By Stephen Smoot
Hardy County has seen remarkable amounts of rain in the past month and will see the full onslaught of summer heat over the next several days.
Conditions left over from an abnormally dry 2024 left Hardy County split, according to the federal website drought.gov, between the D1 “Abnormally dry” and D2 “moderate drought” status from the beginning of the year through the end of May.
The intensity of last year’s drought meant that those conditions persisted through most of the second wettest May in the 131 years of keeping records, an average of 4.63 inches higher than normal. To date, 2025 has served as the 41st wettest year of that 131 year span.
Over the past 30 days, the northern tier and the South Fork River valley have seen approximately 200 percent of normal rainfall over the past three decades. The rest of Hardy County saw 150 percent above the 1991 to 2020 historical average of rainfall.
Moorefield tends to see higher temperatures than the surrounding area. This week, the National Weather Service predicted highs near 100 early in the week with no relief from precipitation. By Thursday and Friday, however, summer rain and thunderstorms passing through could help to moderate temperatures somewhat and push them to the mid 90s.
The chance of rain, as of now, is expected to be 30 percent on Thursday, 40 percent on Friday, and 50 percent on Saturday.
Eastern Hardy County and the higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service, should see slightly lower temperatures than Moorefield, in the mid 90s early in the week and low 90s on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
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.”
