Several ingredients were in place for scattered severe thunderstorms on August 8th. An upper shortwave trough embedded in northwest flow crossed the Great Lakes during 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 PBZ wrote it up.
Several ingredients were in place for scattered severe thunderstorms on August 8th. An upper shortwave trough embedded in northwest flow crossed the Great Lakes during the day. Moist west-southwest flow maintained dewpoints in the mid 60s, which in concert with daytime heating, fueled instability. Strengthening mid-level wind contributed to sufficient levels of shear, allowing an organized line of thunderstorms to cross the region in advance of a cold front. Steep low-level lapse rates promoted a damaging wind threat, but low-level shear was insufficient for a tornado threat. The Storm Prediction Center place the region under a slight risk of severe weather for the day.
Thunderstorms began to form in earnest in southeast Ohio around 4 PM, creating wind damage in Marion and Preston Counties. Numerous trees were blown down, and a hay shed was damaged.
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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 8, 12:32 PM EST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 132 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Another round of thunderstorms, some severe, are expected today ahead of a cold front. Drier and cooler weather is indicated for weeks end. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... With the early afternoon update, a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for our entire forecast area except Tucker County WV. Some showers have already developed along the ridges, farther east than was originally anticipated. Otherwise the going forecast remains unchanged. Previous discussion follows. An upper shortwave trough embedded in nwly flow is progged to cross the Great Lakes today with potential for scattered strong to severe storms primarily during the afternoon and evening. Moist WSW sfc flow should maintain dewpoints into the mid 60s which, with daytime heating, will fuel instability. Strengthening mid-level winds over the area will contribute to sufficient shear for an organized line of thunderstorms to cross the region in advance of the cold front. With steep boundary layer lapse rates, but rather limited low-level shear/SRH, the primary severe threat will be damaging wind gusts and large hail with low tornado chances. Have included likely to definite PoPs this afternoon as storm chances shift through the region to the southeast and wane into the evening. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Rain/storm chances rapidly come to an end this evening with cold frontal passage. Cooler and drier air is expected behind the front which, with building sfc high pressure, will drop daily temperatures to just below seasonal average and maintain dry weather through the weekend. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Temperatures will moderate back to average early next week as the Southern US ridge expands eastward and flow over our region becomes more zonal. Shortwaves in this flow will return periodic rain chances to the area, with the greatest chances Tuesday into Wednesday with a crossing sfc low. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Scattered thunderstorms will be possible through early evening ahead and along a crossing frontal boundary.and MVFR/local IFR restrictions. Included a tempo group for the most likely time to see storms. Any restrictions should be relatively brief. .Outlook... Restrictions are possible with a Mon cold front. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 254 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-090700- Garrett-Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison- Jefferson OH-Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango- Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Allegheny- Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Westmoreland Ridges- Fayette-Fayette Ridges-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion- Monongalia-Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston- Preston-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 254 AM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Thunderstorms are likely today with scattered severe storms possible. Primary hazards will be damaging wind gusts and large hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
142 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
OHZ057-081815-
Muskingum-
142 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY
WIND WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MUSKINGUM COUNTY...
At 141 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Zanesville,
moving southeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Zanesville... South Zanesville...
North Zanesville... Philo...
Pleasant Grove... Chandlersville...
Ruraldale... Bridgeville...
Cannelville... High Hill...
Duncan Falls... Blue Rock State Park...
This includes Interstate 70 in Ohio between mile markers 150 and
162.
LAT...LON 3995 8211 4002 8203 3995 8179 3977 8172
3980 8204
TIME...MOT...LOC 1741Z 301DEG 30KT 3993 8200Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
214 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
OHZ057-068-081845-
Noble-Muskingum-
214 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...GUSTY WIND AND
HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MUSKINGUM AND SOUTHWESTERN NOBLE
COUNTIES...
At 214 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 10 miles north of
McConnelsville, moving southeast at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are
possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Caldwell... Dudley...
Belle Valley... Dexter City...
Chandlersville... Ruraldale...
High Hill... Blue Rock State Park...
This includes Interstate 77 in Ohio between mile markers 18 and 28.
Torrential rainfall also is occurring with this storm and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3991 8182 3970 8138 3963 8145 3965 8145
3964 8147 3961 8147 3958 8150 3959 8159
3966 8159 3967 8164 3975 8164 3977 8197
TIME...MOT...LOC 1814Z 309DEG 27KT 3980 8182
07Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
248 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
WVZ021-509>513-081930-
Eastern Preston-Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern
Preston-Marion-Monongalia-Western Tucker-Preston-
248 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL AND GUSTY WIND
WILL AFFECT THE AREA...
At 247 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Barrackville,
or over Fairmont, moving east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are
possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fairmont... Kingwood...
Rowlesburg... Pleasant Valley...
Winfield... Barrackville...
Monongah... Newburg...
Rivesville... Grant Town...
Reedsville... Farmington...
This includes Interstate 79 in West Virginia between mile markers
132 and 148.
LAT...LON 3924 7972 3931 7989 3943 7989 3945 7994
3940 8003 3939 8009 3941 8011 3940 8013
3946 8029 3963 8020 3949 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 291DEG 26KT 3952 8016
07The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:45 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The county 911 call center received reports of approximately 30-40 trees down between Farmington and Fairmont.
A member of the public reported that trees were blown down and damage was done to a hay shed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 2019
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: 853718, 853720.