Scattered, slow-moving showers and storms impacted much of the region Sunday afternoon, but fortunately, flooding was kept at a minimum again. Monday and Tuesday present the same story of isolated to scattered showers and storms before Wednesday turns damper as a crossing cold front allows for more widespread precipitation. Right on the heels of the first front comes a second front that passes Thursday night. This second cold front will be significant in sweeping the heat, humidity, and frequent storms away from the region just in time for the upcoming weekend. It may feel like an early taste of fall!
Most of the region saw rain for at least a brief time on Saturday, but fortunately, the atmosphere cooperated and did not produce any wild storm with a torrential downpour or downburst wind like parts of central Kentucky and the West Virginia mountains saw. While showers and storms fade Saturday night, the next three days will continue to see a risk for isolated showers and storms firing up in the humid environment. Activity looks to become widespread again on Wednesday into early Thursday as a cold front crosses. Then, really nice weather looks to take hold for the end of the week into the upcoming weekend as high pressure moving in from Canada offers dry weather with cooler temperatures and much lower humidity.
As seen the past couple of days, the atmosphere is primed for very heavy rain and downburst winds. However, it is exactly where and when these occur that remains the biggest forecast challenge, even on the day of. Therefore, it is important the entire region stays alert, and a Flood Watch remains in effect through Sunday evening for the potential for local high water. Fortunately, there will be dry time both days this weekend, especially on Sunday, as showers turn more scattered in nature. Scattered showers and storms continue Monday and Tuesday before becoming more widespread again on Wednesday. Then, drier weather should finally return Thursday and Friday with lower humidity and seasonable temperatures.
This July will go down as one of the wettest on record (second in Huntington, fifth in Charleston). Therefore, it almost seems fitting that the final day of the month concluded with more showers and downpours, although this did lead to renewed high water in spots. Rain becomes more scattered in nature on Monday and Tuesday, but localized downpours can still occur. Wednesday may be the only day without any rain across the region this week as showers and storms quickly return for the end of the week and continue right into the first weekend in August.
At least one dry day is better than none, but residents across southeastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia certainly need much more time than that to clean up from this past week’s devastating flooding. Nonetheless, showers return to the forecast on Sunday, and rain chances continue through Tuesday. Thunderstorms with heavy rain will be possible, and this brings a renewed threat for flash flooding, primarily in areas where the ground remains oversaturated. The rest of the week ahead sees the return of the heat as temperatures hover at or just shy of the 90-degree mark, but more storms work their way into the forecast by the upcoming weekend.
In a volatile week of weather in which some locations received up to 10 inches of rain and others barely mustered an inch, all rain gauges should measure 0.0 inches on Saturday as the entire region sees its first dry day since last Sunday. Accompanying the dry weather will be partial sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and lower humidity. However, the dry spell only lasts one day as rain chances return on Sunday. While rain starts out light in nature, some thunderstorms with heavier rain may creep in after dark. Rain chances continue Monday and Tuesday before dry weather rounds out the rest of the work week. This will allow temperatures to get back to the 90s, something that also has not happened since last Sunday.
The top weather story for the week ahead shifts from heat to rain as numerous rounds of showers and storms are expected. With the repeated rounds of rain and locally heavy precipitation possible, the flood risk is elevated. This means there is the potential for street flooding in addition to rises on creeks, streams, and even larger rivers. The pattern shows no signs of breaking, save for a brief reprieve for some northern zones on Saturday.
Storms push out by Saturday evening, and no rain is expected on Sunday meaning temperatures will peak in the low to mid 90s with the added humidity making it feel closer to 100 degrees. Then, the main weather story shifts from heat to an elevated flood risk for the entire work week ahead as numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected.
This weekend’s “triple H” (hazy, hot, humid) weather fits the July narrative perfectly. Afternoon temperatures reach the low to mid 90s, but increased humidity will make it feel closer to 100 degrees. For Saturday afternoon, there is a risk for passing showers and thunderstorms as a disturbance arrives from the northwest, feeding on the hot and humid air. Sunday, however, stays rain-free. Then, the heat backs off as an unsettled weather pattern sets up for the entire work week ahead. Each day will feature a risk for showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for local high water to develop after repeated rounds of rain.
Thicker cloud cover along with passing showers and thunderstorms kept temperatures down on Sunday, although the increased humidity offset the lack of heat. Monday will be even “cooler” but still plenty humid as more showers and storms pass. Then, temperatures climb back to the upper 80s on Tuesday and 90s by Wednesday, staying in the 90s through at least the upcoming weekend.
Some rain passed on Saturday, but fortunately it was rather light in nature and not too long-lasting to allow plenty of dry time for outdoor activities. However, some outdoor plans may be interrupted on Sunday and Monday as showers and thunderstorms become more common. There is a risk for gusty winds with stronger storms on Sunday and local high water from repeated downpours both Sunday and Monday. Storms begin to wind down Monday night, and outside of another chance for scattered storms late Wednesday into early Thursday, much of the week ahead looks dry and hot as temperatures hover in the 90s.
Dry streaks are tough to come by in July, historically one of the wettest months of the year. The short dry stretch of the past few days (even interrupted in some areas by scattered showers on Thursday) looks to come to an end this weekend as another front stalls out over the region, putting rain chances back in the forecast. Showers will be rather scattered and light on Saturday. Thunderstorms return to the picture on Sunday, and rain looks to be most widespread on Monday. Occasional precipitation chances linger into Thursday before Friday finally looks to dry out again.
The middle weekend of July is here and with it comes a rise in humidity and of course an increased risk of thunder. Tony sorts through the muddled forecast.
County Fair season is here and tonight's the night for a fine walk along the mid-day in Eleanor and Proctorville. The rest of the run of the Putnam and Lawrence Fairs looks AOK too!
Monday was about as basic but pleasant of a summer day as can be around here: sunshine, manageable humidity, and seasonable afternoon temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Tuesday provides a brief hiccup in what looks to be an overall quiet weather pattern through the end of the week. A passing cold front provides the opportunity for scattered showers and storms, primarily during the afternoon hours. The scattered nature of these storms means that not every location will see rain, but those that do can experience a brief-passing downpour and gust of wind. Isolated showers may linger into Wednesday and Thursday as another weak front crosses, but most locations stay dry until more widespread storm chances return Sunday into Monday.
Sunday brought a nice reprieve from the active weather pattern of last week in which both Huntington and Charleston recorded just over 3 inches of rain since Tuesday. The week ahead does not look to be nearly as active, with only scattered rain chances on a couple days. Otherwise, drier weather takes hold with lower humidity and “typical” July warmth.
Many communities could effectively label Saturday a “washout” as showers persisted much of the day. While the rain finally came without any severe weather concerns, a nearly all-day rain is probably best left for a work day. Fortunately, conditions do look to improve for Sunday as the stalled-out front which caused the damp weather slowly moves out. Temperatures start to heat back up towards 90 degrees by Tuesday, but another front looks to stall the heat and bring a renewed risk for showers and storms late Tuesday into Wednesday. However, this front should push out quicker, giving way to drier conditions and hotter temperatures by the upcoming weekend.
A stalled-out frontal boundary draped across the region looks to bring more showers on Saturday, marking measurable precipitation on four out of the past five days. The risk for thunderstorms and downpours looks to be mainly across southern parts of Kentucky and West Virginia, with a lighter rain farther north. On Sunday, most areas dry out, though a pop-up shower or two is still possible. Finally, Monday stays dry everywhere as temperatures heat up. The heat is thwarted when another round of storms arrives by mid-week.
Flash street and stream flooding parked out along I-64 West Virginia counties on Friday afternoon. As those rains move away the trend will be for a "slowly" improving pattern for weekend County fair goers.
The region was on storm and flood watch on Wednesday. Turns out the winds and rains were handled well by the earth they struck! Tony has a recap and look ahead.
