West Virginia Weather: August 9th, 2000 (Cabell, Lincoln and Putnam counties)

Three tornadoes occurred as a result of the same system of storms within about an hour of each other. One tornado took place in Cabell County, one in Putnam County and another in Lincoln County:

Tornado #1: Cox Landing, WV

Rating: F-1
Location: Cox Landing, WV
County: Cabell
Start Time: 8:30 p.m.
Path Length: 0.5 miles
Path Width Maximum: 75 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Tornado #2: Winfield, WV

Rating: F-0
Location: Winfield, WV
County: Putnam
Start Time: 8:40 p.m.
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Tornado #3: Branchland, WV

Rating: F-1
Location: Branchland, WV
County: Lincoln
Start Time: 9:20 p.m.
Path Length: 1.5 miles
Path Width Maximum: 100 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

NWS storm survey: Two episodes of strong thunderstorms pushed across much of the region on Wednesday (August 9th, 2000). These storms produced widespread damaging winds, some large hail, flooding rains and several confirmed tornadoes. The second round of tall thunderstorms moved through during the evening hours, spawning a few tornadoes. The lightning activity peaked around 2000 EST with around 200 strikes per minute in the Huntington to Charleston region. Approximately 75,000 customers were without electricity. Luckily, the storms continued to move, resulting in just minor flash flooding. It was the 4th consecutive day with thunderstorms for many of these counties.

Tornado touchdowns were confirmed for four counties in the area, Lawrence County, Ohio, and Cabell, Lincoln and Putnam counties in West Virginia.

In Lawrence County, Ohio, a tornado struck in the vicinity of Athalia at 8:30 pm Wednesday Evening. The path begins on County Route 12, where it destroyed a trailer and proceeds across County Route 42 to near Route 7. All along the path, trees were snapped off and several homes had structural damage. A pole barn was destroyed on County Road 420. The strength of the tornado was an F1 on the Fujita Scale with wind speeds between 73 and 112 mph. Path length was about 2 miles, width 75 to 100 yards. The tornado that touched down in Lawrence County, Ohio crossed the Ohio River and continued another half mile in West Virginia. The region is known as Cox Landing. A roof to an apartment building was lifted off. Many large trees were fallen on a nearby golf course. A few vehicles were damaged by fallen trees or by the debris from nearby dwellings. The storm dissipated near Route 2.

The tornado then crossed the Ohio River and struck near Cox Landing in Cabell County, where it lifted the roof off an apartment building. Many large trees were down on the nearby golf course. Again, the tornado was rated an F1 on the Fujita Scale. Several witnesses spotted the tornado as it crossed the Ohio River. Path length in West Virginia was about a 1/2 mile with a width of 75 yards.

Further south in Lincoln County, a tornado struck on Peyton Branch Road in Branchland around 9:30 pm. For over 1 1/2 miles, trees were chopped off midway up and bark was peeled from trees. Several homes and trailers suffered roof damage and at least 2 were destroyed. This tornado was rated an F1 with a width of 100 yards. Trees were chopped off midway up their trunk, plus bark was peeled off of other trees. Dwellings suffered roof damage. At least 2 mobile homes were destroyed along Peyton Branch Road.

In Putnam County, a tornado was reported near Route 35 just west of Winfield around 8:40 pm. No damage was reported with this touchdown. State Police sighted a short-lived tornado along Route 35, just down the river from the Winfield Locks. No structures were damaged. The road was littered with tree branches.

Damaging winds blew down trees and power lines in 31 of the 48 counties in the Charleston National Weather Service warning area, causing power outages in many locations.

NOTE: This system was part of two significant derechos that occurred that day. More information will be provided on that system itself at a later date and linked here.

Radar Imagery

4 Panel Loop of All Three Tornadoes within Storm Complex