Weather Alert: Severe storms possible this evening into late tonight
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:
It's hot, sunny and hazy this Friday afternoon with smoke in the upper levels of the atmosphere that has traveled in from Western wildfires.
No storms have formed anywhere near us as of 3:30 p.m. ... but we expect that to change after 6 p.m.
We should start to see some individual storm cells sprout up in eastern Kentucky by 7 p.m. and then expand east across West Virginia through mid-evening.
Those storms can produce pockets of strong winds and hail ... and also frequent lightning. The latest forecast model suggests football games between Huntington and Charleston could be at risk for lightning delays. That's a southeast shift from what we were thinking yesterday.
More storms are likely to increase by late evening into the overnight ... and we could be dealing with strong to severe storms as late as 3 a.m.
Given the late timing of the severe weather threat make sure you have ways to get warnings. The issuance of a late night "tornado warning" remains possible in some portion of the area so it's important you can be alerted while you sleep.
We'll be covering the storm threat through the overnight hours on tv and online.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:
A Weather Alert has been issued starting at 4 p.m. Friday and lasting into the overnight hours.
Week 2 of West Virginia High School football won't be nearly as nice as Week 1.
A cold front, wind energy and warmth will combine to produce strong to severe thunderstorms by late Friday afternoon into Friday night.
These will start near the Ohio River first and then spread across northern West Virginia past sundown.
Areas north and west of the Kanawha Valley seem to be most at risk for delays to football games and possible postponements.
Some smoke from western wildfires in the upper atmosphere Friday (you'll notice a haze) will likely enhance electrical charge in storms, resulting in lots of lightning as these develop.
That means any outdoor events, especially closer to the Ohio River and west, will be threatened in the evening.
Lightning isn't the only concern. Pockets of damaging (60+ mph) wind gusts and nickel-sized hail are also possible in some of these storms.
With some spin in the atmosphere it's possible a tornado or two could spin up as well.
Much of Friday will be quiet with hazy sun breaking out but it will turn much warmer for the afternoon, setting the stage for these storms.
Periodic rain and drizzle will persist through much of Saturday with temperatures likely falling and holding in the 60s across the area.
