Mercer storm history

Heavy rain had caused multiple streams and creeks across the county to flood out of their banks and across nearby roads and properties. This included Daves Fork, Christians Fork, Lorton Lick Creek and the Bluestone River. In the Green Valley area, the South Fork Brush Creek was o…

Thousands of trees were downed across the county from high winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The trees caused numerous road closures and many fell on homes. Seven homes were destroyed, and 22 homes sustained major damage. By noon on Friday, near 24,500 custo…

Flash flooding along Brush Creek caused evacuations in the Green Valley area and damaged several homes.

Flash flooding along the East River caused damage to several homes in the Oakvale area. Many residents were evacuated.

Adairs Run has overflowed its banks and flooded the bridge on Adairs Run Road. No damage was reported to the bridge, which was reopened to traffic after the flooding receded.

Thunderstorm winds blew down one tree near the intersection of Cherry Street and Woodside Drive.

A tree was downed by thunderstorm winds on the 400 block of Ingleside Road near the water plant.

Winds increased sharply with the passage of a cold front. The Mercer County Airport experienced measured gusts at 58 mph, but with no damage noted.

A band of heavy snow showers created localized accumulations of up to 5 inches in the Bluefield area. Key Impacts: Poor travel conditions due to snow covered roads.

One tree was blown down by non-thunderstorm winds on Airport Road near the Mercer County Airport, and a couple more in the town of Matoaka.

Camp Creek at Highway 19 near Camp Creek, WV (CCKW2), crested at 10.62 feet at 8:25 pm EST on the 15th above the flood stage of 7.0 feet. This is the new flood-of-record for this gage, with records dating back to 2014. The flooding was the result of between 3 and 3.25 inches of r…

The Bluestone River near Spanishburg, WV (SPNW2), crested at 20.00 feet above the Major Flood Stage (18 feet) at 1:35 am EST on the 16th. This is the highest documented crest dating back to 2010. Flooding from the river inundated Highway 19/Beckley Road in several places. The Spa…

The East River at Willowton, WV (ERVW2), crested at 12.88 feet (5,839 cfs) at 6:45 pm EST on the 15th above the flood stage of 9.0 feet. This is the highest documented crest of this gage since 2012, and is between a 10-year and a 25-year flood (10%-4% Annual Exceedance Probabilit…

The East River rapidly overflowed its banks and flooded portions of Kellysville Road, surrounding homes and churches. Two mobile homes along the road were destroyed in the flooding.

Up to two tenths of an inch of ice was reported in Bluefield, as well as 5 to 10 inches across the county. Key Impacts: power outages, hazardous road conditions.

A rock retaining wall along Duhring Avenue in the community of Bramwell collapsed due to excessive rainfall, with the debris observed blocking the road.

A debris flow was observed along Bramwell Hill Road. Large rocks and a tree were observed blocking the road.

The Bluestone River near Spanishburg, WV (SPNW2), crested at 15.10 feet above the Moderate Flood Stage of 15 feet at 5:40 am EST on the 1st. This is the 6th-highest documented crest dating back to 2010. Flooding from the river was observed approaching Highway 19/Beckley Road acro…

Crane Creek was observed out of its banks and was flooding across a few roads in the community of Montcalm, including Jim's Branch Road and Crane Creek Road.

The Bluestone River near Spanishburg, WV (SPNW2), rose above the minor flood stage of 12.0 feet to 13.81 feet by 11:59 pm on the 31st. The river was still rising heading into the early hours of February 1st, and would eventually crest at 15.10 feet at 5:40 am EST. Flooding from t…

Between two and eight inches of snow fell across Mercer County from January 10 through January 11. The highest amount of eight inches was observed northeast of Montcalm. Key Impacts: power outages, vehicle accidents.

Around 3.5 inches of snow fell across Mercer County from January 5th through the 6th, and around 0.60 inches of ice accumulated. By the evening of January 6th, over 13,000 customers were impacted by power outages. Key Impacts: power outages and traffic accidents.

The Mercer County 911 Center reported that a home was flooded along the 7000 block of New Hope Road, with both lanes of the road also flooded. The water, likely from a tributary of Brush Creek rising out of its banks, was reported to be more than 6 inches deep across the road. No…

The Mercer County 911 Center reports that Sparkles Road was washed out forming a deep trench and exposing a gas line. No injuries were reported, but an elderly resident need assistance to leave his home in the direct area due to the flooding. The damage estimate is the estimated …

Water around 3 inches deep was observed flowing down Frederick Street in the City of Bluefield, WV. No damage was reported to the roadway.

Runoff from heavy rain was observed flowing about 6 inches deep in front of the Wade Center on Highland Avenue. No damage was reported to the roadway.

The tunnel on Old Bramwell Road under the railroad was flooded and impassible due to runoff from heavy rain. No damage was reported to the tunnel or roadway.

A tributary of Brush Creek overflowed its banks several inches deep across Sportsman Drive near the intersection with New Hope Road, making the road impassible until the water receded. No damage was reported to the drive.

Dryness expanded across northwest Mercer County during the second half of August given spotty rainfall totals ranging from 0.75 to 1.50 inches falling from August 13th through the end of the month. Much of this was the result of brief but heavy rain during passing thunderstorm ac…

Sparks from live power lines blown down by thunderstorm winds caused a structural fire, and one injury was reported.

A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto a home.

A large tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds on Camp Creek Road near the intersection with US 19, and blocked the entire road.

Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree, which then fell onto a house along Glenwood Park Road.

Numerous trees and powerlines were downed by thunderstorm winds in the vicinity of Bluefield, West Virginia, including a tree on Union Street, one on Kirk Street, one on Littlesburg Road, and one on Bull Tail Hollow Road. A 52 knot gust was also recorded by the ASOS (Automated Su…

Portions of Coal Heritage Road were observed covered by at least 6 inches of flowing water as nearby Lorton Lick Creek overflowed its banks. The water entered several businesses and a fire station along Coal Heritage Road, causing variable degrees of damage. No damage was reporte…

Old Bramwell Road and S. Upshur Street were observed flooded and impassible by several inches of water flowing across the roadways.

Lick Branch was observed flowing a few feet deep over Pinnacle Lake Road. No damage was reported to the road, and it was open to traffic after the flooding receded.

Lorton Lick Creek was observed several feet out of its banks near the intersection of Lorton Lick Road and Bluegill Road. One vehicle was trapped in the flooding, with the vehicle's occupants able to escape to a nearby residence.

Multiple apartments along the 3600 block of Coal Heritage Road were observed flooded several feet deep. A swift water rescue team was deployed to assist in evacuating the residents. Multiple vehicles were also seen flooded in the parking lot.

Airport Road was flooded multiple feet deep at several locations by a tributary of Brush Creek overflowing its banks. One vehicle became stranded in the flooding near Highway 52, requiring a swift water rescue team to help the occupants to evacuate. No damage was reported to the …

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KWVBLUEF30) near Bluewell measured 2.61 inches of rain during a period of a little over 2 hours, which is between a 25- and a 50-year Average Recurrence Interval per NOAA Atlas 14 point precipitation frequency estimates.

A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds blocking Red Oak Ridge. A second tree fell onto a fire truck while clearing the first tree, causing damage to the fire truck.

A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds onto a house.

Four to five inches of snow fell across Mercer county, including a report of 5.0 inches measured in Matoaka. Key impacts: traffic delays and accidents.