CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Following heavy showers and thunderstorms over the weekend and into Monday, more of the same weather patterns could hit West Virginia Tuesday into Wednesday as Tropical Storm Fred works its way north after making landfall in the western panhandle of Florida.
Simone Lewis, a National Weather Service (NWS) Charleston meteorologist told MetroNews that the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred will lead to soaking rain for parts of the Mountain State. However, Lewis said that because of the recent heatwave, much of the state is considered abnormally dry and parts of the mountains are in a moderate drought, so rains could be beneficial.
“We’re looking at the possibility of two to four inches across the mountainous terrain. Areas west of the mountains, closer to the Ohio River, a general two inches. Maybe three inches in spots,” Lewis said of rain totals over the span of two days.
Fred made landfall on Monday west of Tallahassee with those areas getting up to eight inches of rain. The August-September time frame is the height of the hurricane, tropical storm season which runs from May to November in the Atlantic Ocean, Lewis said.
Lewis said it’s normal for West Virginia to receive the remnants of these storms multiple times a year.
“They usually provide a good soaking rain. Sometimes there will be gusty winds out of them but we are not expecting much of that from the remnants of Fred coming up,” she said.
Heavy rain possible as moisture out ahead of Tropical Storm Fred stream northward through Tuesday, and then as what by then will be the remn pic.twitter.com/NTfGFb5yhk
— NWS Charleston, WV (@NWSCharlestonWV) August 16, 2021
Gov. Justice said during his coronavirus briefing on Monday that the state is preparing for a potential flash flood Tuesday into Wednesday.
West Virginia Emergency Management Twitter page sent out a message on the system on Monday, “There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms across the state through Friday. Isolated high-water issues will be possible through at least Wednesday, although no severe weather is expected at this time.”
There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms across the state through Friday.
Isolated high-water issues will be possible through at least Wednesday, although no severe weather is expected at this time.
See the latest weather briefings: https://t.co/4RnSQASPCJ #WVwx pic.twitter.com/X0FXbKVp52— WV Emergency Management (@WVEMD) August 16, 2021
Lewis had a message for motorists and citizens during any torrential rain events.
“Even though we are not expecting any sort of widespread flooding issues, if folks are out traveling, to be aware of low-lying spots certainly could become flooded and do not drive your vehicle through them,” she said.
“Also keep children away from culverts and storm drains.”
Lewis would not rule out another period of hot weather, into the 90s, in September but said the forecast for the next week across the state in temperatures in the low to mid-80s with clouds and showers.