .AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 635 AM Monday... Areas of showers and thunderstorms, some with moderate rain and brief MVFR and IFR restrictions, will continue to affect southern WV, and southwest VA through at least 15-18Z, when gradual improvement is expected. Elsewhere, mainly VFR conditions with light surface winds, however, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage again across the north after 18Z-21Z as a cold front moves into the region. Expect brief MVFR and IFR restrictions, and the possibility of small hail and strong gusty winds in vicinity of storms. Frontal boundary will continue to sag south across the area overnight, with showers and thunderstorms gradually decreasing in coverage after 06Z. However, widespread MVFR and IFR stratus is expected to develop and linger through the remainder of the TAF period. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of precip and associated restrictions may vary. IFR stratus forecast tonight uncertain. 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 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 EDT 1HRLY 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 CRW CONSISTENCY H H L M M H H H H H M M HTS CONSISTENCY H H L L H H H H H H M M BKW CONSISTENCY L M M L L L M M M M M M EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M M PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M M CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M M AFTER 12Z TUESDAY... IFR in post rain stratus and fog possible early Tuesday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...JW/SL NEAR TERM...SL SHORT TERM...JW LONG TERM...JW AVIATION...SL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 245 AM EDT Mon Jun 5 2017 VAZ003-004-WVZ033-034-515>526-060645- Dickenson-Buchanan-McDowell-Wyoming-Northwest Raleigh- Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette- Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster- Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas- Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 245 AM EDT Mon Jun 5 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, and portions of northeast West Virginia, southeast West Virginia and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>032- 039-040-060645- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-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-Upshur-Barbour- 245 AM EDT Mon Jun 5 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and portions of central West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southern West Virginia and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds are the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1021 AM EDT MON JUN 5 2017
WVZ015-025-026-034-515>520-522-051615-
Wyoming-Southeast Nicholas-Southeast Webster-Northwest
Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Boone-Kanawha-Southeast Fayette-Northwest
Nicholas-Logan-Northwest Fayette-
1021 AM EDT MON JUN 5 2017
...AN AREA OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN NICHOLAS...SOUTHEASTERN
KANAWHA... RALEIGH...SOUTH CENTRAL WEBSTER...SOUTHEASTERN
LOGAN...NORTHWESTERN WYOMING...FAYETTE AND SOUTHEASTERN BOONE
COUNTIES...
At 1013 AM EDT, an area of showers was located over Southeast
portions of West Virginia. Up to 2 inches of rain has fallen over
most of the area and an additional 0.50 to 0.75 inches is expected.
This rain will cause small streams and creeks to become full and may
briefly come out of their banks. Minor flooding is possible,
especially in low lying and poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
Beckley, Summersville, Fayetteville, Richwood, Rainelle, Babcock
State Park, Oak Hill, Montgomery, Mount Hope, Mabscott, Ansted,
Oceana, Sophia, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow, Smithers, Gauley
Bridge, Pratt and Piney View.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 36 and 84.
Interstate 64 in West Virginia between mile markers 120 and 137.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this shower, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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.
LAT...LON 3768 8178 3825 8146 3829 8036 3823 8036
3826 8044 3808 8071 3810 8088 3806 8087
3806 8080 3804 8083 3798 8077 3795 8081
3787 8075 3787 8081 3782 8094 3777 8089
3774 8092 3770 8089 3772 8095 3770 8098
TIME...MOT...LOC 1413Z 239DEG 49KT 3821 8096
21The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Prolonged heavy rainfall led to flooding in southwestern Fayette County. This included areas near Scarbro, Kincaid and Mossy, where water ponded in yards.
Sections of County Route 1 near Dorothy, Route 3 and Harper Road near Harper and Sandlick Road near Glen Daniel were closed due to high water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, June 2017
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: 693016, 693020.