The end of September featured a strong Category 4 Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region on September 26th. After sailing through the Mississippi Valley, Helene quickly deviated its track to the west-northwest as it began to pivot around an increasingly cut off upper level low disturbance positioned over Kentucky, and became post-tropical in the process.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
The end of September featured a strong Category 4 Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region on September 26th. After sailing through the Mississippi Valley, Helene quickly deviated its track to the west-northwest as it began to pivot around an increasingly cut off upper level low disturbance positioned over Kentucky, and became post-tropical in the process. This brought forth the start of impacts to West Virginia on the 27th, especially across west-central parts of the state, with strong to damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall.
Wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour were observed frequently across southwest West Virginia, with multiple areas of downed trees and power lines in McDowell, Wayne, and Wood Counties on September 27th. The strongest wind gust observed in the state occurred at the Huntington Airport in Cabell County, recording a gust of 70 miles per hour just after 12:00 that afternoon. There was also an instance of flash flooding in Jackson County, where a local creek rose out of its banks and spilled onto the local road. This was from the locally heavy rainfall that was associated with Helene, which yielded much needed moisture to the state after a summer filled with a historic drought.
Additional rounds of showers continued to impact West Virginia from September 28th to October 1st as the lingering remnants of Helene were absorbed by the stationary upper level disturbance, and would only come to an end with the help of a crossing cold front on October 2nd. However, no additional impacts were caused by Helene after the 29th across West Virginia.
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 Sep 27, 1:10 PM EST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
210 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Remnants of Helene spreading strong gusty winds and additional
rainfall today. More rain chances over the weekend into early
next week. Drier weather takes hold middle of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 1040 AM Friday...
Radar imagery shows center circulation of Helene over eastern TN,
with stronger inner rain bands over the north and northeast
quadrants, lifting north northwest towards our southern counties
late this morning. Strong gusty winds, already reported at HTS and
BKW around 40 mph, will spread north to affect other counties
through this afternoon. No changes to headlines are needed
attm. Rest of forecast remains on track.
As of 430 AM Friday...
Key Points:
* Flash Flood Watch in effect until 8 PM tonight for southwest
VA, mountains of WV and the Tri-State Area.
* High Wind Warning in effect until 8 PM tonight across the
mountains of southwest VA and WV.
* Wind Advisory in effect until 8 PM tonight for portions of
the coalfields, foothills and mountains of WV, as well as
portions of the the Tri-State Area.
A frontal boundary spawning off from the north of Hurricane
Helene is currently over the area. As a result, expecting
showers and gusty winds to impact the area starting early this
morning as Helene tracks north and west into the CONUS. The
center of the remnants will pass to our west over Kentucky this
afternoon/evening.
Helene is weakening quite a bit since making landfall and it
will be a quick moving system. Most of our impacts will be seen
this morning into early afternoon. Some hold over into the
evening is possible with any flooding that may arise.
There is a moderate risk for excessive rainfall across portions
of Dickenson and Buchanan counties in VA and a slight risk of
excessive rainfall across the far southern coalfields and
mountains of West Virginia. Models show the bulk of the rain
falling between 6 AM and 3 PM today, with the highest amounts
between 1.00" and 1.30" across our northeastern KY counties and
southwest VA counties. Did continue and expand the flood watch
accordingly to cover any areas of concern.
The wind threat has been increased with latest short-range
guidance, particularly across the higher ridges of the
mountains. The potential is there with this fast moving storm
as southeast flow becomes enhanced across the ridgetops above
2,500 feet. Used a HREF/HRRR blend which has gusts between 50
and 60 mph for much of the higher elevations this morning, with
some locally higher gusts possible. Did upgrade or add counties
to a high wind warning to cover this. Also expanded the wind
advisory across portions of the lowlands. Did not go with any
short-range bias for the lower elevations as the winds were way
overdone across this area.
There is a chance that the wind factor is less substantial than
advertised if Helene continues to rapidly weaken as it traverses
inland. Otherwise, fairly confident that criteria will be met
across the higher elevations particularly in our southern
mountain counties of WV and southwest VA.
There is a marginal risk for severe weather concerning tornado
risk. This outlook is clipping our VA counties and far eastern
McDowell County up to eastern Fayette and southeast Pocahontas
County. Some stronger cells on the northeastern side of this
system do have the potential for rotation, but the highest risk
remains to our east.
Will start to see winds and some of the shower activity tapering
off this afternoon into the evening as the remnants sit to our
west.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
As of 210 PM Friday...
Upper low will slowly drift back over the area Sunday into Monday,
with generally light shower activity as it does so, although heavier
amounts are possible in any enhanced showers or convection that is
able to occur, and WPC has maintained a marginal risk across the
area for Sunday, and across eastern zones for Monday.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 1208 PM Friday...
Low should open into a wave and generally move east of the area by
Tuesday. However, it will be quickly followed by a front that will
sweep across the area sometime in the Tuesday night or early
Wednesday time frame. High pressure will then build in behind the
departing system for drier, and mild conditions across the area,
along with low RH.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 144 PM Friday...
MVFR/IFR conditions will continue along bands of light to
moderate rain moving across the southern and eastern terminals
this afternoon. It appears to be a dry slot south and east of
the circulation from Helene that will spread from south to north
through early this evening, as Helene moves slowly west
northwest. Therefore, expect visibility to improve outside
showers or storms. However, ceilings may remain under MVFR/IFR
along and near the mountains tonight.
As most precipitation exits west of the area this evening, isolated
and weaker rain bands may move over our area from time to time to
produce moderate rain and gusty winds. Expect the atmosphere to
decouple some overnight, reducing winds.
Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots gusting up to 50 knots will be
possible at some terminals before the system moves west this
evening. Expect winds to decrease to 5 to 10 knots, gusting up to 28
knots along the higher elevations, but loosing the gustiness across
the lowlands outside any shower overnight tonight.
Central guidance suggest low stratus developing across the central
and northeast mountains from 06Z through 13Z Friday morning.
Surface winds 10 knots or less will prevail across the lowlands
later tonight, with few gusts along the higher elevations.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing and extent of low CIGs and gusty
winds could 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
EDT 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H
HTS CONSISTENCY L L H H H H H H H H H H
BKW CONSISTENCY H M H M H H H H H H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY L L H H H H H H H M M L
PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H
CKB CONSISTENCY M M L L L M M M L M M H
AFTER 18Z SATURDAY...
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ005-033-034-515-
516-518-520-522>524.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ005-006-013-
024>026-517-519-521-524-525.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ033-034-
515-516-518-520-522-523-526.
OH...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ087.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ083-086-087.
KY...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for KYZ101>103-105.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for VAZ003-004.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for VAZ003-004.
&&
SYNOPSIS...FK/LTC
NEAR TERM...ARJ
SHORT TERM...SL
LONG TERM...SL
AVIATION...LTCHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 OHZ066-067-075-076-084-085-WVZ007>011-014>020-027>032-039-040-281330- Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Vinton-Meigs-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood- Pleasants-Tyler-Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge- Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-Upshur-Barbour- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Ohio, and portions of central, northern, southern and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Localized instances of flash flooding may occur today with showers associated with the remnants of Helene. Southeast winds could be breezy or gusty at times, especially this morning. Winds could gust up to 40 mph which could knock down trees, power lines and any unsecured objects. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. OHZ083-086-WVZ006-013-024>026-517-519-521-281330- Jackson OH-Gallia-Cabell-Lincoln-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Northwest Fayette- Northwest Nicholas-Northwest Webster- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Ohio, and portions of northeast, southeast, 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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-OHZ087-WVZ005-281330- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Lawrence OH-Wayne- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, portions of southeast Ohio 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. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. WVZ034-515-516-518-520-522-281330- Wyoming-Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Southeast Fayette- Southeast Nicholas-Southeast Webster- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast, 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. Flood Watch. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Wind Advisory. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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-WVZ033-281330- Dickenson-Buchanan-McDowell- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia 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. Flood Watch. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Wind Advisory. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. WVZ523-281330- Northwest Pocahontas- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast 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. Flood Watch. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Wind Advisory. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. WVZ524-281330- Southeast Pocahontas- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast 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. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. WVZ526-281330- Southeast Randolph- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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. WVZ525-281330- Northwest Randolph- 929 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Localized flooding concerns may arise from daily showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. .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
217 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Chapmanville 37.98N 82.02W
09/27/2024 Logan WV 911 Call Center
Multiple trees down including Ridgeview
Estates, Garretts Fork Rd and Big Ugly Creek
Rd.
&&
ABEPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
218 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Hurricane 38.43N 82.02W
09/27/2024 Putnam WV 911 Call Center
Multiple trees down including Winner Circle
and Teays Hollow Rd.
&&
ABEPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
222 PM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Kenova 38.40N 82.58W
09/27/2024 Wayne WV 911 Call Center
Carport blown over on Barger Hill Rd and
trees and power lines down on Sycamore St
and 20th St.
&&
ABE<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html><!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html><!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:27 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees and power lines were blown down onto a house along Sturgill Lane in the township of Shoals.
In Mineral Wells, multiple downed trees were observed blocking Stephens Fork Road.
A tree fell onto a home outside the Welch township.
In the small town of Prichard, a downed tree caused a transformer and power pole to fall down onto and block Prichard Road.
Route 21 near Fair Plain was flooded for a period of time as a result of Grasslick Run rising out of its banks.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, September 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: 1217176, 1217177, 1217178, 1217179, 1217191.