Spring Storm Alert Wednesday

After our first 70 degree day of the year, the stage is set for a round of drenching storms to pass on Wednesday. With the official Huntington thermometer (at the airport in Kenova) failing , I am using the Cabell EMS thermometer to state we broke a record in Huntington on Tuesday. The downtown temperature hit 73 just past 3 pm, which broke the old record of 72 set back in 1903.

Now that warm springy air is about to incite some wet and wild weather on Wednesday!

The main weather problems will likely focus on afternoon street flooding in heavy rain and power flickers from strong winds.

The street flooding refers to the storm culverts backing up as an inch or more of rain falls in the heavier downpours. Until radar is active, it is impossible to say that one particular location will get street flooding. Only after we see where the heavy rains set up will be alerted to where the storm culvert backup will reside.

Hot spots like the East End of Huntington near Edwards Stadium and Kanawha City are likely to see huge ponds of water form. The rule of thumb is simple; namely, where an inch of rain water falls in 4 hours, poor drainage areas will see the storm culverts back up.

Since the front with these heavy rains will be briskly moving along, small stream flooding will be somewhat less likely to occur.

As for high winds, a day long siege of strong winds will see frequent gusts near 40 miles per hour. While the strongest winds will accompany thunderstorms, these gusts of 50 mph will be more localized and of shorter duration.

Local power outs are a good bet where the winds are strongest and last the longest.