Wet Pattern Here to Stay

Thursday night’s soaking rains are a prelude to a very wet pattern the next 10 days as several southern storms will conspire to muddy up our streams. If my forecast is pinpoint accurate, in time our region will measure 2 to 4 inches of rain aggregate by next weekend.

It all started today with morning showers settling the dust after a dry start to May. This Thursday night, the 3D Doppler Radar scope is lighting up so a wet night is ahead with a general inch of rain water to fall. Heavier rains should fall in the New, Gauley and Greenbrier Valleys of WV, Virginia and North Carolina.

This spells high and muddy streams for weekend recreation in the mountains. Boaters on the Kanawha too should keep an eye to water levels as heavy rains in the New, Gauley and Elk will work their way into the Kanawha by the weekend. Right now, the NWS forecast for the Kanawha is for just a foot or so rise by Saturday. My gut says that is too low a forecast. Driftwood and other debris will flow down the Great Kanawha and Mighty Ohio through the weekend.

After a drying period on Saturday, round 2 of the rain pattern will bring more soaking showers and thunderstorms on Mother’s Day. Another inch would be likely with showers lingering into Monday.

WV Primary Election Day looks to be an oasis from the wetness with sunshine and dry weather.

By late next week, a long period of wet, gray and chilly weather will invade. This shower pattern could be followed by a late season frost.

On Friday, I will have the STORY OF THE WHITE CARNATION.