A strong low pressure system passed north of the area on March 3rd in accompaniment with a surface cold front. Strong winds above the surface were able to mix down throughout the day outside of showers and thunderstorms, especially by the afternoon and evening timeframe.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 strong low pressure system passed north of the area on March 3rd in accompaniment with a surface cold front. Strong winds above the surface were able to mix down throughout the day outside of showers and thunderstorms, especially by the afternoon and evening timeframe. The Charleston airport measured a 60 mph wind gust around the peak of the afternoon and several other local airports reported strong to high winds. Winds began to diminish from west to east late on March 3rd, but prolonged gusts of 58 mph were observed along the West Virginia mountains into the morning hours of the 4th.
Downed trees and power lines were observed across West Virginia due to these strong winds. While most fell onto the nearby roadways, one tree in Wayne County fell onto a house in the town of Belpre. There was also an instance where a brush fire occurred in southeast Raleigh County as a result of downed power lines.
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 Mar 3, 1:59 PM EST, 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
159 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong low pressure system will affect the area through tonight.
Mainly dry weather expected this weekend. Another system brings
a cold front with showers Monday night.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 130 PM Friday...
The main focus today is a potent low southwest of the area that
is approaching the area throughout the beginning of this
period. As the low pressure center gets close it will track
northeast outside our CWA and drag a frontal boundary, which
should be occlude by the evening. This feature will push a line
of convection ahead of it. Hi-Res models have the line
weakening as it approaches and enters our CWA, however
thunderstorms could still be prevalent and drag down intense
winds from the llj which will be set in place.
Weakening of the line makes sense since we have strong
inversions in place and there is a hugh lack of instability,
not to mention wind shear might be too strong to sustain
updrafts and rather just shear them apart. This doesn't mean we
are out of the clear though since any heavy shower or storm
could bring down these severe winds just a few thousand feet
off the surface. There is also the potential for tornadoes where
a few can potentially form along that line of convection which
is common along QLCS's.
There is even a threat for flooding across our Ohio and Kentucky
counties where any deep convection could pose a threat and cause
water issues over low-lying and flood prone areas. This is the
case even with a decent lull through this afternoon. Winds will
steadily increase throughout and by late afternoon they should
be reaching advisory criteria possibly and continue past
frontal passage. The mountains could potentially observe
warning criteria shortly thereafter.
This system will be moving fast with very strong mid-level
steering flow, therefore by mid to late evening the line will
have exited the area to the east and just some lingering
showers will likely be present and mainly confined to the
northern half of the area as the low pulls away. Overnight, as
the aforementioned low moves further to the northeast, it will
spread chances for showers in the northeast mountains. By this
time, below freezing temperatures will exist across that area
thereby promoting some snow showers. As the moisture depth
decreases with the fleeting system and falls below the
dendritic growth zone, any remaining showers will likely become
freezing rain or drizzle. Accumulations would be very minimal
and confined to the peaks and ridges of the mountains so impacts
are low.
Winds will generally have an increase with the passing frontal
boundary and then start to taper off, as well as any potential
for precipitation by the very late morning on Saturday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 155 PM Friday...
A ridge of high pressure will build over the region Saturday night
and skies will begin to clear out. Overnight low temperatures will
drop into the low 30s across the lowlands and the upper 20s across
the higher elevations. Sunshine is expected to return across most
areas on Sunday with the 500 mb ridge axis centered over the middle
Ohio Valley. Temperatures will likely reach the lower 60s
across central and western portions of the region. Dry and quiet
weather is expected to continue into Sunday night.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 155 PM Friday...
An area of low pressure will be tracking eastward from the Northern
Plains into Great Lakes on Monday. Its associated cold front is
expected to pass through the region late in the day or at night,
which will lead to the return of precipitation across the region.
The air will once again be quite warm ahead of the front, with
Monday's highs reaching the lower 70s across much of the lowlands.
Models are still not in complete agreement regarding the timing of
precipitation, but it does seem like most of Monday should be dry,
and rain chances will gradually increase by Monday evening and into
Monday night. Some lingering precipitation is possible into Tuesday.
Temperatures will moderate to much more seasonable values for mid-to-
late week.
Another ridge of high pressure is expected to build across the
central U.S. by Wednesday, pushing eastward into the Middle Ohio
Valley by Thursday. The overall theme appears to be dry for the
middle of the week, but confidence is low at this time. A few models
show a few weak ripples of energy riding along the 500 mb flow, so
it's possible that some areas could see scattered showers. Models
show a more organized system approaching from the west by Friday.
Models aren't in much agreement with this system, and given that
this is day 7, we will wait a bit to go into any details. One
interesting thing to note is that the Climate Prediction Center
places our region in a 60-70% probability of below normal
temperatures from March 10th to the 16th. We will see if 'winter'
tries to make an appearance for the middle of March.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 1230 PM Friday...
A potent system to our west will approach the area through this
period and subsequently drag a frontal boundary through this
evening. This means plenty of opportunity for thunderstorms
although the lack of instability and too much shear may just
save us, therefore only mentioned vicinity storms for a few
hours during the evening when Hi-Res models have a broken line
of convection coming through. This line will also cause lower
visibilities under heavier showers, however outside this
feature VIS should not be restriction by more than MVFR under
light rain showers.
We are in a lull right now and although winds are progressively
increasing they are still not strong enough at the surface to
negate llws therefore, mentioned in the TAFS until surface winds
increase by late tonight behind the frontal boundary. CIGs
should not get too low generally hovering around MVFR through
the period and then lifting by Saturday morning. The exception
is the sites along the mountains where lingering low clouds and
could stay well into the afternoon, except for EKN, who is
forecast to be under IFR CIGs through the late morning then
lifting back to MVFR. The wester sites should lift to VFR by
early afternoon.
Winds will change direction after frontal passage and go from
southerly to westerly by late Saturday morning. Winds will taper
off some, but gusty conditons will still be prevalent
especially across the eastern sites.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium to high.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of precipitation and associated
restrictions may vary from forecast.
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
EST 1HRLY 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00
CRW CONSISTENCY H H M M H H L H H M H H
HTS CONSISTENCY M H H M M H H H M M H H
BKW CONSISTENCY H H L L M L L M H H M M
EKN CONSISTENCY H M M M M M M M H H M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H M M M M H L H H M H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M M M M M H M M H H H H
AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...
No widespread IFR expected at this time.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST Saturday for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>034-039-040.
Wind Advisory until 1 PM EST Saturday for WVZ515>522-524-525.
Wind Advisory until 5 PM EST this afternoon for WVZ523-526.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM to 1 PM EST Saturday for WVZ523-526.
High Wind Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST
Saturday for WVZ523-526.
OH...Flood Watch until 1 AM EST Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch until 1 AM EST Saturday for KYZ101>103.
Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST Saturday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST Saturday for VAZ003-004.
&&
SYNOPSIS...26/JZ
NEAR TERM...JZ
SHORT TERM...26
LONG TERM...26
AVIATION...JZHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 417 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 KYZ101>103-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-040930- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton- Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH- 417 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Kentucky and southeast Ohio. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. Isolated strong storms are possible late this afternoon and this evening, with damaging winds the primary threat, although hail and a tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .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. KYZ105-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-013>020-024>034-039-040-040930- Lawrence KY-Dickenson-Buchanan-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-McDowell-Wyoming-Upshur-Barbour- 417 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lawrence County in northeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and the lowlands of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Isolated strong storms may be capable of producing damaging winds late this afternoon and this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .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. WVZ515>522-524-525-040930- Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette- Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas- Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster-Southeast Pocahontas- Northwest Randolph- 417 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the mountainous counties of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Isolated strong storms may be capable of producing damaging winds this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .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. WVZ523-526-040930- Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Randolph- 417 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the higher ridges of the northern mountains of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. High Wind Warning. Isolated strong storms may be capable of producing damaging winds this evening. A glaze of freezing is possible overnight tonight, as cold air rushes in beneath the warm air aloft. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. High Wind Warning. Wind Advisory. A glaze of freezing is possible Saturday morning. .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. TRM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 strong wind, 9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were downed all throughout the county.
Numerous areas within the county observed a singular downed trees with a few power lines blown down as well.
A tree fell and hit a house across the street from the fire station near Belpre. No injuries were reported.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down across the county, leading to widespread power outages.
Numerous power outages occurred around the town of Spencer due to downed trees and power lines.
Trees and power lines were blown down around Rock Cave and Buckhannon, resulting in widespread power outages in the county. The Buckhannon Airport measured a 56 mph wind gust just before midnight on the 3rd.
South of North Hills, an office building observed exterior damage at Avery and 6th Street, next to the railroad trestle.
Power poles were snapped in the vicinity of State Route 2 and Jerrys Run Road.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed near Charleston. The Charleston airport measured a 60 mph peak wind gust that afternoon.
Downed trees and power lines in the county resulted in widespread power outages. Near the town of Bradley, a power line was blown down onto trees and caused a fire in the woods near Beechview Road. The Beckley airport measured a 49 mph wind gust that afternoon.
In Ripley, widespread power outages occurred due to downed trees and power lines.
Over a dozen trees were downed across the county.
Numerous power outages were observed in the county due to downed trees and power lines.
Numerous power outages were observed within the county due to downed trees and power lines.
Power lines were blown down near Pennsboro and Ellenboro.
Power outages were observed across the western half of the county due to downed trees and power lines.
Several power outages due to tree and power line damage were observed near Middlebourne.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, March 2023
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: 1081869, 1081870, 1082343, 1082344, 1082339, 1082342, 1082345, 1082333, 1081871, 1082337, 1082350, 1082332, 1082334, 1082336, 1082338, 1082340, 1082341, 1082335.