Strong moisture advection ahead of a southern stream low pressure system brought a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rainfall across the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians. The rainfall started during the evening of the 11th, and continued through most of the day on the 12th before changing to snow late in the day.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Strong moisture advection ahead of a southern stream low pressure system brought a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rainfall across the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians. The rainfall started during the evening of the 11th, and continued through most of the day on the 12th before changing to snow late in the day. Generally 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain fell. Most of this rain immediately turned to runoff due to a combination of frozen and saturated soil. This caused some creeks and streams to flood.
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 Jan 12, 4:37 AM EST, 8 minutes earlier.
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</html>Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
255 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018
OHZ075-076-085-WVZ009-010-120945-
Washington-Athens-Meigs-Wood-Pleasants-
255 AM EST FRI JAN 12 2018
...A BAND OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MEIGS...WASHINGTON...
SOUTHEASTERN ATHENS...WESTERN PLEASANTS AND WOOD COUNTIES...
At 246 AM EST, Showers were located over Southeast Ohio and extreme
Western West Virginia. Some streams that are seeing strong rises are
Duck Creek and Muskingum River in Washington County Ohio. Other
small streams that flow into the Ohio River are seeing strong rises
as well. The showers are moving slowly northward.
Locations impacted include...
Parkersburg, Marietta, Belpre, St. Marys, Beverly, Coolville, Vienna,
Williamstown, Belmont, Washington, Tuppers Plains, Lubeck, Boaz,
Mineralwells, Newport, Matamoras, North Hills, Lowell, Macksburg and
Lower Salem.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
Interstate 77 in West Virginia between mile markers 170 and 186.
Interstate 77 in Ohio between mile markers 1 and 17.
Route 50 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 24.
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with these showers, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
A Flood Watch remains in effect. Heavy downpours could cause rapid
rises in water. If rising water is observed, move to higher ground.
Do not drive into areas covered by water.
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 3963 8145 3963 8142 3960 8139 3959 8135
3959 8128 3961 8127 3958 8125 3957 8104
3954 8104 3944 8115 3925 8127 3907 8191
3939 8187 3940 8185 3949 8182 3948 8171
3959 8171 3958 8148 3964 8147 3965 8145
TIME...MOT...LOC 0746Z 319DEG 2KT 3946 8158
21The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Bond Creek rose out of its banks, flooding sections of County Routes 1, 6, 6/3, and 6/5.
Numerous roads were flooded across northern Wood County. Worthington Creek came out of its banks east of Parkersburg closing the intersection of Core Road and 36th Street. Old St. Marys Pike was also closed due to flooding on Worthington Creek. Water from Carpenter Run closed portions of Waverly Road near Waverly.
About 6 miles northeast of Parkersburg, a vehicle became stranded on Laurel Creek Road while trying to drive through high water from Laurel Creek. The SUV was washed into the creek before first responders arrived. There were two people in the vehicle, a father and daughter. Neither of them were able to escape the flood waters. Their bodies were found many hours later, after the water levels receded.
Many creeks and streams across Tyler County flooded, resulting in numerous road closures. This included flooding along Elk Fork, which closed portions of County Route 11. County Routes 6 and 7 were closed due to high water on Rush Fork and Sugar Creek. Point Pleasant Creek flooded, closing portions of State Route 180. Other small tributaries of Middle Island Creek also flooded, closing portions of County Routes 13, 14 and 16, along with State Routes 18, and 24.
The Middle Fork of the Tygart River flooded near Ellamore, closing a section of County Route 28. The river gauge at Ellamore showed the river rose just above its bankfull level of 13 feet during the predawn hours of the 13th.
The Tygart Valley River at Mill Creek came out of its banks, causing minor flooding on County Route 39. The river gauge at Mill Creek indicated the river spilled from its banks around 4 AM on the 13th, crested about half a foot above its bankfull level of 11 feet during the predawn hours, and returned to within its banks by late morning.
The Little Kanawha River reached minor flood stage for several hours. The river gauge at Glenville indicated the river just surpassed the minor flood stage level of 23 feet, causing water to cover some streets right along the river in downtown Glenville.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Wood | 2018-01-12 | 18 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flood, Wood | 2018-01-12 | 56 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 727231, 727233, 727232, 727235, 727234, 727236.