CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey has placed all 55 counties under a state of preparedness as a weather system with a lot of rain is expected to set up in Ohio.
“I am urging all West Virginians to heed weather warnings over the next few days as severe storms make their way across the state,” Morrisey said in a Wednesday news release. “As we continue to monitor developments, I have directed all state agencies and resources to prepare to respond as needed.”
The National Weather Service has placed Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Putnam, Wirt and Ritchie counties under a flood watch from Wednesday evening through Sunday morning.
NWS Meteorologist Simone Lewis said it’s possible the weather system could shift toward the south which would bring additional West Virginia counties into play. She said It will be damp and sometimes stormy in most of the state for several days even if the heaviest rain stays to the west.
“There will be periods of showers and thunderstorms that will contain heavy downpours at times,” Lewis said.