Thunderstorm Wind in Tucker County, West Virginia

A tree was reported to be blown down on Clover Run Road near Parsons.

A shortwave passage during the morning of July 29th spread mainly non-severe showers and thunderstorms across the region during the morning and midday hours. However, a discrete cell along the back edge of the morning activity was able to develop a tornado along the Fayette-Westmoreland County border. This was a preview of what was to follow.

In the wake of this morning activity, additional thunderstorms were able to develop in association with a prefrontal trough. These storms were able to take advantage of deep shear, especially in the lower levels. A cross-boundary component to this shear allowed discrete supercells to form during the mid and late afternoon hours. Storm motions were favorable for the ingestion of streamwise vorticity, allowing for rotating storms. While eight tornadoes formed during this event across eastern Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania, the severe events in West Virginia were limited to straight-line wind damage to mainly trees. Training thunderstorms also led to reports of numerous flooded roads in Monongalia County.