West Virginia, 2020

Damaging Wind and Strong Wind in West Virginia, November 15 to 17, 2020

November 15 to 17, 2020 · NWS RLX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong cold front crossed through West Virginia on the afternoon of the 15th, forcing down gusty winds from aloft within strong thunderstorms. In Lewis County, one such storm caused a tree to be blown down onto a roadway near the town of Horner.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
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Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$4,000
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 RLX wrote it up.

A strong cold front crossed through West Virginia on the afternoon of the 15th, forcing down gusty winds from aloft within strong thunderstorms. In Lewis County, one such storm caused a tree to be blown down onto a roadway near the town of Horner. Behind the front, strong synoptic winds was observed across much of the state through the evening hours. In the town of Clay, those strong winds resulted in a large tree being blown down onto a resident's driveway.

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 Nov 15, 2:39 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 15, 2:39 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 15, 2:05 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 15, 2:17 PM EST, 2 hours 13 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 15, 2:22 PM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 15, 2:32 PM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Nov 15, 3:10 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Nov 15, 3:44 PM EST, 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Nov 15, 4:26 PM EST, 4 minutes before
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The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 142 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lewis

When
November 15, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Lewis County, 1.07 mi E of Wilson Siding
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
39.000, -80.350

One tree was blown down along Route 33 near the town of Horner.

Strong Wind, Clay

When
November 17, 11:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Measured
40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
38.463, -81.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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, November 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: 922613, 922627.