268
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
9
Direct injuries
$1.8M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Preston County, West Virginia: 268 recorded events between 1975 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 87. That places the county #587 nationally and #2 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Preston County, West Virginia: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Preston County is the 2020s, when 100 of the county's 268 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Preston County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 58.6% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #587 for this hazard and #2 within West Virginia, putting it in the 81.3 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Preston County with 80 recorded events, while Dec is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2019 | REDHILL | 45 | 1 | 2 | $0 |
| May 21, 2004 | MASONTOWN | 60 | 0 | 2 | $55K |
| Apr 10, 1991 | 60 | 0 | 2 | $0 | |
| Jul 8, 2014 | KINGWOOD | 50 | 0 | 1 | $25K |
| Jul 8, 2014 | CUZZART | 50 | 0 | 1 | $25K |
| Jun 21, 1994 | Bruceton Mills | 0 | 0 | 1 | $5K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2026 | HAZELTON | 50 | $5K |
| Aug 25, 2025 | TERRA ALTA | 50 | $1K |
| Jul 17, 2025 | PRESTON | 50 | $1K |
| Jul 17, 2025 | BLASER | 50 | $1K |
| Jun 19, 2025 | ALBRIGHT | 50 | $1K |
| Jun 19, 2025 | CAMP DAWSON | 50 | $1K |
| Jun 19, 2025 | IRONA | 50 | $1K |
| May 16, 2025 | RODEMER | 50 | $1K |
| May 16, 2025 | BRUCETON MILLS | 50 | $1K |
| May 16, 2025 | MACOMBER | 50 | $1K |
Other hazards here
More from Preston County
- Hail 81
- Flash Flood 72
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
One man was killed and two were injured when a tree fell on them while on a kayaking trip near Seven Islands on the Cheat River. Story reported here: https://www.wvnews.com/prestoncountynews/news/kayaker-who-died-on-cheat-river-identified/article_23cdb16e-5aeb-5a46-90b5-6eedca78115c.html.
Between 730 and 750 PM EDT, several microbursts occurred in Preston County. Many roads were closed by the blowing down of numerous large trees. In Masontown, the swath of microburst was 2.5 miles in length. The width fluctuated from 20 to 200 yards. Many trees were topped or snapped off; several trees fell on houses. One mobile home was overturned, causing minor injuries to 2 people. Maximum wind estimated at 70 mph (60 kt). In Reedsville, a microburst produced scattered damage just northwest of the town. Many trees were toppled. One mobile home was overturned. Several outdoor sheds destroyed. Estimated wind 70 mph. Kingwood suffered scattered damage. Several trees toppled onto houses. Many others just snapped off. Power lines were brought down. Estimated wind here 60 mph. There was also some damage in Arthurdale.
Straight-line winds caused damage to bleachers at the Reedsville fairgrounds. A light pole was also knocked over. In addition, three homes and one double wide manufactured home were damaged. The three homes suffered partial roof damage with siding and shingles peeling off the homes. A stand-alone garage had it's roof removed and was destroyed. The double wide manufactured home was shifted 6 inches off of it's foundation. 15-20 trees were also downed in the area.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Preston County, West Virginia?
268 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Preston County between 1975 and 2026, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Preston County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Preston County measured 87.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Preston County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Preston County, West Virginia.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/west-virginia/preston-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.