Charleston, WV – Residents in West Virginia and nearby states should prepare for a heightened threat of severe weather starting Thursday, with damaging winds and heavy rainfall expected to impact much of the region.
According to the US National Weather Service Charleston WV, a cold front is expected to move through the Ohio River Valley area Friday, triggering a round of thunderstorms—some of which may be severe. Areas west of the Ohio River, including portions of southeastern Ohio, northeastern Kentucky, and western West Virginia, are at the greatest risk for damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of the region under a Level 2 “Slight Risk” for severe weather on Thursday, May 1. This classification signals the potential for scattered severe storms capable of producing localized flash flooding. Areas such as Parkersburg, Charleston, and Clarksburg are within this risk zone.
The National Weather Service advises residents to remain weather-aware through the weekend, especially Saturday, when a secondary cold front may bring additional showers and thunderstorms to the region. Forecasters emphasize the importance of staying informed through local alerts and having multiple methods for receiving weather warnings.
Thunderstorms that do develop may bring wind gusts exceeding 74 mph and hail with diameters over two inches in isolated areas, though the probability of a tornado remains low at this time.
Officials encourage residents to monitor forecasts as the situation evolves and to take necessary precautions to ensure safety during the period of unsettled weather.
