LAVISTA, WV (LOOTPRESS) – As of Saturday evening, nine tornados have been confirmed within the National Weather Service (NWS) Charleston coverage area since the April 2nd outbreak. The Hico/Lavista tornado remains the strongest confirmed tornado so far.
This tornado outbreak outnumbers the tornados recorded in the April 1974 outbreak.
The 1974 outbreak significantly impacted Meadow Bridge in Fayette County.
Meadow Bridge received considerable damage from a tornado that moved through the community between 4:30 and 5:00 AM on April 4th.
More than 50 homes were completely destroyed. The driver’s education garage at the high school and the roof of the school’s gymnasium both were blown off.
The following graphic from the NWS shows the location of each confirmed tornado from the April 2nd outbreak, except for one tornado that was confirmed in Cabell County today.
The Hico/Lavista tornado remains the strongest with max winds of 130 MPH, a length of 1.18 miles, and width of 300 yards. Fortunately, no deaths were recorded and only a few minor injuries were sustained.
This was the fourth tornado recorded in Fayette County history. It was also the strongest tornado of this century for southern West Virginia.
The first recorded tornado in Fayette County was in Oak Hill on February 25, 1961.
Rosedale Elementary School was obliterated, roofs and antennas were ripped off houses, and large trees were uprooted. One small house was shifted off its foundation and telephone and electric power services were disrupted. Damage was estimated at $250,000.
Multiple towns may have been hit, but the exact track of the tornado is unknown. The tornado was very unusual as it was followed almost immediately by a snowstorm that brought 4 to 6 in of snow to the area.
The second tornado was the EF3 recorded in Meadow Bridge in 1974.
The third tornado touched down in the Glen Ferris area on May 26, 1990. It was an EF2.
Although nine tornados have been confirmed so far, that number could very likely rise as the NWS continues damage assessments next week.
