Charleston, W.Va. – Residents across the central Appalachian region should prepare for the potential for severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening as a cold front pushes east, bringing the risk of damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes from Ohio into West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, scattered to widespread severe thunderstorms are expected to develop along the advancing cold front Tuesday, with much of West Virginia, eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania included in a Level 2 of 5 (Slight Risk) for severe weather. Areas farther west into portions of Ohio and Kentucky are under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5), where storms are expected to organize before moving toward the Appalachian region.
The primary threat will be damaging straight-line winds, but forecasters say discrete supercells could also produce large hail and isolated tornadoes. Cities including Charleston, Parkersburg, Morgantown, Wheeling, Huntington and Beckley, along with nearby communities in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, should closely monitor weather conditions through Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Heavy rainfall may also lead to localized flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, especially where multiple storms track across the same locations. Travelers along Interstates 64, 68, 70, 77 and 79 should be prepared for rapidly changing weather, reduced visibility and debris on roadways if severe storms develop.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items, charge electronic devices ahead of possible power outages and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, particularly if storms arrive after sunset. The Storm Prediction Center notes that forecast details may still evolve, but confidence continues to increase that parts of the Appalachian region will experience impactful severe weather Tuesday. Additional Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Tornado Watches may be issued as the event unfolds.
