Severe weather threat returns Thursday – here’s what to expect

Joe Fitzwater
·5 min read

Alerts Issued for Our Region

  • Wind Advisory is in effect from 6AM to 11PM Thursday for Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, western Greenbrier and northwestern Pocahontas counties. Wind gusts as high as 50 mph could cause a few trees to come down, resulting in a few power outages. Keep in mind that many areas saw trees come down from last week’s storms – damaged tree limbs could make it easier for them to come down.

Tonight features increasing chances for rain showers after midnight. It’s a mild and breezy night on the way with low temperatures only dropping into the mid to upper 50s. Our wind will become quite breezy as we head toward dawn, with gusts already in excess of 30 mph possible by that timeframe.

Thursday provides our next chance for severe weather, as a stout low pressure system rides up and into the Ohio River Valley along our aforementioned stalled front. We will start with a few showers in the morning, but we will see a break around lunchtime before our chances for storms increase during the late afternoon and into the dinner timeframe.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Tornadoes and Tornado Drill

Similarly to last week, though we won’t have a lot of instability in our atmosphere, there will be plenty of wind shear to provide the risk for damaging wind gusts and perhaps an isolated tornado, though the intensity of severe weather and the robustness of the atmosphere will not be nearly as intense as last week’s severe weather. Nevertheless, it’s a threat to not take for granted! Any rain that falls will have the potential to drop locally heavy rainfall, which will give us a threat for high water as well.

The best chance for severe weather will be during the late afternoon and into the early evening. High temperatures will jump into the mid 70s. Even without storms, windy conditions are expected, with wind gusts in excess of 40 mph expected during the day and all the way until our cold front passes during the early evening.

Friday sees our cold front finally cross the region but behind that front will be much colder air and a northwesterly breeze. So, similar to last week, a northwest flow will enable showers to hang around, along with low clouds. It’ll still be a breezy day with wind gusts in excess of 30 mph, and we will see high temperatures about 20 degrees cooler, as they struggle to reach 50 degrees.

Saturday gives our mountain counties the risk for an isolated shower early but we’ll see clearing skies with high pressure taking control. We will see our temperatures respond as well, with highs in the low 60s. It’ll still be breezy, with wind gusts in excess of 30 mph possible.

Sunday begins on a dry note but by the afternoon, a warm front will cross which will give us the chance for a few showers. There should be plenty of dry time and it will be very warm, with highs all the way up into the mid 70s.

Monday provides the risk for an isolated shower or two with a weak front nearby but we should see plenty of dry time once again, especially during the afternoon with highs in the low 70s.

Tuesday is looking sunny and very warm with high pressure in control! High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s.

Wednesday also looks dry and warm with clouds on the increase as our next storm system approaches. We’ll see high temperatures once again in the 70s.

Looking ahead, we will see a much warmer pattern continue – a weak front looks to cross Thursday evening, which could provide a couple of showers. Temperatures will be VERY warm out ahead of that front, with upper 70s looking possible! With an area of low pressure scooting through the area late Friday and our frontal boundary stalling out, chances for showers will return Friday into Saturday but it’s still looking very mild with highs near 70.

Help us with our growing community of weather photos with #weathertogether. Head to our website and search for the ‘Weather together’ tab and upload your photos of weather going on around our region. Sunday also looks very nice with plenty of sun and highs in the 60s.

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
Shower chances increase after midnight. Becoming breezy, with lows in the mid to upper 50s.
THURSDAY
Showers and thunderstorms likely. A few storms could be severe during the late afternoon and early evening. Windy. Highs in the mid 70s.
FRIDAY
Scattered showers likely. Mostly cloudy and cooler. Highs around 50.
SATURDAY
Isolated shower early. Partly cloudy and breezy. Highs in the low 60s.
SUNDAY
Partly sunny to begin with, showers in the afternoon. Very warm! Highs in the mid 70s.
MONDAY
Few showers early. Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 70s.
TUESDAY
Partly sunny. Warm! Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Partly sunny. Highs in the low 70s.
THURSDAY
Few showers. Highs in the 70s.
FRIDAY
Shower chances continue. Highs in the 70s.
SATURDAY
Rain showers possible. Highs in the 60s.

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