A surface cold front and upper-level low pressure system brought showers and thunderstorms to central West Virginia on the morning of the 12th. The strongest storms resulted in isolated wind damage and flash flooding.
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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 surface cold front and upper-level low pressure system brought showers and thunderstorms to central West Virginia on the morning of the 12th. The strongest storms resulted in isolated wind damage and flash flooding.
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 12, 5:25 AM EST, 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 625 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A deep closed low pressure system moves nearly overhead today and Monday before slowly shifting east later in the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 559 AM Sunday... Have expanded 20 POPs westward by a row of counties for early this morning, owing to convection that has developed just a little farther west than previously expected. As of 327 AM Sunday... Weak boundary layer wind profile and high near surface moisture are resulting in another morning of dense fog across area valleys. Much like Saturday morning, the fog this morning should mix out within a couple of hours after sunrise. A weak surface boundary, currently drifting southeast across the northern and western portions of the CWA, will continue to slowly push across the region today. Aloft, a strong closed mid/upper level low will dig into the region throughout the Near Term period. Combination of these features should result in another day of shower and thunderstorm chances. However, the best chances of convection today will primarily be across the higher terrain of SE/E WV as this area will have the greatest moisture depth and best upper level dynamical forcing. Localized heavy rainfall may lead to isolated flooding impacts this afternoon across this area, but widespread flooding is not expected at this time. Have leaned towards a blend of the 00z ARW and Time- Lagged NAM Nest for today's convective forecast. Elsewhere across the CWA, only an isolated shower or thunderstorm is expected today with increasing drier NW flow aloft generally negating precip chances. Highs will generally be int he 80s with slightly less humid feeling conditions in the afternoon. Drier air through the entire atmospheric column is prog to occur tonight, which should result in minimal to nil precip chances overnight and cooler min temps. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 215 AM Sunday... Upper low finally shifts east of the area by Tuesday. As such, the greatest chances for mainly afternoon showers/storms should be over the mountains. Having said that some of the hi res models are showing an area of development sliding southeast on along the back side of the upper low, traversing through our KY counties and into southern WV. Isolated shower/storm threat Tuesday, again mainly over the mountains, followed by a dry Wednesday as s/w ridging works through. This is short lived as another s/w trof quickly approaches from the west Wednesday night, with precip chances increasing toward morning across southeast OH. Temperatures will remain seasonable throughout. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 215 AM Sunday... S/W trof progresses through the area Thursday with a good chance of showers and storms. This moves east of the area early Friday, though cannot rule out some afternoon convection across the mountains. Yet another disturbance will be knocking on our doorstep Saturday. && .AVIATION /10Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 620 AM Sunday... LIFR/VLIFR is prevailing at most aerodromes as of writing, as dense fog has developed overnight. Fog should mix out by approx 14z with a return to VFR expected by mid morning and then continuing through the remainder of the day. Isolated convection has also developed this morning as a weak surface front drifts into the area, combined with an upper level disturbance. This morning convection may approach KCRW and KEKN by mid morning, but will omit from TAFs until certainty in coverage increases. Have, however, included VCTS for this afternoon for KEKN/KBKW as chances of precip will be better at that time. Another round of fog possible late tonight. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Convection may increase in coverage more than expected today. 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 M M M L M H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY M M M M M H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY M M M H M M H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY M M M L L M H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY M M M L L H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY M M M L L H H H H H H H AFTER 12Z MONDAY... IFR possible in area thunderstorms throughout the week. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...RQH/30 NEAR TERM...RQH SHORT TERM...30 LONG TERM...30 AVIATION...RQH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 427 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>031- 130830- 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- 427 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 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. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will exist again today, primarily during the afternoon and evening hours. Some of the thunderstorms could produce locally heavy rainfall and localized flooding issues. Widespread flooding, however, is not currently expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports. VAZ003-004-WVZ032>034-039-040-515>526-130830- Dickenson-Buchanan-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- 427 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, and portions of central West Virginia, northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southeast West Virginia and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Chances of showers and thunderstorms will exist again today, primarily during the afternoon and evening hours. Some of the thunderstorms could produce locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding impacts. Widespread flooding, however, is not currently expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 640 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 WVZ016-018-121115- Calhoun-Roane- 640 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN AND SOUTHEASTERN ROANE COUNTIES... At 640 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Amma, or 11 miles southeast of Spencer, moving east at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Left Hand, Tariff and Looneyville. This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 28 and 33. 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 3867 8104 3853 8118 3864 8133 3870 8126 TIME...MOT...LOC 1040Z 288DEG 12KT 3866 8126 30
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
711 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
WVZ016-018-027-028-121145-
Calhoun-Clay-Roane-Braxton-
711 AM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN...
SOUTHWESTERN BRAXTON...SOUTHEASTERN ROANE AND NORTHEASTERN CLAY
COUNTIES...
At 709 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Wallback, or 12
miles north of Clay, moving east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Big Otter, Nebo, Frametown, Strange Creek, Wilsie, Tariff, Servia,
Nicut and Chloe.
This includes Interstate 79 between mile markers 35 and 54.
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.
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 3852 8085 3852 8086 3860 8122 3872 8118
3873 8099 3872 8099 3873 8096 3874 8083
3854 8081
TIME...MOT...LOC 1109Z 270DEG 18KT 3864 8114
HARTThe Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:25 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Twenty homeowners lost power due to a tree falling on power lines near the town of Elana.
Heavy rain created high water issues in the area, including 242 Edgle Fork Road near Clover and in Graux where vehicles were submerged with water to the top of their wheels.
A combination of flooding and strong winds associated with a passing thunderstorm caused multiple trees and a power line to fall down on Otto Road near Graux.
Several trees fell down along Dry Branch Road due to strong winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 2018
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: 774294, 774291, 774296, 774297.