An upper level disturbance parked over the Ohio Valley resulted in afternoon showers and thunderstorms on the 18th and 19th across portions of West Virginia. This spawned local flooding issues in Calhoun and Webster Counties.
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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.
An upper level disturbance parked over the Ohio Valley resulted in afternoon showers and thunderstorms on the 18th and 19th across portions of West Virginia. This spawned local flooding issues in Calhoun and Webster Counties. Previous rainfall and slow moving storms contributed to high water issues on both days.
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 Jun 18, 1:14 PM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 214 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Slow moving upper low drifts north tonight into Friday with diurnal showers and thunderstorms expected. Upper ridge builds for the weekend with heat and humidity returning. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 120 PM Thursday... A nearly vertically stacked barotropic low centered over SE West Virginia aided by diurnal heating will continue to spawn numerous showers and thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening. The primary threat with these storms will be locally heavy rainfall. This could potentially cause some high water issues, especially over the eastern half of the forecast area where 3 hour flash flood guidance (FFG) is generally under 1.5 inches. Given the position of the low, storms over this area should be moving a bit faster than further west nearer to the circulation center with a little less potential for any given cell to drop amounts exceeding FFG and a little less potential for a number of cells to train over any given spot. Could also see some isolated instances of very heavy rainfall leading to localized flooding further west closer to the low center where storms could be nearly stationary, but 3hr FFGs in this area are generally 2.5+ inches. Will forgo a flash flood watch for now given relatively low probability for either scenario to exceed FFG, with any potential impacts likely to be extremely localized. Coverage of showers and thunderstorms will decrease through the evening hours, but with the low remaining overhead, will maintain at least chance PoPs areawide for showers through the overnight. A similar scenario is expected for Friday with any morning elevated showers giving way to scattered to numerous surface based convection in the afternoon. By this time, the low center will have wobbled north into the Middle Ohio Valley and this should substantially reduce the risk of slow moving and/or training storms over our more vulnerable eastern zones. Will need to keep an eye on any locations further west where the nearly stationary storms set up this afternoon though. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 214 PM Thursday... The persistent upper level low which should be centered just to our north will weaken to an upper trof and then move northeast away from our area by late in the period. By Sunday, an upper level ridge may build across the area. This upper low will result in continued unsettled weather during the afternoon and evening hours each day. However, the approach of the upper ridge should result in less areal coverage of precipitation on Sunday. Current temperature guidance indicates a warming trend through the period with readings in the mid 80s to near 90 across lowland counties. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 214 PM Thursday... Showers and storms may be ongoing at the start of the period as a front approaches the area from the northwest. A big question will be whether the front pushes through the area or become stationary somewhere. Models continue to indicate a broad upper level trough will move into the the Great Lakes region on Monday with shortwave impulses rippling through the region at times. In addition, a cold front may push southeast across the area late in the period. With all of this in mind, have continued daily chances of showers and storms with the greatest coverage occurring in the afternoon and evening hours. With the upper trough building in, expect afternoon readings will gradually cool with readings at the end of the period being close to or slightly below normal. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 120 PM Thursday... Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop across the area this afternoon and this evening. Local IFR conditions will be possible in any heavier downpours, but otherwise conditions are expected to remain largely VFR through midnight. Areas that receive significant rainfall overnight may develop patchy fog by morning, but overall substantial cloud cover and proximity of surface low pressure should limit fog extent to more sheltered valleys. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and placement of thunder will likely vary from TAFs and be addressed with short term amendments. 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 M H M H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H H H M H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY M M M M M M M M M M L H EKN CONSISTENCY M M M M H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H M H M H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H M H H H H H H M H H H AFTER 18Z FRIDAY... IFR conditions possible Saturday morning in patchy fog. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...JSH/JP NEAR TERM...JP SHORT TERM...JSH LONG TERM...JSH AVIATION...JP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 212 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020 VAZ003-004-WVZ010-011-015>020-024>034-039-040-515>526-190615- Dickenson-Buchanan-Pleasants-Tyler-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- 212 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, and portions of central West Virginia, northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia, southeast West Virginia and southern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. There is a marginal risk of flooding issues this afternoon and evening with thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Slow moving thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening may result in localized flooding. .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. KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>009-013-014-190615- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington- Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Wayne-Cabell-Mason- Jackson WV-Wood-Lincoln-Putnam- 212 AM EDT Thu Jun 18 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. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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 352 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020 WVZ016>018-029-182015- Calhoun-Roane-Wirt-Gilmer- 352 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CALHOUN...SOUTHWESTERN GILMER... SOUTHEASTERN WIRT AND NORTHERN ROANE COUNTIES... At 349 PM EDT, a heavy thunderstorm was located over Arnoldsburg, or 11 miles south of Grantsville, moving northwest at 20 mph. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm. One inch is possible within 15 minutes, which and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Watch for a quick drop in visibility, ponding and hydroplaning. Pea size hail is also possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Spencer, Grantsville, Arnoldsburg, Millstone, Orma, Mount Zion, Annamoriah and Chloe. In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to travel across flooded roads. Find alternate routes. It takes only a few inches of swiftly flowing water to carry vehicles away. LAT...LON 3877 8097 3863 8112 3881 8147 3904 8114 TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 131DEG 18KT 3875 8112 12
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
355 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020
WVZ032-182015-
Taylor-
355 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT TAYLOR COUNTY...
At 354 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Grafton, moving
north at 10 mph.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm. One inch is
possible within 15 minutes, which and may cause localized flooding.
Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Watch for a
quick drop in visibility, ponding and hydroplaning.
Pea size hail is also possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Grafton, Bridgeport, Flemington, Valley Falls, Tygart Lake State
Park, Thornton, Rosemont, Knottsville, McGee and Meadland.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to travel across
flooded roads. Find alternate routes. It takes only a few inches of
swiftly flowing water to carry vehicles away.
LAT...LON 3930 7990 3929 7991 3929 7993 3930 7994
3928 7996 3924 8017 3929 8021 3939 8020
3941 8011 3939 8009 3940 8003 3942 8000
3945 7994 3930 7989
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 167DEG 10KT 3934 8009
12The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:01 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
In the town of Arnoldsburg, multiple spots along Route 33/119 were under water. Emergency vehicles became stuck on the flooded roadways and had to be pulled out. A nearby horse barn was damaged and a horse trailer was halfway submerged in the flood water.
A local business in the town of Cherry Falls observed a few inches of water surrounding the building.
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, June 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: 890114, 890118.