| The storm system that is moving through the Ohio Valley through Thursday will have a severe impact across the region.
Gov. Tomblin has issued a "state of preparedness" on Tuesday with the prospect of heavy rains, snow and the possibility of flooding, mobilizing the West Virginia National Guard to assist.
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Winter
Storm Watch in effect from Wednesday afternoon through
Thursday afternoon with sleet, ice, and snow.
Snow accumulations 4-8 inches.
A Flood Watch remains in effect from Tuesday evening through Thursday.
The NWS says the Little Kanawha River will likely crest about two feet below the 36 foot flood stage at Grantsville.
The storm system will bring widespread rains and warmer
temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday. One to three inches of rain
is possible through the watch period. This rain coupled with
snow melt could cause flooding of streams.
STORM OVERVIEW:
FLOODING: The heavy rain totals will be 1.5" to 2.5" from Tuesday through Wednesday. These totals along with the melting snow pack, which is holding .5 to 1" of water, will lead to river levels jumping dramatically through Thursday and even into Friday. Other creeks and streams will have high levels and there will be rock and mud slides on hillsides that are susceptible to it.
RIVER LEVELS: There will be jumps in rivers through Thursday and Friday that will be significant. As of Tuesday morning here are the projections: By midday Thursday, the Kanawha will rise 15 to 18 feet in downtown Charleston and 13 feet at Kanawha Falls. The Ohio River in Huntington will rise by 20 feet as well as Ashland, Greenup Locks and Portsmouth by 30 feet, Point Pleasant by 13 feet, Racine Locks by 9 feet and Parkersburg by 7 feet. The Guyandotte at Branchland will rise by 18 feet and Logan by 10 feet. The Coal at Tornado will rise by 10 feet. The Big Sandy at Fullers Station will rise by 20 feet. The Tug Fork by over 25 feet at Kermit and by 15 feet at Williamson.
SNOW STORM: Winter storm watches and warnings are posted for nearly all of WV. Snow totals along the Ohio River will be between 4 to 8 inches with isolated amounts higher than that. The snow is to follow this heavy rain Wednesday afternoon and evening with sleet mixing in before the snow falls. The snow will end by early to mid-morning on Thursday. Expect delays Thursday morning.
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