Strong Wind in Wirt, West Virginia

A strong low level jet accompanying a passing disturbance led to thousands of customers without power across West Virginia on December 29th due to tree and power pole damage. While some isolated wind gusts accompanied late morning strong thunderstorms with a cold front, gusts picked up in earnest later that afternoon and evening as the jet winds aloft were able to mix down to the surface. In West Virginia, the strongest wind observation occurred at the Parkersburg airport in Wood County of 56 miles per hour on the evening of the 29th. Generally around the state, gusts up to 40 to 45 miles per hour were common in the wake of the frontal passage, contributing to widespread power outages late that afternoon into the evening hours. While still breezy overnight, the low level jet shifted northward, eliminating the stronger wind gusts heading into December 30th.