If you or someone you know is planning travel the next three days to the east or south, into the Appalachian Mountains, be aware that a Blizzard Warning has been issued from 12 PM today through 4 PM Wednesday. Elevations over 3000 feet are forecast to get 1 to 2 feet of snow, along with damaging winds and white-out conditions at times.

 

The Blizzard Warning is for areas along and west of the Allegheny Front, from east of Morgantown down through Canaan Valley, Elkins, Lewisburg and Beckley, including the West Virginia Turnpike.

 

River Outlook:

 

Here in Marietta, eyes will be on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers later this week. The latest precipitation estimates from the NWS Hydrological Prediction Service show the following:

The Muskingum River watershed does not appear to be of great concern at this time. Total rainfall there is predicted at 1.5 to 2 inches, and the Muskingum Watershed District reservoir system is ready to hold back a lot of water.

 

In the Ohio Valley proper, from Marietta up to Pittsburgh, a general 2 to 3 inch rainfall is predicted.  Of deeper concern are rainfall forecasts for the rivers that form the mighty Ohio.

 

The Allegheny River watershed is forecast to receive 3 to 4 inches of rainfall this week; the Monongahela River watershed is in the 3 to 5 inch category, with some of that in the form of heavy snow along the Allegheny Front.

 

Today (before most of the predicted precipitation has fallen, after all) is too early for late-week river forecasts, but those forecasts will bear watching as this historic, massive storm churns to our northeast.