West Virginia was on the northern fringe of the large severe weather outbreak that occurred across the southern states, northeast into Virginia.
A strengthening low pressure center tracked from Arkansas to Ohio.  A strong wind flow exists aloft.
During most of the daylight hours on the 27th, the convection remained weak in West Virginia.  As mid and upper level dynamics increased late in the afternoon and early evening, a large area of showers streaked northeast into West Virginia.  Heavier convection was embedded on the southeastern inflow flank of this large area of rain.  This affected the mountainous counties.
Wind damage was common in Raleigh County into Randolph County.  The most damage was in the city of Elkins from straight line winds.  A short lived tornado was confirmed in Nicholas County.
Due to the wet ground, stream flooding was a concern.  Strong rises occurred on streams and headwater rivers, but luckily no significant flooding occurred.

Hail in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 22:11:00 to 27-APR-11 22:11:00 (EST-5)
Location: GNENT
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 22:16:00 to 27-APR-11 22:16:00 (EST-5)
Location: COOL RIDGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:26:00 to 27-APR-11 21:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITE OAK
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down along Joe Cooper Farm Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:20:00 to 27-APR-11 21:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: MT HOPE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down.

Hail in FAYETTE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:20:00 to 27-APR-11 21:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: MT HOPE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:15:00 to 27-APR-11 21:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BRADLEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:23:00 to 27-APR-11 21:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: GLEN WHITE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down along Lester Highway.

Thunderstorm Wind in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:12:00 to 27-APR-11 21:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOPHIA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down.

Tornado in NICHOLAS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:58:00 to 27-APR-11 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: COE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 15.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

North of Richwood, a brief tornado skipped along the mountainside and the Cranberry River Valley.  This was along Forest Road 76.  The elevation above sea level was around 2300 to 2400 feet.  Trees were blown down as well as snapped off above the ground.  Maximum wind gusts near 110 mph were estimated by the survey team.  One camper and a few trucks were damaged by fallen trees.  This area is timbered, so crop damage was estimated.
This was the first confirmed tornado in Nicholas County since 1969.

Thunderstorm Wind in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:12:00 to 27-APR-11 21:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: BRADLEY
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees were blown down.   One Bradley resident said, It happened just like this.  It wasn't but a minute for all this destruction.  It's unreal.  Fallen trees damaged at least one house and another porch.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:28:00 to 27-APR-11 21:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLIFFTOP
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down onto Route 41 near Babcock State Park.

Thunderstorm Wind in POCAHONTAS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 23:40:00 to 27-APR-11 23:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: THORNWOOD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Trees were knocked down near the Intersection of Routes 250 and 28.

Thunderstorm Wind in POCAHONTAS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 23:40:00 to 27-APR-11 23:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: CASS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Trees were knocked down in Seneca State Forest.

Hail in WYOMING, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 20:44:00 to 27-APR-11 20:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: OCEANA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSHUR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 17:35:00 to 27-APR-11 17:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUCKHANNON LEWIS ARP
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A gust to 64 mph was measured.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:12:00 to 27-APR-11 21:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: BICKMORE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several trees were knocked down on County Route 22.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:03:00 to 27-APR-11 21:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: PROCIOUS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Trees were blown down along Route 4.

Thunderstorm Wind in BRAXTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 21:32:00 to 27-APR-11 21:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: LITTLE OTTER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Trees were blown down on County Route 7.

Thunderstorm Wind in RANDOLPH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 28-APR-11 00:00:00 to 28-APR-11 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITMER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down and uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind in RANDOLPH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-APR-11 22:45:00 to 27-APR-11 22:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELKINS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 650.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The most serious damage was within the city limits.  Damage was consistent with straight line winds.  Seventeen structures were damaged to some degree.  The damage ranged from trees blown into homes and asphalt shingles blown off roofs, to the entire roof torn off the Veterans of Foreign Wars building.
Maximum wind gusts were estimated at around 70 mph.