No drought relief on the horizon, increased fire threat continues

Tonight features mostly cloudy skies, as the cloud shield from Francine’s remnants moves into the region. Unfortunately, there’s not much rainfall at place with this system for us and we’ll be dry tonight with lows in the mid to upper 50s.

Friday will be a mostly cloudy day but despite the clouds, we’re not looking at rain outside of a stray sprinkle or two, which would be most likely in our southern counties. Francine’s remnant will provide more insult to the injury of dryness – the low pressure system in comparison to the strong area of high pressure acting as a block to inclement weather off to our east will create a large pressure difference and gusty wind as a result. Occasional gusts above 20 mph can be expected. That is NOT good news for our risk for brush fires – the combination of extreme drought, brutally dry topsoils, and wind, along with warm conditions will create dangerous conditions for fire development. PLEASE DO NOT BURN!

High school football games look fine with temperatures in the low 70s at kickoff, cooling into the low 60s by the end of area games. I’ll be live at the Parkersburg South/Woodrow Wilson game and Anchor Rivers Upchurch will be live at the Princeton/Oak Hill game – come out and say hey if you see us!

Saturday continues the risk for a couple of isolated sprinkles as Francine’s remnants moves into the Ohio River Valley, significantly weakening as it does so. There is no reason to cancel any outside plans, despite the clouds, as most of us will be dry but again, please don’t burn! Wind gusts up to 25 mph will create dangerous conditions once again for fires. Highs will be in the upper 70s.

Sunday provides the risk for a couple of showers still yet but overall, we’ll see more dry time than rainy weather with highs in the upper 70s with partly sunny skies. Our wind will at least begin to relax as Francine’s remnants begin to really fall apart.

Monday sees an increase in clouds with the risk for a shower or two by dinnertime as a tropical system moves into the Carolinas. Most of the day is dry with highs in the upper 70s.

Tuesday brings a slightly better chance for showers, with a tropical system heading toward the region from the Carolinas, which will give us the chance for showers. The problem is that this setup will be similar to Debbie’s remnants in that downsloping off of the Appalachians will likely “squeeze” rain showers dry, resulting in not much rainfall that is greatly needed. Highs will be cooler with the clouds with highs in the mid 70s.

Wednesday continues the risk for a few showers under mostly cloudy skies but there will be plenty of dry time with highs in the mid 70s.

Thursday keeps the unsettled pattern around with highs in the mid 70s. Despite an occasional light shower or two, this unsettled pattern will not bear much fruit, as rainfall totals look light.

Looking ahead in your extended forecast, rainfall chances will continue Friday and Saturday but only in light form with highs in the upper 70s. We’ll see conditions dry out once again for Sunday with highs in the mid 70s under partly sunny skies.

TONIGHT
Mostly cloudy. Breezy at times. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
FRIDAY
Mostly cloudy, stray sprinkle. Highs in the mid 70s.
SATURDAY
Isolated sprinkles, mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
SUNDAY
Brief sprinkle, otherwise partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
MONDAY
Isolated showers late. Highs in the upper 70s.
TUESDAY
Isolated showers. Highs in the mid 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Scattered showers. Highs in the low 70s.
THURSDAY
Scattered showers. Highs in the mid 70s.
FRIDAY
Scattered showers. Highs in the upper 70s.
SATURDAY
Isolated showers continue. Highs in the mid 70s.
SUNDAY
Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

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