In the midst of a low pressure system progressing through the Great Lakes region, an accompanying low level jet inflicted a period of breezy to strong wind gusts in southeast Ohio. Winds grew in strength by the afternoon of January 12th and would remain the case into the morning of January 13th before diminishing.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
In the midst of a low pressure system progressing through the Great Lakes region, an accompanying low level jet inflicted a period of breezy to strong wind gusts in southeast Ohio. Winds grew in strength by the afternoon of January 12th and would remain the case into the morning of January 13th before diminishing. During that time, wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph became common around the region, resulting in tree damage and several areas that observed power outages in the Ohio River Valley.
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 Jan 12, 1:38 PM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
138 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong system brings rain this afternoon into this evening
with strong, gusty winds. Its cold front crosses tonight. Colder
with snow showers this weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 100 PM Friday...
A strong low pressure system will lift through the Great Lakes
region, pushing a band of rain through the area this afternoon
and evening. Models are generally showing under an inch of rain
with the system, so don't think that there will be water
problems. A strong low level jet over the region will produce
strong southeast winds, which will allow for downsloping on the
western slopes. A strong inversion should protect counties away
from the higher elevations and southeast flow downsloping until
late in the day when the inversion erodes. Gradient winds in
the higher elevations will not need mixing to make it to the
ground, so will continue with the High Wind Warning. Will
continue the Wind Advisory for the rest of the mountains and
western facing slopes.
A strong cold front will then push through the region overnight.
A strong pressure gradient along with cold air advection mixing
winds to the ground behind the front will cause gusty winds to
continue. Therefore, will continue the Wind Advisories. Much
colder air will move in behind the front, allowing for snow to
form late tonight into Saturday. Moisture is rather shallow, so
snow amounts will generally be under an inch for the lowlands,
with 1 to 3 inches possible in the mountains, mainly in the
higher elevations.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 134 PM Friday...
Key Point:
* A blast of cold air arrives Sunday with some mountain snow
showers. Winds will also remain breezy.
Light upslope snow showers may continue into Sunday morning over the
mountains, but most snow showers should taper off by midday as low-
to-mid level dry air spreads eastward into the region along with a
blast of cold air. In southeast Ohio, high temperatures will
be no better than the middle 20s on Sunday. The West Virginia
lowlands will see highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s, and the
mountains will see highs in the teens and 20s. Winds will
remain breezy on Sunday with cold air advection, especially in
the West Virginia mountains. Sunday night will be bitterly cold
with lows in the teens areawide.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 135 PM Friday...
Key Point:
* The next potentially impactful storm may arrive Monday,
lasting through Tuesday. Accumulating snow will be possible,
but plenty of uncertainty exists. Bitterly cold air looks
very likely.
Models are still not in agreement with next week's potential snow
event. The GFS, Canadian and NAM computer modeling continues to show
the potential for snow on Monday and Tuesday as a southern stream of
energy and moisture approaches from the west with sufficient cold
air in place. However, the ECMWF has been nudging toward a drier
solution the past few runs with weaker energy aloft. Models then
show a positively tilted longwave trough tracking across the eastern
1/3 of the country Tuesday with surface low pressure developing
along the Southeast Atlantic coastline. Models are in disagreement
with the track of this surface low. Some models favor a stronger
coastal storm that tracks closer to the coastline, while other
models favor a weaker storm that tracks farther out to sea. The
first solution would bring us increased potential for accumulating
snow, while the second solution would limit the snow potential with
drier air in place. We will have a better handle on this forecast in
the coming days as models come into better agreement. For now, we
are forecasting light snowfall accumulations Monday and Tuesday with
low confidence. However, we are very confident in the temperature
forecast early next week with bitterly cold air looking likely.
High pressure will expand into our region next Wednesday and
Thursday. Temperatures still look to be well below average
Wednesday, but may moderate closer to normal next Thursday. For
reference, average high temperature for this time of year is
generally in the middle 40s in the lowlands and upper 30s to lower
40s in the mountains. Another storm may approach from the west next
Thursday night.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 1240 PM Friday...
VFR conditions will deteriorate this afternoon and evening to
MVFR as clouds lower and rain moves into the region. Some brief
IFR visibilities are possible with the rain. Conditions could
briefly return to VFR after the rain band. A cold front will
then push through overnight. Expect MVFR ceilings behind the
cold front. Colder air moving in behind the cold front will
cause some MVFR and IFR restrictions in snow late tonight and
Saturday morning, more likely in and near the mountains.
A strong low level jet will cause unusually strong and gusty
southeast winds this afternoon. The winds will shift to strong
and gusty west winds behind the cold front.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and intensity of restrictions in
rain this afternoon and evening could vary.
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 H H M H H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY H H M L L H H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY H H H M H M H H H M H H
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H M M M H H H M M
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H M L M H H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H M M H H H H H H
AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...
IFR possible in snow Monday night into Tuesday, especially in
and near the mountains.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EST Saturday for WVZ005>011-013-014-
017-019-020-524.
Wind Advisory until 8 AM EST Sunday for WVZ015-016-018-024>034-
515.
High Wind Warning until 10 PM EST this evening for WVZ039-040-
516>523-525-526.
Wind Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 8 AM EST Sunday for
WVZ039-040-516>523-525-526.
OH...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EST Saturday for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EST Saturday for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EST Sunday for VAZ003-004.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RPY/JMC
NEAR TERM...RPY
SHORT TERM...JMC
LONG TERM...JMC
AVIATION...RPYHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 509 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2024 KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-013-014-017-019- 020-524-131015- 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-Wirt-Ritchie- Doddridge-Southeast Pocahontas- 509 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and portions of central, northeast, northern, southern and western 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. Rain changing to snow overnight tonight could cause slick travel in spots. Little to no accumulations expected. .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. Snow showers Saturday morning could cause slick travel in spots. Little to no accumulations expected. Another disturbance could bring light snow accumulations to the area Monday and Tuesday. Frigid temperatures expected Monday through Wednesday associated with an arctic air mass. Wind chill headlines may be needed Tuesday into Wednesday. .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. WVZ039-040-516>523-525-526-131015- Upshur-Barbour-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette- Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster- Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph- Southeast Randolph- 509 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2024 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast, northern and southeast 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. High Wind Warning. Wind Advisory. Rain changing to snow overnight tonight creating slick travel in spots. Use caution if traveling. Light accumulations expected. .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. Snow showers Saturday and Sunday could create slick road conditions. Use caution if traveling. Light accumulations expected. Strong gusty winds will impact the area Saturday and Sunday. Wind gusts up to 55 MPH are possible. Another disturbance could bring light snow accumulations to the area Monday and Tuesday. Frigid temperatures expected Monday through Wednesday associated with an arctic air mass. Dangerous wind chills could be possible Tuesday and Wednesday across elevations above 3,500 feet. headlines may be needed. .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. VAZ003-004-WVZ015-016-018-024>034-515-131015- Dickenson-Buchanan-Kanawha-Roane-Calhoun-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Clay- Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-McDowell-Wyoming- Northwest Raleigh- 509 AM EST Fri Jan 12 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia, and portions of central, northern, southeast and southern 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. Rain changing to snow overnight tonight could cause slick travel in spots. Little to no accumulations expected. .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. Snow showers Saturday morning could cause slick travel in spots. Little to no accumulations expected. Another disturbance could bring light snow accumulations to the area Monday and Tuesday. Frigid temperatures expected Monday through Wednesday associated with an arctic air mass. Wind chill headlines may be needed Tuesday into Wednesday. .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.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1218 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1111 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 NNW Cowen 38.50N 80.58W
01/12/2024 Webster WV Dept of Highways
Tree down.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1226 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg War 37.30N 81.67W
01/12/2024 McDowell WV 911 Call Center
War city limits heading towards Tazewell
past south side school there is a tree down
blocking one lane.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1228 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1143 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 SE Clintwood 37.11N 82.38W
01/12/2024 Dickenson VA 911 Call Center
Tree down in the roadway near the gas well
just past the ball field.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1230 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1219 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 SE War 37.24N 81.61W
01/12/2024 McDowell WV 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking the road on Canebrake
Mtn. Road, near Rt. 16.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
149 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Oak Hill 37.97N 81.14W
01/12/2024 Fayette WV Broadcast Media
The roof of a building in Oak Hill has blown
off into the parking lot as well as onto
Main Street. The building is located across
from the Plateau Medical Center.
&&
MEKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
151 PM EST Fri Jan 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0133 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 ESE War 37.27N 81.61W
01/12/2024 McDowell WV 911 Call Center
Tree down and traffic has stopped both ways.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, January 2024
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: 1156041, 1156043, 1156044, 1156045, 1156048, 1156049, 1156050, 1156052, 1156054.