WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Patchy fog is expected through the morning commute, dissipating between 9 and 10 AM. The sun will help with riding us of the fog, but will quickly heat things up to uncomfortable levels. The region is already feeling soupy this morning, but the air will be heavy and conditions will worsen this afternoon. Temperatures will rise into the low to mid-90s while heat indices reach close to 100 degrees across the region. A couple of records could be tied or broken later today. Safe to say it will be a steamy one.
Staying inside is the best way to beat the heat, especially for those in sensitive groups. If you need to stay outside for longer than a brief period, make sure to take all precautions. Drink plenty of water, use sun protection, and take frequent breaks in the shade or inside an air conditioned building. If you feel symptoms of heat exhaustion, take an extended break. If those symptoms evolve into heat stroke, call 911 immediately. Heat related illness should be taken seriously, especially heat stroke. Meteorologist Christian Boteler has the latest details:
The heat will remain tomorrow, but the high-pressure system above us weakens. This weakening allows instability to return, which is important for the development of convective storms. Tomorrow morning starts off sunny, but isolated thunderstorms can start forming as early as Friday afternoon. Due to the amount of available energy, there is potential for a couple of stronger storms to develop later in the day. The main concern for any strong to severe storm will be damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour, while large hail and localized ponding are also in play. These storms will weaken after sunset and eventually dissipate overnight.
Saturday is our 250th Independence Day, but there are a couple of snags in the forecast. First, the heat will remain for most of the day. Temperatures will remain in the upper 80s and lower 90s in the afternoon, which may cause issues for those outside for an extended time. Along with the heat, isolated thunderstorms return to the forecast during the afternoon and evening. Saturday will be similar to Friday as the chance for stronger storms returns. These storms will last into the night. Some outdoor activities may be affected by these isolated storms. Make sure to stay weather aware through the day.
After Independence Day, rain chances gradually grow and temperatures gradually fall. A practically stationary front will drift into the region on Sunday, allowing more scattered storms and showers to develop. Storms and showers will become more widespread, helping to bring temperatures back below 90 degrees for the first time in a few days. Strong storms are possible, and we will continue to keep an eye on these chances as the holiday weekend concludes. Rain continues on Tuesday before dissipating a bit on Wednesday. Here’s the 7-Day Forecast:
