WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Data through Tuesday at 8 a.m. this week shows improvement in the Greenbrier Valley with much more rain on the way.
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill provides an update for our radio partner, Lake Country 95.7 FM, 3WS.
A solid 2-3 inches of rain has accumulated since the Drought Monitor updated Tuesday (see below) and another 1.0-2.0 inches are likely through Friday afternoon. Additional scattered flooding is expected, and these small Flash Flood Warnings issued by the weather service will be scattered throughout the region. The southern coalfields will continue to be the focus for the more widespread flooding.
As of this morning, we are roughly 2-5 inches behind average for the year (see below), but when this product updates a week from today, our region will likely be down to a Moderate Drought, which is a major improvement and step in the right direction to end the historical drought.
FORECAST: The combination of an upper trough to the west and moisture streaming north from Hurricane Helene will allow light to heavy rain intensity to continue today. Between 8 p.m. tonight and 1 p.m. Friday, as winds veer or turn more with height, a brief tornado is possible within the rain bands. The best risk is over the southern coal fields.
Additionally, expect scattered power outages to develop and a few small limbs to come down between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday as Helene makes its closest approach. A constant wind of 15 mph in the lowest river valleys to 25-30 mph is expected above 2,500 feet with gusts reaching 40-50 mph. Wind Advisories will likely be posted for the region.
The weather will likely become dry and winds tapering down to 10-15 mph with gusts 20-25 mph for Friday night football games.
