By Stephen Smoot
Pendleton County has seen dangerous and severe amounts of rain in the past month and will see the full onslaught of summer heat during the next several days.
Much of Pendleton County through May continued to see residual drought conditions, as defined by the federal website drought.gov. The intensity of last year’s drought meant that those conditions persisted through most of the ninth wettest May in the 131 years of keeping records, an average of 2.69 inches higher than normal. To date, 2025 has served as the 49th wettest year of that 131-year span.
Over the past 30 days, the North Fork and South Fork valleys, as well as the southern tier have seen between 150 and 200 percent of the normal average rainfall. A corridor roughly following the South Branch River extending south of Franklin witnessed between 200 and 300 percent of the average rainfall amounts seen between 1991 and 2021.
Constant rain and cloud cover kept temperatures cool as well. The South Branch and South Fork valleys saw average temperatures between one and three degrees below the 30-year average. Most of the western tier experienced between three and four degrees below normal.
The highest elevations around the Allegheny Mountain and Spruce Knob area saw temperatures dive between four and six degrees colder than a typical 30-day span.
Conditions changed drastically last weekend as the full force of summertime heat hit the state and region.
In Franklin, temperatures will range in the mid-90s through today, then drop slightly to the low 90s starting on Friday. Starting today there will be a 30 percent chance of rain or thunderstorms, rising to 40 percent by Saturday.
The north and western areas of the county will likely not see temperatures extending past the 85 to 90 degree range, but will see 40 percent chance or less of showers starting today.
Sugar Grove, Brandywine, and the Fort Seybert areas will see conditions similar to Franklin.
A heat alert was issued from 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. Monday by the National Weather Service. That was the only one issued for Pendleton County at the time of publication. The warning covered the South Branch and South Fork, but not the North Fork or that valley’s surrounding ridges and mountains. That said, residents should check the National Weather Service or the Facebook page Pendleton County WV Office of Emergency Management 911 for updates on the severe heat and its potential impact on people and the area.
The National Weather Service issues three kinds of heat alerts. Each one marks a specific level of danger. An “Extreme Heat Watch” urges those in the affected area to “be prepared.” It states that people should “reschedule outdoor activities in the coming days. Make sure that children, the elderly, and pets have a place to cool off during the heat.”
Second, a heat advisory “is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria.” It instructs that “if you must be outside, be sure to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade.”
The onset of “extremely dangerous heat conditions” will trigger an “Extreme Heat Warning.” It urges all to not perform work or other tasks outside, but to “drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks” if that cannot be avoided.
It also says “stay indoors in an air conditioned space as much as possible, including overnight.” Also vital, “check on family and neighbors.”
