Multiple severe weather opportunities this week – here’s when to expect them

Alerts Issued for Our Region

• FLOOD WATCH until midnight Tuesday for Mercer, Bland and Tazewell counties. Storms with heavy rainfall rates could cause high water issues to develop, especially in areas where storms move over the same areas. Remember that when encountering high water on flooded roads, ‘turn around, don’t drown!’

Tonight features the risk for a few scattered showers and storms, mainly before midnight with a stationary front draped over our northern counties and a trough exiting the region, which will get rid of most shower chances after midnight until dawn. That front will lift to the north as a warm front on Tuesday. It’s a breezy and mild night in store with a southwest breeze gusting up to 20 mph and low temperatures only dropping into the upper 50s. Though severe weather is not expected for tonight, storms could produce locally heavy rainfall.

Tuesday sees more chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms, as our stationary front nudges north and a new trough moves into the region. This will allow for scattered thunderstorms, which will be capable of locally heavy rainfall. A couple of storms – primarily in our western counties – will be strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts, hail and even an isolated tornado possible during the late afternoon and early evening hours.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed our far western counties in a level two out of five risk for severe weather with the western half of our region under a level one risk for flooding by the Weather Prediction Center. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s. Storms will diminish in coverage once again after midnight, though a few downpours are still possible with low temperatures in the low 60s.

Wednesday features our best chance for severe weather for our region this week, with an approaching cold front lifting to the north as a warm as a low pressure system heads into the Great Lakes. Scattered showers and thunderstorms – some of which will be strong to severe – is expected.

The best chance for severe weather will be in our western counties, where the Storm Prediction Center placing most of our region under a level two out of five risk for severe weather. Scattered thunderstorms late Wednesday afternoon into the evening will be capable of damaging wind gusts, large hail and an isolated tornado once again. The Weather Prediction Center once again places our region under a level one risk for flooding, as storms will be working in an efficient environment and capable of dropping heavy rainfall. High temperatures will reach right around 80 degrees.

Thursday continues chances for scattered showers and storms with a cold front moving through. Rain and thunderstorms once again expected, with the chance for strong to severe thunderstorms being possible. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat. The best chance for severe weather for Thursday’s setup will be in our eastern counties, where a little less rain shower activity is expected during the morning hours. This front will cross during the evening hours, with much cooler weather expected for Friday. Highs will be in the low to mid 70s Thursday. The Weather Prediction Center once again has placed our region in a level one risk for flooding.

Friday features lingering showers with a northwest flow setting up behind a cold front and a trough kicking in behind our low pressure system. Mostly cloudy conditions, with periods of light showers and drizzle will hold high temperatures down into the upper 50s to around 60 in what looks to be a dreary day.

Saturday finally features a drier day on the way, with sunshine expected for most of the day. Late in the afternoon, an approaching weak cold front will try to squeak an isolated shower or two into the region toward dinnertime, but these showers will be isolated at best during the day. We’ll see high temperatures remain a bit cool for this time of year in the low 60s.

Mother’s Day sees our cold front cross, with a few morning isolated sprinkles followed by sunshine returning for the afternoon. It’s not a bad forecast for mom’s day, with high temperatures in the mid 60s.

Monday brings even more sunshine into the forecast, with high pressure setting in to our west and then south. That will keep a cooler westerly breeze ongoing but will mean plenty of sunshine, with high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. As high pressure shifts south, a  front up to our north will sag south closer to our region, with a rogue isolated shower or two possible. Shower chances should remain isolated.

Looking ahead in your extended forecast, temperatures will be rebounding back to around normal for this time of year. We’ll see highs return to the 70s for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Isolated chances for showers will be possible Tuesday and Wednesday with a better chance for showers Thursday with a cold front crossing, which will bring cooler air into the mix for the following weekend.

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.

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!

TONIGHT
Scattered showers and storms, mainly before midnight. Lows in the upper 50s.
TUESDAY
Scattered thunderstorms likely. A couple of strong storms are possible, along with the threat for heavy rainfall. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs near 80.
THURSDAY
More scattered showers and storms. Highs in the low to mid 70s.
FRIDAY
Mostly cloudy with light showers/drizzle. Cool! Highs near 60.
SATURDAY
Partly sunny, isolated shower late. Highs in the low 60s.
MOTHER’S DAY
AM sprinkles. PM sunshine. Highs in the mid 60s.
TUESDAY
Isolated storms. Highs in the 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Isolated storms. Highs in the 70s.
THURSDAY
Better chance for showers and storms. Highs in the 70s.

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