CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Widespread flooding was reported in Jefferson County Thursday with more rain on the way as a storm system pumps in moisture from the south.
“All of this rainfall is causing all the rivers to flood. We have an Areal Flood Warning across the entire county,” Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Public Information Officer Brandon Vallee said Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “We have downed trees and lots of road closures. It’s a major inconvenience for everyone living in the county.”
Opequon Creek was out of its banks in Jefferson and Berkeley counties and expected to stay that way, National Weather Service Meteorologist Maura Casey said.
“It will be flooding until further notice. We still have plenty of rain coming up,” Casey said.
The moderate to heavy rain is forecasted to continue into Friday evening.
“Unfortunately we’re just stuck in this wet pattern with multiple waves of rainfall coming through the next several days,” Casey said.
Other parts of the state were picking up rain Thursday afternoon but it was more scattered than the panhandle counties.
It’s been a rough week in Jefferson County where violent storms early in the week knocked down trees and knocked off electrical service. The community of Shannondale was particularly hard hit.
As the waters come up, Vallee reminded residents not to drive through standing water.
“If you see lots of water on the road just turn around don’t drown. It’s not worth it,” he said. “We’ve had several reports of culverts being washed out and unsafe driving conditions. It’s not worth driving your car and it’s not worth losing your life.”