Spring Pattern Ripe for Thunder
The signs of an early spring abound on this Ash Wednesday evening. The robins are feasting on worms, the crocus are in full bloom and yes even some early trees are trying to bud (I have my first hay fever report on 5:30 Edition).
In the high country, cold overnight temperatures in the 20s and daytime highs in the 50s have the maple sap running in Fayette and Randolph Counties WV. Reports of the same are coming out of the Shawnee Forest of Ohio, so says Mark Hassel of the Forestry Service.
Meanwhile the spring fire season is off to an early start with gusty winds drying out the leaves that for most have not been matted into the forest beds due to a lack of wet winter snows. (That of course does not apply to the Coalfields after last Sunday's bough bending snowstorm).
Then there is the bruised black and blue sky overhead on this pleasant late winter afternoon. The morning sun faded quickly this afternoon as an army of cumulus clouds filled the sky. By late afternoon, some springy showers dotted the landscape of Southern West Virginia from Upper Big Branch and Whitesville to Craigsville and Webster Springs.
Of course in spring, those showers often are accompanied by rumbles of thunder as the heavens above stay chilly while we warm up down here on earth.
For tonight, scattered thunder may meekly rumble down the Midland Trail of State Route 61 in Southern WV, while most just get a ground dampening shower. The thunder index will trump up by Thursday night when the next arctic cold front arrives.
There is a good chance of a gusty thunderstorm with hail early Friday as that front crosses. Behind the front, highs will trend down from Thursday’s 60s to the 50s of TGIF (pre-dawn) to 40s Friday afternoon then the upper 30s on Saturday when there may even be a dusting of snow.
After all, it is still winter!
