A prolonged period of rain fell on the 31st as a low pressure system moved through the Ohio River Valley. Generally around an inch of rain fell.
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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.
A prolonged period of rain fell on the 31st as a low pressure system moved through the Ohio River Valley. Generally around an inch of rain fell. This did not produce any flooding, but swift flow was observed on local creeks and streams.
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 Mar 31, 3:51 AM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 451 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 .SYNOPSIS... One cold front moves across this afternoon, followed by another tonight. High pressure builds in Saturday into Sunday. Monday/Tuesday system. Wednesday night/Thursday system. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 305 AM Friday... Models agree on closed upper low edging eastward today, from the midwest to across the Ohio Valley. This pushes its surface low pressure center slowly eastward across northern portions of the area, with a southward trailing cold front, later this morning and afternoon. The best moisture inflow and dynamics will be ahead of the front. Although PW's only reach between one to possibly one and quarter inches, and instability is marginal for thunder, models are depicting widespread showers, and some north to south training is likely with the slow eastward movement of the area of precip. Decided to include just a slight chance for embedded thunder. Most hi res models target from southwest to northeast WV for an axis of 1- 2 inches of rain, while the medium range models are generally less and more uniform across the area. Given this uncertainty, have gone with a general inch or so QPF across the board per RFC/WPC guidance. Because of training and lower FFG values in some areas, however, we will have to monitor potential water problems, especially if deeper convection increases. No Watches at this time. Look for mild temps today, but in the lower 60s with all the clouds and showers. While the cold front exits the mountains late this afternoon, scattered showers will continue behind the front under the cyclonic influence of the upper low. There may be an uptick in showers tonight as a secondary cold front drives southeastward across the area behind the upper low itself. QPF from the showers tonight will be modest, with best chance for showers in mountains with aid from northwest upslope flow. Temps will cool into the 40s with the cold advection. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 245 AM Friday... Despite the cool down behind the front on the front end of the weekend, the pattern remains mild and progressive. Expecting a brief dry period, with rebounding temperatures by Sunday, ahead of the next system amid rising heights aloft. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 245 AM Friday... Next system ejects out of the southwest as a closed low aloft, opening up into a wave through the south plains, and deepening once again as it lifts northeastward into the Ohio Valley. This pushes through Monday/Monday night, and like the short term, the progressive flow brings a subsequent brief drying out period into mid week. The next system arrives Wednesday night/Thursday. && .AVIATION /09Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 08Z Friday thru 06Z Saturday... As of 145 AM Friday... One cold front moves eastward across the area later this morning and afternoon, followed by another southeastward moving cold front tonight. Ahead of the first front, look for gusty south winds 8 to 20 KTS, with VFR conditions lowering to IFR in widespread showers and a few thunderstorms beginning well ahead of the front. Conditions improve to MVFR with first frontal passage, although rain showers will continue with an isolated afternoon thunderstorm possible. Winds also turn westerly behind the front at 7 to 15 KTS. For tonight, second front drops across the area with rain showers tapering off from the west behind this front. However, look IFR ceilings to redevelop behind the front with cold advection northwest flow of 8 to 15 KTS with higher gusts mainly in the mountains. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of showers and storms through the period 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. DATE FRI 03/31/17 UTC 1HRLY 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 EDT 1HRLY 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H M M M L M M L L L HTS CONSISTENCY H H M M M M H M M M M L BKW CONSISTENCY M M L M M M M M H M H L EKN CONSISTENCY H H M H M M M L M M M L PKB CONSISTENCY M M L H L L M H H H H L CKB CONSISTENCY H H H M M M M L L M M L AFTER 06Z SATURDAY... IFR possible on Tuesday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...JMV/26 NEAR TERM...JSH/JMV SHORT TERM...26 LONG TERM...26 AVIATION...JMV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 339 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011- 013>020-024>034-039-040-515>526-010745- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-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- 339 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and portions of central West Virginia, northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southeast West Virginia, southern West Virginia and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Locally heavy rainfall is expected today. If threat for heavy rainfall increases, a flood watch may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 209 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-083>087-311215- GREENUP-CARTER-BOYD-LAWRENCE KY-PERRY-MORGAN-ATHENS-JACKSON OH- VINTON-MEIGS-GALLIA-LAWRENCE OH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF FLATWOODS, GREENUP, GRAYSON, OLIVE HILL, ASHLAND, LOUISA, NEW LEXINGTON, CROOKSVILLE, SOMERSET, MCCONNELSVILLE, STOCKPORT, ATHENS, JACKSON, WELLSTON, OAK HILL, MCARTHUR, HAMDEN, POMEROY, GALLIPOLIS, IRONTON, AND SOUTH POINT 209 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 ...Prolonged rainfall expected for the rest of the overnight... Steady rainfall, with brief heavier showers mixed in, will continue during the remainder of the overnight hours. While the intensities are otherwise light, the persistent rainfall will cause roadside ditches and culverts to fill, with ponding of water on roads in poor drainage areas. 26
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 501 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 WVZ005>009-013>017-024>026-311515- WAYNE-CABELL-MASON-JACKSON WV-WOOD-LINCOLN-PUTNAM-KANAWHA-ROANE- WIRT-MINGO-LOGAN-BOONE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF KENOVA, CEREDO, WAYNE, HUNTINGTON, POINT PLEASANT, NEW HAVEN, RAVENSWOOD, RIPLEY, PARKERSBURG, VIENNA, HARTS, ALUM CREEK, HAMLIN, TEAYS VALLEY, HURRICANE, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CHARLESTON, SAINT ALBANS, SPENCER, ELIZABETH, WILLIAMSON, LOGAN, CHAPMANVILLE, MAN, AND MADISON 501 AM EDT Fri Mar 31 2017 ...Prolonged rainfall expected through early morning... Steady rainfall, with brief heavier showers mixed in, will continue through the morning hours before becoming more scattered in nature. While the intensities are otherwise light, the persistent rainfall will cause roadside ditches and culverts to fill, with ponding of water on roads in poor drainage areas. Minor urban street flooding is also possible. 26
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A toddler was left unattended, playing along Green Creek in southern Roane County, near the community of Walton. It was believed that the young girl was swept away by the swollen creek. Rescuers found the girl a short distance downstream but were not able to resuscitate her.
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, Roane | 2017-03-31 | 2 | Female | In Water | Direct |
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, March 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: 678385.