CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A long list of counties through central and eastern mountains of West Virginia are under a Flash Flood Watch all day Friday.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Nick Webb said there is cause for concern with slow moving thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and evening combined with the saturation in the ground in areas that have received rain all week.
“The potential for flooding exists if any one location gets one of the strong showers or storms. They could get up to two inches fairy quickly, in an hour or less,” Webb said.
Counties under the watch until late Friday evening include Preston, Tucker, Pleasants, Tyler, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Upshur, Barbour, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, Randolph, Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Mineral, and Pendleton.
Webb said the most vulnerable area for potential flooding is Randolph County where severe flash flooding brought six to seven inches of rain in a short period of time last weekend.
“The far northeastern part of Randolph County in the Harman, Whitmer area. They are in the watch and they are the most vulnerable,” Webb said.
Webb added that all citizens inside counties in the watch and even surrounding counties need to be careful with the rain and potential flooding throughout the weekend.
“Everyone should be paying attention to the weather. be mindful that any strong storm could produce heavy rainfall in a short amount of time that could lead to some flooding.”