An upper-level shortwave trough combined with a hot and humid lower atmosphere to kick off showers and storms across the middle Ohio River Valley on the 1st and 2nd. The stronger storms led to isolated high water and wind damage.
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.
An upper-level shortwave trough combined with a hot and humid lower atmosphere to kick off showers and storms across the middle Ohio River Valley on the 1st and 2nd. The stronger storms led to isolated high water and wind damage.
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 Sep 1, 1:12 PM EST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 212 PM EDT Sat Sep 1 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Showers/thunderstorms will be possible across the region on Labor Day Weekend with the higher elevations having the greatest chance of receiving storms each day. Temperatures will be well above normal for September and heat index values may reach near 100 by next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 940 AM Saturday... Fog that developed overnight has dissipated leaving the region with mostly sunny skies. However, satellite imagery shows a large area of clouds was pushing east into the area. Radar mosaic continues to show showers and thunderstorms were moving east across portions of Ohio and Kentucky. Have made tweaks to sky, temps and POPS to reflect the latest trends and guidance. Previous Discussion... The previous forecast remains on track. Fog has been limited to the far northern and eastern portions of West Virginia as cloud cover elsewhere has inhibited widespread development. Any fog will quickly mix out after sunrise. Warm, humid conditions are expected over labor day weekend. Showers/Tstorms will develop in the afternoon hours as diurnal heating destabilizes the atmosphere. A weak shortwave rotating around the NW periphery of the Atlantic High may help initiate some convection today. Otherwise, most activity will be confined to the higher elevations where insolation combined with this warm, moist boundary layer will more than suffice for tstorm development. Forecast soundings are rather unimpressive for organized or severe convection. Winds will be mostly light and uniform through the profile. Lapse rates are modest at best. Still, lapse rates will climb to near or in excess of 1500 J/kg during peak heating. Not much in terms of capping... so will likely see a decent CU field with some showers or weak thunderstorms. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY/... Convection will diminish after sunset Saturday with the loss of heating. Broken or perhaps overcast skies will likely prevent widespread fog formation... but like this morning, valley fog will still be possible in the most susceptible areas. Sunday will be similar but with a few less storms as high pressure builds into the region. Temperatures will remain well above seasonal both days. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... The hot, humid conditions will continue through the long term period. Models are in good agreement that a H5 595+ dm high pressure becomes nearly centered over the region through late next week or just east, allowing for persistent southerly flow in the low levels. This will keep the stream of very warm, moist air in place. Without much in the way of upper level forcing, convection will be mostly confined to the Allegheny Front / other high elevations during peak heating. Temperatures will be much above normal over the next 7 days. Heat index values may very well reach near or above 100 outside of the high elevations. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Scattered showers and thunderstorms with IFR conditions have developed across the region. Outside of the precipitation, VFR conditions prevailed. Expect the storms will continue into the evening hours with storms dissipating after sunset. With light winds and few clouds, dense fog will likely develop after midnight in the favored valley locations as well as locations that receive rainfall today. Any dense fog that develops overnight should dissipate after sunrise on Sunday with VFR conditions expected region-wide. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MODERATE ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: The coverage and intensity of the fog may 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. AFTER 18Z SUNDAY... May have brief IFR in thunderstorms Sunday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...Flash Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for WVZ522>526. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...JSH NEAR TERM...JSH SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM...99 AVIATION...JSH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 116 PM EDT Sat Sep 1 2018 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>019-024>026- 021730- 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-Mingo-Logan-Boone- 116 PM EDT Sat Sep 1 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...This Afternoon and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Heat indices in the mid to upper 90s are expected Monday and Tuesday afternoon for portions of southeast Ohio, northeast Kentucky, and the lowlands of West Virginia. .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-WVZ020-027>034-039-040-515>521-021730- Dickenson-Buchanan-Doddridge-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison- Taylor-McDowell-Wyoming-Upshur-Barbour-Northwest Raleigh- Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette- Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster- 116 PM EDT Sat Sep 1 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...This Afternoon and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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. WVZ522>526-021730- Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas- Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 116 PM EDT Sat Sep 1 2018 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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 Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1258 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018 KYZ105-011730- Lawrence- 1258 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY... At 1258 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Charley, or near Blaine, moving northeast at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and torrential downpours are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Gallup. 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. LAT...LON 3797 8280 3805 8283 3814 8264 3798 8257 TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 243DEG 8KT 3802 8276 KISTNER
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
138 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018
WVZ005-013-011815-
Lincoln-Wayne-
138 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL LINCOLN AND EAST
CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTIES...
At 138 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near East Lynn Lake,
or near Wayne, moving east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Ranger, Kiahsville, East Lynn Lake, Harts, East Lynn, Genoa and
Branchland.
LAT...LON 3815 8248 3824 8229 3823 8226 3825 8226
3827 8222 3807 8214 3808 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 254DEG 27KT 3812 8244
KistnerSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 220 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018 WVZ015-011900- Kanawha- 220 PM EDT SAT SEP 1 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL KANAWHA COUNTY... At 220 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Charleston, moving east at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Charleston, Pinch, Elkview and Coal Fork. 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. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3832 8165 3839 8166 3849 8145 3833 8143 TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 253DEG 7KT 3838 8159 KISTNER
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 11 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:46 UTC.
1 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Part of I-64 east bound was closed just before the Oakwood Road exit due to high water. A portion of Barlow Drive was undermined by water flowing off the hill near Yeager Airport.
A large pine tree was snapped at the base, and fell on a vehicle.
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, September 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: 776226, 776227.