Charleston, West Virginia – Residents across West Virginia, southeast Ohio and eastern Kentucky should prepare now for multiple rounds of thunderstorms that could bring damaging winds, torrential rainfall and localized flash flooding beginning Monday afternoon and continuing into early Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms may develop Monday afternoon, but the greatest threat is expected Monday night into early Tuesday as a large thunderstorm complex tracks southeast across Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Much of the region is under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe thunderstorms, while portions of southeast Ohio are included in a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5).
Damaging straight-line winds will be the primary severe weather hazard, but repeated rounds of heavy rain could quickly overwhelm drainage systems and cause flooding in low-lying areas, along small streams and on roads prone to water accumulation. Communities including Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Beckley, Clarksburg and surrounding areas should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, especially overnight when storms may arrive while many people are asleep.
Residents are encouraged to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, keep a NOAA Weather Radio nearby and have multiple ways to receive warnings overnight. If you encounter a flooded roadway, Turn Around, Don’t Drown, as water depth and road damage may not be immediately visible.
Additional strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening before the weather pattern gradually begins to improve. More watches, warnings and flood advisories could be issued as confidence in the timing and intensity of the storms increases.
