Breezy conditions to peak Wednesday, increased fire threat
Alerts Issued for Our Region
WIND ADVISORY in effect from 9 PM tonight through 8 PM Wednesday for northwest Pocahontas County. A west wind of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected during this timeframe which could lead to downed trees and a few power outages.
Tonight features mostly clear skies but it’s not as cold with a warmer airmass settling in with low temperatures in the mid 30s. Perhaps the bigger story tonight and into Wednesday will be the breeze, with a west breeze at 10 to 15 mph gusting up to 25 mph tonight. That will drop wind chill values down into the teens and 20s.
Wednesday continues the breezy conditions, with gusts up to 40 mph possible for most as a result of our setup with high pressure to our south and low pressure to our north. The highest gusts will take place over the high mountains, which is why a Wind Advisory has been issued for portions of Pocahontas County.
We’ll see temperatures jump into the mid 50s for highs but you’ll still want the jackets with that stout breeze – a few power outages are possible. In addition, don’t burn if you don’t have to – spring fire season is here and the wind and very dry conditions will create an elevated fire threat. The wind will begin to relax as we head into the overnight hours, with temperatures dropping all the way back into the low to mid 20s – wind chill values at times will flirt with the single digits once again.
Thursday features more sunshine but with an area of high pressure moving into the Great Lakes from Canada, we’ll pick up a northwest breeze. That breeze will push temperatures down into the mid to upper 40s for highs, so it’s a colder day but at least the wind won’t be quite as bad, with wind gusts no higher than 20 mph expected. Clouds will begin to increase late in the day slowly and increase overnight with mostly cloudy skies expected. The clouds will hold in some of the warmth from the day, with lows around freezing.
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Friday brings rain showers back to the region, especially for the afternoon, as a trough crosses. With high pressure over New England, this is a good setup for cold air damming to take place over the mountain areas, meaning a brief mixed bag of precipitation include rain, freezing rain and even snow is possible for the highest peaks above 3500 feet. For the lowlands, we won’t be affected by cold air damming, with highs likely making a run still into the low 50s. We will see a big variety in temperatures for highs, ranging from the low 50s in the lowlands down to around 40 in the highlands – this system will head out Friday night with a northwest flow setting us up for Saturday.
Saturday keeps the chances for a couple of flurries over the mountains over the mountains with a northwest flow kicking in. The chances for a few flurries and eventually rain showers as we warm up will persist through the morning hours with that threat waning as we head into the afternoon. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s in the lowlands and low 40s in the mountains but with a northwest breeze that could gust to 25 mph, wind gusts in the 30s will make for a chilly afternoon.
Sunday brings mostly sunny skies into the region with high pressure overhead shifting to our east by the afternoon, which will warm us up as a return flow shapes with a southwest breeze. This will push high temperatures into the mid 50s with hardly a cloud in the sky. At least the wind will relax!
Monday provides mostly sunny skies once again and high temperatures pushing toward 60 degrees. Our next system will begin to approach late in the day, with clouds on the increase and showers will then be likely heading into the next day.
Tuesday sees mostly cloudy skies and a few showers by the afternoon. Rain chances will be greatest overnight into Wednesday, with high temperatures very warm with a stout southerly breeze in the low 60s.
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Looking ahead in your extended forecast, we’ll see rain showers return as a Great Lakes low pressure system kicks off showers with a cold front. High temperatures on Wednesday despite plenty of showers will be in the 50s. We’ll begin to dry out Thursday but it’s colder behind that front, with highs struggling to reach 50 degrees. Friday is a sunny day with high pressure in control and highs in the 50s.
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We are in spring forest fire season in West Virginia – this means don’t burn between 7 AM and 5 PM through May 31st. Low humidity values during the daytime, along with breezier and warmer conditions will at times increase the fire threat, hence the burn ban during most of the daytime. Follow all regulations or be faced with potential consequences, such as fines! In Virginia, the spring fire season continues through April 30th – don’t burn before 4 PM.
TONIGHT
Mostly clear, breezy. Lows in the mid 30s. Wind chill values in the teens and 20s.
WEDNESDAY
Mostly sunny. Warmer and even breezier, with highs in the mid 50s and wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph expected.
THURSDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Not nearly as breezy!
FRIDAY
Rain showers likely by the late afternoon. Quite a variance in temperature, with highs in the low
50s in the lowlands but only in the low 40s in the highlands.
SATURDAY
Few flurries/rain showers in the morning. Afternoon clearing. Highs in the upper 40s.
SUNDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.
MONDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs near 60.
TUESDAY
Rain showers likely late. Highs in the low 60s.
WEDNESDAY
Showers likely once again. Highs in the 50s.
THURSDAY
Showers exit. Sunny. Highs in the 50s.
FRIDAY
Sunny. Highs in the 50s.
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