Charleston, West Virginia – Residents across West Virginia have a brief stretch of cooler, less humid weather before a potentially significant round of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall arrives later this week.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, tranquil conditions will continue through Tuesday and much of Wednesday before showers and thunderstorms begin reaching the middle Ohio Valley as early as Wednesday night. The threat is expected to expand across the entire state on Thursday.
Forecasters are monitoring the potential for both severe weather and excessive rainfall. While details remain under refinement, current outlooks indicate the possibility of damaging thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, frequent lightning and torrential rainfall. Flash flooding could become a concern, especially in flood-prone areas, low-lying locations and along smaller streams.
Communities including Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Beckley, Clarksburg, Morgantown and surrounding areas could experience travel disruptions Thursday if heavier rain bands develop. Motorists should be prepared for reduced visibility, water-covered roads and rapidly changing weather conditions during the day.
Temperatures will remain relatively comfortable through midweek, with highs generally in the upper 60s to lower 80s across the state before the storm system arrives. Mountain communities can expect even cooler conditions during the next several days.
Residents are encouraged to review severe weather plans now and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings, particularly overnight Wednesday into Thursday when the first storms may arrive. Additional watches, advisories and warnings could be issued as confidence in the storm track and impacts increases.
