The drought is over in West Virginia.

It took long enough: At the beginning of December, the state's entire southwest quadrant - from parts of Mason, Putnam and Kanawha counties through the coalfields - was still in a severe drought, according to the federal government's Drought Monitor.

Even a month ago, Charleston was still "abnormally dry," according to the Drought Monitor.

But this month, "basically, it seems like it has been raining every other day," said John Sikora, senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Charleston.

February has had only two clear days, and nearly 40 percent more precipitation than normal - and that was before Tuesday's steady drizzle.

That's in contrast to last winter, Charleston's sixth-driest on record. That dry winter set up the drought that ultimately forced federal officials to declare most of West Virginia a disaster area in August.

This wet February hasn't been a record-breaker, but it has set the stage for possible flooding.

"Basically the whole state - all of the soils are pretty wet," Sikora said. "If we get any kind of significant rains, there's always the possibility of flooding."

No heavy rains are forecast this week, Sikora said. But heavy snows are.

Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers and Webster counties were under a heavy snow warning Tuesday that was expected to last through early Thursday morning.

"We could get up to a foot in some places through tomorrow," Sikora said. "What with that snowpack, and the ground being so wet, if we get any other system that comes in to produce significant rains on top of that snow, we're above normal [potential] for flooding."

To contact staff writer Tara Tuckwiller, use e-mail or call 348-5189.

The drought is over in West Virginia.

It took long enough: At the beginning of December, the state's entire southwest quadrant - from parts of Mason, Putnam and Kanawha counties through the coalfields - was still in a severe drought, according to the federal government's Drought Monitor.

Even a month ago, Charleston was still "abnormally dry," according to the Drought Monitor.

But this month, "basically, it seems like it has been raining every other day," said John Sikora, senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Charleston.

February has had only two clear days, and nearly 40 percent more precipitation than normal - and that was before Tuesday's steady drizzle.

That's in contrast to last winter, Charleston's sixth-driest on record. That dry winter set up the drought that ultimately forced federal officials to declare most of West Virginia a disaster area in August.

This wet February hasn't been a record-breaker, but it has set the stage for possible flooding.

"Basically the whole state - all of the soils are pretty wet," Sikora said. "If we get any kind of significant rains, there's always the possibility of flooding."

No heavy rains are forecast this week, Sikora said. But heavy snows are.

Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers and Webster counties were under a heavy snow warning Tuesday that was expected to last through early Thursday morning.

"We could get up to a foot in some places through tomorrow," Sikora said. "What with that snowpack, and the ground being so wet, if we get any other system that comes in to produce significant rains on top of that snow, we're above normal [potential] for flooding."

To contact staff writer Tara Tuckwiller, use e-mail or call 348-5189.