Hail, Marion
- When
- May 23, 7:17 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 0.69 mi N of Gaston Jct
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.480, -80.150
Hail reported by a local citizen.
Hail and Damaging Wind in West Virginia, May 23, 2019
The passing of a prefrontal trough on the morning of May 23rd helped induce upper-level height falls and assisted with the strength of a frontal passage late in the day. There was plenty of moisture that evening, before the cold front passed, as dew points reached the upper-60s.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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 PBZ wrote it up.
The passing of a prefrontal trough on the morning of May 23rd helped induce upper-level height falls and assisted with the strength of a frontal passage late in the day. There was plenty of moisture that evening, before the cold front passed, as dew points reached the upper-60s. Winds aloft became more northwest, allowing for a cool down of the upper-levels--increasing atmospheric instability. A strengthening of upper-level winds increased the threat of damaging winds, and the increase in shear created a scenario where convective updrafts can become stronger and long lived.
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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 5:38 PM EST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 5:38 PM EST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 638 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Severe storms are still possible this evening with a crossing cold front. Quieter weather is expected Friday as high pressure builds over the Great Lakes. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... The early eve update featured cosmetic tweaks as scattered convection can still be expected with the crossing of a cold front. Inhibition from warm mid levels remains the limiting factor, and that variable is being degraded with encroachment of the upper trough. Hail and wind gusts remain the primary hazards, but llvl shear remains favorable for an isolated tornado. Severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect. Showers and thunderstorms will cease with frontal passage later this evening. Quieter conditions will prevail overnight as high pressure builds to our west. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/... Height rises and a surface high will keep Friday dry. Northwest flow will keep temperatures near the climatological average. As our region sits downstream of a building upper level ridge, cold air will move in aloft and instability will increase throughout the day Friday. As an weak upper-level tough embedded in the upper-level ridge moves in Saturday afternoon, a chance for severe storms returns. Mid and upper level wind shear on model sounds display 40-50kt winds that could cause damaging winds. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... The long term will be dominated by the strength and placement of the Eastern CONUS ridge. The area will lie on the northern periphery of said ridge, meaning the warm and active pattern will continue. Chances of showers and storms will continue throughout this period as weak upper-level troughs quickly pass our CWA. && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Sct storms are developing and are expected to persist until passage of a cdfnt later this eve. Local deterioration to IFR vsby is anticpated. .Outlook... Periodic restrictions are possible through the weekend as disturbances cross the region. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 2:59 AM EST, 16 hours 18 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 359 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-WVZ001- 240800- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest- Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Hancock- 359 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Slight risk for severe thunderstorms today. Damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ001-PAZ021>023-029-031-073>076-WVZ002>004-012-021-509>514-240800- Garrett-Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette-Fayette Ridges-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall- Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 359 AM EDT Thu May 23 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms today. Damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 23, 5:55 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 655 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019 OHZ069-WVZ004-012-232330- Monroe-Marshall-Wetzel- 655 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL MONROE...NORTHWESTERN WETZEL AND SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTIES... At 655 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles northwest of New Martinsville, moving east at 35 mph. Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... New Martinsville... Pine Grove... Clarington... Cameron... Lynn Camp... Wileyville... Proctor... Hannibal... Laings... Big Run... This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3970 8104 3979 8102 3977 8052 3953 8060 TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 284DEG 29KT 3973 8094
Special weather statement, May 23, 6:40 PM EST, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
740 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019
WVZ012-021-509-240015-
Marion-Monongalia-Wetzel-
740 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY
WIND WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL MONONGALIA...NORTHEASTERN WETZEL AND
MARION COUNTIES...
At 740 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Hundred, or 9
miles northwest of Mannington, moving east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fairmont... Mannington...
Pleasant Valley... Barrackville...
Monongah... Grant Town...
Farmington... Worthington...
Baxter... Big Run...
Rachel... Carolina...
This includes Interstate 79 in West Virginia between mile markers
130 and 132.
This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3956 8059 3961 8062 3966 8059 3967 8050
3959 8011 3940 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2340Z 291DEG 28KT 3959 8050Special weather statement, May 23, 7:08 PM EST, 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 808 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019 PAZ014-021>023-073-074-240045- Armstrong-Butler-Westmoreland Ridges-Westmoreland-Allegheny-Indiana- 808 PM EDT Thu May 23 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL AND GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA...SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER...NORTHEASTERN ALLEGHENY...NORTHEASTERN WESTMORELAND AND SOUTHERN ARMSTRONG COUNTIES... At 807 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Freeport, or 7 miles northwest of Vandergrift, moving southeast at 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Indiana... Vandergrift... Homer City... Apollo... Lower Burrell... Harrison Township... Natrona Heights... Blairsville... Brackenridge... Leechburg... Freeport... Black Lick... This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4064 7980 4078 7968 4062 7899 4034 7918 TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 297DEG 34KT 4069 7965
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:15 UTC.
Event by event
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Marion
- When
- May 23, 7:17 PM EST
- Where
- Marion County, 0.69 mi N of Katy
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 39.510, -80.220
Hail reported by the public.
Thunderstorm Wind, Preston
- When
- May 23, 7:53 PM EST
- Where
- Preston County, 0.87 mi NE of Evansville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 39.340, -79.860
A 911 Call center reported a tree down near intersection of Route 50 and Route 92.
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
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, May 23 to 24, 2019
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Nebraska, May 23, 2019
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 23, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, May 23, 2019
- Tornado and Hail in Oklahoma, May 23, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, May 23 to 24, 2019
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 23, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 23, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, May 23, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 23, 2019
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Maryland, May 23, 2019
- Damaging Winds in New York, May 23, 2019
More
Every storm in West Virginia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 821833, 821834, 827314.