CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The rainiest pattern in weeks is moving into West Virginia.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Simone Lewis said a weather front will bring steady rain Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday following by rain from what’s left a tropical storm that will move in from the south on Friday.
It will be welcomed relief for a drought-stricken state, Lewis said.
“I think the entire state can look at receiving some sort of precipitation over the next several days and into next week,” Lewis said.
Rain began Tuesday afternoon with the the chance for enough energy in the atmosphere to produce severe storms by Tuesday evening.
“We’re looking at heavy downpours, strong gusty winds and even the potential for an isolated tornado,” Lewis said.
It will be more soaking rain Wednesday and then again Friday.
Tropical Storm Helene will supply the moisture at the end of the work week, Lewis said.
“It looks like it could provide upwards of two inches of rain in spots. So one to two inches is the potential for Friday right now and then we have additional potential for showers continuing into next week,” Lewis said.
More than a dozen counties remain under the most severe drought designation with the entire state under a drought emergency. Lewis said the rain will help but it won’t make up for the dry weather.
“Even with the rainfall expected this week it is not going to entirely remove us from any sort of drought conditions,” she said. “We will remain in a drought.”