Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
Issued by NWS Charleston, WV
512 NOUS41 KRLX 111920 PNSRLX WVZ006-120730- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Charleston WV 320 PM EDT Thu Apr 11 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for 04/02/2024 Tornado Event... .Cabell County Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 4.20 miles Path Width /maximum/: 200 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/02/2024 Start Time: 10:39 AM EDT Start Location: 1 NNW Pea Ridge / Cabell County / WV Start Lat/Lon: 38.4346 / -82.3479 End Date: 04/02/2024 End Time: 10:42 AM EDT End Location: 2 NNE Barboursville / Cabell County / WV End Lat/Lon: 38.4235 / -82.273 Survey Summary: EF1 Tornado with maximum winds of 105 mph confirmed with a track of about 4 miles extending from just south of Route 2 to the Guyandotte River to just west of the Barboursville Mall. This was a non-continuous track with several notable damage locations. A narrow concentrated area of hardwood tree damage was noted on a hilltop along Viewpoint Lane. Several of the trees were either snapped or uprooted in a converging pattern and continued southeast along Estate Drive. Significant mixed hardwood and softwood tree damage was observed along Guyan River Road with most of intense damage along the banks of the Guyandotte River. Numerous large hardwood and softwood trees were either snapped or uprooted. Damage to a mobile home occurred due to a large fallen tree. In addition, damage to the roof of an apartment complex on the other side of the river on Beech Drive occurred from a fallen tree. This section of the track is where the maximum winds are believed to have occurred. The tornado path continued eastward with a distinct damage swath of hardwood trees was noted along Merritts Creek Road. Large hardwood trees were either snapped or uprooted in a converging pattern. A small mobile office unit was blown in the opposite direction of the orientation of the tree damage. It is here where the tornado reached is maximum width as it entered a valley. Tree damage continued east up the ridgetop along Big Ben Bowen Highway before ending along Wildcat Road. The tornado is believed to have lifted before reaching the Barboursville mall and this is supported by radar. This tornado, as with many of the others on this day, stayed mainly in the treetops with little in the way of property damage observed. Of note, rear flank downdraft wind damage occurred east and southeast of the tornado path, where a concrete block wall attached to the exterior of the mall was blown apart to the northeast. In addition, part of the roof of a business just east of the mall was lifted and blown to the northeast as well. Finally, scattered tree damage was observed on both sides of Interstate 64 east of the mall, with a general orientation to the northeast. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ NW