CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A low pressure system pushing into West Virginia from the south is bringing with it a considerable amount of rainfall. The amounts are so much the National Weather Service is cautioning a flood is possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.
“In general, an inch to an inch and a half over areas where we have the flood watch,” said Meteorologist Tony Edwards at the National Weather Service forecasting office in Charleston. “Maybe a little less in areas to the north over Parkersburg and Clarksburg.”
The flood watch extends over most of the southern coalfield counties of West Virginia and the southern mountain counties. The watch from Thursday evening through Friday evening includes Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-Mingo-Logan-Boone-McDowell-Wyoming-Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas- Counties.
“It all depends on exactly how much rain we get and exactly where the rain sets up,” said Edwards. “Certainly if you live near a creek or stream or in an area prone to flooding you may want to keep your eyes out for the next two to three days.”
Rainfall is expected to start late Thursday and with the increased temperatures snowfall in the southern part of the state from the storm from more than a week ago is starting to melt and contribute to the problems.
“We’ve just been so wet and the snow that’s melting and everything falling is just going to go to runoff,” Edwards lamented. “We’re trying to raise awareness of the flood threat and maybe another winter system next week, with just repeating rounds of rain being the story.”