MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Heather Zehr reports the risk for severe weather in our area has been set at moderate by the National Weather Service for our area. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” she said this is the first time our area has been under a moderate-risk threat for nearly a decade.
“That is their 4th highest tier of severe weather, and this is the first one issued since 2015 in our area,” Zehr said.
The system is fueled by a great deal of humidity and another low-pressure system that has been associated with severe weather across Indiana and Ohio overnight. This, combined with a cool front and an unseasonably strong upper low pressure system, will create volatile weather conditions through the afternoon.
“That’s likely to pass just north of us, and I think that will probably fuel some of the stronger storms across southwestern Pennsylvania, but I think we could get in on some of that activity as well,” Zehr said.
Zehr said the severe risks through the day today include wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, the possibility of hail, isolated tornadoes, and heavy downpours.
“But it’s not out of the question that we might see some places getting as high as 80 miles per hour,” Zehr said. “I think that is most likely along the spine of the Appalachians from the panhandle down into far eastern West Virginia.”
Residents should watch for severe conditions throughout the day today. Use a weather radio and try to stay close to the weather radar or app to provide timely notifications. Never drive into standing water on roadways. “Turn around, don’t drown.”
“Locally heavy rainfall could be on the order of one to two inches per hour,” Zehr said. “That could lead to the usual ponding of water on roadways, as well as the possibility that in some of the steeper terrain you could end up with some flash flooding.”