WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): A storm system that promises flood emergency rainfall along I-95 will leave most of our area dry except Rt. 219 dry on Friday.
The low pressure originated off the Carolina coast and will slide just east of I-95 on Friday. Near record high atmospheric moisture will trigger pockets of torrential downpours east of the Blue Ridge. As a matter of fact, one or two spots will see flood emergency warnings due to the catastrophic flooding expected in localized spots. Keep this in mind if your travel plans take you east of Interstate 81.
Meanwhile, the rain shadow effect will keep the historical drought going in the Shenandoah Valley where voluntary water restrictions are in effect.
Dry air aloft to our west will keep the Route 19 corridor dry. However, during the mid-afternoon, a couple of showers and storms will develop along Route 219 and then quickly collapse. Flooding is not expected and our drought will continue.
WEEKEND PREVIEW INTO NEXT WEEK: The weekend will start dry and then a few of you reading this article will see a random storm on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of a stronger cold front slated for midweek, we will be back in the 90s Monday and Tuesday. The next threat for a storm is Tuesday evening but we all will likely see a couple storms on Wednesday afternoon, with a shower in the Greenbrier Valley on Thursday. Wednesday is when the drought will be chipped a bit, but by no means will END. Cooler, less humid weather filters in on Thursday.
