The tail end of a cold front in accompaniment with an upper level disturbance crossed through West Virginia on the 25th and resulted in wind damage across the state. Initial storm development was scattered, but then congealed into a line pushing south and eastward, resulting in locally damaging winds and a few instances of flash flooding.
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.
The tail end of a cold front in accompaniment with an upper level disturbance crossed through West Virginia on the 25th and resulted in wind damage across the state. Initial storm development was scattered, but then congealed into a line pushing south and eastward, resulting in locally damaging winds and a few instances of flash flooding. The most notable damage was to the video board of Marshall University's football stadium, but widespread downed trees and power lines were also observed.
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 Aug 25, 1:33 PM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 233 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Cold front approaches from north this evening, with showers and storms, some strong to severe. Front lifts back to the north Wednesday. Tropical remnants moisture Thursday through Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 135 PM Tuesday... Overall, minimal changes needed. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for portions of northern West Virginia and our southeastern Ohio Counties. Already beginning to see a few cells developing across these locations as instability increases and subsidence behind the earlier departing wave decreases. May eventually need a spatial extension of the watch further south and east later this evening depending largely on degree of upscale growth experienced. As of 1120 AM Tuesday... A leading shortwave responsible for showers and thunderstorms over our northeastern counties this morning will continue to shift off to the southeast through the remainder of the late morning and early afternoon. Did add some additional isolated shower/TS mentions over our southern mountains for early this afternoon with this feature. Elsewhere, subsidence behind the departing trough will largely suppress surface based convective activity through the early afternoon until stronger forcing in the form a second mid-level wave and attendant cold front late this afternoon into this evening. Substantially increased late afternoon/evening PoPs over the morning package with synoptic forcing, modest shear and forecast storm motions that will struggle to get off the front indicating more potential for multicellular clusters with at least some risk for upscale growth into a solid line as it propagates south. The main threats with this activity will be gusty to locally damaging winds along the consolidated cold pool/gust front along with heavy rain, although storm scale interaction could yield a few instances of large hail or even a brief spin-up. Any severe threat quickly wanes from north to south with the passage of the outflow reinforced front. Also trimmed back high temperature for this afternoon with central guidance running a bit too warm, with at least some insolation limiting from the substantial haze/smoke layer aloft. Westerly turning northwesterly winds aloft transport any remaining convective debris out of the area heading into Wednesday morning. With rainfall amounts of half to one inch with local amounts of 2+ possible with the afternoon activity, will likely see substantial fog development heading into Wednesday morning. Another ridge riding disturbance arrives late Wednesday afternoon, but still questionable how much surface moisture will be around to work with. This will largely be driven by rainfall this afternoon/evening as well as how far south the convectively driven frontal boundary can penetrate tonight. For now, have included only isolated/sct mention of showers and storms, primarily over our northeastern and mountain counties. Could see these increasing with updates once confidence in placement of the effective warm front increases. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 230 PM Tuesday... As Laura comes ashore and moves northward along the lower Mississippi Valley, a preceding upper level trough axis oriented west to east will move northward along the lower Mississippi Valley, turn eastward in the westerlies aloft and push into the middle Ohio Valley. This will mark the beginning of a much more unsettled period that could pre soak the region before the remaining tropical system heads our way. Showers and storms likely Thursday and Thursday night as lower level moisture over the region increases. This will be a critical time period in terms of rainfall as the cumulative amounts over the short and long term could go over three inches for large portions of the CWA. Still need to allow for some uncertainty at this time given the time period and some evolution/changes of future forecasts. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 230 PM Tuesday... The long terms models depict the remnants of Laura merging with a trough aloft that will be pushing southward into the Great Lakes along with an associated cold front. This amplification of the waves aloft and advection of low level moisture combined with the focusing mechanism of the front could create a heavy rainfall potential in showers and storms, so this will need to be watched carefully in the coming days with cumulative QPF amounts on the higher side as they stand right now. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 140 PM Tuesday... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to develop in advance of an approaching cold front through the remainder of the afternoon hours, tracking south across all terminals through the evening hours. The main threats with this line will be locally gusty winds (likely from the north) preceding the line along with heavy rain briefly reducing visibility to 1-2SM. The line clears the region by 06Z and with at least partially clearing skies will likely see fog development heading into Wednesday morning. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Storm timing could vary by an hour. Fog formation could be less than forecast if skies do not clear. 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. UTC 1HRLY 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 EDT 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H M H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY M M H H M M M M H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H AFTER 18Z WEDNESDAY... Brief IFR possible in afternoon and evening thunderstorms and early morning fog this week. More widespread IFR in showers and thunderstorms possible late week and into the weekend. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...26/JP NEAR TERM...JP SHORT TERM...26 LONG TERM...26 AVIATION...JP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 340 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-VAZ004-WVZ005>011-013>020- 024>034-039-040-515>526-261945- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Buchanan-Wayne-Cabell- Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha-Roane- Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer- Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-McDowell-Wyoming-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- 340 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 451 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, portions of southwest Virginia and much of 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Tropical will move over the area on Thursday and remain until Saturday. Flash flooding is possible. .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. VAZ003-261945- Dickenson- 340 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Tropical will move over the area on Thursday and remain until Saturday. Flash flooding is possible. .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
203 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
OHZ066-067-251830-
Morgan-Perry-
203 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PERRY AND NORTHWESTERN MORGAN
COUNTIES...
At 203 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Somerset,
moving southeast at 30 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
New Lexington, Somerset, Shawnee, Perry State Forest, Crooksville,
Junction City, Corning, Glenford, Hemlock and Rendville.
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 3991 8217 3982 8217 3982 8208 3977 8208
3976 8191 3955 8206 3955 8211 3969 8237
3974 8236 3974 8241 3983 8240 3984 8244
3992 8237
TIME...MOT...LOC 1803Z 297DEG 28KT 3981 8236
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
230 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
OHZ066-067-251900-
Morgan-Perry-
230 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN PERRY AND
NORTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTIES...
At 229 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over New Lexington,
moving southeast at 30 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
New Lexington, Shawnee, Crooksville, Malta, Corning, Hemlock,
Rendville and Eagleport.
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 3979 8207 3977 8208 3977 8199 3972 8182
3951 8199 3954 8205 3955 8205 3955 8207
3966 8228 3982 8217
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 297DEG 27KT 3972 8216
JPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
307 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
OHZ066-067-251945-
Morgan-Perry-
307 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN PERRY AND NORTHWESTERN
MORGAN COUNTIES...
At 306 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Thornport, or 7
miles north of Somerset, moving southeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
New Lexington, Somerset, Perry State Forest, Thornport, Crooksville,
Thornville and Glenford.
LAT...LON 3992 8241 3991 8217 3982 8217 3982 8208
3977 8208 3977 8198 3972 8192 3966 8221
3989 8247 3992 8247 3993 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 321DEG 22KT 3991 8233
08PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
401 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM TSTM WND DMG SOMERSET 39.81N 82.30W
08/25/2020 PERRY OH PUBLIC
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE TOWN OF SOMERSET.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RLX2001135
JZSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 406 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 WVZ030-039-525-252045- Northwest Randolph-Upshur-Lewis- 406 PM EDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL RANDOLPH...EAST CENTRAL LEWIS AND CENTRAL UPSHUR COUNTIES... At 405 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Rock Cave, or 7 miles southwest of Buckhannon, moving southeast at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Rock Cave, Alexander, Ellamore, Tallmansville, Helvetia, Alton and French Creek. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 3888 8039 3898 8038 3892 8001 3870 8020 TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 302DEG 11KT 3892 8032 11
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:15 UTC.
33 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down near the town of Rock Cave.
Multiple areas of trees and power lines were blown down across Shinnston, including Vine Street, Owings Road, Clarks Street, Landing Way, Laurel Run Road, and Saltwell Road.
A large tree was blown down onto Dawson Drive near Saltwell.
Near Clarksburg, a tree was blown down onto Country Club Road.
Several roads were blocked in Flemington due to blown down trees.
Near the town of Harrisville, numerous trees and power lines were downed.
Numerous trees were downed across Nestorville.
Numerous trees were downed with many losing power across West Milford. Several roads became blocked due to the fallen trees. A woman experienced a head injury from a downed tree.
Several trees fell onto a roadway in Meadowbrook.
East of the town of Sandyville, large trees fell onto the yard of a local home.
Numerous trees were downed throughout the town of Lucile.
Several trees were downed in Gandeeville.
High water covered the pavement along Natural Bridge Road in French Creek.
In Clifton, several trees were downed.
Several trees were downed onto Tucker Bridge Road near Buffalo.
A large limb of a locust tree was downed onto an NWS employee's driveway.
The backside of the video board at Marshall University's Joan C Edwards stadium was damaged.
In the town of Paradise, an outbuilding was damaged with portions of it missing. Several trees were also downed across the town.
Throughout Huntington, several trees were downed.
Several trees were downed with many without power in the Beverly Hills neighborhood.
Ivydale Road and Ivydale Ridge Road were blocked due to downed trees.
In Elkview, two trees blew down onto Elk River Road.
Multiple trees were damaged on Eastwood Drive near Guyandotte, several of which were 12 inches or more in diameter.
Several trees were downed in and around the town of Clay. This included a tree with power lines down near a home along Dog Run Road, a tree near the Clay County High School, and a tree downed onto Elk River Road. Trees also blocked the roadways of southbound Route 16, Wide Road, and Heartland, where power lines were also downed.
One tree was downed in Shrewsbury.
One large tree fell down and completely blocked Boonsborough Road in the town of Charlton Heights. Several other smaller trees were also blown down.
One tree was blown down in the town of Pratt.
Multiple trees were downed onto Scarbro Road in the town of Scarbro.
In the town of Shrewsbury, high water was observed at 3014 East Dupont Avenue.
In the town of Comfort, several trees were downed, one which fell onto a building and cracked the brick while another fell onto a carport.
A tree fell onto an apartment building near Bloomingrose. Toneys Branch Road was blocked for a brief time due to several trees blown down onto the roadway.
Trees blew down onto power lines in the town of Sylvester, knocking out power to nearby residences.
A tree fell down and blocked both lanes of Prenter Road west of the town of Sylvester.
Several trees fell down onto Glen Rogers Road.
Trees were downed in and around Kopperston.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, August 2020
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: 910273, 910274, 910275, 910276, 910277, 910279, 910280, 910281, 910283, 910284, 910285, 910272, 910286, 910266, 910287, 910288, 910289, 910290, 910292, 910299, 910294, 910296, 910297, 910298, 910300, 910301, 910302, 910304, 910305, 910267, 910306, 910307, 910308, 910309, 910310, 910311.