West Virginia is starting Monday with a hazy sky, pockets of dense fog, and smoky air, but the bigger concern is already taking shape for Tuesday. Visibility has been limited in parts of the Charleston area this morning, and conditions will change noticeably over the next 24 to 36 hours as a powerful cold front approaches. By Tuesday afternoon and evening, thunderstorms could rapidly intensify with damaging wind gusts, large hail, torrential rainfall, and localized flash flooding.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, areas of fog gradually improve through late morning while patchy smoke lingers into early afternoon. High temperatures climb to around 88 degrees today under mostly sunny skies before increasing clouds arrive tonight. Meteorologists have highlighted an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms Tuesday along and ahead of the advancing cold front, with a slight risk for flash flooding across portions of the region.
Drivers should expect changing conditions. Reduced visibility early Monday may slow travel on Interstate 64, Interstate 77, Interstate 79, and several mountain routes. By Tuesday afternoon, wet pavement, heavy rain, and lightning could create difficult travel during the evening commute. Plan extra travel time and be ready to delay outdoor activities if storms develop nearby.
Tuesday reaches the upper 80s before widespread showers and thunderstorms become likely after 5 p.m. Southwest winds may gust above 20 mph outside of storms, with significantly stronger gusts possible inside the strongest cells. Rainfall rates could briefly overwhelm drainage in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
Conditions begin improving Wednesday as scattered showers taper through the afternoon. Sunshine returns Thursday with highs near 81 degrees before temperatures rebound into the lower 80s heading toward the end of the workweek. Longer-range outlooks also point toward above-normal temperatures developing later next week, signaling another stretch of midsummer warmth after the midweek cooldown.
Stay weather-aware Tuesday afternoon and evening, keep multiple ways to receive warnings, and monitor updated statements from the National Weather Service as the severe weather threat evolves. Are you seeing smoke or fog where you live, or preparing for Tuesday’s storms? Let us know what conditions are like in your community.
Five-Day Outlook for Charleston, West Virginia
- Monday: Areas of morning fog and patchy smoke, then mostly sunny. High 88°F.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. High 87°F. Low 68°F.
- Wednesday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly late morning into afternoon. High 81°F. Mostly clear Wednesday night, low 59°F.
- Thursday: Sunny and comfortable. High 81°F. Mostly clear Thursday night, low 60°F.
- Friday: Mostly sunny with seasonable summer weather. High 83°F.
