Severe Storms risk in West Virginia

Severe storms in West Virginia: what makes them different

West Virginia sits in the central Appalachians, where steep ridges, narrow valleys and deep hollows shape both how thunderstorms develop and where their damage lands. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues the outlooks and watches that cover the state, and National Weather Service offices in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Blacksburg and Sterling issue the warnings that reach your phone.

Most severe thunderstorms arrive between March and August, peaking on late-spring and summer afternoons and evenings as heat and humidity build along the ridges. A second pattern shows up in the cooler months, when fast-moving squall lines ahead of strong cold fronts sweep across the Ohio Valley. Those lines can produce widespread damaging wind even when there is little hail or visible lightning.

The main hazards West Virginians face from these storms are:

• Damaging straight-line winds. Downbursts and squall lines bring down trees and power lines. The June 2012 derecho caused widespread damage and multi-day power outages across the state.
• Large hail. Hailstones crack shingles, dent siding and gutters, and damage vehicles, vents and skylights.
• Lightning. Any thunderstorm can produce cloud-to-ground strikes, and the state's humid summer storms often do.
• Tornadoes. West Virginia records tornadoes in most years, but counts are much lower than in the Plains or the Deep South. They are often short-lived, and the wooded, hilly terrain can hide them.
• Torrential rain. Thunderstorm downpours on steep slopes can trigger flash flooding and landslides, which state emergency managers watch closely.

Exposure varies across the state. Valley communities such as Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling often see significant tree and wind damage because mature trees line streets and yards. The Eastern Panhandle tends to receive more severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings than the western mountains. At high elevations and in wind-funneled gaps, exposed ridge tops can see stronger gusts. Much of the damage comes not from wind alone, but from the trees it drops onto homes, cars and utility lines.

How it affects homes

Wind is the most common source of structural damage. Gusts tear off shingles and siding, pull down gutters and can lift or buckle garage doors, and once wind gets inside, the risk of losing a roof increases sharply. Hail adds its own damage: cracked and bruised shingles, dented metal, broken window and skylight glazing, and damaged vents and flashing. Lightning can ignite a fire, and it frequently damages the wiring, well pumps and electronics common in rural homes.

Falling trees are the single biggest storm threat to West Virginia houses, and saturated ground after heavy rain makes slopes less stable, which can lead to landslides and mudslides in steep terrain. Storm downpours can also force water into basements and crawl spaces.

On insurance: standard homeowners policies generally cover damage from wind, hail and lightning, and often pay to remove a tree that has fallen on a covered structure. Flood damage, including water that runs off slopes or rises from a creek, is generally excluded and requires a separate flood policy. Many insurers also apply a separate wind or hail deductible that can be higher than your standard one, so check your policy before storm season. Photograph any damage, keep receipts and file claims promptly.

How to prepare your home

• Inspect your roof each spring and after every storm; replace lifted, cracked or missing shingles and reseal loose flashing.
• Have a qualified arborist remove dead, dying or leaning trees within falling distance of the house, and keep limbs clear of the roof and power lines.
• Store or anchor anything that can become a projectile: grills, patio furniture, trash cans, planters, trampolines and yard signs.
• Check your garage door and its bracing; older, lightweight doors are often the first part of a home to fail in high wind.
• Clear gutters and downspouts and make sure water drains well away from the foundation.
• Install surge protection for electronics and appliances, and consider a whole-house surge protector.
• Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio and enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone.
• Choose your shelter now: a small interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows, ideally under a sturdy table.
• Build an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights and batteries, and run a generator only outdoors, well away from windows and doors.
• Photograph your home and contents and store the images in the cloud; review your coverage, including any wind or hail deductible and separate flood insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Does West Virginia get tornadoes?

Yes. Tornadoes are recorded in West Virginia in most years, though the state's totals are far below those of the Plains or the Deep South. Many are relatively weak and short-lived, and the hilly, forested landscape can make them difficult to see, which is one reason to treat every tornado warning as if the storm were headed straight for you.

Does homeowners insurance cover severe storm damage in West Virginia?

Most standard homeowners policies cover damage from wind, hail and lightning, including removing a tree that has fallen on a covered structure. Flooding from heavy rain or rising streams is generally not covered and requires a separate policy, and many insurers apply a separate, sometimes higher, wind or hail deductible. Ask your insurer exactly what your policy includes before the next storm season.

When is severe storm season in West Virginia?

The busiest period runs from March through August, with thunderstorms most likely on warm, humid afternoons and evenings. Strong cold fronts can also drive damaging squall lines through the state in the cooler months, so dangerous wind is possible at almost any time of year.

Official resources

• West Virginia Emergency Management Division
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center
• National Weather Service: Thunderstorm Safety
• Ready.gov: Thunderstorms and Lightning