West Virginia Weather: May 23rd, 2019 Hailstorm

May 23rd, 2019 provided an uncharacteristically severe weather setup that produced some of the largest hail ever recorded in West Virginia history. Hail as big as grapefruit was observed and recorded in Kanawha County with one of a series of supercells that produced damaging wind gusts and very large hail during the late after and early evening. Scroll down to see many images of the extremely large hailstones that fell in the area.

Marisa Belcher, Elkview, WV

Radar Imagery

Dual-Panel Loop of Hail-Producing Supercell - *Note: Animation May Be Slow to Load* (Base Reflectivity (Left), Maximum Estimated Hail Size (Right)

Cross-Section of Supercell Along Blue Creek Road Near Elkview

This cross section of the supercell thunderstorm as it moved over Blue Creek Road shows the hail core of the supercell, with decibel return values near 60 dbz extending 30,000 feet above ground level.

Cross-Section Near Jodie

The cross section of the supercell thunderstorm as it moved near Jodie east of Belva along the Fayette/Nicholas County line shows an extensive hail core, with decibel return values near 60 decibels all the way up at nearly 40,000 feet above ground level. The updraft of the supercell at this point is extremely song.

Hail Swath with Maximum Estimated Hail Size (MEHS)

Hail Reports from May 23rd, 2019

5:15 PM - Mason County - 1 mile SSE Fairview (38.95, -81.99) - 1" diameter hail
6:14 PM - Kanawha County - 4 miles NW Sissonville (38.57, -81.69) - 1" diameter hail
6:32 PM - Jackson County - Cottageville (38.87, -81.82) - 1.75" diameter hail
6:41 PM - Kanawha County - 1 mile E Jarretts Ford (38.43, -81.47) - 2.5" diameter hail
6:41 PM - Kanawha County - Blue Creek (38.45, -81.45) - 3" diameter hail
6:42 PM - Kanawha County - 1 mile W Blue Creek (38.45, -81.46) - 2.5" diameter hail
6:43 PM - Kanawha County - 1 mile E Pinch (38.42, -81.47) - 4.25" diameter hail - Many cars were dented by the hail, but no significant building damage occurred. $500,000 in damages. This is the second largest hailstone recorded in West Virginia history.
7:14 PM - Fayette County - 1 mile N Jodie (38.23, -81.15) - 3" diameter hail - Many cars were dented by the hail. $250,000 in damage.
7:31 PM - Fayette County - 1 mile N Ansted (38.14, -81.1) - 1" diameter hail
7:32 PM - Fayette County - 1 mile W Hico (38.12, -81.01) - 1" diameter hail

Kanawha County Storm Report Map