CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Colder air was pushing into West Virginia to close out the first full week of February after rounds of rain in mild temperatures leading to high water in some northern Mountain State communities.
Public schools in Marshall County were closed on Friday due to flooding and, what school officials said, were dangerous road conditions.
Other counties were dealing with road issues as well.
WV-7 expected to remain closed most of today. Use alternate route. https://t.co/o2tUcVgrVT
— West Virginia 511 (@WV511) February 8, 2019
As of Friday morning, a Flood Warning from the National Weather Service was scheduled to take effect on Friday afternoon and continue into Sunday for the Ohio River at the Belleville Lock in Wood County, located south of Parkersburg.
The crest of the Ohio River there was expected Saturday morning at 1.6 feet above flood stage.
Overall, “Some streams and creeks remain out of their banks cross southeast Ohio with many roads still closed due to flooding,” meteorologists said.
“Also, expect strong rises on the Ohio River today (Friday) and streams and creeks that flow into the Ohio River will likely become backed up with some minor flooding possible.”
In eastern West Virginia, many counties were under Wind Advisories through the day Friday for possible gusts of up to 50 miles per hour.
Temperature differences between Thursday and Friday were 30 degrees or more in some cases.
On Thursday, high temperatures set records in Beckley at 69 degrees, Bluefield at 70 degrees, Charleston at 75 degrees and Huntington at 73 degrees, according to NWS.
The February thaw continues across much of the Eastern US with more high temperature records broken or tied on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/wcxxTIP2KO
— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) February 7, 2019