Damaging Winds in West Virginia, July 10, 2020

Name: Damaging Winds in West Virginia, July 10, 2020
Start: 2020-07-10T16:30
End: 2020-07-10T16:33
Location: West Virginia

July 10, 2020 · NWS PBZ · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A shortwave trough and its associated surface cold front advanced across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes on July 10th. Conditions were favorable for strong/ severe downburst winds.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

A shortwave trough and its associated surface cold front advanced across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes on July 10th. Conditions were favorable for strong/ severe downburst winds. HREF models at the time suggested a period of 1500 MUCAPE across the western counties, steep low-level lapse rates, and surface delta theta-e values approaching 20K. Flooding was likely due low shear and PWAT values near 1.5-1.8 inches.

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 Jul 10, 12:15 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 12:15 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
115 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon/evening as a cold
front approaches.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
A cold front, currently situated in western Indiana, will continue
to advance into the Ohio River Valley later today. With another hot
day upon us (temps in the low-90s), pre-frontal storms will likely
ignite shortly after lunch. With high PW's (over 1.7 inches), steep
low and mid- level lapse rates, SBCAPE over 3000 J/kg, and DCAPE
ranging between 800 to 1000 J/kg across the region, a few storms may
produce damaging wind. The "Wind INDEX" or "WINDEX" on the latest GFS
suggests winds 50 to 65 kts may occur under these downbursts. The
Weather Prediction Center has maintained a 'Slight' risk for
excessive rain across our region; isolated areas hit hard by rain
over the last few days may be vulnerable to flash flooding (3hr FFG
near the Pittsburgh region is 1.50 to 2.00 inches).

Showers and thunderstorms will continue overnight as the center of
a low pressure system lingers over Lake Erie. By this time, storms
are expected to be non-severe due to the loss of daytime heating.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
By early Saturday morning, the low pressure system mentioned above
will swing across I-80 and morph into a weak trough. Scattered
showers will continue but thunderstorm chances will be low due heavy
cloud coverage should hinder destabilization sufficiently to keep
storm strength in check.

A brief break in precipitation is expected Saturday night, but
another shortwave dipping into the middle Ohio Valley will provide
another round of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday. A strong
shortwave and a good 850mb moisture feed may provide another soaking
rain in some locations. Warm advection will help push temperatures a
bit higher during the afternoon, into the mid 80s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Continued troughing aloft will keep rain chances and seasonable
temperatures in the forecast Sunday night and Monday. Thereafter,
troughing over western Canada will help to drive 500mb heights upward
across much of the eastern CONUS. Heat will return to our region,
with the 90 degree level likely to be breached once again in most
areas by Wednesday and Thursday. Rain chances will be limited to
mainly isolated diurnal convection.

&&

.AVIATION /17Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
VFR is expected with shower and thunderstorm potential increasing mid
to late aftn as a trough crosses the Upper Ohio Valley region. There
is an increased threat of strong downburst winds with stronger storms
today.

Convection will taper off through the evening as instability wanes,
though a few showers are still possible as the trough completes its
passage. MVFR cigs are then expected late tonight with low level
moisture.

.Outlook...
Periodic restriction and shra/tstm potential is expected through
Mon, especially during the aftn/eve, as a series of troughs cross the
region.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Today is expected to be the last day in the recent streak of
high temperatures of 90 degrees or higher at a few climate sites.
Here is a summary of the most-recent 90+F stretches at each site
where 90 or higher is forecast today:

Pittsburgh (7/3-7/10/2020): prior 8-day stretch ended 8/20/1995
Morgantown (7/2-7/10/2020): prior 9-day stretch ended 8/4/1995
Wheeling (7/4-7/10/2020): prior 7-day stretch ended 7/27/2016

The current forecast calls for Zanesville to only reach 89 today.
If that forecast is correct, it will end the 90+F streak at six
days. That streak length was last reached in July 2012, with the
streak actually reaching seven days and ending on July 8th that
year.

The 90+F run at Dubois ended on Tuesday, as the mercury only got
to 89.  The streak of 3 days was last matched in 2016, ending on
July 25th of that year.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
OH...None.
PA...None.
WV...None.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 10, 3:08 AM EST, 13 hours 22 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
408 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007-008-013-014-020-021-029-
031-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-110815-
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Lawrence-
Butler-Beaver-Allegheny-Washington-Greene-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-
Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia-
408 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest
Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania,
northern West Virginia and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon
and evening hours. A few storms may approach severe limits, with
damaging wind gusts being the primary threat. The stronger storms
will also be capable of producing heavy rain and localized flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

MDZ001-PAZ009-015-016-022-023-073>076-WVZ510>514-110815-
Garrett-Forest-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Armstrong-Indiana-Westmoreland-
Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette-Fayette Ridges-
Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston-
Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker-
408 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, northwest
Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and
northern West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 10, 3:26 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
426 PM EDT FRI JUL 10 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S NEW CASTLE          40.95N  80.35W
07/10/2020                   LAWRENCE           PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED ON RADAR.

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ2001138

XXX

Local storm report, Jul 10, 3:28 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
428 PM EDT FRI JUL 10 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0316 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE BESSEMER           40.96N  80.46W
07/10/2020                   LAWRENCE           PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED ON RADAR.

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ2001139

XXX

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 3:35 PM EST, 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
435 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

OHZ058-059-068-069-102045-
Guernsey-Monroe-Noble-Belmont-
435 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND
WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL GUERNSEY...NORTHWESTERN MONROE...WESTERN
BELMONT AND NORTHEASTERN NOBLE COUNTIES...

At 435 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from 9 miles east of Byesville to near
Barnesville to 10 miles northwest of Woodsfield. Movement was east at
45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Barnesville...                    Bethesda...
Flushing...                       Quaker City...
Holloway...                       Morristown...
Old Washington...                 Summerfield...
Salesville...                     Somerton...
Fairview...                       Batesville...

This includes  Interstate 70 in Ohio between mile markers 186 and
208.

LAT...LON 4016 8117 4016 8101 3983 8113 3975 8135
      3995 8131 4004 8149
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 247DEG 39KT 4002 8137 3997 8127 3984 8129

Brown

Local storm report, Jul 10, 3:44 PM EST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
444 PM EDT FRI JUL 10 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JACOBSBURG              39.97N  80.90W
07/10/2020                   BELMONT            OH   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE SNAPPED IN HALF.

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ2001140

XXX

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 3:49 PM EST, 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
449 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

OHZ049-050-059-PAZ029-WVZ001>004-102130-
Jefferson-Harrison-Belmont-Washington-Marshall-Brooke-Ohio-Hancock-
449 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND AND
HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON...JEFFERSON...NORTHERN
BELMONT...NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...OHIO...NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL...
BROOKE AND SOUTHEASTERN HANCOCK COUNTIES...

At 449 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from 8 miles southeast of Freeport to near St.
Clairsville to Shadyside. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Wheeling...                       Weirton...
Steubenville...                   Washington...
Moundsville...                    Martins Ferry...
St. Clairsville...                Bellaire...
Cadiz...                          Warwood...
Wellsburg...                      Bethlehem...

This includes the following highways...
  Interstate 70 in Ohio between mile markers 207 and 225.
  Interstate 70 in West Virginia between mile markers 0 and 14.
  Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 18.
  Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 38 and 40.

Torrential rainfall also is occurring with these storms and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 4051 8078 4040 8038 4020 8022 3999 8048
      3989 8063 3998 8094 4013 8123
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 235DEG 50KT 4012 8117 4008 8101 3996 8076

Brown

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 3:53 PM EST, 37 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
453 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

OHZ040-041-049-050-102130-
Jefferson-Harrison-Columbiana-Carroll-
453 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND
AND HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT EASTERN HARRISON...NORTHWESTERN
JEFFERSON...SOUTHWESTERN COLUMBIANA AND CARROLL COUNTIES...

At 452 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were clustered near Carrollton,
moving northeast at 15 mph.

Wind gusts up to 55 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Carrollton...                     Minerva...
Augusta...                        Salineville...
Malvern...                        Scio...
Jewett...                         Bergholz...
Amsterdam...                      Bowerston...
Irondale...                       Dellroy...

Torrential rainfall also is occurring with this storm and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek
safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 4073 8120 4073 8109 4080 8109 4056 8071
      4017 8118 4017 8119 4049 8126
TIME...MOT...LOC 2052Z 215DEG 14KT 4050 8103

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hancock

When: July 10, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Hancock County, 1.05 mi E of Weirton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.400, -80.560

A local resident reported trees down in Weirton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brooke

When: July 10, 4:33 PM EST
Where: Brooke County, 1.38 mi N of Colliers
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.390, -80.530

Report of trees down on Colliers Way on social media.

What these are

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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, July 2020

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: 903853, 903854.