A broad upper trough was located over the middle Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians from the 7th though the 10th. Very hot and humid conditions were in place as a slow moving surface low slowly moved its way up the East Coast.
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.
A broad upper trough was located over the middle Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians from the 7th though the 10th. Very hot and humid conditions were in place as a slow moving surface low slowly moved its way up the East Coast. Diurnally driven showers and storms formed each day, with some of the storms producing hail and strong winds, along with heavy rainfall. Several mesonet rain gages measured 2.5-3.5 inches of rain in about an hour in Harrison and Taylor Counties on the 7th.
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 7, 1:38 PM EST, 4 hours 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 238 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Heat persists with mainly diurnally driven convection. A cold front breaks the heat this weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 225 PM Tuesday... The heat wave continues. An upper level short wave trough, or weakness, was helping to focus convection over the middle Ohio valley this afternoon. While that convection will not make it east of the Ohio River, instability building to 2-3 KJ/kg and light and variable flow through the column spell pulse pop-up slow movers with high rainfall rates given PW values of 1.7-1.8 in, a little less over central WV. Convection was also beginning to fire over the higher mountainous terrain on the elevated heat source effect there. River valley fog is most likely to form overnight tonight where rain occurs this afternoon or evening. Ridging may build a bit to the north Wednesday as a rex block develops, with upper level low pressure to the south. This may hold down convection a bit, and the forecast is for scattered convection over the higher terrain and isolated convection elsewhere. Central guidance reflects a persistence forecast for temperatures and dew points, which spells apparent temperatures in the mid and upper 90s this and Wednesday afternoon, with 100 not out of reach for hotter urban areas. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 239 PM Tuesday... The upper level pattern begins to transition into a rex block orientation Wednesday night into Thursday with a mid level ridge across the Northeast US and a coastal low moving northward along the Mid-Atlantic coastal areas. This pattern should support a continuation of the warm and humid conditions across our area with temperatures around ten degrees above normal. In addition, scattered convection will be possible across the area during peak heating in the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday given the warm and humid airmass in place. With little to no shear and a lack of upper support, any activity is expected to be pulse convection with a main threat for locally heavy downpours as PWATs are expected to exceed 1.75 inches. While convective coverage should be somewhat limited on Thursday due to lack of forcing, precipitation coverage is expected to increase on Friday as an upper level trough and associated frontal boundary approaches the region. Thus, will leave widespread high chance PoPs in the forecast for now, but wouldn't be surprised if likely PoPs gets introduced into subsequent forecasts. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 239 PM Tuesday... Showers and thunderstorms are expected to be ongoing across the area at the start of the long term period as the aforementioned frontal boundary pushes through. Precipitation coverage should decrease by Saturday night as the upper trough and frontal boundary push east of the area, but showers and storms still appear to be possible on Sunday as additional shortwave energy moves into the region. By early next week, conditions are expected to remain unsettled as models suggest that a closed upper low may develop near or over the region Monday into Tuesday. Otherwise, temperatures will be slightly cooler this weekend following the frontal passage, but still will remain just above normal through the end of the long term period. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 225 PM Tuesday... Heat wave pattern continues, with diurnally driven convection again this afternoon. Convection was already firing in southeast Ohio, and should fire over the higher mountainous terrain as well. Valley fog tonight is most likely to form in areas that get rain this afternoon or evening. Any fog that does form is likely to burn off by or shortly after 12Z Wednesday, with diurnally driven convection once again Wednesday afternoon. Surface flow will remain light and variable. Light southerly flow aloft becomes light and variable as well this afternoon, and then light northeast on Wednesday. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium to high. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Amendments may be needed for direct thunderstorm impacts this afternoon or evening. Fog formation may vary overnight, especially where rain occurs. 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 H 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 H H H H H H H H 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... IFR possible with valley fog in the late night/early morning hours each day except at BKW, especially if rain falls at the terminal in daytime showers/storms. Brief IFR possible in thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours each day. IFR possible in showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, and in fog or stratus overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...TRM/RG NEAR TERM...TRM SHORT TERM...RG LONG TERM...RG AVIATION...TRM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 317 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>032- 080730- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-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- 317 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and portions of central West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southern West Virginia and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Heat indices may flirt with Heat Advisory levels nearly each afternoon during this week. Heat index values each afternoon should briefly peak in the upper 90s to perhaps around 100 degrees. A Heat Advisory may eventually be required for portions of the area if conditions become hotter than currently forecast. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ003-004-WVZ033-034-039-040-515>526-080730- Dickenson-Buchanan-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- 317 AM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, and portions of northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southeast West Virginia and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
530 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020
OHZ085-072200-
Meigs-
530 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MEIGS COUNTY...
At 529 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were scattered across much of
Meigs County. These storms are nearly stationary.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with any of these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Pomeroy, Racine, Rutland, Forked Run State Park, New Haven, Mason,
Tuppers Plains, Middleport, Chester, Syracuse, Hartford City,
Wilkesville, Reedsville, Dyesville, Darwin, Salem Center,
Harrisonville, Dexter and Carpenter.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3918 8178 3917 8175 3915 8174 3910 8175
3908 8177 3908 8181 3905 8181 3901 8176
3898 8183 3897 8192 3899 8194 3899 8198
3903 8201 3903 8203 3899 8205 3896 8210
3900 8210 3901 8233 3921 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 158DEG 2KT 3911 8203
HARTSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 554 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 OHZ083-084-072230- Jackson-Vinton- 554 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN JACKSON AND CENTRAL VINTON COUNTIES... At 553 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were clustered over northern Jackson and central Vinton counties, and were nearly stationary. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail are possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Jackson, Wellston, Mcarthur, Hamden and Coalton. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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 3931 8249 3926 8237 3899 8262 3904 8275 TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 048DEG 5KT 3906 8265 HART
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
603 PM EDT TUE JUL 07 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NW JACKSON 39.06N 82.64W
07/07/2020 E50 MPH JACKSON OH TRAINED SPOTTER
RELIABLE SPOTTER REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 40 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO APPROX 50 MPH. ALSO VERY INTENSE RAINFALL
OCCURRING AT THE TIME.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RLX2001042
HARTSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 635 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 WVZ026-072300- Boone- 635 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL BOONE COUNTY... At 634 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles northeast of Madison, moving north at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Seth, Racine and Ashford. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. LAT...LON 3805 8160 3803 8168 3819 8176 3820 8166 TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 166DEG 12KT 3812 8168 HART
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
648 PM EDT TUE JUL 07 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0647 PM HEAVY RAIN JACKSON 39.05N 82.63W
07/07/2020 M2.12 INCH JACKSON OH MESONET
1 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL AT JCKO1
&&
EVENT NUMBER RLX2001043
HARTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
705 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020
WVZ032-072330-
Taylor-
705 PM EDT Tue Jul 7 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN TAYLOR COUNTY...
At 705 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Grafton. The
storm is nearly stationary.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Grafton, Flemington, Valley Falls, McGee and Meadland.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3926 8011 3933 8021 3936 8020 3940 8017
3940 8012 3941 8011 3939 8009 3940 8003
3942 8000 3945 7994 3945 7993
TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 282DEG 1KT 3937 8008
HARTThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down across George Washington Highway in Belgium.
Multiple trees were downed in the Charleston Metro area.
Trees and power lines were downed in South Charleston. About 4,000 power customers lost service.
Trees and power lines were downed in East View.
A tree was blown onto a house along Locust Avenue.
Multiple large, healthy trees were downed throughout Clarksburg.
A 10-inch tree was blown down in Anmoore.
Many roads were covered by flowing water across Clarksburg, Bridgeport and Stonewood. Water surrounded several structures, causing minor damage.
Several secondary roads near Meadland and McGee were closed due to flooding along local creeks and streams.
A tree was blown down along Veterans Memorial Highway.
Nine trees were blown down along Bailey Hollow Road. One was uprooted, which damaged a natural gas distribution line.
Several smaller trees were blown down.
A large children's play set was blown over.
A tree was blown over and a portable storage building was thrown into a parked vehicle.
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, July 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: 896410, 896412, 896413, 896414, 896415, 896416, 896418, 898532, 896419, 898539, 896422, 896425, 896426, 896427, 896429.