Flooding In Pocahontas Could Be Similar To Late January 2010 Flooding

Marlinton, WV – A flood warning is in effect for the Greenbrier River at Marlinton from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon and at Buckeye from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, or until the warnings are cancelled.

According to John Sikoro with the NWS in Charleston, the severity of the flooding will depend largely on the strength and direction of the storm. He says this is a very complex system, spinning like a pinwheel and picking up additional moisture as it moves north and east. While most of the snowpack has melted in the last few days, it could still be a factor in some areas. Based on current forecasts, the Greenbrier River at Marlinton could crest at 13 feet by late Saturday morning, a level similar to the flooding experienced by the town in late January of this year. The river is expected to crest at Buckeye by sometime Saturday afternoon.

Flood stage in Marlinton is 10 feet, at Buckeye it’s 15 feet. Pocahontas County Emergency Services Director Melvin Martin reminds residents that this is a worst case scenario, and it’s possible that flooding will be much less severe. Nevertheless, he urges all residents in low lying areas to take proper flood precautions.

Closures on Rt 39 near Huntersville, and on Rt 219 near Airport Road and in the Slatyfork area are possible if flooding is heavy.

Stay tuned to Allegheny Mountain Radio for weather updates.