WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Expect a couple of showers and storms the next two days before dry and less humid weather returns this weekend.
DROUGHT UPDATE: Moderate drought has developed along and south of I-64, the Greenbrier Valley and in northern Pocahontas County. The very hot and dry June is to blame for the onset of the flash drought. Drought improvement is expected over the next week, but it won’t be completely eradicated.
FOURTH OF JULY DAYTIME FORECAST: Expect a shower or thunderstorm prior to 11 a.m., then a break with dry weather until a fresh round of showers and storms move through the entire region between 4-8 p.m.
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS FORECAST: Patchy fog is expected in the river valleys and clouds will start to drift away. Smoke from fireworks will get trapped under a developing inversion (warm temperatures at about 3,000 feet) and drift around. So, after the fireworks show, watch the smoke spread out above you like a blanket and NOT get dispersed vertically back into the sky. This will allow the air quality in the immediate area near the fireworks to be moderate to unhealthy.
FRIDAY: Another very humid day with a new round of showers and storms in the afternoon. Localized water issues are expected thanks to the torrential downpours.
WEEKEND: The humidity will be a bit lower and more tolerable after 10 a.m. Saturday. No rain is expected.
NEXT WEEK: An approaching upper trough promises to trigger a couple showers and storms Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill has the latest: