National Weather Service Calling for Active Weather this Evening, Wednesday
By Shaunda Rauch on January 29, 2013 from Emergency Services Blog via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Based on a briefing from the National Weather Service: The combination of warm, moist southerly flow today and a strong cold front sweeping through Wednesday will bring the potential for active weather to the Charleston NWS forecast area late tonight and Wednesday with the main threat being strong gusty winds accompanying the cold front and mixing down out of stronger showers and thunderstorms ahead of it. Winds along ridges will pick up into the 30 to 40 mph range late tonight and continue through Wednesday evening. For the most part peak wind gusts from storms mixing down at lower elevations will also average around 40 mph. However isolated severe thunderstorms with gusts up to 60 mph are also a slight risk, especially for western portions of the forecast area with the highest threat of severe gusts with storms that form Wednesday morning.
Main Impacts:
* Strong cold front bringing dramatic change in air masses on Wednesday and the potential for thunderstorms.
* Winds on ridges and at higher elevations in eastern portions of the forecast area increasing to 30 to 40 mph late tonight and continuing through Wednesday.
* Thunderstorms and stronger showers mixing down winds generally gusting to around 40 mph.
* Isolated more severe storms possible mainly in western portions of the forecast area in the morning may bring localized gusts up to 60 mph.
* Much colder, winter air mass pushing in Wednesday night and persisting through the remainder of the week.
* Strong cold front bringing dramatic change in air masses on Wednesday and the potential for thunderstorms.
* Winds on ridges and at higher elevations in eastern portions of the forecast area increasing to 30 to 40 mph late tonight and continuing through Wednesday.
* Thunderstorms and stronger showers mixing down winds generally gusting to around 40 mph.
* Isolated more severe storms possible mainly in western portions of the forecast area in the morning may bring localized gusts up to 60 mph.
* Much colder, winter air mass pushing in Wednesday night and persisting through the remainder of the week.
The NWS Flood Watch as issued at 4:39PM this afternoon over NOAA weather radio:
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
439 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA... CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN WEST VIRGINIA... POCAHONTAS. IN CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA... BRAXTON...NICHOLAS...TAYLOR AND WEBSTER. IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...BARBOUR...HARRISON...LEWIS...RANDOLPH AND UPSHUR.
* A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH TO AN INCH AND A HALF ARE POSSIBLE...WITH MOST OF IT COMING WITHIN A SIX HOUR PERIOD.
WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED AND RIVERS AND STREAMS SOMEWHAT HIGH FROM RECENT AND SOME ONGOING SNOWMELT...FLOODING OR EVEN FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.
* SMALL STREAMS CAN COME OUT OF THEIR BANKS QUICKLY DURING OR JUST FOLLOWING HEAVY RAINFALL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAIN RIVERS WILL RISE. CLARKSBURG ON THE WEST FORK...AND BELINGTON ON THE TYGART VALLEY...APPEAR MOST LIKELY TO REACH ACTION STAGE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
439 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA... CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN WEST VIRGINIA... POCAHONTAS. IN CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA... BRAXTON...NICHOLAS...TAYLOR AND WEBSTER. IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...BARBOUR...HARRISON...LEWIS...RANDOLPH AND UPSHUR.
* A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH TO AN INCH AND A HALF ARE POSSIBLE...WITH MOST OF IT COMING WITHIN A SIX HOUR PERIOD.
WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED AND RIVERS AND STREAMS SOMEWHAT HIGH FROM RECENT AND SOME ONGOING SNOWMELT...FLOODING OR EVEN FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.
* SMALL STREAMS CAN COME OUT OF THEIR BANKS QUICKLY DURING OR JUST FOLLOWING HEAVY RAINFALL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAIN RIVERS WILL RISE. CLARKSBURG ON THE WEST FORK...AND BELINGTON ON THE TYGART VALLEY...APPEAR MOST LIKELY TO REACH ACTION STAGE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
If a flood is likely in your area, you should:
- Listen to the radio or television for information.
- Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Be aware of stream, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as rain clouds or heavy rain.
If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:
- Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
- Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks, particularly during threatening conditions.
For information on what to do before, during and after a flash flood event: http://www.ready.gov/floods
