A weak cold front slowly pushed through the Central Appalachians on the 7th. Showers and thunderstorms along the front contained heavy rainfall, and with their slow movement, minor flash flooding resulted.
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.
A weak cold front slowly pushed through the Central Appalachians on the 7th. Showers and thunderstorms along the front contained heavy rainfall, and with their slow movement, minor flash flooding resulted.
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 7, 1:34 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston WV Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 234 PM EDT Fri Sep 7 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A washed out/stalled front will provide showers and storms tonight. The remnants of Gordon will combine with the front for heavy rain potential over the middle Ohio valley this weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 215 PM Friday... Evening convection will diminish in intensity and coverage around sunset due to poor deep layered shear while loosing the sfc based CAPE. Skies could become mostly clear tonight as diurnal convection weakens, and diurnal cu dissipates. However, areas that receive rainfall this afternoon and evening will be prone to dense fog overnight. The alternate scenario will be the formation of a low level deck that could develop overnight. Although convection activity should decrease tonight, increasing deep layered shear could produce isolated showers or storms under a very juicy atmosphere. Low temperatures tonight will remain close to their dewpoints in the upper 60s. Models show a gradual increase in deep layered shear, ranging from around 30 knots tonight, to 45 knots on Saturday. PWATs will remain from 1.7 to 2.0 inches, through the period. Models show H850 theta-e about 340K across extreme southwest sections of WV. This will pose a limited threat for flash flooding over the southwest portions of WV tonight. Theta-e analysis indicate a tight gradient moving south to just north of our CWA later tonight, suggesting the presence of a frontal boundary. Models suggest that this boundary should remain north of the area on Saturday, keeping our area under relatively wet atmosphere. Went with the NBM guidance for temperatures through the period. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 420 AM Friday... Cold front sags southward through the area Saturday, while a weak upper level short wave trough rides eastward along it. This is likely to bring showers and thunderstorms along and near the juxtaposition of these two features, especially with the help of afternoon heating. Zonal upper level flow backs a bit on Saturday night, as the short wave trough that picks up the remnants of Gordon approaches from the west. This pulls the front back northward, as a warm front, while increasing pressure gradients, as the remnant surface low approaches. This increases the likelihood for heavy rainfall overnight Saturday night into Sunday, as low level convergence increases along the front. The threat area is mainly southeast Ohio, into northwestern WV, where the convergence is progged to be strongest, thanks to a 40 to 45 h85 feed from the southeast, which drops off to 20 to 25 kts over southeast portions of the forecast area. The warm front lifts north of most of the area by late Sunday, but the remnants of Gordon, and its associated trough and surface psuedo cold front approach the middle Ohio River. The surface and upper level troughs move into the middle Ohio valley Sunday night, as the surface low lifts northeastward toward Lake Eire. This is likely to keep a persistent heavy rain threat going for southeast Ohio through Sunday night and into early Monday morning, as the h85 feed increase to 50 kts - a 40 kt feed is progged elsewhere Sunday night. The system lifts through on Monday, bringing a southwest to northeast axis of moderate to heavy rainfall east-northeast through the area. Associated pressure gradients are progged tighter than previous runs, increasing the heavy rain threat into Monday, but models still ramp down totals Monday, compared with the Saturday night through Sunday night periods. It will remain muggy in the tropical air through Monday, but with a north to south temperature gradient into Sunday night, becoming west to east by Monday. In light to nil low level flow in the wake of the departing system Monday night, temperatures will try to fall through the dew points, and thick post rain fog and stratus will set in overnight. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 420 AM Friday... Tuesday will start with fog and stratus in the wake of the heavy rain associated with the departing tropical remnants. An inverted surface trough, daytime heating, and moist air remaining in place, spells the continual chance for mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday. Upper level ridging is progged to build back toward the area from the east around mid week, but this is then shunted by the track of Florence. However, upper level ridge building in from the west late week should all but eliminate the chance for diurnal convection from the middle Ohio Valley by Thursday, to the central Appalachians by Friday. However, the weather toward the end of the week is uncertain, given the western edge of the guidance envelope on the track of Florence. Highs climb back above normal through at least Thursday, while lows and dew points reflect the continued muggy weather, heading into mid September. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 130 PM Friday... Abundant low level moisture, as seen in dewpoint around 70 degrees, and PWATs around 1.8 inches will combine with afternoon heating and orographic effects to produce showers and thunderstorms through this evening. Visible satellite imagery shows mostly sunny skies across the lowlands of WV, this will produce heating and associated convection this afternoon and evening. Radar images already showing thunderstorms developing along the eastern mountains. Expect IFR/LIFR conditions at BKW, and wherever slowly moving, but heavy showers or storms develop. Otherwise, expect VFR conditions at the rest of sites, with intermittent periods of MVFR/IFR under showers or storms. Skies will become mostly cloudy later this afternoon and evening as convection fires up. Depending on how long these clouds linger overnight, they can prevent radiational cooling and associated dense fog formation. However, evening rain could create pockets of denser fog. Thus have low confidence in the fog forecast. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY... ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Fog formation tonight may vary. FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Low on fog potential. Otherwise high. 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 SATURDAY... IFR possible in showers and storms through the weekend. Early morning fog also possible where it rains during the late evening or overnight. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...ARJ/MC NEAR TERM...ARJ SHORT TERM...TRM LONG TERM...TRM AVIATION...ARJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV Issued by National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 442 AM EDT Fri Sep 7 2018 OHZ066-067-075-076-083>085-WVZ009>011-017-019-020-031-032-080845- Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Wood- Pleasants-Tyler-Wirt-Ritchie-Doddridge-Harrison-Taylor- 442 AM EDT Fri Sep 7 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for much of the middle Ohio Valley. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. While there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather, slow moving thunderstorms can produce isolated flash flooding, mainly this afternoon and this evening. Hence, there is a marginal risk for flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Isolated flash flooding from slow moving showers and thunderstorms is possible again Saturday, mainly during the afternoons and evenings. However, there is a slight risk for excessive rainfall Saturday night, as the remnants of once tropical storm Gordon, and a front, combine to bring potentially more widespread heavy rainfall. There is a moderate risk for excessive rainfall Sunday through Sunday night, and the heavy rainfall could continue into into Monday, as the system only slowly pushes through. A flash flood watch may be needed this weekend, if confidence for heavy rainfall continues to increase. .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. KYZ101>103-105-OHZ086-087-WVZ005>008-013>016-018-026>030-039-040- 515>526-080845- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Wayne-Cabell- Mason-Jackson WV-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-Calhoun-Boone-Clay- Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-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- 442 AM EDT Fri Sep 7 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, extreme southeast Ohio, and much of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. While there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather, slow moving thunderstorms can produce isolated flash flooding, mainly this afternoon and this evening. Hence, there is a marginal risk for flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. While there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather, slow moving showers and thunderstorms can produce isolated flash flooding this weekend, and even Monday. There is a marginal risk for excessive rainfall Saturday, and then a slight risk for excessive rainfall Sunday, when the remnants of once tropical storm Gordon add to an already moist air mass. .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-WVZ024-025-033-034-080845- Dickenson-Buchanan-Mingo-Logan-McDowell-Wyoming- 442 AM EDT Fri Sep 7 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. While there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather, slow moving thunderstorms can produce isolated flash flooding, mainly this afternoon and this evening. Hence, there is a marginal risk for flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. While there is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather, slow moving showers and thunderstorms can produce isolated flash flooding this weekend. There is a marginal risk for flash flooding, overnight Saturday night, and again Sunday through Sunday night, when the remnants of once tropical storm Gordon add to an already moist air mass. .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. TRM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
102 PM EDT FRI SEP 7 2018
WVZ522>524-526-071800-
Southeast Webster-Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast
Randolph-
102 PM EDT FRI SEP 7 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT POCAHONTAS COUNTY...
At 100 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Snowshoe to 6 miles northeast of
Leonard. Movement was southeast at 5 mph.
Heavy rain, winds in excess of 30 mph, and half inch hail are
possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Marlinton, Hillsboro, Edray, Buckeye, Cranberry Mountain Nature
Center, Slaty Fork, Minnehaha Springs and Frost.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
these storms pass.
LAT...LON 3819 7992 3815 7992 3813 7994 3810 7993
3806 7996 3806 8009 3804 8017 3804 8021
3805 8027 3810 8035 3813 8037 3823 8036
3827 8044 3830 8046 3849 8014 3830 7981
3827 7979
TIME...MOT...LOC 1700Z 326DEG 6KT 3834 8003 3816 8033
MCThe Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:02 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
North Sand Branch Creek flooded, sending flowing water across North Sand Branch Road.
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: 776229.