Charleston, WV

Weather Forecast Office

Severe Thunderstorms Impact the Area on March 16th with Damaging Winds and Hail

Event Summary

The first major severe weather outbreak of the season occurred during the late morning and early afternoon hours of Sunday, March 16th as a potent area of low pressure progressed through the Great Lakes region. Locally, thunderstorms quickly blossemed by mid Sunday morning along a prefrontal trough after brief clearing in advance of this feature provided just enough instability for thunderstorm development. Storms would quickly turn severe as they raced eastward fueled by strong winds aloft, swiftly building into a Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) that would cause wind damage across much of the NWS Charleston County Warning Area, even impacting areas well outside of our forecast area. Numerous reports of downed trees and power outages were received, along with some structural damage (some of which was significant). The stongest wind gust observed was 71 mph from the ASOS located at the North Central West Virginia Airport in Clarksburg, West Virginia. This was an all-time record maximum wind gust for the station, with wind gust records there dating back to 1974. In addition to the damaging winds, hail was reported in some areas, but mainly of the sub-severe variety.

Please click on the tabs below for more detailed information about this event. Please note that all images/loops can be expanded by clicking on them.

March 16th Regional Radar Loop

Radar loop courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)

Radar and Satellite Imagery
Wind Gusts
Hail Reports
Wind Damage Reports
Environment

March 16th Time Synchronized Local/Regional Radar Loops

March 16th Local Radar Loop (w/ Warnings Overlaid: Yellow - Severe Thunderstorm, Red - Tornado, Green - Flash Flood)

Radar loop courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)

March 16th Regional Radar Loop (w/ Warnings Overlaid: Yellow - Severe Thunderstorm, Red - Tornado, Green - Flash Flood)

Radar loop courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)

March 16th Time Synchronized Regional Satellite Loops

March 16th Visible Loop (GOES-16)

Satellite loop courtesy of NEXLAB - College of Dupage

March 16th Infrared Loop (GOES-16)

Satellite loop courtesy of NEXLAB - College of Dupage

Text Summary of March 16th Wind Gusts Reports

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
839 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025

...HIGHEST THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Lat/Lon
Nutter Fort                  71 MPH    1210 PM 03/16   39.26N/80.32W
Clarksburg Airport           71 MPH    1215 PM 03/16   39.30N/80.22W
Waterford                    57 MPH    1213 PM 03/16   39.54N/81.68W
Logan                        52 MPH    1050 AM 03/16   37.85N/81.91W
Pennsboro                    52 MPH    1138 AM 03/16   39.27N/80.94W
Burr Oak                     52 MPH    1155 AM 03/16   39.59N/81.96W
Huntington Airport           49 MPH    0533 AM 03/16   38.37N/82.55W
Charleston Airport           46 MPH    1050 AM 03/16   38.38N/81.58W

...HIGHEST NON THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Lat/Lon
Elkins Airport               52 MPH    0936 PM 03/15   38.88N/79.85W
Boyd Co EOC                  50 MPH    0525 AM 03/16   38.40N/82.74W
2 S Ceredo                   49 MPH    0409 AM 03/16   38.37N/82.55W
3 NW Beech Fork State Park   48 MPH    0330 AM 03/16   38.33N/82.46W
Beckley Airport              46 MPH    0232 PM 03/16   37.80N/81.12W

&&

Text Summary of March 16th Hail Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Charleston WV
230 PM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025

...............HAIL REPORTS FROM SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH...............

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1044 AM     Hail             3 S South Charleston    38.32N 81.70W
03/16/2025  E0.50 Inch       Kanawha            WV   Public

            Report from mPING.

1047 AM     Hail             2 SW Charleston         38.34N 81.66W
03/16/2025  M0.70 Inch       Kanawha            WV   NWS Employee

            Mostly pea to half-inch, but a few larger
            ones. Peak wind gust 36mph.

1050 AM     Hail             1 SE Charleston         38.34N 81.62W
03/16/2025  E0.75 Inch       Kanawha            WV   Public

            Report from mPING.

1109 AM     Hail             Middlebourne            39.49N 80.90W
03/16/2025  M0.88 Inch       Tyler              WV   Public

            Time is estimated by radar.

1110 AM     Hail             4 SW Middlebourne       39.45N 80.97W
03/16/2025  M0.50 Inch       Tyler              WV   Trained Spotter

            Largest stones just under one half inch in
            diameter. Reported by Trained Spotter.

1122 AM     Hail             Middlebourne            39.50N 80.90W
03/16/2025  M1.00 Inch       Tyler              WV   Public

            Time is estimated by radar.

1224 PM     Hail             4 S Summersville        38.22N 80.85W
03/16/2025  M0.50 Inch       Nicholas           WV   Trained Spotter

&&

Map of March 16th Local Storm Reports

Radar Image

Please note that the map above includes some non thunderstorm wind gust and damage reports from late March 15th into the morning of March 16th associated with synoptic winds.

Map of March 15-17 Regional Storm Reports

Radar Image

Please note that the map above mainly encompasses storm reports from the afternoon of March 15th into the afternoon of March 17th, but does include some isolated reports outside of this time frame.

Text Summary of March 16th Local Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Charleston WV
253 PM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025

......THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE REPORTS FROM SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH......

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0948 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     10 NNE Kermit           37.99N 82.37W
03/16/2025                   Wayne              WV   Park/Forest Srvc

            Multiple trees reported down in Cabwaylingo
            State Forest.

1000 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNE Hamlin            38.30N 82.09W
03/16/2025                   Lincoln            WV   911 Call Center

            Tree fell onto a cut a fiber line up Lower
            Mud River Rd.

1040 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 ENE Mitchell Heights  37.93N 81.90W
03/16/2025                   Logan              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking Hewett Creek Rd.

1040 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Charleston        38.35N 81.64W
03/16/2025                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking Kanawha Blvd at Clendenin
            St.

1042 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Mount Gay           37.84N 82.04W
03/16/2025                   Logan              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking both lanes of Holden Rd.

1048 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 E Haysi               37.21N 82.20W
03/16/2025                   Buchanan           VA   Broadcast Media

            Several trees reported down near the
            community of Prater near Dickenson Highway.

1055 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 WSW Grundy            37.26N 82.19W
03/16/2025                   Buchanan           VA   Broadcast Media

            Several trees reported down between Harman
            and Prater.

1100 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     10 NW Mcarthur          39.33N 82.63W
03/16/2025                   Vinton             OH   911 Call Center

            Report of power poles down with lines in
            roadway.

1100 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E Elkview             38.43N 81.43W
03/16/2025                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down on Blue Creek Rd.

1102 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 ESE Spencer           38.78N 81.28W
03/16/2025                   Roane              WV   911 Call Center

            Several trees down east of Spencer,
            including Arnoldsburg Rd, Steel Hollow Rd,
            and Clay Rd.

1110 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 ESE Clendenin         38.47N 81.29W
03/16/2025                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down on Elk River Rd.

1110 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW East Bank         38.20N 81.47W
03/16/2025                   Kanawha            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down in Shrewsbury.

1115 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 N Grantsville         38.97N 81.10W
03/16/2025                   Calhoun            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down north of Grantsville, including
            Yellow Creek Rd, Leading Creek Rd and on W
            Little Kanawha Hwy.

1116 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E West Union          39.29N 80.73W
03/16/2025                   Doddridge          WV   911 Call Center

            Couple trees blown down near intersection of
            Snowbird Rd and US 50.

1120 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     11 N Clay               38.62N 81.06W
03/16/2025                   Clay               WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down in Big Otter.

1120 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 SSW Clay              38.39N 81.11W
03/16/2025                   Clay               WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down in Bickmore.

1125 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Harrisville             39.21N 81.05W
03/16/2025                   Ritchie            WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees and powerlines down in and
            around town.

1125 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Procious                38.50N 81.21W
03/16/2025                   Clay               WV   Public

            Roof blown off of a structure.

1137 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Middlebourne            39.49N 80.90W
03/16/2025                   Tyler              WV   Postal Employee

            A storm door was torn off the frame.

1140 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Glenville               38.93N 80.84W
03/16/2025                   Gilmer             WV   911 Call Center

            Numerous trees and powerlines down blocking
            roads from Glenville to the Lewis Co line.

1141 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     9 ESE Middlebourne      39.47N 80.74W
03/16/2025                   Tyler              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Walnut Fork Rd.

1141 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 WSW West Union        39.27N 80.85W
03/16/2025                   Doddridge          WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees down.

1142 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 SE Middlebourne       39.45N 80.83W
03/16/2025                   Tyler              WV   Dept of Highways

            Tree reported down across the road near the
            intersection of County Road 18 and Pitts
            Run.

1145 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     West Union              39.30N 80.77W
03/16/2025                   Doddridge          WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking the road and fell on the
            porch of a house.

1145 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     West Union              39.30N 80.77W
03/16/2025                   Doddridge          WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down blocking Rt 18 in a couple of
            places.

1145 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     10 NNE Sand Fork        39.04N 80.66W
03/16/2025                   Lewis              WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees and powerlines down including
            Vadis Rd and Simms Run.

1146 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNW Malta             39.69N 81.89W
03/16/2025                   Morgan             OH   911 Call Center

            A couple trees reported down north of
            McConnelsville.

1150 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     10 E Middlebourne       39.48N 80.73W
03/16/2025                   Tyler              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down on Walnut Fork Road.

1150 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Burnsville              38.86N 80.66W
03/16/2025                   Braxton            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down in Burnsville.

1155 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     9 NNW Salem             39.39N 80.64W
03/16/2025                   Doddridge          WV   Public

            Trampoline blown away and lattice ripped
            from a front porch of a home.

1157 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Lester              37.73N 81.32W
03/16/2025                   Raleigh            WV   911 Call Center

            Power lines down in Lester Community.

1200 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNE Flatwoods         38.77N 80.64W
03/16/2025                   Braxton            WV   911 Call Center

            Trees down in Flatwoods and Heaters.

1200 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ESE Oak Hill          37.98N 81.11W
03/16/2025                   Fayette            WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down in the road.

1200 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 WSW Craigsville       38.31N 80.72W
03/16/2025                   Nicholas           WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down.

1200 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NE Salem              39.29N 80.56W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees and powerlines down between
            West Union and Clarksburg.

1200 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Summersville            38.28N 80.85W
03/16/2025                   Nicholas           WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down.

1204 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Clarksburg              39.28N 80.33W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees down in Clarksburg with the
            roof blown off an apartment building.

1205 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Weston                  39.04N 80.47W
03/16/2025                   Lewis              WV   911 Call Center

            Update to add information to previous
            report. Wall from a building fell into the
            roadway. Also, numerous trees and powerlines
            down and across roads in town and over the
            eastern end of the county.

1210 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ENE West Milford      39.21N 80.38W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   Public

            Social Media post showing damage from the
            Laurel Valley area, with siding ripped off
            the wall of a house, and another house with
            a partially collapsed wall. Also several
            trees down, damaging fences.

1210 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     West Milford            39.20N 80.40W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   Public

            A portion of a wall was ripped off the side
            of a garage.

1210 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Lost Creek         39.17N 80.37W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   Trained Spotter

            Storm door was torn off the frame on back
            porch.

1210 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 NNW Mcconnelsville    39.76N 81.88W
03/16/2025                   Morgan             OH   Utility Company

            Power company reports an outage caused by
            tree damage.

1212 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Ansted                  38.13N 81.10W
03/16/2025                   Fayette            WV   Utility Company

            Power company reports a weather-related
            outage in association with the thunderstorms
            that moved through.

1215 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 ENE Bridgeport        39.30N 80.22W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   ASOS

            Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report
            from 2 ENE Bridgeport. ASOS station KCKB
            Clarksburg Airport.

1215 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Clarksburg         39.30N 80.35W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   Public

            Uprooted trees, siding torn off of porch and
            part of roof blown off house.

1215 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E Bridgeport          39.28N 80.21W
03/16/2025                   Harrison           WV   Public

            Structural damage and debris.

1215 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 WNW Rock Cave         38.87N 80.45W
03/16/2025                   Lewis              WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees and powerlines down blocking
            roads across southern end of the county.

1230 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SSW Rock Cave         38.79N 80.36W
03/16/2025                   Upshur             WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking part of Rt 20.

1230 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Grafton                 39.34N 80.02W
03/16/2025                   Taylor             WV   911 Call Center

            Multiple trees and lines down in and around
            Grafton and countywide.

1230 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NE Weston             39.07N 80.44W
03/16/2025                   Lewis              WV   Trained Spotter

            One large hardwood tree uprooted and a
            couple of large pine trees damaged.

1235 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 SW Craigsville        38.28N 80.73W
03/16/2025                   Nicholas           WV   Dept of Highways

            Several trees reported down between
            Summersville and Curtin.

1235 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 S Philippi            39.10N 80.05W
03/16/2025                   Barbour            WV   Amateur Radio

            Tree damage, debris in the roadway.

1238 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SE Buckhannon         38.97N 80.19W
03/16/2025                   Upshur             WV   911 Call Center

            Tree and phone line down across Phillips
            Dairy Rd.

1252 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WSW Webster Springs   38.48N 80.42W
03/16/2025                   Webster            WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Webster Rd over McGuire Mtn.

0115 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W Elkins              38.93N 79.86W
03/16/2025                   Randolph           WV   Broadcast Media

            Roof of the Phil Gainer Community Center
            damaged by wind.

0155 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Snowshoe           38.44N 80.03W
03/16/2025                   Pocahontas         WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Seneca Trail.

0239 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Greenbank          38.40N 79.86W
03/16/2025                   Pocahontas         WV   CO-OP Observer

            CO-OP observer in Dunmore reported multiple
            trees down north of Dunmore along route 28.
            Time estimated via radar.

0304 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     9 SSW Greenbank         38.29N 79.87W
03/16/2025                   Pocahontas         WV   Public

            Local plant nursery along rt-92, north of
            Frost reported a tree down on property about
            a foot and a half in diameter. They also
            advised there was some small hail in the
            area. Time estimated by radar.

0304 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     9 SSW Greenbank         38.30N 79.87W
03/16/2025                   Pocahontas         WV   CO-OP Observer

            CO-OP observer in Dunmore reported multiple
            trees down between Dunmore and Frost on the
            way to Lewisburg. Time estimated by radar.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Charleston WV
245 PM EDT Mon Mar 17 2025

....NON THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE REPORTS FROM SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH....

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1238 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 10 SE Clintwood         37.05N 82.33W
03/16/2025                   Dickenson          VA   911 Call Center

            Tree down and blocking on Dante Mountain Rd.

0250 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 E Danville            38.08N 81.82W
03/16/2025                   Boone              WV   911 Call Center

            A tree fell on power lines and on an
            unoccupied truck on Price Branch Rd.

0448 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNE Red Jacket        37.67N 82.11W
03/16/2025                   Mingo              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down about a quarter mile above Hannah
            Lumber.

0501 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SSW Switzer           37.74N 82.01W
03/16/2025                   Logan              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking both sides of the road at
            the top of Cow Creek Mountain.

0627 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Chesapeake        38.44N 82.43W
03/16/2025                   Lawrence           OH   911 Call Center

            Large tree down and blocking County Rd 32.

0629 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ENE Proctorville      38.45N 82.33W
03/16/2025                   Lawrence           OH   911 Call Center

            Tree down with powerlines along Township Rd
            1244.

0700 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 NNE Chattaroy         37.77N 82.24W
03/16/2025                   Mingo              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down blocking one lane of
            traffic.

0749 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Clintwood         37.17N 82.47W
03/16/2025                   Dickenson          VA   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down near the intersection of
            Brush Creek Road and Stone Holw.

0812 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 10 N Kermit             37.98N 82.40W
03/16/2025                   Wayne              WV   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down near the intersection of
            Route 152 and Sand Lick Road.

&&

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