Strong Wind — Southeast Webster, West Virginia

2024-01-12 to 2024-01-14 · Southeast Webster, West Virginia

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system lifted into the Great lakes region on January 12th and set forth a series of disturbances that would impact the Central Appalachians for the next several days. Attached to this disturbance was a strong low level jet that yielded strengthening surface wind gusts beginning during the late morning hours on the 12th. The strongest winds from the southeast were observed along the higher terrain of West Virginia, with the highest wind report occurring at the Beckley Airport of 56 miles per hour. From the late morning to the evening hours on the 12th, wind gusts of 35 to 45 miles per hour were common across the lowlands and 45 to 55 miles per hour along the mountains.

The most notable damage observed during this time occurred in southeast Raleigh County, where a tree fell and crushed a parked car, while another tree fell onto a local home. No substantial damage was observed. In the Oak Hill area of Fayette County, the roof of a building was blown off onto the nearby parking lot as well as onto Main Street. In Barbour County, another tree fell onto a home with minimal damage. An internet tower collapsed due to strong winds near the town of Cassity in Pocahontas County. Other areas of downed trees and power lines were also widely observed across the state due to the winds associated this system, resulting in many to be without power for an extended amount of time.

Despite peak winds easing off on the evening of January 12th, the region remained breezy for the next two days and trees continued to be blown down with additional power outages. Power restoration efforts were delayed until winds diminished after January 14th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1155988. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.