CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Those who have outdoor jobs are feeling the strain of a summer heat wave this week. An unusual weather pattern so far this summer delivered rain almost daily, but for now that has changed.
“One good part of being out of that pattern for now is that it’s allowing the ground to dry out,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Mark Zwier. “Where we were very saturated before, this will help us take on some more as the rains increase again next week.”
The wet pattern should return next week, but temperatures the duration of this week will be in the 90’s and prompt widespread “heat advisories” from the weather service.
“People who are working outside that’s where you start paying a little bit more attention,” said Zwier. “Once you get into those temperatures that’s where the heat stroke and that kind of thing can start to happen a lot easier.”
Zwier said there is a chance of a thunderstorm each afternoon, spawned by the heat and humidity. Although it’s an extreme condition, Zwier said this week’s temperatures are much more normal for a West Virginia summer.