Hot and Steamy Weekend Weather

It’s county fair season here in Appalachia and to hear the old timers tell it, “it always rains and it’s always hot at the fair". Since July is the hottest and 2nd wettest month of the year, I would say those wise old guys have it down pat.

Saturday at the Lawrence County fair, things wrap up with a wild and zany demolition derby in the grandstand area. Walking the midway will be a hot and steamy affair.

Meanwhile in Eleanor, the Putnam County fair is always a big draw. Extension agent Wayne Bennett and his 4Hers will spotlight all sorts of animal shows while night time entertainment aims to please. Here’s a link to the 2008 Putnam Fair.

http://www.putnamcountyfair-wv.com/

OK back to the weather, at this point I like the looks of Saturday with plenty of hot July sunshine. Gates open at 8 AM in Eleanor with some patchy fog, then the July sun goes to work and it heats to 90 degrees. Early call is for any shower action to hold off until after midnight, though I can’t totally rule out an evening thundershower in a few spots points west and south.

On Sunday the Richwood Triathlon will attract a huge crowd to Nicholas County. Triathletes will swim the refreshing waters on Summit Lake then bike and run along Marlinton Rd, state Route 55, passing the Cranberry Glades. Said Nikki Funk of the 4 Seasons Lodge, “it’s a big weekend up here in the mountains and the crowds are going to be huge”.

Nicholas County highs will range from 85 on Saturday in Richwood to 87 at Summersville Lake but only 80 atop Kennison Mt. Sunday's temperatures will be a few degrees lower but much muggier.

Meanwhile, at nearby Snowshoe Mountain, it's Fire on the Mountain weekend as the Chilifest sets up shop for a hot and spicy 3 day run. Highs here in Pocahontas County will range from 82 at the Raven Golf Course (elevation 3300 feet) to 76 at the Top of the Mountain (4848'). Sunsets in the high Cheat Mts are breathtaking with Southern Living Magazine having given Snowshoe their award for the SE USA's best sunset. Check it out around 8:30!

Here's your Snowshoe link to fun on the mountain. http://www.snowshoemtn.com/todo/events/calendar/july08/chili_cookoff.htm

The weather on Sunday will feature a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms, though it will not rain all day. Since weekend rains don’t exist right now, it is impossible to time their arrival and departure at any one location. However, I would expect a band of morning showers for church services, followed by an afternoon thunderstorm perhaps accompanied by a gully washing downpour. In between, many hours of dry weather will likely occur.

One final word, local street flooding may occur on Sunday as well as a few power hits. Such is the nature of July rains here in Appalachia!