Thunderstorm Wind in Randolph County, West Virginia

The roof of the Phil Gainer Community Center in Elkins was damaged by wind.

A powerful low pressure set forth a weekend of strong to severe thunderstorms in West Virginia on March 15th and 16th. While only a few instances of sub-severe hail occurred with decaying storms on the morning of the 15th, an evolving line of storms on the 16th remained strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts and quarter size hail as it progressed through the state.

Storms first entered into the southwestern portions of the state during the late morning hours of March 16th, then swept eastward into the afternoon. While downed trees and power lines were the main issues that resulted from storms on that day, one storm in particular that sped through Harrison County measured a 71 mile per hour gust and led to structural damage in and around the Clarksburg area. Storms then tapered down that evening as a cold front passed overhead, transitioning lingering showers over to snow along the West Virginia mountains.