CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mild temperatures were felt throughout the afternoon on Tuesday in the Mountain State but things are expected to change quickly and bring a chilly Thanksgiving.
National Weather Service Charleston Meteorologist Ray Young told MetroNews, it’ll be a different 24 hours from Tuesday evening on, one full of dropping temperatures, high winds gusts and showers.
“We’ve got a system coming through bringing a cold front,” Young said. “We will have a little rain tonight (Tuesday night) and into tomorrow morning and then that behind that system, tomorrow afternoon will get very windy.”
The system is expected to be so windy that the National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Advisory for numerous counties across the state. Young said winds will be between 20 to 30 miles per hour from mid-morning Wednesday to 7 p.m. and gusts up to 50 mph are expected along with rain.
A widespread strong wind event is expected across the area on Wednesday. Wind gusts between 40-50 mph will be possible across the lowlands and possibly stronger in higher elevations. For those planning to travel for Thanksgiving, these strong winds could cause disruptions. #WVwx pic.twitter.com/xyZk6baehS
— NWS Charleston, WV (@NWSCharlestonWV) November 25, 2019
Temperatures around the state peaked in the low to mid-60s on Tuesday but those winds will bring the highs down later in the week to around 20 degrees less. Young said it sets up for a Thanksgiving Day high in the mid-40s.
“We are looking at high temps in the lowlands of West Virginia in the mid-40s. Places like Snowshoe won’t break freezing but the good news is it is going to be dry. It’ll feel a lot like Thanksgiving with a cool, dry day,” Young said.
Thanksgiving morning traditions such as 5Ks and football games will be happening around the state in the low to mid-30s.
Another system is expected over the weekend, followed by even colder air for the beginning of next week.