Hail and Damaging Wind in West Virginia, July 31, 2019

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in West Virginia, July 31, 2019
Start: 2019-07-31T15:55
End: 2019-07-31T17:07
Location: West Virginia

July 31, 2019 · NWS RNK · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

An upper level storm system and a weak surface boundary interacted with a moist and unstable air mass to form a few severe thunderstorms. These storms caused some tree damage and dropped hail up to the size of quarters in parts of Mercer and Greenbrier counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 2:45 PM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 2:45 PM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 2:51 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
351 PM EDT Wed Jul 31 2019

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>044-507-508-011100-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-
Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-
Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-
Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-
Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
351 PM EDT Wed Jul 31 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia,
southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible
this evening until around sunset. Damaging wind gusts and localized
flooding will be the main hazards. Marginally severe hail will also
be possible in the strongest storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected each
day, decreasing slightly during the weekend and early next week. The
main concern will be locally heavy rainfall and repeated rainfall
from day-to-day resulting in localized flooding. A few storms could
also be severe at times.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed at times through the period
primarily to help identify wind damage and areas of flooding.

RAB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 2:24 PM EST, 1 hour 31 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
324 PM EDT Wed Jul 31 2019

NCZ003-020-312000-
Yadkin-Surry-
324 PM EDT Wed Jul 31 2019

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT YADKIN AND SURRY COUNTIES...

Until 400 PM EDT.

At 323 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Boonville,
moving northeast at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Elkin...
Fairview...
Jonesville...
Boonville...
and East Bend.

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 3624 8087 3626 8087 3644 8061 3627 8045
      3624 8045 3622 8043 3621 8045 3612 8078
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 230DEG 15KT 3621 8075

VFJ

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 31, 2:52 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:05 PM EST, 50 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:16 PM EST, 39 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 3:48 PM EST, 7 minutes before

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The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:54 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Greenbrier

When: July 31, 3:55 PM EST
Where: Greenbrier County, 1.49 mi NNE of Rorer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 38.050, -80.270

Hail, Mercer

When: July 31, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Mercer County, 0.69 mi S of Maple Acres
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 37.310, -81.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer

When: July 31, 5:07 PM EST
Where: Mercer County, 1.79 mi ESE of Maple Acres
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.310, -81.100

Several trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds along Ingleside Road, near its intersection with Interstate 77.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in West Virginia in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, July 2019

Sources

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: 847938, 847939, 847940.