BOONE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that powerful straight-line winds, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, caused widespread tree and structural damage in the Wharton and Barrett communities during an overnight thunderstorm on Friday, December 19.
According to the NWS damage survey, the strongest winds occurred around 1:00 a.m. The damaging wind event is believed to have begun near the intersection of Cow Creek Road and Pond Fork Road/Route 85, where winds intensified before following the local terrain and splitting into two distinct paths.
One branch of the wind field tracked north to north-northwest along Pond Fork Road/Route 85, where investigators documented tree damage and minor impacts to structures. In this area, a Davis weather station mounted on the roof of the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department recorded a peak wind gust of 70 mph at 1:08 a.m., providing critical data to support the survey findings.
A second, more intense corridor of damage extended southeast approximately three-quarters of a mile down Pond Fork Road/Route 85 into the Barrett community. There, survey teams found several homes damaged, including significant roof damage to both single-wide and double-wide manufactured homes. Based on the extent of the damage, the NWS estimates wind speeds in this area likely reached as high as 90 mph.
The National Weather Service expressed appreciation to the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department and Boone County Emergency Management for their assistance in conducting the damage survey and supporting storm response efforts.
