A cold front in conjunction with an upper-level shortwave trough kicked off showers and thunderstorms on the 7th. One of these storms produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Braxton County.
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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 cold front in conjunction with an upper-level shortwave trough kicked off showers and thunderstorms on the 7th. One of these storms produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Braxton County. Another storm caused minor wind damage in Putnam County.
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 7, 12:21 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV 121 PM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 .SYNOPSIS... More widespread showers and storms ahead of a cold front, which will bring rounds of heavy rainfall through at least mid week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 1210 PM Tuesday... Overall, no significant changes to the previous near term forecast. Outflow boundary from earlier convection has moved south across the CWA this morning, and is along mountain zones. Convection is starting to break out already this afternoon, particularly along this boundary. Near term models continuing to indicate more organized convection breaking out this afternoon across southwest Ohio, and moving into our area by late this afternoon/early evening. Overall, severe threat is low with weak shear, but with plenty of instability, cannot rule out a storm becoming tall enough for a wind threat. Bulk of convection should generally decrease in coverage late tonight, but Wednesday looks to be another day with scattered showers and thunderstorms, as additional waves move through the region. Strengthening flow aloft on Wednesday could result in a severe threat, more so than today. Storms both days will contain brief heavy downpours, and could create localized flash flooding issues. With flash flood guidance averaging around 2 inches or greater in a 3 hour period, and with expected flow on Wednesday, do not anticipate a watch at this point. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 335 AM Tuesday... Troughing dominates the upper levels during the short term with a generally unstable atmosphere. On Wednesday, PoPs ramp up with afternoon heating ahead of a cold front. The front is supported by a mid- level vort max/short wave advecting through the mean trough aloft spurring cyclogenesis at the surface in the Ohio Valley. This wave provides the primary focal point for heavy rain and isolated severe wind gusts during the period. 0-6km bulk shear 25-35 kts coinciding with moderate instability along/ahead of the front supports the threat for a line or lines of storms containing isolated damaging wind gusts. PWAT increases to 1.7-1.9" as moisture converges along/ahead of the front, so storms will have moderate to heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding. Although better dynamics/movement upstairs does help move storms through quickly, soil moisture will be high given today/tonight's rains, so it won't take much to cause water-related headaches. Thus, WPC has opted to include portions of the area in a slight risk for excessive rainfall for Day 2, as collaborated upon. Dry air at 500mb and above works in Wednesday evening behind the upper-level trough axis, decreasing convective/heavy rain threat through the night. Low-level moisture does remain, though, so with NW upslope flow and additional ripples of energy moving through the mean trough, showers and storms are again possible Thursday from the West Virginia mountains across to the Tug Fork Valley. Weak high pressure tries to build up the Ohio Valley Thursday night, clearing out this region, though dew points will remain high - yielding another sticky morning. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 400 AM Tuesday... Troughing returns, persists this weekend with unsettled weather across the region. A digging trough over the Great Lakes at the end of the week remains evident in all major long-range guidance this morning. Beyond then, however, the upper- level pattern grows uncertain with the increasing probability that this low will become closed and nearly-stationary over the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley through the weekend. With this pattern, expect showery conditions with afternoon/evening thunderstorms. && .AVIATION /17Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 120 PM Tuesday... Showers and thunderstorms are ramping back up in coverage again. Expect brief IFR/LIFR conditions in storms, along with strong/gusty winds. Bulk of convection will decrease in coverage after 06Z, but will ramp back up again particularly after 12Z. As with previous forecast, only included MVFR fog at sheltered valleys tonight. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of showers and storms today will vary and amendments are likely. More widespread fog could form tonight than currently forecast. 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 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 EDT 1HRLY 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H M H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY M M H H M M H M H H M L PKB CONSISTENCY M M M H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY M M M M M H H H H H H H AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY... IFR possible in showers and storms Wednesday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...ARJ/SL NEAR TERM...SL SHORT TERM...MC LONG TERM...MC AVIATION...SL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 432 AM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-027>032- 039-040-519-521-522-525-526-080845- 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-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor- Upshur-Barbour-Northwest Nicholas-Northwest Webster- Southeast Webster-Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 432 AM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio and much of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Showers and thunderstorms today into tonight will contain heavy rainfall and could lead to isolated flash flooding. The stronger storms this afternoon and evening may also produce strong wind gusts capable of bringing down trees and power lines. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday will contain heavy rainfall and could lead to isolated flash flooding. The stronger storms may also produce strong wind gusts capable of bringing down trees and power lines. .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-WVZ024>026-033-034-515>518-520-523-524-080845- Dickenson-Buchanan-Mingo-Logan-Boone-McDowell-Wyoming- Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette- Southeast Fayette-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Pocahontas- Southeast Pocahontas- 432 AM EDT Tue Aug 7 2018 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. Showers and thunderstorms today into tonight will contain heavy rainfall and could lead to isolated flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday will contain heavy rainfall and could lead to isolated flash flooding. The stronger storms may also produce strong wind gusts capable of bringing down trees and power lines. .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
109 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
WVZ030>032-039-040-071800-
Barbour-Harrison-Taylor-Upshur-Lewis-
109 PM EDT TUE AUG 7 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN TAYLOR...NORTHEASTERN
LEWIS...NORTHERN UPSHUR...WESTERN BARBOUR AND HARRISON COUNTIES...
At 109 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Nutter Fort, or
over Clarksburg, moving east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Clarksburg, Buckhannon, Weston, Philippi, Audra State Park,
Bridgeport, Shinnston, Stonewood, Nutter Fort, Anmoore, Jackson Mill,
Stonewall Jackson, West Milford, Lost Creek, Jane Lew, Flemington,
Valley Falls, Wolf Summit, Meadland and McGee.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
Interstate 79 between mile markers 91 and 129.
Route 50 in West Virginia between mile markers 71 and 82.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3939 8009 3939 8007 3897 8004 3896 8059
3933 8046 3940 8022 3939 8019 3940 8012
3941 8011
TIME...MOT...LOC 1709Z 273DEG 18KT 3925 8034
08The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:44 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A small lightweight metal building was blown over a fence and lawn furniture was knocked around. A large rotted tree and a limb of a Bradford pear tree were blown down.
Route 4 was closed in multiple locations due to high water and mudslides. This included the Route 4 interchange with I-79 in Gassaway and also in several spots in Sutton. Other small roads in Gassaway were also closed due to flooding.
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: 765331, 765325.