Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Charleston, WV

WVZ005>011-013>020-024>040-046-047-VAZ003-004-OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087-KYZ101>105-107-119-051200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
200 PM EDT SAT MAY 4 1996

VERY WET WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA.

RAIN HAS FALLEN OFF AND ON NEARLY EVERYWHERE AND ALMOST EVERY DAY
ACROSS THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS AND THE MIDDLE OHIO VALLEY FOR THE
PAST WEEK.  THE GROUND IS SOAKING WET.  TREES ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO
EMERGE FROM THEIR STATE OF WINTER DORMANCY...AND ARE NOT YET ABLE TO
ABSORB MUCH WATER.  THE PERSISTANT WET WEATHER INTRODUCES THE THREAT
OF WATER PROBLEMS IF SUBSTANTIAL RAIN OCCURS.

MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL TOUCH OFF THUNDERSTORMS AS IT SINKS INTO THE
AREA THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.  MANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PRODUCE BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN.  THESE RAINS WILL CAUSE TEMPORARY RAPID
RISES IN SMALL STREAMS...AND BRIEFLY INNUNDATE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
WITH PONDING AND FLOWING WATER.

AFTER THE FRONT PASSES LATE TONIGHT...A GENERAL RAIN IS EXPECTED.
THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO SOAK THE LAND AND KEEP STREAMS FULL.  MORE
PONDING AND FLOWING WATER ON ROADWAYS CAN BE EXPECTED.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CLOSELY WATCHING FOR CONDITIONS THAT
COULD RESULT IN HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLE FLOODING.  PROBLEMS WOULD
BE MOST APT TO OCCUR IN AREAS THAT RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN LATE LAST
NIGHT.  ONE AREA OF CONCERN INCLUDES SOUTHEASTERN OHIO AND EXTREME
NORTHWESTERN WEST VIRGINIA.  ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS NORTHEASTERN
KENTUCKY ACROSS POPULATED AREAS OF WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA...THAT
INCLUDE CHARLESTON WV...HUNTINGTON WV...AND THE SUBURBAN AREAS IN
BETWEEN.  RAINFALLS OF 1 1/4 INCH IN THREE HOURS OR 2 1/2 INCHES IN
24 HOURS COULD RESULT IN WATER PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS OF CONCERN.
RAINFALLS OF 1 1/2 INCHES IN THREE HOURS OR 3 1/4 INCHES IN 24 HOURS
COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS ELSWHERE.

AT THIS TIME...RAINFALLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THESE A2MOUNTS
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  HOWEVER...LISTEN TO LATER FORECASTS
OR STATEMENTS.  METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS COULD DETERIORATE LATER
ON.  BE READY SHOULD YOU BE INFORMED OF SUCH CHANGES.

EOM