Charleston, W.Va. – The morning begins quietly across the Kanawha Valley, but don’t let the calm skies fool you. Humidity is building, clouds will thicken through the day, and a much wetter pattern is expected to arrive by afternoon. Roads that start dry could quickly become slick as thunderstorms expand across central West Virginia.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, temperatures will climb to around 88 degrees before showers and thunderstorms become increasingly likely during the afternoon. Rain chances increase to 70% later today, then surge to 90% this evening as widespread showers and thunderstorms move across the region.
Most of the morning should remain dry, making it the best window for outdoor plans. By midafternoon, however, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop before becoming more numerous into the evening. Some storms could produce torrential downpours, frequent lightning, and brief gusty winds. Localized ponding on roads is possible where heavier rain falls.
Motorists traveling on Interstates 64, 77 and 79, along with the West Virginia Turnpike and U.S. Route 119, should prepare for rapidly changing conditions later today. Visibility could drop sharply during heavier showers, especially around Charleston, South Charleston, Nitro, Cross Lanes and surrounding communities. Plan extra travel time if you’re heading out this afternoon or evening.
The unsettled pattern eases on Sunday, when only a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms remains with highs near 85 degrees. Sunshine becomes more dominant on Monday as temperatures rebound to 87 degrees.
The next organized round of wet weather arrives on Tuesday, July 21, when showers and thunderstorms become likely again. Rain chances increase to 70% during the day and 90% Tuesday night, signaling another period of potentially heavy rainfall before drier conditions return later in the week.
National weather patterns continue to favor active weather across parts of the Ohio Valley while hotter-than-normal conditions expand farther west. West Virginia stays near the boundary between warm, humid air and passing disturbances, allowing repeated opportunities for summertime thunderstorms through midweek.
If you’re spending time outdoors today, keep an eye on the sky and have a shelter nearby before storms develop.
Five-Day Forecast for Charleston, West Virginia
- Sunday: Slight chance of thunderstorms. High 85°F, Low 66°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny. High 87°F, Low 70°F.
- Tuesday: Chance of showers, then thunderstorms likely. High 88°F, Low 69°F. Rain chance 70%, increasing to 90% Tuesday night.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny with a 30% chance of afternoon showers. High 81°F, Low 60°F.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 79°F, Low 61°F.
