Two consecutive days of thunderstorms producing primarily large hail swept through West Virginia on May 4th and 5th. Hail stones ranged from quarter sized and up to two inches in diameter in some cases.
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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.
Two consecutive days of thunderstorms producing primarily large hail swept through West Virginia on May 4th and 5th. Hail stones ranged from quarter sized and up to two inches in diameter in some cases. Many trained spotters observed hail covering the ground in places such as Buckhannon and Elkview on the 4th, then becoming more common across Kanawha and Wood Counties on the 5th. This was primarily due to low freezing levels at the time of the storms, allowing growing storms to capitalize on easier hail production. Storms also produced instances of damaging wind gusts, which resulted in downed trees and power lines. Thunderstorm activity on both days were heavily dictated by daytime heating, causing storm coverage and intensity to diminish quickly after sunset.
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 May 4, 12:16 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Charleston WV 116 PM EDT Sun May 4 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Ad nauseam rounds of showers and thunderstorms continue today into the new work week, with concerns for flash flooding, amid a large low pressure system. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1030 AM Sunday... Morning mixing amid moist low-level air has resulted in low stratocumulus, which will mix higher through midday. Breaks in the stratocu this afternoon will allow for some diurnal heating, as a short wave trough axis pivots northward around the east side of a nearly stacked mid/upper-level swirling about central and western Kentucky. The passage of this feature right over the area should make for an active afternoon on radar. As of 640 AM Sunday... Seeing a decent dry slot develop across the forecast area as precipitation moves out. There are patches of valley fog and low stratus across the area this morning. Not much to change with the forecast other than refreshing timing for precipitation onset with latest HRRR/RAP guidance. As of 320 AM Sunday... Large, upper-level, cut-off low continues to swirl overhead keeping a front parked across the area. Light showers and drizzle will continue to move across the area early this morning reinforcing low clouds and patchy fog for our Sunday morning. Lows will be dependent on cloud cover as there area few breaks across the northeastern mountains. Most locations will slowly fall into the low to mid 50s under light to calm winds and high humidity. Stalled front will gain steam and push off to the northeast today as the troublesome low occludes. Showers and thunderstorms will pick up by late morning into the early afternoon as the front accelerates. A few storms could be on the stronger side, with an isolated severe cell or two possible. Main hazards are damaging winds and hail, but the chance for isolated tornado exists due to the low pressure providing some curvature to the winds profiles. Flash flooding is of course a concern today after the seemingly continuous carousel of showers and thunderstorms the previous days. Precipitable water looks less threatening today though with values between 0.50 and 1.00 inches. Training storms over already inundated and highly saturated areas will be the most likely culprit for hydro issues today. 0-6km bulk shear is powerful between 50 and 75 knots, but lower level shear is not as impressive at less than 25 and 30 knots. CAPE values are not as impressive either remaining below 1,000 J/kg with a few soundings even showing an average of less than 500 J/kg this afternoon. HRRR shows some punchy 3CAPE values along the front this afternoon which would be the focus of the main updrafts. Freezing level will be much lower today. Soundings show freezing levels between 5k and 10k feet this afternoon, which is rather low. If the lack of CAPE did not exist then hail would be an issue today, but overall thinking is that today's storms will be very similar to yesterday's. Another reprieve in the active weather is expected to occur overnight into Monday morning. High temperatures today are projected to be in the mid 60s to the low 70s across the lowlands, with the mountains staying in the upper 50s to upper 60s. These temperature ranges are below normal for this time of year. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... As of 115 PM Sunday... Upper low will continue to rotate across the area Tuesday, providing additional rounds of showers and occasional thunderstorms, particularly during peak heating hours. At this point, not expecting much in the way of severe due to a potential lack of instability with plenty of showers and cloud cover forecast. Low will gradually kick off to the northeast later in the day Tuesday/Tuesday night, with decreasing shower activity, as low pressure across the southwest U.S. starts to drift eastward. Much of Wednesday looks to dry out, although with lingering moisture behind the departing low isolated showers will continue to be possible, particularly during peak heating hours. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 115 PM Sunday... Messy pattern continues to linger into the extended period. Upper low moving off to the northeast will eventually open into a wave and phase with a shortwave trough coming down from Canada. Models tend to agree this trough will sag south across the northeastern U.S., putting our area in a cooler, but still unsettled pattern, but overall it looks like bulk of moisture associated with southern stream system will remain well to our south. && .AVIATION /17Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 650 AM Sunday... Seeing a variation in conditions this morning. Low stratus has formed across the Tri-State Area, SE Ohio, NE Kentucky, and the southern WV mountains. Terminals in these locations have been reporting MVFR/IFR restrictions due to lower ceilings. There is patchy fog in the valleys and across the northern lowlands. CKB, CRW, and EKN have been affected by this. There are also some showers moving out across our northern forecast area. After these clear out expecting a brief dry period until the next round arrives later. More showers and thunderstorms are expected to move back in later this morning around ~15-16z, with a few storms possibly being strong to severe across the northeastern mountains later this afternoon. Main hazards are damaging winds, hail, and heavy rainfall. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, but chances are low for tornado formation. Restrictions in and around any thunderstorms could be in the IFR category or lower. More MVFR/IFR ceilings expected Sunday night into Monday under low stratus and fog formation. Winds will be light and variable this morning due to low pressure overhead. Light to breezy SW'rly winds expected to pick up later this morning. Gusts could be between 10 and 20 knots with showers and thunderstorms today. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing, location, and restrictions associated with showers and thunderstorms may vary. Extent of IFR stratus and fog this morning and subsequent improvement to VFR could also 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 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 EDT 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 M H M H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY M M H M H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H M M M M M M M H H M L PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H M H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H M M H M M M H H H M AFTER 18Z MONDAY... IFR conditions are possible with showers and storms at times through Tuesday. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...None. OH...None. KY...None. VA...None. && SYNOPSIS...TRM/SL NEAR TERM...TRM/LTC SHORT TERM...SL LONG TERM...SL AVIATION...LTC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston WV 429 AM EDT Sun May 4 2025 OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ006>011-013>020-026>032-039-040- 515>526-050830- Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia- Lawrence OH-Cabell-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Lincoln- Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Boone-Clay- Braxton-Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-Upshur-Barbour- Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette- Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas- Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas- Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph- 429 AM EDT Sun May 4 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Ohio and much of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. The main risk with these storms is damaging winds and large hail, although a tornado or two can not be ruled out. Localized flash flooding is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Localized flash flooding is possible Monday. .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-VAZ003-004-WVZ005-024-025-033-034-050830- Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence-Dickenson-Buchanan-Wayne-Mingo-Logan- McDowell-Wyoming- 429 AM EDT Sun May 4 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and portions of southern and western West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Localized flash flooding is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Localized flash flooding is possible Monday. .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.
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:20 UTC.
24 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
In Ashford, one tree was blown down onto Plantation Road.
Local power outages occurred in the Walton area due to downed trees and power lines along Rocky Branch Road in Walton.
A tree fell onto power lines near the Staunton Turnpike in Parkersburg. Local power outages were observed around the area.
Downed trees and power lines were observed along Old Ashby Ridge Road in Parkersburg.
Trees were blown down onto Meridan Road just before the nearby apartment complex in Philippi.
Downed trees and power lines were observed along Parkersburg Road outside of Ripley.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, May 2025
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: 1259257, 1259267, 1259230, 1259232, 1259231, 1259233, 1259234, 1259235, 1259236, 1259237, 1259238, 1259239, 1259240, 1259241, 1259242, 1259243, 1259244, 1259245, 1259246, 1259247, 1259248, 1259249, 1259250, 1259270, 1259251, 1259252, 1259253, 1259254, 1259255, 1259256.