Severe Thunderstorm Watch Expired
THURSDAY 1 A.M. UPDATE:
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has expired. Some downpours with 40 mph gusts still moving into central WV through 3-4 a.m. but severe storm threat has diminished,
WEDNESDAY EVENING UPDATE:
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued from Charleston north and west through 3 a.m.
A line of severe storms moving through Central Ohio and Kentucky will start to move across the Scioto Valley/Southeast Ohio Counties and northern Kentucky by 10 p.m.
It will likely reach the Ohio River closer to midnight and track across West Virginia overnight.
This line has a history of producing gusts in excess of 60 mph with wind damage along I-71/75.
There are signs just before 9 p.m. that the line was weakening, and the strongest winds will likely be in localized pockets instead of large swaths as was the case in western Ohio and Indiana.
TUESDAY EVENING UPDATE
Downpours with some lightning developed again on our region Tuesday, but fortunately winds aloft in the atmosphere have been fast enough to move these along at about 40 mph.
As a result, torrential rain falls under any of these cells, but generally has amounted to 1 inch or less of rain in most locations.
However, more scattered downpours are expected overnight and the concern in this pattern is when individual cells interact with each other. That can lead to rain falling over the same location for a longer period of time which can lead to some isolated flash flooding overnight.
In addition, while severe winds weren't recorded in the Tri-State Tuesday, 30-40 mph gusts are capable of toppling trees given the wet soil.
One tree fell on a house along Sissonville Drive Tuesday afternoon, hospitalizing two people.
More scattered downpours will move through overnight and again Wednesday so while a flood watch in effect in our area expires at 10 p.m. another may return Thursday.
A stronger line of severe storms will move across western Ohio and northern Kentucky Wednesday night.
Forecasters will monitor how well this holds together and the system may weaken while moving into our region late-night as it goes away from it's source of lift, a cold front.
Nonetheless, more storms are apt to develop Thursday as that front moves in from the northwest.
Gusty winds and torrential rain will accompany that before shifting to the south by Thursday night .
After that it still looks like a strong ridge of high pressure will build across the East by the weekend and next week, leading to much drier weather, but also a significant increase in temperatures.
Highs will eclipse 90 degrees starting Saturday and could approach 100 by early next week, likely prompting some heat advisories and possibly some excessive heat warnings.
Now is not a bad time to review the signs of heat stroke and exhaustion.
MONDAY EVENING UPDATE
After a weekend of devastating flash flooding in the Wheeling and Fairmont areas high humidity led to more scattered downpours today, which prompted a few flash flood warnings.
Not only has high humidity contributed to the flood potential, but very light mid-level winds in the atmosphere have meant little movement to any storms that develop.
Those winds will increase Tuesday, which will lead to faster motion of storms that develop through the day.
Even with the forward speed, a quick one to two inches of rain is still possible given the high humidity and with the saturated ground more instances of flash flooding are possible.
Those stronger winds aloft also mean greater potential for some pockets of damaging wind gusts in any storms that develop. They'll be aided by periods of sun that will send temperatures well into the 80s. It will feel like 90+ with the humidity.
More scattered downpours are likely Wednesday before a stronger cold front approaches Thursday. This front can generate some stronger storms Thursday morning into the afternoon from north to south that can result in pockets of strong winds.
The passage of the front by late Thursday will result in lower humidity and finally a break in downpour pattern for Friday and the upcoming weekend.
Friday night marks the official start to Summer and it will definitely feel that way this weekend as a ridge of high pressure sets up over the Ohio Valley.
That leads to a welcome dry stretch into at least next Monday but dangerous heat will unfold with record highs being challenged as we approach and exceed 100 degrees.
Combined with increasing humidity we could see dangerous heat indices of 110 degrees or higher.
