West Virginia under flood warnings, watches; wet weather to soak Northeast: Friday weather news
Amanda Lee MyersMudslides and snow are threatening Hawaii, while West Virginia was under a state of emergency as flood watches and warnings were in effect on Friday.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the mountainous areas of the Big Island starting Thursday and lasting through Saturday evening, predicting up to 4 feet of snow and winds as high as 60 mph at the highest elevations.
Heavy rain falling in lower elevations of all the main Hawaiian islands could cause mudslides, and a flood watch is in effect all Friday and into Saturday.
Flood watches and warnings spanned West Virginia and surrounding areas in eastern Kentucky, southeastern Ohio and southwest Virginia on Friday morning. Heavy rain sparked the West Virginia governor to declare a state of emergency Thursday.
Meanwhile, a winter storm was expected to move out of the Midwest and head to the Northeast.
West Virginia under state of emergency:Flood waters force students to spend night at school
Ohio train derailment fact check:What's true and what's false?
Here's what you need to know about Friday's winter weather:
Life-threatening flash-flooding
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island began warning people about the weather in a Facebook post on Thursday, asking them to delay their outdoor adventures.
"Flash flooding is life threatening," they wrote. "Consider visiting the park when the weather improves.
Those who insist on visiting the park were told to expect last-minute road closures, dangerous driving conditions, falling trees and debris, and lightning.
At the higher elevations, "periods of heavy snow are expected," the National Weather Service said.
"Once the snow begins, travel to the summits will become extremely dangerous, with roads quickly becoming snow-covered and slippery," the agency said. "Additionally, gusty winds will produce widespread blowing and drifting snow, as well as near-zero visibility at times."
A flood advisory is in effect throughout Hawaii until Saturday afternoon, with the weather service warning of landslides in areas with steep terrain and flash flooding in areas already saturated from recent rainfall.
Water crisis in West:Massive reservoir Lake Powell hits historic low water level
Flood threats in West Virginia, Appalachia
Heavy rain prompted flood warnings and watches in West Virginia and surrounding areas in eastern Kentucky, southeastern Ohio and southwest Virginia, with up to 4 inches of rain possible in some parts.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency, noting "creeks and streams have spilled over and roads are closed in numerous counties due to high water and mudslides."
The NWS noted the Coal River, for instance, just outside of West Virginia's capital of Charleston, had flooded in several places as of Friday morning.
The state of emergency, which allows state agencies to coordinate their response to a weather event, is in effect for 30 days in all 55 counties in the Mountain State, unless terminated by subsequent proclamation.
Scattered flood warnings were also issued in several states across the South, including:
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
- Georgia
US weather alerts
Winter storm on the move
A large storm that hit the Midwest moves to the northeast on Friday, bringing significant rain from Boston down to North Carolina.
Farther north, from about upstate New York to central Maine, freezing rain could not only create treacherous travel conditions but also topple trees and power lines, said Bob Larson, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.
"Ice ups the ante in terms of impacts and problems," he said.
Meanwhile in northernmost Maine, sometimes heavy snow is expected to dump between 6 to 12 inches, he said.