West Virginia, 2020

Damaging Winds in West Virginia, July 21 to 22, 2020

July 21 to 22, 2020 · NWS RLX · 9 events in 4 counties and zones

Several upper level shortwave troughs moved across the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians on the 21st and 22nd. The afternoons were hot and humid during this time, so the shortwaves that crossed during the afternoon kicked off showers and thunderstorms.

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
$14,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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 upper level shortwave troughs moved across the middle Ohio River Valley and Central Appalachians on the 21st and 22nd. The afternoons were hot and humid during this time, so the shortwaves that crossed during the afternoon kicked off showers and thunderstorms. The stronger storms produced isolated wind damage.

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 21, 4:10 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 4:10 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 1:44 PM EST, 4 hours 46 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 2:05 PM EST, 4 hours 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 3:33 PM EST, 2 hours 57 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:45 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 6:16 PM EST, 14 minutes before
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The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Roane

When
July 21, 6:30 PM EST
Where
Roane County, 0.88 mi NW of Gandeeville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.710, -81.410

Multiple trees were blown down around Gandeeville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabell

When
July 22, 4:11 PM EST
Where
Cabell County, 1.76 mi SE of Guyandotte
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
38.410, -82.360

A power line was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cabell

When
July 22, 4:31 PM EST
Where
Cabell County, 0.69 mi N of Yates Crossing
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
38.440, -82.180

Power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When
July 22, 4:51 PM EST
Where
Putnam County, 0.69 mi N of Nitro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
38.430, -81.830

Several trees were downed onto 40th Street in Nitro.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When
July 22, 4:55 PM EST
Where
Kanawha County, Indian
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
38.370, -81.820

A couple trees were blown down, one along Observatory Drive, and another on City Park Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When
July 22, 5:12 PM EST
Where
Kanawha County, 0.69 mi N of South Ruffner
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
38.340, -81.620

A tree was blown down along Jackson Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When
July 22, 5:12 PM EST
Where
Kanawha County, 2.34 mi NNE of Legg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
38.510, -81.580

A tree and power lines were knocked down, leaving several hundred households without power.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When
July 22, 5:18 PM EST
Where
Kanawha County, 0.54 mi E of South Malden
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
38.300, -81.560

Several trees were downed along Kanawha Boulevard in Malden.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanawha

When
July 22, 5:20 PM EST
Where
Kanawha County, 0.54 mi E of Kanawha
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
38.320, -81.570

A tree was blown down across US 60 near Campbells Creek.

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

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 896458, 896460, 896462, 896463, 896465, 896466, 896467, 896468, 896469.