CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Charleston say West Virginia is in for a bumpy weather ride for the rest of the week. A storm system is headed toward the state which will be delivered in three distinct waves.
“It’s going to be an active pattern into the beginning of next week,” said Meteorologist Joe Merchant. “We’re focusing on three separate rounds of rainfall.”
The rain wasn’t on many minds Wednesday when temperatures reached into the upper 60s in many Mountain State communities but that’s expected to change by Thursday evening. The NWS has issued a flood watch for 26 counties beginning Thursday evening through Saturday morning.
The watch counties include:
Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wirt and Wood.
Merchant said there is also the possibility of sleet and freezing rain as the winds shift from the south to north. Although a few inches of snow could result, it’s not the first worry of the weather team.
“It’s not going to be a big snow producer,” Merchant said. “The primary concern is rain.”