Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, April 4 to 5, 2023

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, April 4 to 5, 2023
Start: 2023-04-04T14:15
End: 2023-04-05T20:28
Location: West Virginia

April 4 to 5, 2023 · NWS RLX · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Afternoon thunderstorms transpired on April 4th and 5th as the result of strong southerly flow ushering in warmer than average temperatures into West Virginia. Storms on the 4th had the capability of producing one inch hail in Lincoln County, while on the 5th damaging wind gusts were the main culprit behind downed trees in Harrison and Taylor Counties.

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: $1,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

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 Apr 4, 1:50 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 1:50 PM EST, 25 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 1:49 PM EST, 26 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 1:53 PM EST, 22 minutes before

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The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lincoln

When: April 4, 2:15 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, Sheridan
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Post Office
Coordinates: 38.230, -82.200

Hail, Lincoln

When: April 4, 2:30 PM EST
Where: Lincoln County, 1.48 mi NNW of Hager
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.240, -82.090

Thunderstorm Wind, Harrison

When: April 5, 7:33 PM EST
Where: Harrison County, Industrial
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $200
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 39.280, -80.570

One tree was blown down and obstructed portions of Halls Run Road in Salem.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harrison

When: April 5, 8:02 PM EST
Where: Harrison County, 0.53 mi W of Despard
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.280, -80.330

A power pole and its lines were blown down onto Buckhannon Avenue in Clarksburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: April 5, 8:09 PM EST
Where: Taylor County, 0.87 mi SE of Fetterman
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $200
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 39.340, -80.020

One tree was blown down onto a road in Grafton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: April 5, 8:28 PM EST
Where: Taylor County, 0.87 mi SE of Fetterman
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $200
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 39.340, -80.020

Near the town of Grafton, a tree was blown down onto a local road.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in West Virginia in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in West Virginia, April 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1091547, 1091548, 1091552, 1091553, 1091554, 1091555.