OAK HILL, WV (WOAY) – It was another mild day around the area today, so mild in fact that we set a record high in Beckley, one of four set in the state today (the others were in Huntington, Parkersburg, and Charleston). We topped out at 77 degrees, breaking the old record of 75, which had been set in 1910!
Bluefield also set a record high today, topping out at 75 degrees, one degree warmer than the old record of 74 degrees that had been set in 1956.
After only dropping into the middle 50s tonight (about a half-dozen degrees above the normal high), we’ll be in record territory tomorrow as well. We’re predicting a high of 76 degrees in Beckley, which would break the old record of 74 degrees, set in 2009.
Bluefield could also break its record high, which is 75 degrees, set in 1921.
The warm weather is due to our position south of a nearly stationary warm front. We’ve been in this very warm pattern for the last couple of days, but that’s about to change. A cool front will swing through the region tomorrow, driving temperatures down a bit. But it will also trigger some showers and storms.
Some of these will be on the strong side. The chance of severe weather is fairly high, with damaging winds as the main threat.
There is plenty of moisture for these storms to work with as well, so ponding water on roadways and standing water in low-lying spots are possible for areas that see thunderstorms.
There will be two lines of showers associated with the front, the squall line out ahead of it, and a more benign band of rain with the front itself. That comes through on Sunday morning. Once the front is gone, temperatures will be cooler than they will be tomorrow, but still well above normal. We’ll see highs in the lower 60s.
Click below for a video version of the forecast…
