CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The threat of flash flooding was expected to continue into the new week following high water Sunday morning in parts of West Virginia, especially in areas south of Interstate 64.
“In general, we’ve seen about 1.5 inches to just over two inches in the problem areas,” said Michael Charnick, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, early Sunday afternoon.
“Two of our cooperative observer gauges, one in southern Wayne (County) and one in central Mingo, reported two inches of rain on the nose for a 24 hour total.”
The highest rain totals were reported in parts of Mingo, Wayne, Logan, Lincoln and Boone Counties. That rain, in some cases, covered roads, overran drainage ditches and pushed streams and creeks up their banks.
“Everybody was safe” was the report from Mingo County emergency officials following water rescues in the Marrowbone Creek area.
In Lincoln County, Route 3 was closed on Sunday morning at Duval PK-8 School but had reopened by Sunday afternoon.
By early Sunday afternoon, the high water had receded in many areas and Flood Warnings were lifted, but emergency officials were warning of ground saturation and the potential for additional heavy rain from storms, later Sunday into Monday, that could again lead to flooding.
Flash Flood Watches from the National Weather Service remained in effect on Sunday afternoon in more than 30 counties: Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, McDowell, Wyoming, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Upshur, Barbour, Pocahontas, Randolph.
“We’re sort of in an unsettled pattern right now,” Charnick said. “It looks like there’s going to be some showers around on Monday and that showery, wet weather pattern is going to continue into the week.”
For the latest Flood Watches and Flood Warnings from the National Weather Service, click here.