Ahead of a warm front, showers and embedded thunderstorms began before dawn on Wednesday, the 29th.  The warm front lifted northeast through West Virginia between dawn and midday.  By late afternoon that warm front had lifted into the northern panhandle and southwestern Pennsylvania.  In the warm sector, the showers diminished by late morning and midday across the southern half of West Virginia.  However, despite being just south of the warm front, showers and thunderstorms continued during the afternoon near the Route 50 corridor across northern West Virginia.  The heaviest rain rates fell during the late morning into the early afternoon hours.  Around 0.75 inches of rain fell in less than 3 hours.  By mid afternoon, 8 to 12 hour rain totals of 1 to 1.5 inches were common from near Wood, Pleasants, and Tyler Counties on east into Harrison, Taylor, Lewis, and Upshur Counties.  Rain totals of 1.5 to 2.5 inches were common in 24 hours.  A local maximum of 2.6 inches was measured at Kesling Mill in northern Upshur County.  A more extensive 24 hour rainfall maximum of 2.5 to 3 inches stretched across northern Harrison into northern Taylor Counties.  This was toward the border with Marion and Preston Counties.  For example, Valley Falls State Park reported 2.7 inches by 1800E on the 29th.
Prior to the rain, the ground was already wetter than normal.  The vegetation was still dormant.  As a result, small streams flooded quickly.  Urban street and poor drainage flooding also occurred.
While the flooding was occurring, instability increased during the afternoon over southern West Virginia, ahead of an approaching cold front.  These additional showers and thunderstorms did produce some hail and wind damage during the mid and late afternoon.  Luckily, the heaviest downpours remained mostly south of the areas hit harder earlier in the day.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency due to the flooding.  This event would be combined with another severe weather event on March 2nd to be declared a federal disaster by President Barack Obama.  See FEMA disaster number 4059 for more details.

Flood in RANDOLPH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 20:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILL CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The rains on the 29th brought a strong rise on the Tygart Valley River late in the day.  Backwater from the river flooded County Route 39 near Mill Creek.  The Mill Creek gauge on the river crested around 12.5 feet as Leap Day was ending and the month of March was beginning.

Flash Flood in DODDRIDGE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 15:35:00 to 29-FEB-12 19:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: ASHLEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small streams, such as Broad Run and Franks Run, flooded.  Roads, culverts, and 2 private bridges were damaged.

Flash Flood in HARRISON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 15:45:00 to 29-FEB-12 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WALLACE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 475.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small stream flooding was common across the northern half of Harrison County.  Ten Mile Creek, Little Ten Mile Creek, and Isaac Creek flooded areas around Wallace, Sardis, and Lumberport.   A water rescue occurred near Dola along Route 20. Mudlick Run flooded around Owings and Willard.  Bingamon Creek and Cunningham Run flooded near Wyatt and Peora.  Salem Fork and Jacobs Run flooded the community of Salem.  In Salem, water got into a few homes and a general store.
Overall though, the damage in the county was mostly to roads and culverts.
In the aftermath of this small stream flooding, the West Fork River crested at 19.28 feet at Enterprise.  The bankfull level is around 17 feet.

Flash Flood in TAYLOR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:10:00 to 29-FEB-12 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HEPZIBAH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small stream flooding was common across the northern half of Taylor County.  Three Fork Creek basin around Thorton was hard hit.  Also, Corbin Branch, along the Harrison County border, saw considerable damage.   In the county, 1 mobile home was destroyed.  Two houses had water reach 3 inches deep on their first floor.  Basement flooding was seen in 11 homes.  Valley Falls State Park, along the Taylor and Marion County line had considerable damage to roads and trails.

Flash Flood in UPSHUR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 14:30:00 to 29-FEB-12 21:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCK CAVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small streams, such as Slab Camp Fork and Glady Fork, flooded and closed roads.  Alton Road, Hall Road, and Vicksburg Road were also flooded.  Local fire departments pumped water out of several basements, but no structures were damaged.  The department of highways was busy clearing debris off secondary roads.  In the aftermath, a strong rise occurred on the Buckhannon River, but the water level crested below flood stage.

Flash Flood in TYLER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALLS MILLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small streams flooded and closed roads.  Five to 10 homes had water get into their first floor.  Debris was left in yards.  Two to 3 private bridges had minor damage.

Flash Flood in RITCHIE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 15:35:00 to 29-FEB-12 19:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELLENBORO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Roads were damaged from small stream flooding, mainly in the eastern portion of the county.  Hushers Run surrounded mobile homes in Ellensboro.  Bunnell Run flooded southwest of Pennsboro. The headwaters of Hughes River flooded Route 10 between Pennsboro and Pullman.

Thunderstorm Wind in BOONE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 15:20:00 to 29-FEB-12 15:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: GREENVIEW
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down along Powell Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind in MINGO, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: LOBATA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down along Route 49.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:00:00 to 29-FEB-12 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: VICTOR
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Along Saturday Road, trees were blown down onto power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:10:00 to 29-FEB-12 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: HICO
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Trees fell onto power lines along Opossum Creek Road.

Hail in RANDOLPH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 23:15:00 to 29-FEB-12 23:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: COALTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in WOOD, WEST VIRGINIA
From 29-FEB-12 16:30:00 to 29-FEB-12 16:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: PROVINCE GROVE
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A rear flank downdraft produced a microburst along Sycamore Run Road south of Mineral Wells.  The terrain was favorably aligned for a funneling effect.  Peak wind gusts were estimated at 80 to 90 mph by a survey team.
Approximately 80 to 100 trees were damaged along a half mile damage path.  Some trees were uprooted while others were snapped at the trunk.  The largest tree had a 2 to 3 foot diameter trunk. However, the ground was quite wet and soft, due to the heavy rain earlier in the day.  Several of the fallen trees were along hill slopes.
One mobile home was shaken by the wind with damage to its metal skirting.  One small barn had half of its corrugated zinc metal roof blown off.  The roof ended up about 150 feet northeast of the barn.  The barn had an open design, which allowed the wind to enter the barn and lift off the east-facing side of the roof.  The opposite side of the roof was undamaged.  No injuries or major damage to dwellings were noted.