A deepening area of low pressure moving eastward across the northern Great Lakes swept a strong cold front across northern West Virginia during the late afternoon/early evening hours of the 9th.  This intensifying low produced a large area of strong low-level winds, both ahead of and behind the cold front.  Winds of between 70 - 80 MPH were present just a few thousand feet off the surface across the area by the mid-afternoon hours.  As showers formed during the day, these strong winds were occasionally brought down to the surface.  To further complicate matters, by the late afternoon hours enough instability was present to produce a line of severe thunderstorms along the main cold front as it entered northern West Virginia.  This combination of strong gradient winds and severe thunderstorm winds produced widespread damage across the area, mostly in the form of downed trees and power lines.   These high winds continued after the cold frontal passage, downing trees and power lines, until the early morning hours of the 10th.  At that time, the surface low moved off into Quebec and the strong gradient winds finally diminished.

Thunderstorm Wind in WETZEL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:20:00 to 09-MAR-02 19:35:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in TUCKER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:45:00 to 10-MAR-02 02:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in WETZEL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:35:00 to 10-MAR-02 01:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in HANCOCK, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 00:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in HANCOCK, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 18:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 20:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in MARION, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 01:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in MONONGALIA, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 20:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in MONONGALIA, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 01:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in MARSHALL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 00:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 18:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 00:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in BROOKE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 18:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in BROOKE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 to 10-MAR-02 00:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

High Wind in PRESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:30:00 to 10-MAR-02 02:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 18:45:00 to 09-MAR-02 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm winds blew the roofs from two Moundsville businesses.

Thunderstorm Wind in PRESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:15:00 to 09-MAR-02 20:30:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in TUCKER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 09-MAR-02 20:30:00 to 09-MAR-02 20:45:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT