A strong cold front moved through the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians late on the 18th and early on the 19th. Ahead of the front, in unseasonably warm air, a strong low level jet resulted in gusty winds during the late morning and afternoon.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 strong cold front moved through the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians late on the 18th and early on the 19th. Ahead of the front, in unseasonably warm air, a strong low level jet resulted in gusty winds during the late morning and afternoon. Additional strong wind gusts occurred in showers along and just ahead of the cold front as it surged through overnight.
Many wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour were recorded, with a couple of 50-60 mile per hour gusts. For example, 58 mph was measured by the automated stations at Yeager Airport in Charleston and the Randolph County Airport in Elkins. Many trees were blown down, resulting in numerous power outages late on the 18th and into the 19th. In Kanawha County, one arching power line started a brush fire which burned 2-3 acres before crews could extinguish it.
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 Nov 18, 7:51 PM EST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
751 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong cold front crosses tonight. Much colder Sunday. High
pressure early next week. Cold front Tuesday night. High
pressure again late week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 750 PM Saturday...
Overall, winds gusts continue to be in the 30-40 mph range.
Did get a gust to 47mph at KW22, so opted to expand wind
advisory a bit into Barbour, Taylor and Upshur counties. Also
added the remainder of Webster and Randolph.
As of 255 PM Saturday...
A strong cold front will push through the region overnight.
Models still showing a strong low level jet near the cold front,
so still concerned with wind gusts along the front. Will need
to monitor this situation very closely, as a wind advisory may
still be needed.
Behind the cold front late tonight, models showing good lift for
a brief period. Looks like the higher elevations of the
mountains could get a quick inch or two of snow. Should see a
lull in snow during the morning hours, but as an impulse goes
through in the late afternoon hours, models showing good
moisture depth, cold air advection, and good upslope over
northeastern WV. Will increase pops accordingly.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 330 PM Saturday...
The aforementioned weak impulse will be moving into the
mountains to start the period and enhances upslope snow through
roughly 06Z Monday. Deep moisture up through around 700 MB and
favorable dendritic growth indicate a burst of snow with
additional accumulations across higher terrain on the order of
1-2 inches, of course favoring areas above roughly 2500 ft.
Beyond 06Z Monday, low level moisture is largely lost or
continues to wane as the upper level trough moves off-shore.
High pressure will build in from the southwest clearing us out
for the day Monday. High pressure shifts toward the east and
puts us under southwesterly, WAA flow bumping temperatures up
considerably on Tuesday.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 400 PM Saturday...
Upper level ridging will yield to height falls with a potential
cut-off low across the southern states. This would place the
Mid-Ohio Valley/Central Appalachia between a weak, moisture-
starved northern stream wave across the upper Great Lakes
region and a deeply amplified trough extending down through the
eastern CONUS. Warm, moist advection up through the Piedmont
and the potential for coastal cyclogenesis suggests the
potential for upslope rainshowers along the Eastern slopes. It
would be aided by the northern stream cold front.
In spite of model disagreement during the middle of the week,
there is consistent signal for another potent system and cold
front coming through during the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 630 PM Saturday...
Conditions should quickly drop into MVFR over the next several
hours as a cold front moves in from the west. Obs to our west
have only showed sporadic IFR visibilities in the heaviest rain,
so did not include any IFR for now. Cannot rule out a brief drop
in better echos. Winds will continue to be gusty out of the
southwest, turning west and then northwest after the front
passes. Could get some gusts of 30-40kts in the showers late
this evening.
Rain will change to snow in the mountainous counties late
tonight or during the day Sunday with MVFR ceilings lingering
across much of forecast rea.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of showers and associated restrictions
could vary. Brief IFR possible. Timing of the cold front 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 SUN
UTC 1HRLY 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
EST 1HRLY 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H M
HTS CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H M
BKW CONSISTENCY H H M M H H H L L L M L
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H M M M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H M H H H H H H H H H M
CKB CONSISTENCY H H M L H H H H H L H M
AFTER 00Z MONDAY...
IFR possible in upslope snow showers across mainly the northern
mountain counties into Sunday night.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Wind Advisory until noon EST Sunday for WVZ520-522>524-526.
Wind Advisory until 10 AM EST Sunday for WVZ032-039-040-521-
525.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM Sunday to 3 AM EST Monday
for WVZ522-523-526.
OH...None.
KY...Wind Advisory until 4 AM EST Sunday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Wind Advisory until 4 AM EST Sunday for VAZ003-004.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RPY/MC
NEAR TERM...RPY/MZ
SHORT TERM...TRM/MC
LONG TERM...TRM/MC
AVIATION...MZHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 KYZ101>103-105-VAZ003-004-200100- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Dickenson-Buchanan- 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. WVZ032-039-040-521-525-200100- Taylor-Upshur-Barbour-Northwest Webster-Northwest Randolph- 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central West Virginia, northeast West Virginia and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind 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 Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. WVZ522-523-526-200100- Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Randolph- 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST SUNDAY... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM SUNDAY TO 3 AM EST MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Winter Weather 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 Advisory. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. WVZ520-524-200100- Southeast Nicholas-Southeast Pocahontas- 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast West Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind 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 Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>031-033-034- 515>519-200100- 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-McDowell-Wyoming- Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette- Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas- 748 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Ohio, and portions of central West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southeast West Virginia, southern West Virginia and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Wind gusts of 35-45 mph are expected tonight as a cold front crosses. Should the potential for stronger wind gusts increase, a wind advisory may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
320 PM EST SAT NOV 18 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1150 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE ASHLAND 38.47N 82.64W
11/18/2017 BOYD KY 911 CALL CENTER
*** 2 INJ *** A TREE FELL ONTO TWO PEOPLE AND A CAR
NEAR CENTRAL PARK. THE TWO DID RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES.
KDWU WAS GUSTING TO 30MPH AT THE TIME. SEVERAL OTHER
REPORTS OF TREES/POWER LINES DOWN HAVE BEEN RECIEVED
ACROSS BOYD COUNTY TODAY PER 911 CENTER.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RLX1700669
MZSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV 704 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 KYZ101>103-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ009>011-190215- GREENUP-CARTER-BOYD-PERRY-MORGAN-ATHENS-WASHINGTON-JACKSON OH- VINTON-MEIGS-GALLIA-LAWRENCE OH-WOOD-PLEASANTS-TYLER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF FLATWOODS, GREENUP, GRAYSON, OLIVE HILL, ASHLAND, NEW LEXINGTON, CROOKSVILLE, SOMERSET, MCCONNELSVILLE, STOCKPORT, ATHENS, MARIETTA, BELPRE, JACKSON, WELLSTON, OAK HILL, MCARTHUR, HAMDEN, POMEROY, GALLIPOLIS, IRONTON, SOUTH POINT, PARKERSBURG, VIENNA, ST. MARYS, BELMONT, PADEN CITY, SISTERSVILLE, AND MIDDLEBOURNE 704 PM EST Sat Nov 18 2017 Gusty showers, with isolated lightning, will impact the middle Ohio Valley over the next couple of hours. These showers will be capable of producing wind gusts of 40 to 50 MPH with brief moderate to heavy rain. Expect small branches to break, power fluctuations, and quick ponding of water on area roads. 26
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
18 strong wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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, November 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: 722476, 722477, 722478, 722479, 722480, 722481, 722483, 722484, 722485, 722488, 722489, 722491, 722495, 722496, 722497, 722498, 722499, 722500, 722475, 722502.