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ELKINS - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Randolph, Upshur and Pocohontas counties until 8 p.m. tonight.
A total of 23 counties are under the watch, including Berkeley, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Lewis, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Pendleton, Raleigh, Summers, Webster and Wyoming.
A flood watch was also issued by the National Weather Service earlier in the day for Randolph, Barbour, Upshur, Tucker and Pocahontas counties through 2 a.m. Saturday morning.
“Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through this evening,” an NWS post states. “All hazards of damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes could accompany these storms. Additionally, isolated instances of flash flooding are possible. Please have a way to receive warnings during these times of potential severe weather.”
A related NWS post reads, “A stout low pressure system brings rain and thunderstorms today, with intermittent showers continuing overnight into Saturday. Some storms could become strong to severe across southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia, with the best chance between midday and mid-afternoon today.
“In addition, the risk for localized flooding will increase throughout the day, especially in the event of heavy downpours within storms and areas that receive multiple or prolonged rounds of heavy rain. This threat from central to northeastern West Virginia, or in and near the northern and central mountains.
“For the weekend, the chance for showers and thunderstorms will decrease as that system slowly pulls away, and high pressure will build in on Sunday with cooler nights for the latter portion of the weekend. With any luck, that high will bring dry weather into the new work week, along with a stout warming trend.”