West Virginia, 2020

Heavy Rain in West Virginia, July 17, 2020

July 17, 2020 · NWS RLX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Several rounds of heavy rain fell across the northern mountains of West Virginia during the pre-dawn hours of the 17th. Of particular interest were three downpours that moved across the upper basin of the Middle Fork of the Tygart Valley River between midnight and 7 AM.

Where it happened

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 RLX wrote it up.

Several rounds of heavy rain fell across the northern mountains of West Virginia during the pre-dawn hours of the 17th. Of particular interest were three downpours that moved across the upper basin of the Middle Fork of the Tygart Valley River between midnight and 7 AM.

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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 16, 8:27 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 8:27 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 10:15 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 16, 6:46 PM EST, 5 hours 14 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 9:06 PM EST, 2 hours 54 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 11:24 PM EST, 36 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 11:45 PM EST, 15 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Barbour

When
July 17, 12:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Barbour County, 0.78 mi S of Audra to 0.67 mi E of Audra
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
39.039, -80.068

Generally 2 to 3.5 inches of rain fell across the upper portions of the Tygart Valley River basin. No flooding occurred, partly because local creeks and streams were running fairly low at the start of the rainfall. However, this is where the story gets interesting. The 17th was a Friday, and by mid afternoon, a dozen or more locals were swimming and hanging out on the large rocks and islands in the Middle Fork River as it meanders through Audra State Park. The water from the morning rainfall arrived into Audra State Park between 3 and 4 o'clock that afternoon. Water levels rose rapidly as the crest approached, catching those in the river by surprise. Witness accounts say the water rose 4-5 feet in under an hour, with swiftly flowing current cutting off access or even submerging some of the rock outcroppings. Three separate water rescues were performed by first responders, who rescued a total of 12 individuals.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in West Virginia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 898557.