Strong Wind — Southeast Pocahontas, West Virginia

2024-03-20 · Southeast Pocahontas, West Virginia

Event narrative

Several trees were blown down onto Buffalo Mountain Road, Pine Grove Road, and other local roads near the Green Bank observatory.

Wider weather episode

In the wake of a cold frontal passage, strong and gusty winds were observed across West Virginia on the afternoon and evening of March 20th. Winds picked up in intensity shortly after 12 PM, and remained strong through the evening. As high pressure approached from the west that night, surface gusts began to diminish.

The strongest wind gust was observed at the Clarksburg Airport around 2 PM of 61 miles per hour, with a similar observation noted by a Mesonet in Snowshoe about an hour later. Down in the central lowlands, between 40 to 50 miles per hour were reported on the afternoon of the 20th, both at the Weather Forecast Office and at the Charleston airport.

While winds were gusty to strong in the state, main impacts caused were blown down trees. Most of these trees fell onto local roadways, but one was blown down onto a house and car in Wood County. A portion of a metal roof was also blown off in Ritchie County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1166755. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.