Oak Hill, WV (WOAY-TV): While many folks are spending the evening outside with various festivities going on leading up to fireworks celebrations tonight, Mother Nature is holding hopes for dry weather.
Although Independence Day celebrations date back to 1776, unfortunately our weather records don’t. However, they do date back to 1896 in Beckley but only 1960 at the Mercer County Airport in Bluefield.
Given the data we do have, there is a notable cooling trend noted for Beckley. It’s particularly noteworthy from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The frequency of mid 80s to lower 90s in the late 1800s to early 1900s were replaced with highs in the 70s to mid 80s.
The opposite trend has developed in Bluefield. Outside Independence Day celebrations have warmed up since the 1960s. Average highs in the upper 70s have warmed to 80 degrees in recent years. However, there still have still been a few quite cool Fourth of July’s in recent years.
The early 1900s were dry on Independence Day in Beckley but since the mid 1930s, there have been more frequent wet spells on the Fourth of July.
Other than a stretch of dry Independence Day celebrations in the 1960s and 1990s, Bluefield has seen its fair share of showers and storms dampen outdoor celebrations.
What we can guarantee going forward through the evening is a dry forecast with no impacts for fireworks celebrations in our region. Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill reporting for Newswatch.
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Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill tries deep fried oreos during the Fayetteville Heritage Festival on Independence Day:
