Heavy Snow — Harrison, West Virginia

2016-01-22 to 2016-01-23 · Harrison, West Virginia

Wider weather episode

A major storm spread snow north during Friday morning the 22nd, reaching the Route 50 corridor around noon. The initial warm air advection snow was heavy at times, with snow rates of 2 inches per hour.

The snow mixed with sleet at times over the southern mountains and southern coal fields during the day on the 22nd. A mid level dry slot also worked into that same area during the late morning and early afternoon, causing lulls or lighter precipitation.

The snow continued to fall through the night. The snow then diminished and ended from west to east during Saturday the 23rd. The duration was 24 to 30 hours.

Prior to this storm, 1 to 3 inches of old snow was on the ground in the lowlands, with 2 to 6 inches in the mountain counties. Temperatures were mostly in 20 to 25 degree range in the lowlands during the storm.

The heaviest snow accumulation was just north and west of the mid level dry intrusion that occurred during the day on Friday. Snow accumulations ranged from 1 to 2 feet from southern Wayne County on northeast, through the central and north central counties. This maximum in snow accumulation followed the Interstate 79 corridor from Charleston to Clarksburg, then eastward into the central mountain counties toward Elkins, Webster Springs, and Snowshoe. In that maximum area, snow accumulations of 18 to 24 inches were more common north of Charleston, including from around Grantsville, Weston, Clarksburg, Grafton, and Philippi.

The maximum snow accumulations were over 2 feet. Personnel at the Department of Highways measured 25 to 31 inches in various locations around the small community of Harman in northeastern Randolph County. Snowshoe saw a 2 foot accumulation. The snow depth at Snowshoe went from 4 inches prior to the storm, to 28 inches in its wake. The emergency manager in Barbour County reported snow accumulations as high as 30 inches.

Further west, accumulations were less along the Ohio River counties from the Kenova and Huntington vicinity, on through Ravenswood, Parkersburg, St Marys, and Sistersville. Amounts in these western counties were mostly 8 to 12 inches. Another similar minimum, of mostly 8 to 12 inches in snow accumulation, occurred in Mingo, Logan, and McDowell Counties into parts of Wyoming and Raleigh Counties. For example, a spotter reported a 10 inch accumulation at Ghent in southern Raleigh County. Pineville saw their snow depth only go from 2 inches prior to the storm to 8 inches.

At Charleston the 18.6 inch snowfall for the storm, was the 6th greatest storm total on record. The 16.9 inches of snowfall in 24 hours was their 2nd greatest on record. The snow depth at Charleston went from 2 inches prior to the storm, to 18 inches. The last time the snow depth was deeper was back on the 8th of January in 1996, when the snow depth was 19 inches. The snowfall at Elkins was 17.8 inches for the storm. Their snow depth went from 4 inches prior to the storm to 20 inches. Beckley had a 14.8 inch snowfall.

Clarksburg saw their snow depth go from 2 inches prior to the storm, to 24 inches. It was the biggest snow storm for Clarksburg since February 2003. Personnel at the 2 television stations in Clarksburg measured less snow. Their snow depths reached 18 to 19 inches at the end of the storm.

The snow depth at Rock Cave went from 4 inches to 22 inches. Hacker Valley saw their snow depth go from 3 inches prior to the storm to 23 inches in its wake. Bartow and Grantsville both observed their snow cover going from 2 inches prior to the storm to 20 inches. Rosedale went from a 3 inch snow depth to 19 inches. Hawks Nest State Park saw their snow depth increase from 2 inches to 18.

A few unofficial reports included 18 to 20 inches in Bridgeport, 19 inches in Weston, and around 24 inches in Craigsville. The postmaster at Helvetia also measured 2 feet of snow. Residents in the small community of Harrison in northern Clay County and Looneyville in Roane County both measured around 22 inches.

The dry snow prevented many power outages. However, most roads in the heaviest snow accumulation corridor became impassible. Since the storm was forecast well in advance, most residents avoided travel. However, tractor trailer accidents closed Interstate 64 in South Charleston for several hours during the night of the storm. On the 23rd, a similar incident closed Interstate 77 for several hours near Edens Fork in Kanawha County.

There were no direct injuries or fatalities. An indirect death occurred. A Harrison County commissioner suffered a heart attack on the 23rd, while shoveling snow in his neighborhood. He never regained conscientiousness, and died on the 4th of February. He was 67 years old.

A few building and porch roofs and awnings did sustain damage. This including a metal barn in Alum Creek and a flea market just north of Charleston. A section of a canopy over several boat slips collapsed at a dock on the Kanawha River in Charleston. In Weston, part of a roof collapsed on a dance studio. The building was unoccupied at the time. A large canopy with metal supports collapsed over a log storage yard along Route 33 near Weston.

The governor had declared a state of preparedness 2 days before the storm, followed by a state of emergency during the storm. National Guard personnel and equipment were used in clearing vehicles from the interstates closures. They also transported critical personnel to work during the storm.

Despite the milder temperatures and melting, many county school districts were closed through Wednesday the 27th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 608934. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.